Getting around the SHB/pillar

[N64]

I can't beat falcos. The person in our crew who plays falco(SilentJupiter) has been improving greatly lately, and another crew member(dmac) has picked him up too. This, being my first real experience with decent falcos, has shown me that they're annoying as hell to play.

His SHB destroys any mobility I have on the ground, so I either have to keep close to him, take to the air, stick to platforms, or get stuck in my shield as he approaches. Keeping close seems to fail too, though, as his shine and shffl'd dairs destroy me. Pika's crappy shield make it difficult to consistently shield/shieldgrab either, and whenever he pulls one off, it usually ends in a combo that will throw me out far enough to start SHBing me again. This usually deteriorates my game into feints around the edge of the stage, hoping for a lucky grab, upsmash, or nair so i can combo him off the edge and finish with a nair, fsmash, or uair spike off the edge.

So basically, as pika, how do you get around this? Falco is easy enough to combo if you can grab him, upsmash him, or pop him up with a rising uair, but rarely do I have the opportunity for any of these. And pika's edge-guarding works wonders on falco, but i don't often get in the opportunity to edge-guard him. What am I doing wrong? Is there anything I can do to get around it?

Just curious. I feel so helpless and slow when playing falcos, those tactics usually destroy my game. Any advice is appreciated.

[vidjogamer]

Originally posted by N64


I feel so helpless and slow when playing falcos.


Slow is not necessarily a bad thing.

The truth is, falco own pika.
Make him come to you, otherwise you will get blastered into whatever.

He edgeguards pika for free.

Chain throw?

Good luck.

[Zanguzen]

try powershielding- i was surprised at how much easier it is than i thought- at least try practicing it- one powershielded laser may get u the time u need to cut his approach- id say stay offensive- dont let him shoot lasers- id be scared as hell of a pikachu who kept on the offensive and with one wrong tech wud grab me into a death combo- also roll from pillars- dont even bother grabbing- maybe try jolts to cut his approach off- never get caught by a laser on descent from the air- thats all i can think of my pika suks im just putting this from my falcos point of view

[Pok'emaster]

My strategy is to move around as much and as quickly as possible. While he tries to chase you, use Thunder. If you practice, you can keep falling sideways while you use it, so that it still reaches the ground, and doesn't stop you while you are in the air. When his pecentage is up, land, and when he moves in close, use thundershock off of an edge. That's my strategy for every character.... Strike fast, kill hard.

[BUHO]

The truth is that although what some of these guys said may help a little, your best bet is prayer. Pika can take an average Falco player, but if you're facing a pro, forget it. It doesn't help that zang is the only falco i play, perhaps thats why im so pessimistic. Maybe someday someone will build up an amazing pika, so keep matching your friends to try. In a tourney situation, however, I just say build up a backup char.

[Electricmouse]

While he tries to chase you, use Thunder.

I don't think that many good falco players will fall into that. Like its been stated already falco owns pika. The only advice I can give you is to hope the he messes up, don't try to kill by upsmashing and try to get him off the stage.