Super Smash Bros. 4

Fox (SSB4)

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This article is about Fox's appearance in Super Smash Bros. 4. For the character in other contexts, see Fox McCloud.
Fox
in Super Smash Bros. 4
Fox
StarFoxSymbol.svg
Universe Star Fox
Other playable appearances in SSB
in Melee
in Brawl
Availability Starter
Final Smash Landmaster
Fox (SSB4)

Fox (フォックス, Fox) returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. He was one of the characters confirmed to return in the game during the E3 2013 trailers.

In Japanese, Fox is once again voiced by Kenji Nojima. In English, he is now voiced by Mike West, his voice actor from Star Fox 64 and its 3DS remake.

Changes from Brawl

Fox was objectively nerfed overall from Brawl to Smash 4, although he did receive some buffs as well. Fox's neutral game is less effective overall, with increased lag on his aerials and less effective laser camping due to the removal of autocanceling on his Blaster. This means Fox can no longer safely bait bad approaches from his opponents. Additionally, some of his finishers (such as up smash and back aerial) have been weakened, although other finishers previously considered situational (such as forward smash) have been strengthened. Fox also benefits from a better jab cancel, which can set up KOs more reliably. His recovery has also improved, with Fox Illusion no longer leaving him helpless and Fire Fox traveling farther. His Reflector can no longer allow him to stall in the air effectively due to its ending lag and has a worse launch angle, making it completely ineffective for edgeguarding.

However, Fox benefits from the general changes of Smash 4, most notably from the removal of chaingrabbing, which was a prime reason for his mid tier placement in Brawl. Additionally, while Fox's neutral game was nerfed, it still remains better than most due to the universal nerf in mobility options. As a result, he is considered to be better relative to the cast than in Brawl.

Appearance

  • Change Due to the new visual aesthetics in SSB4, Fox's overall color scheme is lighter in comparison to his appearance in Brawl. Additionally, his fur is of a higher visual quality than before, much like Donkey Kong's and Diddy Kong's, and his teeth are more pronounced than in previous installments.
  • Change Fox's Blaster has a redesigned appearance, and the lasers appear to have a lighter hue to them, being more pink in color.
  • Change Landmaster is now light blue instead of dark blue.

Attributes

  • Nerf Fox is lighter than in Brawl hindering his survival.
  • Buff Dashing speed is slightly faster (from 2.08 in Brawl to 2.184 in SSB4).
  • Buff Fox's air speed is slightly increased (from 0.89 in Brawl to 0.96 in SSB4).
  • Nerf Fox's falling speed is faster (from 1.831 in Brawl to 2.05 in SSB4) making him more susceptible to combos.
  • Buff The removal of chain grabs is a significant benefit for Fox in his matchups against other characters.

Ground attacks

  • Buff Neutral attack now links into a finisher, and is able to jab cancel into itself, grabs, forward tilts, or up smashes more reliably.
  • Nerf Neutral attack infinite pushes the opponent further away from Fox, making it possible to powershield the finisher at low to mid percents.
  • Nerf Dash attack, up tilt, down tilt, up smash, and forward smash deal 1% less damage (7/5%, 10/8%, 9/7%, 17%, and 15% respectively → 6/4%, 9/6%, 8/6%, 16%, and 14%).
  • Buff Forward smash is slightly stronger (10 base/96 growth → 20 base/98 growth).
  • Nerf Up smash has lower knockback scaling (96 growth → 94). It also has slightly less horizontal range, less vertical range, and more cooldown (IASA 44 frames → IASA 51 frames).
  • Nerf Down smash has much less base knockback (50 → 30) but higher scaling (65 → 75) making it overall weaker.

Aerial attacks

  • Nerf Neutral air has an added 2 frames of landing lag.
  • Buff Forward aerial is harder to SDI out of and is easier to combo into. It can now send opponents at the autolink angle, which when combined with fast falling in the middle of the attack can lead into a footstool, potentially gimping characters with poor vertical recoveries such as Little Mac, Donkey Kong, and even Charizard.
  • Nerf Forward aerial gives a shorter "hover" effect than in Brawl. It deals drastically less damage (23% → 7%), and can no longer auto cancel in a short hop. Its start-up is also one frame slower and has significantly increased landing lag (18 frames → 27 frames).
  • Nerf Back aerial deals 2% less damage and is weaker despite its added knockback growth (85 → 88).
  • Nerf Down aerial deals significantly less damage (21% → 11%), can no longer meteor smash and has significantly more landing lag (12 frames → 25 frames) meaning it can't followup into grabs, up tilts, or up smashes on grounded opponents anymore.

Special moves

  • Nerf Short hop lasers have lag upon landing and can only be fired twice during the short hop, lessening their utility.
  • Buff Fox Illusion no longer leaves Fox helpless after the move is performed in the air (though it can still only be used once in the air) and no longer dashes over the edge when used on the ground. It is also quicker and safer when used in a short hop as an approach option.
  • Nerf Fox Illusion can no longer be shortened, removing its mix up potential.
  • Buff Fire Fox travels a greater distance, now nearly as much as it does in Melee (NTSC), and deals greater damage when fully connected.
  • Nerf Reflector has far more cool down and can no longer semi-spike aerial opponents, removing shine spikes entirely.
  • Nerf Landmaster is less powerful and lasts a shorter duration.
  • Buff Landmaster's cannon can fire while airborne.

Moveset

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   2% Punches twice, then attacks with a flurry of kicks.
1%
0.7% (loop), 2% (final hit)
Forward tilt   8% Kicks his leg out. Can be angled up or down with the control stick. Below-average knockback.
6%
7%
Up tilt   9% (clean) or 6% (late) Fox does a fast scorpion kick that covers his back.
Down tilt   8% (close), 7%, or 6% (far) Fox swipes at the opponent with his tail.
Dash attack   6% (clean) or 4% (late) Fox jumps slightly off the ground while running and performs a kick.
Forward smash   14% Fox does a powerful spinning jump kick.
Up smash Flip Kick 16% (clean) or 11% (late) Fox flip kicks the opponent, losing strength the farther it is into the animation.
Down smash   14% Fox does a split to attack both sides of him.
Neutral aerial   9% (clean) or 6% (late) Fox does a sex kick that loses power the longer it's out. If the weak of auto-canceled nair lands against opponent at high percentage, he can combo into a running up smash for a KO.
Forward aerial   2% (hit 1), 1% (hit 2), 0.6% (hit 3), 0.8% (hit 4), 3% (last hit) Five kicks in succession. Good for building up damage, as foes will "stick" to Fox for the duration of the attack.
Back aerial   13% Fox spins to kick behind himself.
Up aerial   5% (hit 1), 11% (last hit) Fox flips himself upward for a tail whip and follow-up kick.
Down aerial   1.4% (hits 1-5), 3% (last hit), 1% (landing hit) A spinning drill kick that hits multiple times in succession.
Grab    
Pummel   1.2% A quick knee strike.
Forward throw   4% (hit 1), 3% (throw) Fox releases his foe and knocks them away with a punch.
Back throw   2% (throw), 2% (3 lasers each) Fox throws his foe backwards and shoots them with three rapid shots from his blaster.
Up throw   2% (throw), 2% (3 lasers each) Fox throws his foe upwards and fires three rapid shots from this blaster.
Down throw   2% (3 lasers each), 1% (throw) Fox forces his foe onto the floor and fires three point-blank shots at them with his blaster.
Forward roll
Back roll
Spot dodge
Air dodge
Techs
Floor attack (front)
Floor getups (front)
  7% Fox does a kick in front and in back.
Floor attack (back)
Floor getups (back)
  7% Fox punches forwards, and kicks backwards.
Floor attack (trip)
Floor getups (trip)
  5% Fox spins around, hitting foes with his tail.
Edge attack
Edge getups
  7% Fox twirls at his opponent, doing a long range kick.
Neutral special Default Blaster 1.4% (far), 2%, or 3% (close) Fox fires his blaster, which can fire rapidly but doesn't stun the opponent. The lasers lose power as they travel.
Custom 1 Impact Blaster 2% (far), 3%, 4% or 4.3% (close) Fox fires slower blaster shots that deal more damage and knock opponents back.
Custom 2 Charge Blaster 10.5% Fox fires a single, powerful laser. Has a slower startup time but has considerable hitstun and good knockback.
Side special Default Fox Illusion 3% Fox becomes invisible and suddenly dashes through opponents, leaving behind after-images. Fox will send opponents at an upwards angle on contact.
Custom 1 Fox Burst 13% Fox cannot hit opponents with the dash itself, but will generate a large explosion wherever he stops. It can also be used to stall in midair.
Custom 2 Wolf Flash 3% (dash), 9% (end of the move), 10% (sweetspot hitting airborne opponents) Fox dashes at an upwards angle, meteor smashing opponents at a downwards angle if it hits with the sweet spot at the move's end. Based on Wolf's side special move from Brawl.
Up special Default Fire Fox 2% (charging hits 1-7), 14% (clean dash), 8% (late dash) Fox charges up and suddenly fires himself in one of many directions, depending on what direction is held.
Custom 1 Flying Fox 0% A variation that is faster and travels further, but deals no damage.
Custom 2 Twisting Fox 1% (charging hits 1-3), 1.2% (hits 1-7), 2% (last hit) Fox spins rapidly, dragging opponents in as he fires himself off, dealing rapid damage.
Down special Default Reflector 2% (activation), 1.4x damage (reflected projectiles) Fox activates a Reflector around him. All projectiles are deflected and do more damage than they normally would. The Reflector damages nearby foes upon activation.
Custom 1 Big Reflector 1.2x damage (reflected projectiles) A larger Reflector that has a smaller increase to the power of reflected projectiles, but it has a slightly larger reflecting hitbox. It pushes back enemies at close range instead of damaging them.
Custom 2 Amplifying Reflector 2.1x damage (reflected projectiles) Has a longer startup time, but doubles the power and speed of reflected projectiles. It cannot deal damage or pushback at close range and does not stall in midair.
Final Smash Landmaster 5% (activation), 5-17% (ram), 13% (turning around), 11% (roll), 12 (landing) 8% (cannon while firing), 15% (cannon projectile) Fox calls in a Landmaster. The Landmaster lasts longer than Falco's, but has a lower air speed.

Taunts

  • Fox charges fire and himself and says "Here I come!".
  • Like in Melee, Fox backs up, bends down a bit, and says "Come on!".
  • Fox throws his blaster into the air, then allows it to land back into its holster.

On-Screen Appearance

Ejects from an Arwing.

Victory Fanfare

This victory theme is based upon the main theme of Star Fox 64, most specifically the title screen theme. It is also reminiscent of the music that would play when a mission was completed or accomplished. He shares this with Falco.

In Event Matches

Solo Events

Co-op Events

Alternate costumes

Fox Palette (SSB4).png
Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4) Fox (SSB4)

Update History

Super Smash Bros. 41.0.6

  • Change Rapid jab combo has less visual whiffs.

Trophies

Fox
North America Fox is the leader of the mercenary unit Star Fox, often enlisted to defeat the evil Andross. His piloting skills are top notch, but in Smash Bros. he brings speed and fast attacks to the battle. His Reflector move allows him to turn projectile attacks against his foes, increasing their power for a punishing blow.
Pal Leader of the Star Fox team, Fox is a skilled pilot with a strong sense of justice. In this game, he's quick on his feet and can use his speed to toy with opponents, attacking relentlessly and giving them no room to breathe. Even if they try to attack him from afar with projectiles, his Reflector move just sends them flying right back!
SNES: Star Fox (03/1993)
N64: Star Fox 64 (07/1997)
Fox (Alt.)
North America Fox is at home in the air, and many of his moves, like his up smash, Flip Kick, will send foes up there. It's great for KO'ing a damaged opponent. Another handy move is his up special Fire Fox. The flames that surround Fox deal damage to nearby foes, and you can launch yourself in any direction once charged.
Pal The Flip Kick that Fox does for his upward smash can really send foes flying. It's well worth pulling out this attack in combos against airborne opponents. Try following it up with his red-hot Fire Fox special to hammer them repeatedly. The fact that you an fly in any direction with this move is a real bonus too!
SNES: Star Fox (03/1993)
N64: Star Fox 64 (07/1997)
Landmaster (Fox)
North America Originally designed for exploration, the Landmaster in Fox's Final Smash has been converted into an ultra-high-performance, anti-air, rolling combat vehicle. When Fox hops aboard, he can drive or roll into foes and blast them with cannon fire. It can even fire in midair. And best of all, Fox is safe from damage inside this metal beast!
Pal Originally designed for exploration, the Landmaster in Fox's Final Smash has been converted into an ultra-high-performance, anti-air, rolling combat vehicle. When Fox gets on board, he can drive or roll into foes and blast them with cannon fire. It can even fire in mid-air. And best of all, Fox won't take any damage while inside!

Gallery

Trivia

  • Fox's Alt. trophy in the Wii U version resembles his All-Star trophy from Melee. Both these trophies also uses Fox in his green costume.
  • Fox is one of the three characters to lose a costume that had been present in every game prior to Super Smash Bros. 4, along with Mario and Link. In Fox's case, he lost his blue costume.
  • Fox has three English voice actors in both versions of Super Smash Bros. 4. He has Mike West for his battle voice and the Orbital Gate Assault Smash taunts, Jim Walker for the Lylat Cruise Smash taunts, and Steve Malpass for the Corneria Smash taunts.
  • Super Smash Bros. 4 is the only Smash Bros. game where Fox is not holding his blaster in his official art.
  • Interestingly, the custom move set for his neutral special, Blaster will actually influence the throws in which Fox uses it. The same applies to Falco.
  • Fox is believed to use the fighting style of TaeKwonDo, as in his idle stance he is hopping similar to the style and his attacks mainly consist of kicks.