Blaster (Falco): Difference between revisions

{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ssb4=y}}

:''For the other neutral special moves of the same name, see [[Blaster (Fox)]] and [[Blaster (Falco)]].''

|image=[[File:Blasters.JPG|350px]]

|caption=Fox and Falco's Blasters in ''[[Smash 4]]''.

==Description==

The '''Blaster''' is Falco's neutral special move in his ''Melee'' incarnation, which shoots a laser gun to damage faraway opponents. It is significantly different from [[Blaster (Fox)|that of Fox's]]: the Blaster has a slower firing rate and longer end lag, (though it fires faster in the air, but not as fast as Fox's), and each beam stuns the opponent in addition to doing damage. Falco's Blaster closely resembles Fox's Blaster as it appeared in the original ''Super Smash Bros.'' The end lag can be skipped if used during a [[short hop]]. Falco's Blaster is mainly used from long range to build damage for later KO attempts and as an aid in approaching. It has [[set knockback]]. It is also used for setting up KOs, especially versus {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}, since it can be fired numerous times off the ledge to force these characters to recover each time.

In ''Brawl'', the beams from Falco's Blaster travel farther than the beams from Fox's, and they are blue instead of red. They appear to do some electricity-based damage. They are very similar to Fox's lasers from ''Super Smash Bros.'' outside of doing less damage. It is considered to be one of the best projectiles in the game as it has transcendent priority and disrupts the approach of a majority of the cast. This is by exploiting short hop double lasers to shoot one laser in the air and one in the ground. Combined with [[Falco Phantasm]], throws, and his dash attack, this is a common Falco approach. It is also be used to [[Lock]] commonly after a Jab Cancel and to "combo" at various damage percentages into a [[DACUS]] or [[forward smash]]. Also, similar to ''Melee'' but to a lesser extent, Falco's lasers can also be used to set up edgeguards.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', the move still retains the flinching property as in ''Brawl'', but it now has [[landing lag]] and cannot be fired as frequently, rendering the short hop laser technique much less viable.

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# '''Explosive Blaster''': Pushes opponents away (usually to the position where the projectile is going to explode), then starts hitting multiple times. The distance of the move is reduced, but it stays on stage longer.

# '''Burst Blaster''': Functions identically to Fox's Blaster, having rapid fire capabilities but no longer able to cause hitstun.

* '''Note''': Unusually, the custom move selected for Falco's Blaster also affects the Blaster shots in his back, up, and down throws. By contrast, Fox's throws are unaffected by his choice of Blaster.

Arwing Charge Shot.jpg|Explosive Blaster being used in {{for3ds}}.

Falco Blaster 2 SSB4.jpg|Burst Blaster being used in {{for3ds}}.

[[File:Falco Down Throw.jpg|thumb|320px|right|Falco's down throw in ''Brawl''.]]

In ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', Falco uses his Blaster in his back, up, and down [[throw]]s. In ''Melee'', during his down throw, Falco will throw his opponent to the ground, and shoot them with his Blaster. The throw [[Meteor smash]]es the opponent into the ground, which allows Falco to tech chase, possibly leading into Shine combos. The throw will deal 4% to 5% damage. In ''Brawl'', the throw deals more damage (a total of 9%) but throws the opponent in a weak horizontal trajectory. It is particularly notorious for being a highly effective [[chain throw]] in ''Brawl'' that can chain grab most characters, with strong follow up capability into high percents.

In ''Melee'', for his back throw, Falco will turn around and throw his opponent backwards in a horizontal trajectory, while simultaneously shooting them rapidly with his Blaster. The Blaster deals 7% damage. In ''Brawl'', the throw throws inflicts 8% in damage. The throw inflicts high base knockback, but extremely low knockback scaling, preventing it from ever being able to [[KO]].

Falco's up throw involves him throwing the opponent up, while then following up with rapid Blaster shots. In ''Melee'', the throw deals up to 7% in damage, and is highly effective at setting up aerial follow ups. In ''Brawl'', the throw deals up to 8% in damage, but increased base knockback and ''Brawl'''s lesser hitstun has hindered its capability at setting up aerial follow ups.

Interestingly, in both ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', the lasers in all three of the throws can be reflected and absorbed, much like {{SSBM|Mewtwo}}'s [[Shadow Ball|forward throw]].

| Up || '''7%'''

| Back || '''7%'''  

| Down || '''4-5%'''

| Up || '''2%''' || '''6%''' || '''8%'''

| Back || '''2%''' || '''6%''' || '''8%'''  

| Down || '''3%''' || '''6%''' || '''9%'''

[[File:Fox Second.jpg|thumb|200px|Fox's official artwork in ''Star Fox 64'' depicts him with a blaster.]]

Fox first uses a blaster in ''[[Star Fox 64]]'''s multiplayer and is depicted with one in artwork and screenshots. Falco, [[Slippy Toad|Slippy]], and [[Peppy Hare|Peppy]] also use blasters in the game's multiplayer while on the ground. While the blaster was not an official weapon in every ''Star Fox'' game up until ''Star Fox: Assault'', it - such as the [[reflector]] (which is ''Smash Bros.''-exclusive) - was popular outside the ''Star Fox'' series in all three ''Super Smash Bros.'' games. In every game,

SSB4 - Falco Screen-2.jpg|Falco readies his Blaster in {{forwiiu}}</gallery>

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cywX3x_rQUI Animations left in ''Brawl''] data show Falco appears to have had a mechanic where overusing the Blaster would cause it to overload or misfire.

 

{{Special Moves|char=Falco}}