Falco Phantasm

Falco Phantasm
	; Falco Phantasm in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
User	Falco
Universe	Star Fox
Article on Lylat Wiki	Boost

Falco Phantasm (ファルコビジョン, Falco Vision) is Falco's side special move. Falco quickly dashes at the opponent leaving a trail of blueish-tinted afterimages behind him. The opponent can be hit by Falco or any one of the afterimages. Despite the fact that the move is an attack, it is rarely used as such; it is primarily used as a recovery technique, due to its speed. When used as an attack, it deals about 7% damage and is a meteor smash, although it usually only inadvertently hits opponents that are careless.

Like the Fox Illusion and Wolf Flash, the Falco Phantasm can be ended early by pressing the button for a special move before its animation is complete, but a few frames must pass by before it will work. An easy way to time the canceling of this move would be to press the special button at the exact point the high pitched 'cling' noise is played. While not an ideal move for KOing, the move's meteor smash can be useful for counter edgeguarding while recovering, but is highly unlikely to KO the opponent even at high percentages, as it is exceedingly weak. The Phantasm can also be used for a very swift approach. Short hopping slightly increases the distance traveled. It, along with the Fox Illusion, can be reversed by quickly tapping the control stick in the opposite direction. The sparkle will stay in its original position, which can lead to mindgames.

Differences from Fox Illusion

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Falco Phantasm covers a much shorter distance than Fox Illusion. This can be a good or bad thing; good because it makes it easier to sweetspot the edge than with Fox Illusion, bad because it can not be used from as far of a distance. However, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl; not only does it deal more damage than Fox's, but Falco Phantasm travels the same distance as Fox Illusion.
Falco Phantasm, if used in the air, can meteor smash the opponent. Fox Illusion cannot.
Falco Phantasm has less startup lag than Fox Illusion.
Since Falco only travels for 4 frames, there are only 4 shortened Phantasm lengths, as opposed to Fox who has 5.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:

Falco Phase: Travel straight through opponents and projectiles without either taking damage, or dealing damage.
Falco Charge: Nearly halves the distance of the move, but increases the damage and knockback. The move sends opponents diagonally and has slight KO potential at very high percentages.