Falco (SSBM)/Side special

Overview

Hitbox duration of Falco's side special when used on the ground.

Hitbox duration of Falco's side special when used in the air.

Falco's side special move is known as Falco Phantasm, a move that involves Falco dashing forward whilst leaving afterimages of himself behind. These afterimages can damage opponents, but they are very weak. The move is primarily used as a recovery move, and although it travels a rather short distance, it is Falco's best option for horizontal recoveries due to its speed. Compared to Fox Illusion, the move from which it is cloned from, Falco Phantasm travels a much shorter distance, but has quicker startup. The move also meteor smashes opponents who are hit by the afterimages, though it has very weak knockback and is very easy to meteor cancel.

It is also possible to shorten the length of this move by quickly pressing the B button again after initiating the move. Since Falco travels for 4 frames, the move has 4 shortened lengths. Shortening the move is useful for making it to the edge whilst avoiding gimping options such as Marth's neutral attack.

Hitboxes

Grounded

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			Clang	Rebound	Effect	G	A	Sound	Blockable	Reflectable	Absorbable
0	0	7%	0		74	60	0	4.15989	0	0.0	5.999616	0.0						Slash

Aerial

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			Clang	Rebound	Effect	G	A	Sound	Blockable	Reflectable	Absorbable
0	0	7%	0		70	70	0	4.15989	0	0.0	5.999616	0.0						19

Timing

Falco can cancel this move's end lag by grabbing ledge as early as frame 25.

Hitbox	18-21
Animation length	59

Landing lag

Animation length (pre free fall)	20
Animation length (post free fall)	3

Pre free fall

Post free fall

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Similar moves

• Fox Illusion

Falco's moveset

Neutral attack (1 · 2 · inf) · Forward tilt · Up tilt · Down tilt · Dash attack · Forward smash · Up smash · Down smash
Neutral aerial · Forward aerial · Back aerial · Up aerial · Down aerial
Grab · Pummel · Forward throw · Back throw · Up throw · Down throw
Forward roll · Back roll · Spot dodge · Air dodge · Techs
Floor attack (front) · Floor getups (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor getups (back)
Edge attack (fast) · Edge getups (fast) · Edge attack (slow) · Edge getups (slow)
Neutral special · Side special · Up special · Down special