Editing Falcon Punch

{{ArticleIcons|allgames=y}}

|image=[[File:Captain Falcon Neutral B SSBU.gif|300px]]

|caption=Captain Falcon using the move in ''Ultimate''.

|universe={{uv|F-Zero}}

==Overview==

[[File:Falcon 180 punch.jpg|thumb|250px|Captain Falcon's reverse Falcon Punch in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.]]

Throughout the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series, the Falcon Punch has consistently been one of the most powerful special attacks. However, its power is counterbalanced by its predictability, due to its slow start-up time, along with Captain Falcon loudly announcing "Falcon...PUNCH!" every time he uses it.

Aesthetically, the move will cause Captain Falcon to kneel downward, charge up power during the delay, before punching forward while crouching. In ''Smash 64'', Captain Falcon will shake his fist above his head while charging (if in midair, he cowers away from his orientation instead). In ''Melee'', Captain Falcon's stance is straightened, with his arms lowered and his left hand out (in midair, he will also do a recovering inward turn after the punch). In ''Brawl'', ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'', the animation is somewhat similar, but Captain Falcon punches his right fist into his left before charging, and his pose is slightly exaggerated as a result of animation improvements.  

The charging is accompanied by visible shockwaves in ''Smash 64'', and fiery effects surrounding Captain Falcon's fist in every other installment. Each future game also improves the visuals of the move, starting from a simple fire falcon sprite in ''Smash 64'', to a full 3D model in ''Melee'', and from ''Brawl'' onward, realistic effects that form an enormous fiery falcon.

In ''Smash 64'' and ''Melee'', Falcon Punch is stronger in the air, having higher base knockback (and [[shield]] damage in ''Smash 64'') - although, from ''Brawl'' onwards, the aerial version is weaker, dealing less damage (and subsequently, less knockback) than the grounded version.

In ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', this move is one of the few attacks in the game that is more powerful than the [[Home-Run Bat]] at high damages, especially in the former game, due to his bat swing's upward trajectory. Thus, it is common for a Falcon Punch to be used in place of the Home-Run Bat for a finisher while attempting [[Home-Run Contest]] world records, especially since Captain Falcon's own unique forward smash attack with any battering weapon in ''Melee'' renders it impractical to use for this scenario.

From ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' onward, Captain Falcon can turn around during the start-up of the punch to perform a '''Reverse Falcon Punch'''. This slightly increases its already high damage and knockback, at the cost of slightly more start-up time. Uses of the reverse Falcon Punch includes [[mindgame|mindgaming]] opponents, catching rolls, or simply making an offstage punish even more powerful. Although the move can be reversed in ''Melee'' like all neutral special moves, this does not change the damage or knockback dealt, nor does it make the move take longer to come out.  

The Falcon Punch in ''Super Smash Bros.'' is the fastest version in the series, due to having much less [[start-up]] and [[ending lag]] than in the subsequent games. As a result of its speed, along with the game's lack of [[air dodge|air dodging]], high hitstun, and opponents only being able to affect it with [[SDI]], it is easier to combo with than in every other game. Falcon Punch can also be used for [[recovery]] when Falcon is recovering from high up, as it gives additional horizontal distance as well as minor vertical distance when angled up.

It is also used as a combo finisher; Common tactics include forward throw to Falcon Punch (48-72% on fast-fallers using various jump heights) and up aerial to Falcon Punch if immediately inputted after a platform land. It can also be combod out of down air depending on %.

[[File:Sacred Combo.gif|200px|thumb|{{Sm|Westballz}} performing the Sacred Combo.]]

In ''Melee'', the Falcon Punch was made much slower, which removes its use as a recovery and combo-finishing option. Due to Captain Falcon's down aerial being much slower than in ''Smash 64'', along with the lowered effectiveness of [[L-cancel]]ing and the introduction of DI, the Tapion Combo was made more unreliable and very uncommon in competitive play, although other combos exist as a result of gameplay changes. The move has also seen a reduction to its knockback scaling, making it weaker despite its sweetspot dealing more damage.

The move is also much more unsafe against shielding opponents. In ''Smash 64'', Falcon Punch caused immensely high shieldstun to the point where the move was frame positive on shield. In ''Melee'', however, with shieldstun/shield damage being significantly reduced, the move causes much less shieldstun and has become highly punishable if it lands against a shielding opponent.  

 

 

The '''G-Regulate combo''', named after {{Sm|G-regulate}}, is another combo that allows Captain Falcon to combo an L-canceled down aerial into a Falcon Punch except it is performed by doing a down aerial on top of a platform, works against some characters at specific percents. It can be avoided with DI.

Besides the introduction of the "Reverse Falcon Punch", the Falcon Punch was nerfed (particularly the aerial version, which is now weaker than the grounded version). Falcon Punch has slightly lower knockback scaling, though this does not have a huge impact on the move since it can still KO as low as 55% from center-stage.

While retaining its ability to be reversed, Falcon Punch was nerfed from ''Brawl'', having significantly lower base knockback, slightly less knockback scaling, a smaller hitbox and more ending lag, causing it to be unsafe on hit at 0% and making it weaker than his fully-charged forward smash. However, the move now deals more consistent damage throughout: a standard grounded punch deals 25% damage through its duration, while a reversed punch deals 28%, with neither variant having any sourspots (although the maximum damage output of the standard punch was reduced by 2%).

Compared to ''Brawl'', Falcon Punch sees a little bit more utility due to air dodges having landing lag like in ''Melee''. It should also be noted that, when used in the air, the Falcon Punch deals 3% less damage, but if it is charged in the air and activates on the ground, this penalty does not apply.

Falcon Punch is significantly stronger than in ''Smash 4'', now being able to KO at around 60%, and being the safest version on hit at 0%. The non-reversed version also has slightly lower ending lag. However, the punch doesn't move Captain Falcon forward as much as before, hindering its range. Like many slow and powerful attacks, Falcon Punch causes [[Special Zoom]] if it lands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

{{CustomSet|Falcon|Neutral|name1=Falcon Punch|desc1=Charge up for a moment, then strike. The direction can be changed while charging.|name2=Falcon Dash Punch|desc2=Dash forward and punch. Slightly weaker, and you're vulnerable just before striking.|name3=Mighty Falcon Punch|desc3=A bigger, more powerful Falcon Punch, but the buildup leaves you more open than ever.}}

# '''Falcon Punch''': Default Punch.

# '''Falcon Dash Punch''': After startup, Falcon dashes forward, dealing less damage than default punch. Has slightly more startup but not as much as Mighty Falcon Punch.

# '''Mighty Falcon Punch''': Has a bigger, longer-lasting hitbox, but even longer startup. Contrary to its name and description, its damage and knockback are actually ''weaker'' than the default punch, especially on the late hit.

[[File:Falcon Punch Origin.gif|thumb|The Falcon Punch as seen in ''F-Zero: GP Legend''.]]

The Falcon Punch originated in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series and is generally considered both a part of the {{uv|Super Smash Bros.}} universe and his falcon motif. The [[List of Super Smash Bros. references in other franchises|move made its ''F-Zero'' debut]] with a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CJn69FgEko scene] from the episode {{s|fzerowiki|The Legend of Falcon}} in ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero: GP Legend|anime}}'', where it's used by Captain Falcon to prevent Black Shadow from escaping a reactor's explosion, defeating him. This version uses blue, electric effects rather than its trademark falcon-shaped flame. The explosion, large enough to be seen from outside the Milky Way Galaxy, is often misinterpreted as being caused by the Falcon Punch itself, consequently becoming memetic. Outside of ''Super Smash Bros.'', the move is often used to describe or add humor to powerful punch-based events as an imitation of its power in ''GP Legend'' and within the ''Super Smash Bros.'' games, often with voice clips or special effects inserted.

In ''Smash'', the scene in ''GP Legend'' is seemingly referenced in a [[Subspace Emissary]] cutscene, where Captain Falcon performs a Falcon Punch on a giant {{SSBB|R.O.B.}} in a similar fashion, while unwittingly killing a number of {{SSBB|Olimar}}'s {{b|Pikmin|species}}. In ''Smash'', the move is referenced in [[Codec Conversations#Captain Falcon|Captain Falcon's Codec Conversation]] featuring [[Otacon]], who coincidentally shares the same Japanese voice actor with Captain Falcon in ''GP Legend''. Additionally, the crowd cheer for Captain Falcon consists of repeated chants of "Falcoooooon Punch!" in the English versions of ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate''.

The move would once again be referenced in ''F-Zero'' with ''{{s|fzerowiki|F-Zero GX}}''{{'}}s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq9mipSqeC4 ending song], specifically in the line "When myopic confusion threatens your lunch / Falcon will be unleashing a Falcon Punch."

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Captain Falcon SSBU Skill Preview Neutral Special.png|Falcon Punch as shown by the Move List in ''Ultimate''.

*In ''Brawl'', there is a glitch in which if a player uses a Reverse Falcon Punch on [[Pit (SSBB)|Pit]] and Pit pulls out the [[Mirror Shield]] at the correct moment, Captain Falcon will be sent backwards a long way, longer than many stages. An example can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT-UhI3UFEg here]. The same can be done with Mario's [[Cape]] and Ganondorf's [[Warlock Punch]].

*Captain Falcon always uses his right fist to perform the Falcon Punch. However, he uses his left fist during his appearance in the reveal trailer "[[List_of_Super_Smash_Bros._4_character_trailers#Robin and Lucina|By Book, Blade, and Crest of Flame]]", while Kirby will use either hand depending on what direction he is facing (since he always faces the screen).