Captain Falcon (SSB)

This article is about Captain Falcon's appearance in Super Smash Bros. For other uses, see Captain Falcon.

Captain Falcon
Captain Falcon
Universe	F-Zero
Appears in	SSB SSBM SSBB
Availability	Unlockable
Tier	A (4)

Captain Falcon (キャプテン・ファルコン, Kyaputen Farukon) (full name: Captain Douglas Jay Falcon) appears in Super Smash Bros. as one of the four unlockable characters. His appearance is based off of his incarnation from F-Zero X for Nintendo 64. Captain Falcon is currently ranked 4th overall in the tier list for his insane speed and combo ability.

Attributes

Captain Falcon's most notorious attributes are his incredible speed (the fastest dash and falling speed) and combo ability. He also has the best dash dance in the game. He has great reach with most kick attacks (especially side smash and up aerial), but he lacks projectiles and ways to avoid them. Captain Falcon has a great air game (due to his aerial attacks having low lag and having a D-air spike), but few effective ground options (excluding jabs, throws, and his up smash). He has some high knockback attacks (e.g. the famous Falcon Punch), but these moves are slow. Captain Falcon is heavy, which makes him harder to KO. However, his heavy weight (combined with the fastest falling speed and large size) makes him easy to combo. He also has a good short hop, and his taunt cancel is great for mindgames.

Captain Falcon's major weakness is his poor recovery. Having the fastest falling speed makes him vulnerable to spikes. Additionally, Falcon Dive is a predictable recovery move that does not travel much horizontal distance. On the upside, it can take out edge-hoggers and can be used again to grab an edge.

Falcon is known on a competitive level as being one of the top characters on Dreamland and the only character outside of Fox on Hyrule to have a virtually even matchup with Pikachu. However, Falcon struggles with Fox on Hyrule, Jigglypuff on Hyrule, and Kirby on either stage.

Description

A regular pilot in the great galactic race F-ZERO Grand Prix, Captain Falcon is skilled at collecting prize money. Much about his past remains hidden in shadow, but it's clear that many a villain hold a powerful grudge against him.

Works: F-ZERO (SNES), F-ZERO X (N64)

How to Unlock Captain Falcon

Beat Single Player mode before 20 minutes has gone by. The battle takes place in Planet Zebes.

Normal Moves

• A - Punch = 2-3%
• A A - Double Punch = Second hit also does 2-3%
• A A A - Double Punch, Kick = 2-4%
• Rapid A - Rapid Punch = 1% each

The Gentleman doesn't need to be timed--hitting A thrice is sufficient.

• Forward tilt - Side Kick = 5-15%

Like most forward tilts, this one can be angled.

• Down tilt - Low Kick = 5-11%

This attack sends the opponent at a low trajectory.

• Up tilt - Ax Kick = 4-9%, 6-14% (two hits, total 23%)

This attack can hit from behind Captain Falcon.

• Forward smash - Forward Kick = 7-19%

The attack can be angled.

• Down smash - Down Spin Kick = 6-16%

If the attack connects closer to the body, the opponent will be sent upwards. If it connects with the tip, the opponent will be sent in a more horizontal direction.

• Up smash - Up Punch = 7-17%

This is Captain Falcon's main combo starter. The attack sends the opponent straight up, but with low knockback and high hitstun.

• Neutral aerial - Sex Kick = 5-16% (at beginning)

Like most sex kicks, this attack loses power with time.

• Forward aerial - Double Kick = 4-22% for two hits

This attack is similar to Captain Falcon's Melee nair.

• Back aerial - Back Punch = 6-16%

Captain Falcon extends his fist behind him.

• Up aerial - Flip Kick = 6-16%

Many consider this attack to be Captain Falcon's most versatile attack. Depending on what part of the hitbox connects with the opponent, it can send the opponent up, forward, or backwards, or in certain cases keep the opponent, for all practical purposes, in place (the spot where the most knockback occurs is at Captain Falcon's heel when a person is hit from Captain Falcon's back). A common use for this attack is to simply just chain uairs together into one huge combo.

• Down aerial - Stomp = 6-14%

This attack is a spike. The hitbox exists on the legs and chest, and if the opponent connects with the chest, he/she will be sent down at a slight angle. If the opponent is already on the ground, it will, depending on the percent, keep the opponent in place or send him/her up at a very slight angle.

• Forward throw = 9-12%

Falcon slams the opponent down in front of him. Having very low knockback for a grab, this can be used to start aerial chains.

• Back throw = 12-16%

Falcon kicks the opponent back. This throw has much more knockback.

• Taunt = Turns to his right, keeping his left hand curled into a fist which he puts on his hip, he touches his forehead with his right fist then straightens his hand out to do a salute while saying "Show me your moves!".

Special Moves

• Neutral B: Falcon Punch 9-25%
• Up B: Falcon Dive 15-20%
• Down B: Falcon Kick 5-15%

Combos, Tactics, and Tricks

Basic and more advanced combos

Basic falcon combos are known for being to combine multiple up airs into up b or down air for kills. Usually the first move used into the combo is an up smash, forward throw, or short hop f-air. What progresses Falcon's mostly is their spacing and use of tilt's as Falcon's combos are overall some of the easiest to do in the game but Falcon is overall considered to be the easiest to combo outside of DK due to his weight and low floatiness. Spacing aerials is key.

Falcon Punch Combos

More advanced combos involve using the Falcon punch as finishers such as up air into falcon punch, a tech chase down air into falcon punch, or a forward throw into falcon punch. Combos into falcon punch are usually within the 50-70 range vs Fast Fallers or heavy weights using Forward throw, around 60-90 (some using a jump after using up air and some grounded) and around 110-120 using down air.

Spike Combo

Sometimes known as the "Ken Combo" of SSB, this combo consists of an up aerial followed by a jump and then a dair spike. The up aerial must connect at the right spot so that there is minimal knockback. Ken has said that the Marth ken combo of melee was inspired by the Ken combo of SSB.

Falcon Punch Recovery

Using a Falcon Punch while in the air gives Captain Falcon slight horizontal movement. Also, the attack can be "angled" by hitting up or down right after hitting B, which can be used to boost his vertical recovery slightly as well.

Dash Pivot

A really easy and effective mindgame technique. It's basically a frontwards roll, without the roll. One does an initial dash and quickly taps the stick the opposite direction. If one holds it the opposite direction, or even presses it, then Captain Falcon will dash dance instead. What makes this move very effective is that Falcon has a long initial dash, and so one can use this to tech chase one's opponent depending on his position. One can also use the dash pivot to change one's position in battle, necessary for spacing.

Dair-Dair Spike

When performed on a grounded foe the Dair will send them upwards on a small angle. One can use this when Captain Falcon is close to an edge to perform a second Dair which will (after about 50% with most chars) send them to the bottom of the stage. In order to do this one will need to Short hop both attacks and L-Cancel the first one as well. The first down air can also combine into a falcon punch

Costume Gallery

File:Alt-cfalcon.jpg

Captain Falcon's changeable clothing in SSB

Trivia

• Captain Falcon is the only playable character that doesn't use his own face for his stock life icon. (Instead he uses a Falcon.)
• Captain Falcon and Ness are the only characters to not have a stage originating from their franchise.
• Captain Falcon has the most costumes in the game , with six. Most characters have 4 or 5