Falco (SSB4)

Falco in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	Star Fox
Other playable appearances	in Melee in Brawl
Availability	Unlockable
Final Smash	Landmaster

Falco (ファルコ, Falco) returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. Falco was officially confirmed on October 3rd, 2014, alongside Ness and Wario, coinciding with the the North American and European release of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. His moveset appears to be largely unchanged from its Brawl incarnation.

In Japanese, he is once again voiced by Hisao Egawa. In English, instead of being voiced by Dex Manley like in Brawl, he is now voiced by Mark Lund, his voice actor from Star Fox 64 3D.

How to Unlock

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

• Play 20 VS Matches.
• Complete Classic Mode without using any continues.

Falco must then be defeated on Corneria.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

• Play 10 VS Matches.
• Clear Classic Mode on any intensity.

Falco must then be defeated on Orbital Gate Assault.

Changes from Brawl

While he received miscellaneous buffs, Falco was nerfed overall from Brawl to Smash 4. Although Falco has technically been buffed in most regards, with increased KO ability in several of his attacks, an above-average selection of throws, and an improved recovery due to the buffs to Falco Phantasm and the removal of edgehogging, the few nerfs he received crippled his previously effective neutral game and approaching ability, making him much less effective as a character.

Falco's most significant nerf was to his Blaster; formerly the crux of his neutral game, the shots can no longer autocancel, weakening his approaches and his ability to pressure from afar. The removal of DACUS only exacerbates this as Falco now lacks any safe, quick way to approach enemies on the ground and follow up on combos or strings. His down aerial, which was a staple in his playstyle in previous games, has also been significantly nerfed, weakening his ability to close out stocks quickly. It also weakens his ability to approach with down aerial, a relatively effective strategy in past games, unless the player utilizes frame cancelling, a complicated and impractical advanced technique that is extremely hard to perform consistently and can be thrown off by shielding on reaction. The removal of chain grabs is also a double-edged sword for Falco; while Falco is no longer an easy victim to it, its removal means that he loses his down throw chain grab, which impairs his ability to rack up damage quickly.

Thus, while Falco's combo options besides down aerial have been left relatively untouched, he is now more easily camped and must work much harder to win neutral exchanges. Additionally, due to the nerfs to his down throw, he can no longer convert as powerfully as he could in Brawl if he manages to win in neutral. As both of these are disadvantages he cannot afford to endure at high-level play due to his fast falling speed and the ease in which he can be comboed by other characters, Falco is considered much less viable than he has ever been in the past.

In recent patches, Falco has been given improvements to his punish game; his neutral aerial is now more versatile, his up and forward aerials come out faster, and his throws have improved. While this does not improve Falco's worsened neutral game, it does give him more options on the offensive and improves his previously nerfed damage racking ability, making him slightly more viable.

Aesthetics

• As part of the aesthetic used in SSB4, Falco's overall color scheme is brighter compared to how it looked in Brawl (which, like Fox, is based off his appearance in Star Fox: Command). Additionally, his eye reticle is smaller than it was in Brawl.

Attributes

• Falco's dashing speed is slightly faster (from 1.432 in Brawl to 1.472 in Smash 4).
• Falco's falling speed is slightly faster (from 1.708 in Brawl to 1.8 in Smash 4) making him slightly more susceptible to combos.

Ground attacks

• Neutral infinite now transitions into a finisher.
• Dash attack is slightly slower, with an extra 4 frames of start-up (hitting on frame 8 instead of 4).
• Down tilt sweet-spotted has much more base knockback (25 → 50), restoring its KO potential from Melee.
• Up smash hits twice, deals more damage (14 → 16) and has no sourspot behind Falco.
• Up smash has more endlag and the removal of DACUS removes the potential of Falco's up smash as an approach option, followup option, and KO setup from his down throw. Falco can also no longer perform the Gatling Combo, removing its combo potential.
• Down smash has slightly more growth (70 → 76). Falco's feet are now intangible during start-up (including the charging period).
• Forward smash deals more knockback (40 base/88 growth → 42 base/96 growth).
• Forward smash hits 1 frame later (16 frames → 17 frames) and has less reach.

Aerial attacks

• Forward and neutral aerials connect better (Nair uses the autolink angle now).
• Neutral aerial has more landing lag (9 frames → 15 frames).
• Last hit of forward aerial has significantly increased knockback (80 base/60 growth → 55 base/145 growth), making it a very reliable KO move offstage and has much less landing lag (33 frames → 25 frames). It additionally has an added landing hitbox that deals 3% and can KO at around 150%.
• Forward aerial deals less damage (11 → 9%) and has 4 frames extra start-up (6 frames → 10 frames).
• New sweet spotted back aerial has much more growth (103 → 130), making it a very powerful KO move both onstage and offstage.
• New back aerial has less range, lost its lingering hitbox and no longer hits in front of Falco.
• Down aerial's meteor smash has much weaker growth (100 → 80), and the move has significantly more startup (frame 5 → 16) and landing lag (12 frames → 26 frames), drastically worsening its utility.
• Up air no longer has a sourspot and consistently sends upwards, leading to more followups.
• Up air deals 1% less damage (11 → 10%).

Throws/other attacks

• All of Falco's laser-based throws now consist of 1 strong blaster shot instead of 3 weak blaster shots, making them more reliable for damage racking, especially at high percentages.
• Up throw's new vertical trajectory along with its aforementioned single, strong shot makes it better for follow-ups, and it is arguably his best throw to string with at mid to high percentages.
• Back throw deals more damage and knockback, just barely making it a viable kill throw at around 140% near the edge.
• Down throw deals less damage and has lost its chain grabbing ability, removing one of his best strategies from Brawl as well as harming Falco's damage racking game. It also has more base knockback (45 → 60) making it more difficult to followup on.

Special moves

• Falco Phantasm no longer leaves Falco helpless when used in mid-air, and can no longer dash over edges when used on the ground. It also has less landing lag when used while airborne, and gives Falco some slight forward momentum after the move ends.
• Falco Phantasm has more startup (17 → 19).
• Falco Phantasm has a new animation, involving Falco spreading his arms out.
• Falco Phantasm can no longer be canceled, removing recovery mix-ups with it.
• Fire Bird gains more recovery distance.
• Blaster loses practicality as an approach option as shots no longer auto-cancel, cannot be fired as frequently, and aerial Blaster shots barely get a noticeable increase in attack speed. The height of Falco's short hop often shoots the lasers over the opponent's heads. It also covers significantly less range (not even the full Final Destination length).
• Blaster shots now deal consistent 3% damage as they travel farther.
• Reflector starts and ends slightly faster. Because of Smash 4's higher hitstun, it is a better poking option than in the previous game, as Falco can now use another move once Reflector ends while the opponent is stunned.
• Because Reflector is faster, the window that Falco gets to reflect projectiles is slightly shorter, making timing of the move more crucial than in Brawl. Although it has less lag, the removal of random tripping makes Reflector much less safe to use as an offense, as it will no longer trip opponents.
• Falco's Reflector animation is more fluid, and he now catches the device with his wing once the move ends.
• Landmaster is less powerful and lasts a shorter duration.

Moveset

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			3%	Falco does a jab, another jab, and then tilts diagonally and spins very quickly with his arms out. He finishes the attack with a strong swipe.
			2%
			0.4% (loop), 3% (last)
Forward tilt			9%	Kicks his leg out. Can be angled. Below-average knockback.
Up tilt			4% (hit 1 most), 3% (hit 1 late tip), 5% (hit 2)	Swings both of his wings above his head, hitting twice. The tip of the first hit is a meteor smash, although it is very hard to land consistently in normal gameplay as both attacks chain well into each other. A good move in general, being both good for comboing and a fast but somewhat weak KO option, dealing enough vertical knockback to KO at around 150%.
Down tilt			12% (near), 11% (mid), 9% (far)	Falco performs a quick tail swipe. Surprisingly good knockback for its speed, being a reliable KO move around 120% if sweetspotted.
Dash attack			9% (clean), 6% (late)	Falco jumps slightly off the ground while running and performs a kick.
Forward smash			15% (clean), 10% (late)	Falco swings his wings in an overhead powerful swipe, slashing anyone who is caught in it. High knockback. Sweetspot is at the hands.
Up smash			4% (hit 1), 12% (hit 2)	Falco does a backflip, kicking out with both feet. Hits twice with moderate knockback.
Down smash			15% (feet), 12% (legs)	Falco does a split kick that comes out decently quickly. His legs are intangible for a short time before the attack strikes. Below-average range. Has a very small sourspot in the center of his body that deals weak vertical knockback, but endlag renders it practically unusuable for comboing.
Neutral aerial			3% (hits 1-2), 2% (hit 3), 4% (hit 4)	Falco does a series of spinning swipes with his wings, hitting four times. The final hit knocks opponents away. Good combo move.
Forward aerial			1% (loop), 4% (last), 3% (landing)	Falco turns horizontally and spins, hitting multiple times with his beak, similar to Pikachu's or Sonic's forward aerial. All attacks chain well into each other, and the final hit does massive knockback, KOing offstage around 100% while not being particularly hard to land. Landing while the move is used causes a shockwave that knocks opponents away with decently strong knockback, making this move one of Falco's best finishing moves both onstage and offstage.
Back aerial			13% (clean), 7% (late)	Falco does a backwards flying kick with one leg outstretched. Excellent start-up and knockback scaling, but fairly low range, and hitbox doesn't linger as long as in Brawl.
Up aerial			11%	Falco does a forwards flip kick into the air. Juggles well at low percentages and can KO at higher percentages. Knockback is somewhat lacking compared to Fox's, but Falco's high jumps allow it to be used from very high up near the blast line, where it can KO at around 110%.
Down aerial			13% (clean), 8% (late)	Falco turns diagonally and spins. High startup lag, and hits once with a meteor smash. Significantly nerfed from Brawl, although it benefits from frame cancelling.
Grab			—	Grabs the opponent.
Pummel			2%	A quick knee strike.
Forward throw			4% (hit 1), 3% (throw)	Falco bashes the opponent forward. Can combo into a forward air at low to mid percentages if the opponent's jump is read, which acts a fairly reliable KO setup at particularly high percents.
Back throw			6% (throw), 3% (shots)	Falco throws the foe backwards and then blasts them once with his blaster. Can KO at around 140% near the edge if opponent is hit by the blaster shot, slightly weaker than Mario's back throw.
Up throw			4% (throw), 4% (shots)	Falco throws the foe upwards and shoots them with a blaster shot. Arguably Falco's best combo throw at mid to high percentages, due to his high jumps. Can lead into a KO with up air if the opponent's reaction is read.
Down throw			2% (shots), 3% (throw)	The opponent is thrown on the ground and shot in the chest with Falco's blaster. Good combo throw at low to mid percentages.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			7%	Falco lunges and kicks backwards and forwards.
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%	Falco extends to attack in front and in back.
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			5%	Falco spins around, kicking those who are near.
Edge attack Edge getups			7%	Falco lunges at the opponent with a kick.
Neutral special	Default	Blaster	3%	Falco fires his blaster. Unlike Fox's Blaster, it is slow but can stun the opponent and is slightly more powerful. The blaster fires a bit faster in the air, although not really noticeable.
	Custom 1	Explosive Blaster	1% (loop), 2% (last)	Falco fires a shot that slows down as it travels and explodes right before it stops. It pushes opponents while traveling, but does not do damage until the shot explodes.
	Custom 2	Burst Blaster	2%	Falco fires more rapid shots, but with less power, range, and won't make the opponent flinch. Similar to Fox's Blaster. The ending lag is significantly reduced.
Side special	Default	Falco Phantasm	7% (ground), 6% (airborne opponents when used in air)	Falco becomes invisible and suddenly dashes through opponents, leaving behind after-images. Unlike Fox Illusion, Falco Phantasm will launch airborne opponents straight downwards on contact, and it has faster startup. On grounded opponents, it sends them upwards with favorable force to combo into a back aerial.
	Custom 1	Falco Phase	0%	Falco is intangible for the duration of the move, but cannot hit opponents either. The distance Falco travels is also slightly shorter.
	Custom 2	Falco Charge	4% (early), 12% (clean), 4% (late)	A shorter dash that hits much harder at the beginning of the move.
Up special	Default	Fire Bird	2% (charging loop), 3% (launch hit 1), 2% (launch hits 2-8), 2% (launch hit 9)	Falco charges up in flames and suddenly fires himself in any direction, depending on what direction is held. The attack hits multiple times. It also travels a shorter distance than Fox's Fire Fox.
	Custom 1	Fast Fire Bird	2%	Falco instantly fires himself in any direction, but travels a shorter distance.
	Custom 2	Distant Fire Bird	8% (first hit), 2% (loop)	Falco charges up for a longer period of time, but travels further. The initial part of the attack launches opponents while the rest of the attack hits opponents multiple times, dealing weak knockback and can't link hits very well.
Down special	Default	Reflector	5% (reflector), 1.2x (reflection)	Falco activates his Reflector and kicks it away from him, reflecting any projectiles and shocking any enemies it comes in contact with. It then returns to him as if magnetized. The move can be used as a poking tool that trips low-damage opponents and can start combos.
	Custom 1	Accele-Reflector	2% (reflector), 1.0x (reflection)	The reflector can only reflect projectiles while moving forwards, but increases the speed of the reflected shots which deal the same damage as before. The Accele-Reflector is colored green, and deactivates once it stops moving forwards.
	Custom 2	Reflector Void	9% (reflector), 0.7x (reflection)	The reflector nullifies most projectiles instead of reflecting them, but deals more damage on contact. Reflected projectiles deal less damage than before. The Reflector Void is colored purple.
Final Smash		Landmaster	12%/11%/10%/8% (movement), 10% (roll), 8%/12% (shot)	Falco summons his Landmaster. It has more aerial mobility than Fox's, but does not last as long, and its blasts are weaker.

Taunts

• Kicks his reflector around like a hackey sack and says "Piece of cake!"
• Poses by standing on one foot with his wing raised before saying "Get some!"
• Like in Melee, he spins once and crosses one arm before saying "Hands off my prey!"
• Smash Taunt: When fighting as Falco on the Corneria stage, quickly tap down on the directional pad once and he will kneel down and seem as though he's trying to communicate with someone through a device, and then stand back up, at which point a conversation will begin with another character from the Star Fox universe.

On-Screen Appearance

Falco ejects from an upside-down Arwing.

Victory Fanfare

A flourished remix directly from Brawl based on the theme that would play at the title screen in Star Fox 64. It is shared with Fox.

Victory Poses

• FalcoPose1WiiU.png
• FalcoPose2WiiU.png
• FalcoPose3WiiU.png

• Jumps high into the air and poses on the ground.
• Does rapid kicks and poses, saying "Had enough already?".
  • If Fox is present after a match, there is a chance he will instead say "You're off your game, Fox."
• Crosses arms and looks away, saying "You aren't worth the trouble."

In Competitive Play

Official Custom Moveset Project

Character	Custom sets available
Falco	1123	1121	1133	1131	3123
	3121	3133	3131	2123	2133

In event matches

Solo Events

• All-Star Battle: Melee: Falco is one of the eight opponents fought in this event. All the opponents debut in Melee and reappeared in Smash 4 as veterans.
• Duck Hunt!: As Duck Hunt, the player must defeat 10 ducks which appear in the stage background. Falco can interfere with the progress with Giant Falco appearing after some time has passed.
• Great Fox Defense: Falco must prevent a group of Mr. Game & Watches from landing on the stage. The Mr. Game & Watches have more stock on higher difficulties.
• Up to Speed: As Sonic, the player must defeat Fox, Falco, and Captain Falcon in a high-speed 1 stock match.

Co-op Events

• Keep 'Em off the Ship!: Fox and Falco team up to prevent a larger wave of Mr. Game & Watches from landing on the stage.
• Sky Pirates: Meta Knight and Dark Pit must team up to defeat Captain Falcon and Falco before the plane returns to the airfield.
• The Ultimate Battle: Two players select a character and must defeat the entire roster.
• Visiting Onett: Falco is one of the opponents Ness and Villager must fight against. The opponents are space characters or characters from other planets.

Trophies

Falco

A talented pilot and part of the Star Fox team, Falco can be a bit rough around the edges. He once led his own galactic gang before joining up with Fox. In Smash Bros., his ability to jump high and deal damage in the air makes him a powerful threat, and his thrown Reflector can catch foes by surprise.

Ex-gang leader, ace pilot and comrade of Fox, Falco Lombardi might play it cool, but he's burning with passion on the inside. In this game, he excels at jumping and aerial combat, and the way his Reflector move flies forwards can catch foes off guard. Add to that his balanced array of attacks, and it's clear that Falco's a real threat.

: Star Fox (03/1993)

: Star Fox 64 (07/1997)

Falco (Alt.)

Falco's Blaster looks identical to Fox's at first, but actually it's quite different! The beams Falco fires deal more damage and cause the victim to flinch, but at a slower rate of fire. Considering Falco's lineage, it's not all that surprising that he can fire faster while airborne.

Falco's Blaster looks identical to Fox's at first glance, but they are actually quite different. Most notably, Falco's version causes enemies to flinch, which can be invaluable when warding off approaching foes. It also deals more damage and has a slower fire rate - though its fire rate actually increases when used in mid-air.

: Star Fox (03/1993)

: Star Fox 64 (07/1997)

Landmaster (Falco)

Falco jumps aboard his landmaster for his Final Smash, This powerful combat vehicle sports an explosive cannon and a heavily armored exterior. Falco can blast other fighters or simply drive into them with his tank. This landmaster also flies higher than Fox's, letting Falco give his rivals a pick-me-up...off the stage!

With immense firepower and tough armour, the Landmaster makes for a mighty Final Smash. Falco can use this fine combat vehicle to run down and roll into rivals, as well as inundate them with cannon blasts. His Landmaster can hover a bit higher than Fox's making it easier to pick rivals up and give them a nice comfy ride off the stage!

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  Classic (3DS)

• FalcoAllStarTrophy3DS.png

  Alt. (3DS)

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  Classic (Wii U)

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  Alt. (Wii U)

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  Landmaster

Update history

1.0.4

• Blaster can shoot faster.
• Landing hit of Forward Air does 5% damage, up from 2%.
• Fixed Reflector Void failing to reflect Timber properly.

1.0.8

• Jab improved; it locks opponents more reliably for all hits, and all hits have slightly larger hitboxes.
• Up smash's second hitbox starts up 1 frame sooner, and lasts two frames longer.
• Neutral aerial significantly improved; it has larger hitboxes, can now properly keep opponents in for all hits, and always produces knockback towards the direction Falco faces; significantly improving its followup capabilities.
• Forward aerial has 2 frames faster startup, and overall completes about 9 frames faster, giving it followup capabilities. It also deals 1% more damage if all aerial hits connect. It additionally has reduced landing lag.
  • Forward aerial's landing hit deals 2% less damage.
• Up aerial's startup was decreased by 3 frames, and its hitboxes deal more vertical based knockback, making it more combo-friendly. Its hitboxes are also slightly larger.
  • Up aerial deals 1% less damage.
  • All of up aerial's hitboxes deal the same knockback now, removing its sourspot.
• Down aerial's sweetspot lasts 1 frame longer, and its sourspot's hitboxes are slightly larger.
  • Down aerial's sweetspot no longer meteors grounded opponents, now sending opponents at a slightly diagonal vertical trajectory. While this removes its followup potential at high damages, it can no longer be teched by grounded opponents.

Technical changelist

Change	Old value	New value
Jab 1 hitboxes 0 and 2 switched
Jab 1 base knockback	30	35
Jab 1 angle (hitboxes 0-1)	80°	68°/77°
Jab 1 size (hitboxes 0-1)	2/3	2.5/3.2
Jab 1 Z-offset (hitbox 0)	0	-0.5
Jab 2 hitbox 2 angle	50°	45°
Jab 2 hitbox 2 size	2	5
Jab 2 Z-offset (hitbox 2)	0	-0.5
Transition from Jab 2 to Jab 3	frame 10	frame 9
Rapid jab loop hitbox sizes	2/3	2.7/3.2
Up smash final hit longevity	frames 13-20	frames 12-21
Neutral air weight-based knockback increased
Neutral air range increased
Neutral air (hit 2) damage	3%	2%
Neutral air hits now auto link
Neutral air's final hit now forces front-facing knockback
Animation speed 1.33x for frames 0-37
Looping hits refresh time	6	4
Number of looping hits	3	5
Forward air landing damage	5%	3%
Forward air base knockback	30	50
Up air damage	11%	10%
Up air angle	68°/68°/80°	65°/75°/85°
Up air base knockback	27/27/30	35/35/35
Up air knockback growth	100/100/20	90/90/90
Up air hitbox 0 size	4.8	5
Animation speed 1.5x for frames 0-8
Up air startup	10 frames	7 frames
Down air sweetspot produces a different hitbox with a nonmeteor angle on grounded opponents	280°	80°
Down air sourspot replaces sweetspot one frame later	19	20
Down air sourspot hitbox size	5	5.3

Alternate costumes

Gallery

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  Falco's amiibo.

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  Kicking Little Mac.

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  Readying his Blaster.

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  Attacking Bowser with Diddy Kong, Fox, and Takamaru.

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  Riding on an Arwing with Captain Falcon, Little Mac, and Fox.

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  Staring down Fox.

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  Attacking Link and Marth.

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  Posing with Pikachu.

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  In his Landmaster attacking Samus.

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  Using Falco Phantasm on Greninja.

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  On Boxing Ring with Captain Falcon, Luigi, and Shulk.

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  Hitting Lucario while wearing a Bunny Hood.

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  Using Falco Phantasm.

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  Slashing Pit.

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  Uses Falco Phantasm on Pit and Yoshi.

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  Hitting Charizard.

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  Fires his blaster.

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  Uses Fire Bird on Mario.

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  Firing alongside with Fox.

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  Jabs on Olimar.

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  Forward aerial attack on Mega Man.

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  Dash attack.

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  Falco in standby mode.

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  Down smash.

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  Poses with Peach.

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  Attacking Toon Link.

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  A pose.

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  Attacking Greninja.

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  Aerial attack with Andross.

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  Uses a Drill Arm on Mario and Sonic.

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  A taunt.

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  Poses with Captain Falcon.

Trivia

• Falco has three English voice actors between both versions of Super Smash Bros. 4. He has Marc Lund for his battle voice and the Orbital Gate Assault Smash taunts, Dex Manley for the Lylat Cruise Smash taunts, and Ben Cullum for the Corneria Smash taunts.
• Interestingly, the custom move set for his neutral special, Blaster will actually influence the throws in which Falco uses it. The same applies to Fox.
• This is Falco's first appearance where he is not unlocked by completing 100-Man mode (this unlock criteria goes to Wario instead).
• Falco is the last non-DLC character amiibo to be released in the Super Smash Bros. amiibo lineup.