Falco (SSBM)

Falco Lombardi is a character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, unlocked by beating the 100-Man Melee mode with any character. He is also unlocked after playing 300 vs. matches. Top Falco players are notorious for their high levels of technical ability.

Falco Match-Ups

see Falco Match-ups

Pros

• SHL prevents approach for most characters.
• SHL enables high pressure play.
• Pillaring done with L-Cancels and Fast Falls effectively makes Falco unable to be shield-grabbed.
• Powerful attacks with killing potential.
• Good overall speed.
• Very usable Spike move
• Shine allows for many combo opportunities

Cons

• Falco has a very poor recovery, meaning that if he is knocked off of the stage, chances are that he will not return.

• Falco is a fast faller, which is good and bad. It's bad because once he is knocked off the edge from a Semi-spike, or if the player does not DI well, he will be unable to recover. It also makes him easy to combo and chaingrab as well.

Techniques

SHL/B

SHL/B stands for "Short-Hop Laser/Blaster" and is very disruptive to your opponent. In order to do a SHL/B, like the name describes, you short-hop, fast-fall, and shoot a laser. This way, there is no lag and you are free to move about while shooting. You can send flurries of SHL/Bs while approaching your opponent. This can somewhat substitute Falco's rather slow Dash. SHL/B is also considered to be the best approach tactic in the game as well as one of the most annoying moves in the game. SHL/B is imperative for Falco players to learn since it's Falco's main method of opening up their opponent's defense for an easy attack.

Pillaring

See pillaring

Offense

Falco's ADA is one of the best Spikes in the game, and can usually kill at around 50%. His Up tilt can be used to start combos. His Down Tilt can usually kill at high percentages. His Fsmash is fast, comboable into from a laser and kills at pretty low percentages. His ABA is also considered a Sex Kick.