Falco's plan in the neutral game is something that ive seen discussed time and time again here on the boards, and imo, is his biggest problem.
Now, im still learning how to play falco at a competitive level myself, but ill share what ive realized after playing with him. In most situations, the laser is practically unusable, it just has way too much endlag to legitimately zone or pressure at all. It can be used in niche situations, like to tack on extra damage after a combo where you r too far too follow with something else. Or to gimp characters with lackluster recoveries. As for the wait or approach question, it really depends on the situation, you have to gauge the risks and rewards of each. Trying to go in with falco can lead to some nice combos, but consider that he really has no safe approach option. You need to have the read on your opponent to land a grab, uptilt, etc. Same goes for waiting for falco, since he cant zone he lacks options to play defensively and threaten the opponents advances. If you r not clever enough with your movement it can lead to your opponent getting an easy read on you. However, that's not to say falco doesnt have decent options in neutral. Down tilt, for example, is a great combo starter and is relatively safe. His jab is pretty fast and is useful to confirm into either the full rapid jab combo at lower percents, or provide a mix up opportunity for a grab, smashes, or tilts at higher percents. Forward tilt is pretty good to stop foes attempting to run in against you (especially pivot forward tilt). Bairs are good to space out opponents, Nair and Fair can challenge aerials well. When you want go in on or have a read on the opponent, mixing up grab and dash attack are good attacks because they can start combos. The key is to use falcos ground movement, jumps, hops to threaten offensively and to be prepared to punish should the opponent over extend.
Now, im still learning how to play falco at a competitive level myself, but ill share what ive realized after playing with him. In most situations, the laser is practically unusable, it just has way too much endlag to legitimately zone or pressure at all. It can be used in niche situations, like to tack on extra damage after a combo where you r too far too follow with something else. Or to gimp characters with lackluster recoveries. As for the wait or approach question, it really depends on the situation, you have to gauge the risks and rewards of each. Trying to go in with falco can lead to some nice combos, but consider that he really has no safe approach option. You need to have the read on your opponent to land a grab, uptilt, etc. Same goes for waiting for falco, since he cant zone he lacks options to play defensively and threaten the opponents advances. If you r not clever enough with your movement it can lead to your opponent getting an easy read on you. However, that's not to say falco doesnt have decent options in neutral. Down tilt, for example, is a great combo starter and is relatively safe. His jab is pretty fast and is useful to confirm into either the full rapid jab combo at lower percents, or provide a mix up opportunity for a grab, smashes, or tilts at higher percents. Forward tilt is pretty good to stop foes attempting to run in against you (especially pivot forward tilt). Bairs are good to space out opponents, Nair and Fair can challenge aerials well. When you want go in on or have a read on the opponent, mixing up grab and dash attack are good attacks because they can start combos. The key is to use falcos ground movement, jumps, hops to threaten offensively and to be prepared to punish should the opponent over extend.
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