Falco (Super Smash Flash 2)

Falco is a veteran starter character in Super Smash Flash 2 who was revealed during the Day 2 stream at Super Smash Con 2016. Unlike his usual appearance as an unlockable character in all the official Super Smash Bros. games released to date, he was made a starter instead in Super Smash Flash 2. His sprites are custom-made and based on his appearance in and his voice clips are directly taken from the same game. His moveset is a combination of his and Brawl movesets, making him a semi-clone of , moveset-wise.
Falco is ranked 19th of A- tier on the current tier list. Falco possesses good frame data, excellent jumps and one of the best neutrals in the game due to the projectile in . He possesses KO options in his down tilt, forward smash, down smash, and back aerial. He also possess a strong meteor smash in his down aerial, which is a major factor in his combos. He has an all purpose move in , that can reflect projectiles, stall Falco in the air and can start his famous pillar combos.
However, Falco also possess major flaws, mostly from his accelerated falling speed, the fastest in the game, which makes him very vulnerable to combos and chain grabs. What makes this worse is Falco's light weight, which makes him susceptible to zero-to-death combos. Another problem, which is also worsened by his poor horizontal endurance and high gravity, is his recovery. Falco's recovery is predictable and Fire Bird covering a short vertical distance makes his weight problem all the more worse if he falls at a diagonal angle and if he has lost his double jump. Falco also struggles to KO due to him having few KO moves and not a lot of KO set-ups.
== Attributes ==
Falco has strong attributes throughout his moveset with quick frame data, decent range, strong combo ability and a few strong KO moves. Falco has KO moves in his Down tilt, forward smash, Down smash, back aerial, down aerial, and Reflector when close to the blast zone.
Falco has an all purpose move in his Reflector, which is the source of the majority of his combo game, as its name implies, a reflector, as stated above, another KO move and a decent edge guarding move. He can also multishine by jumping, and then immediately shining, which is a powerful damage tool on heavyweights/fastfallers at low percent, and can easily break/pressure shield.
Falco has one of the best neutral games in the current demo, due in part to his Blaster. Its lasers is one of the best projectiles in the game with it being fast, covering a long distance, can be shot multiple times by short hopping, can be used to either approach the opponent, stop their approach and can also be used to edgeguard recovering opponents.
Falco also has a strong air game with having a good approach option in his neutral aerial. He has a good spacing tool and strong KO option in his back aerial. He has a powerful down aerial meteor smash, which is the crux of his gameplay in starting combos, extending them and being a great edge guarding tool.
However, Falco is not without his flaws in that he has high accelerated falling speed, which makes him one of the easiest characters to combo. This problem is further compounded by him being light, which makes him easy to knock off stage, if not KO out right.
In terms of his recovery, Falco has one of the shortest vertical recovery moves in the game with Firebird covering a short distance. This makes meteor smashes, spikes, semi-spikes and edge guarding very deadly to Falco if knocked off stage. Falco Phatasm, though covering great horizonal distance, can be easily intercepted and edge hogged.
Despite Falco having strong tools to keep opponents out, he doesn't have very good escape options when opponents get up close to him. He has poor mobility throughout his moveset, making running away from the opponent a problem.
== Moveset ==
=== Ground attacks ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Neutral attack	Performs two knifehanded strikes before spinning his whole body to perform a flurry of knifehand strikes. Its first and second hit are capable of jab locking. The player can continue the flurry by repeatedly pressing or holding the attack button after the second hit.	
Neutral attack	Performs two knifehanded strikes before spinning his whole body to perform a flurry of knifehand strikes. Its first and second hit are capable of jab locking. The player can continue the flurry by repeatedly pressing or holding the attack button after the second hit.	
Neutral attack	Performs two knifehanded strikes before spinning his whole body to perform a flurry of knifehand strikes. Its first and second hit are capable of jab locking. The player can continue the flurry by repeatedly pressing or holding the attack button after the second hit.	
Forward tilt 	Performs a straight kick. It can be used for spacing at lower percents. At higher percents, it can set up a tech-chase situation. 	9%
Up tilt 	Flips his leg behind him. Short range but very fast. Has incredible combo ability and can quickly knock opponents into the air to follow up with aerials or a Shine. 	9%
Down tilt 	Swipes with his tail in front of him. Short range but deals high vertical knockback and can be used as a combo tool at early percents or a KO move at high percents. 	13%
Dash attack 	Performs a flying kick. Has decent knockback and little startup lag, making it a usable approach option. It can be followed up with an aerial attack. 	
Dash attack 	Performs a flying kick. Has decent knockback and little startup lag, making it a usable approach option. It can be followed up with an aerial attack. 	
Forward smash 	Swings both wings forward. Its high knockback and good range makes it one of his best KO options. 	
Up smash 	Performs a bicycle kick. It is drastically weaker than 's similar up smash but has less ending lag and allows Falco to follow up sooner. The kick gets weaker over time and there is a sourspot at his trailing foot. 	
Up smash 	Performs a bicycle kick. It is drastically weaker than 's similar up smash but has less ending lag and allows Falco to follow up sooner. The kick gets weaker over time and there is a sourspot at his trailing foot. 	
Up smash 	Performs a bicycle kick. It is drastically weaker than 's similar up smash but has less ending lag and allows Falco to follow up sooner. The kick gets weaker over time and there is a sourspot at his trailing foot. 	
Up smash 	Performs a bicycle kick. It is drastically weaker than 's similar up smash but has less ending lag and allows Falco to follow up sooner. The kick gets weaker over time and there is a sourspot at his trailing foot. 	
Down smash 	Performs a split kick. His feet are intangible during the attack. Has very low startup, hits on both sides, and is a semi-spike, which makes it useful for edgeguarding. 	
=== Aerial attacks ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Neutral aerial	Performs a sex kick, extending his foot. It is useful for breaking out of combos due to its very fast startup, and as a versatile horizontal combo starter and extender. 	
Neutral aerial	Performs a sex kick, extending his foot. It is useful for breaking out of combos due to its very fast startup, and as a versatile horizontal combo starter and extender. 	
Forward aerial	Spins in a drill-like formation, hitting three times with his beak. Its low knockback makes it useful for combos. 	
Forward aerial	Spins in a drill-like formation, hitting three times with his beak. Its low knockback makes it useful for combos. 	
Back aerial 	Faces backwards to perform a kick behind himself. Its low startup and high knockback makes it one of Falco's best KO options. Its damage and knockback become weaker over time, and there is also a sourspot at his torso.	
Back aerial 	Faces backwards to perform a kick behind himself. Its low startup and high knockback makes it one of Falco's best KO options. Its damage and knockback become weaker over time, and there is also a sourspot at his torso.	
Back aerial 	Faces backwards to perform a kick behind himself. Its low startup and high knockback makes it one of Falco's best KO options. Its damage and knockback become weaker over time, and there is also a sourspot at his torso.	
Back aerial 	Faces backwards to perform a kick behind himself. Its low startup and high knockback makes it one of Falco's best KO options. Its damage and knockback become weaker over time, and there is also a sourspot at his torso.	
Back aerial 	Faces backwards to perform a kick behind himself. Its low startup and high knockback makes it one of Falco's best KO options. Its damage and knockback become weaker over time, and there is also a sourspot at his torso.	
Up aerial 	Performs a somersault kick from back to front above himself. 	10%
Down aerial 	Performs downward corkscrew kick that hits once. A fast and powerful meteor smash if landed at the start. Its later hit pushes opponents to the side, similarly to Falco's down aerial in the PAL release of Melee. 	
Down aerial 	Performs downward corkscrew kick that hits once. A fast and powerful meteor smash if landed at the start. Its later hit pushes opponents to the side, similarly to Falco's down aerial in the PAL release of Melee. 	
=== Grab and throws ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Grab 	Reaches out with a wing. 	
Pummel 	Knees the opponent. 	1%
Forward throw	Punches the opponent forward. 	8%
Back throw 	Throws the opponent behind him before firing three shots with his Blaster. 	
Back throw 	Throws the opponent behind him before firing three shots with his Blaster. 	
Up throw 	Throws the opponent above him before firing three shots with his Blaster. 	
Up throw 	Throws the opponent above him before firing three shots with his Blaster. 	
Down throw 	Slams the opponent onto the ground before firing three shots with his Blaster. Its meteor smash capability can put an opponent into a tech-chasing situation.	
=== Other attacks ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Floor attack	Gets up and does a thrust kick behind him with one leg, and then in front of him with the other.	
Ledge attack	Gets up and performs a corkscrewing dropkick. 	7%
=== Special moves ===
Special move 	Name 	Description 	Damage
Neutral special move	 	Pulls out his Blaster and fires a slim blue laser projectile. Unlike Fox's , it fires at a much slower rate, but causes hitstun and deals slightly more damage. The fire rate is faster if the attack is being used mid-air. It can also be canceled upon landing, making it useful for approaching and even starting combos with. 	3%
Side special move 	Falco Phantasm	Rears back before launching himself forward in a red blur of afterimages. Opponents hit are meteor smashed. This move can be canceled by pressing the special input again before launching, though it will not deal any damage. It is a fast and effective horizontal recovery tool, albeit a linear one that leaves Falco helpless.	7%
Up special move 	Fire Bird 	Engulfs himself in an aura of blue flame before launching himself into the air while yelling "Fire!" in the chosen direction, dealing fire damage to opponents hit. Travels a much shorter distance than Fox's Fire Fox and does not damage opponents while charging. It leaves Falco helpless after being used. 	14%
Down special move 	 	Creates a barrier around him that reflects projectiles. Opponents hit are launched directly upwards. The move has minimal startup lag and can be immediately jump-canceled to avoid all ending lag, making it incredibly useful for leading into aerial combos. Falco is intangible on the first frame. 	8%
Final Smash 	Arwing 	Hops onto an Arwing, displaying the cockpit, allowing him to shoot lasers and a limited supply of Smart Bombs. 	
Final Smash 	Arwing 	Hops onto an Arwing, displaying the cockpit, allowing him to shoot lasers and a limited supply of Smart Bombs. 	
Final Smash 	Arwing 	Hops onto an Arwing, displaying the cockpit, allowing him to shoot lasers and a limited supply of Smart Bombs. 	
=== Misc. ===
Misc. 	Description 	Description 	Description
On-screen appearance	Jumps out of his Arwing and lands in a crouching position. 	Jumps out of his Arwing and lands in a crouching position. 	Jumps out of his Arwing and lands in a crouching position.
Taunts 	Neutral 	Kicks his reflector around and says "Piece of cake." before catching it. 	
Taunts 	Side 	Stands on one foot with his wing raised, posing while saying "Don't try me". 	
Taunts 	Down/Up 	Spins around twice on one foot, then poses with one of his wings while saying "Hands off my prey!". 	
Idle poses 	colspan="3" 	 	
Victory theme 	A short remix of the title theme of , it is also similar to the flourish that plays whenever Fox successfully completes a mission in the same game.	A short remix of the title theme of , it is also similar to the flourish that plays whenever Fox successfully completes a mission in the same game.	A short remix of the title theme of , it is also similar to the flourish that plays whenever Fox successfully completes a mission in the same game.
Victory pose 	Jumps high into the air and poses on the ground after landing. 	Jumps high into the air and poses on the ground after landing. 	Jumps high into the air and poses on the ground after landing.
== In competitive play ==
=== Match ups ===
=== Notable players ===
*Gax
=== Tier placement history ===
== Gallery ==
=== Costumes ===
=== Screenshots ===
SF taunt.png|Falco and taunting on Sector Z.
Falco blast.png|Falco about to use , on and on Sky Pillar.
FBaerial.png|Falco using his back aerial on Meteo Campaigns.
Falco 1.png|Falco near a whole pizza on Bowser's Castle.
Falco 2.png|Falco and after uses Blaster on Sector Z.
Ball - Falco.png|Ball version.
=== Misc. ===
SSF2 - Classic mode - Falco.png|Falco's congratulations screen on Classic mode.
SSF2 - All-Star mode - Falco.png|Falco's congratulations screen on All-Star mode.
== Trivia ==
*Falco along with , , , , , , and are the only characters, so far, who wear their default costumes in team battle when they are on the blue team.
*Falco, , Sonic, , Marth, and are the only starters in this game who were originally unlockables in their debut appearances in the official games. While and Captain Falcon are also starters, they had to be unlocked in the demo they debuted in.
Category:First-party characters
Category:Starter characters
Category:Veteran characters
Category:Super Smash Flash 2
Category:Super Smash Flash series