Falcon Punch
| Falcon Punch | |
|---|---|
 Falcon Punch being released in Ultimate. | |
| User | Captain Falcon |
| Universe | Super Smash Bros. F-Zero |
| Article on F-Zero Wiki | Falcon Punch |
| “ | Release a fiery blow after a brief charge. | ” |
| —Melee's instruction manual | ||
| “ | A splendid punch. Punch backward for more power. | ” |
| —Smash for 3DS's foldout | ||
| “ | Powers up for a moment then strikes with a flaming punch. Can change direction while charging. | ” |
| —Description from Ultimate's Move List | ||
Falcon Punch (ファルコンパンチ, Falcon Punch) is Captain Falcon's neutral special move. It consists of Captain Falcon performing his iconic move: a slow but powerful punch wreathed in falcon-shaped flames.
Description
Throughout the Super Smash Bros. series, the Falcon Punch has consistently been one of the most powerful special attacks. From Smash 4 onward (and excluding the Blue Falcon), it also possesses the highest knockback of Captain Falcon's moveset (including charged smashes). 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 SSB64, 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 sprite in Smash 64, to a full 3D model in Melee, and ending with realistic fire effects in Brawl and Smash 4. In smash Ultimate, the flames produced by Captain Falcon's attack form an enormous fiery falcon.
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 its 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 (only in Melee) renders it impractical to use for this scenario.
Reverse Falcon Punch
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 include 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 is only aesthetic.
Appearances
In Super Smash Bros.
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 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 high, as it gives additional horizontal distance as well as minor vertical distance when angled up.
It is generally used as a combo finisher; common tactics include forward throw → Falcon Punch (48-72% on fast-fallers using various jump heights) and up aerial → Falcon Punch. The Tapion Combo, a down aerial → Falcon Punch named after a Smasher that landed it consistently, is also possible that works at specific percents.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
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-canceling 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.
One of the most famous combos is the Sacred Combo, which involves following up a Knee Smash into an aerial Falcon Punch by chasing the opponent offstage. If performed successfully, this combo results in a KO in almost all cases, although by performing this combo, Captain Falcon may fail to recover back if he jumps too far off the edge. Additionally, the only reliable way to connect the two moves is if the opponent poorly DIs towards Captain Falcon. Regardless, KOing an opponent with the Sacred Combo is widely regarded as being one of the most stylish ways to do so.
The G-Regulate combo, named after G-regulate, is another combo that allows Captain Falcon to combo an L-canceled down aerial into a Falcon Punch against some characters at specific percents. It can be avoided with DI.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Alongside the introduction of the "Reverse Falcon Punch", the Falcon Punch was buffed, being slightly faster, though it retains its slow startup from Melee. It also has slightly lower knockback growth, though this is minuscule and still allows the move to KO as low as 60% from center-stage.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
While retaining its ability to be reversed, Falcon Punch was nerfed from Brawl, having significantly lower base knockback, slightly less knockback growth, 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.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Falcon punch is significantly stronger than in previous games, now being able to KO at around 50%. It 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.
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:
| 1. Falcon Punch | 2. Falcon Dash Punch | 3. Mighty Falcon Punch |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| "Charge up for a moment, then strike. The direction can be changed while charging." | "Dash forward and punch. Slightly weaker, and you're vulnerable before striking." | "A bigger, more powerful Falcon Punch, but the buildup leaves you more open than ever." |
- Falcon Punch: Default.
- Falcon Dash Punch: After startup, Falcon dashes forward, dealing less damage than default.
- 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, especially on the late hit.
Origin
The move originated in the Super Smash Bros. series and is generally considered part of the Super Smash Bros. universe, as well as simply being part of his falcon motif. However, after Melee's release, Captain Falcon famously performed a Falcon Punch in the final episode of the F-Zero animated series, F-Zero: GP Legend, where he uses it to defeat Black Shadow (see video). It has become quite memetic, as the clip makes it appear that the Falcon Punch causes an explosion that can be seen from outside the Milky Way Galaxy (in reality, Captain Falcon is using the Falcon Punch to prevent Black Shadow from escaping said explosion). Outside of the Smash Bros. series, the Falcon Punch is often used to describe or add humor to powerful punch-based events as an imitation of its power in said clip and within the Smash Bros. games, with voice clips inserted (though special effects are not necessary).
The above mentioned meme is somewhat referenced in a Subspace Emissary cutscene, when Captain Falcon performs a Falcon Punch on a giant R.O.B. in a very similar fashion to the clip from the animated series while unwittingly killing a number of Olimar's Pikmin, much to his confusion. The meme has crossed all the way back to Super Smash Bros. and is referenced in Captain Falcon's codec with Snake (Otacon in this case, coincidentally sharing the same Japanese voice actor that voiced Falcon in the said animated series). Additionally, the crowd cheer for Captain Falcon is repeated chants of "Falcoooooon Punch!" in the English version of Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
As a testament to the move's popularity, it seems to have come full circle and crossed back over into F-Zero canon: it is mentioned in F-Zero GX's ending song, specifically in the line "When myopic confusion threatens your lunch / Falcon will be unleashing a Falcon Punch."
Gallery
Falcon Punch in SSB64.
Falcon Punch in Melee.
Kirby copying Falcon Punch in Brawl, and the difference between the two punches.
Pre-release image of Falcon Punch in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Captain Falcon charges a Falcon Punch in Smash 4.
A full view of the fiery falcon in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Falcon Punch as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.
Trivia
- There is a glitch in which if a player uses a Reverse Falcon Punch on 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 here. The same can be done with Mario's Cape and Ganondorf's Warlock Punch.
- In Brawl, if Kirby uses the Falcon Punch immediately after a jump, he will get a large boost upward. This is most noticeable with his footstool jump, which goes nearly twice as high as normal. This is sometimes known as a footstool punch.
- In Melee and Brawl, if a Falcon Punch is performed, the echoing sound of a falcon screeching can be heard.
- In Brawl, the falcon-shaped flames appear after the first hitbox, whereas in SSB64 and Melee they appear at the same time.
- 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 "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).
See also
External links
The following are seven videos showing the Sacred Combo being performed:
- The Sacred Combo performed in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
- Mew2King performs the Sacred Combo in Super Smash Bros. Melee
- The Sacred Combo performed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- The 180-degree (180°) turn Sacred Combo performed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with a 180° turn (using a Reverse Falcon Punch).
- The Sacred Combo being performed in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
- The Sacred Combo being performed in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
- The Sacred Combo being performed in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
References
