FE_Hector
Smash Lord
Put simply, I was at tourney today and both sets I lost were to Falco mains. How the heck do I get around those? I just kept getting locked down over and over again and felt so helpless.
Welcome to Smashboards, the world's largest Super Smash Brothers community! Over 250,000 Smash Bros. fans from around the world have come to discuss these great games in over 19 million posts!
You are currently viewing our boards as a visitor. Click here to sign up right now and start on your path in the Smash community!
For starters I can tell you what don't want to do. If you know the Falco wants to use lasers, avoid jumping when in mid-range. Marth doesn't ascend very quickly so the laser can catch your tallness before you get high enough, which can can complicate things. Another thing to watch out for is for when you get hit, don't panic and start hitting shield. You can dash very soon out of the laser stun. This can allow you to weave dashes in between each laser and maintain control of your character. Focus on dash dancing and watch for when Falco jumps. If you can time it right, go for a powershield and immediately wavedash out of your shield and resume the dash dance. This is optimal, but not always possible.Put simply, I was at tourney today and both sets I lost were to Falco mains. How the heck do I get around those? I just kept getting locked down over and over again and felt so helpless.
A lot of good advice, but I disagree with the first paragraph, or some of it. You should be able to avoid certain laser heights, and jump will give you access to platforms, specifically wavelanding on them, and using it to approach. With good movement, you can get there quickly enough.For starters I can tell you what don't want to do. If you know the Falco wants to use lasers, avoid jumping. Marth doesn't ascend very quickly so the laser can catch your tallness before you get high enough, which can can complicate things. Another thing to watch out for is for when you get hit, don't panic and start hitting shield. You can dash very soon out of the laser stun. This can allow you to weave dashes in between each laser and maintain control of your character. Focus on dash dancing and watch for when Falco jumps. If you can time it right, go for a powershield and immediately wavedash out of your shield and resume the dash dance. This is optimal, but not always possible.
Watch for how the Falco uses his lasers. There's a billion ways they can use them, but I'll try and simplify it. Falco can use lasers to either maintain pressure from a distance or pressure while approaching. The key to this is to watch how he jumps. An advancing Falco will jump toward you at some point, but at the same time he can jump away and use another laser. You want to advance on him gradually, and then either watch for his actual approach or try to punish campy behavior.
Falco will most likely approach with D-air, N-air, or a short range laser. All of these are safe on shield if used low enough because of shine, so avoid attempting to shield grab. Instead, if he hits your shield try to buffer a roll with the C-stick and return to neutral and reassess the situation. If you're on top of things, you can wavedash backward OOS to avoid his aerial and go for a grab.
Grab is your best bet for getting in on a Falco trying to camp you. He can shield immediately when landing from a laser so if you insist on trying to poke him, go for D-tilt or Jab as he lands. A lot of times if you hit them, they'll shield and you can go for a grab.
Once you start pressuring Falco, it's important to keep close to him so he doesn't get a chance to regain his control with lasers. Go for grabs, cross-ups, and practice keeping spacies in the air.
I forgot to mention platforms. Thanks for pointing this out (my mind likes FD too much.) I'll amend my advice and say avoid jumping when you're too close to Falco but still out of sword range. Other than that, it's safe, especially with platforms. Be wary of how Falco can cover platform heights with lasers, though.A lot of good advice, but I disagree with the first paragraph, or some of it. You should be able to avoid certain laser heights, and jump will give you access to platforms, specifically wavelanding on them, and using it to approach. With good movement, you can get there quickly enough.
Definitely. Make sure to adapt to how the specific Falco covers the platforms.I forgot to mention platforms. Thanks for pointing this out (my mind likes FD too much.) I'll amend my advice and say avoid jumping when you're too close to Falco but still out of sword range. Other than that, it's safe, especially with platforms. Be wary of how Falco can cover platform heights with lasers, though.
Only crouch-cancelling reduces hitlag and hitstun (by one third, flooring the result); not ASDI down.I believe that the hitstun of lasers can be reduced by crouching/ASDIing down, right? I'll also add that spacing your movement such that the Falco feels threatened while lasering can be pretty good. Some Falco's tend to give up stage control if you push inwards after a laser but linger outside the range of any of their easy aerial approaches (including SHLs). I realize that describing this distance can be a bit difficult. You're best off watching good Marth's demonstrate spacing their movement in the neutral against Falco.
Honestly, you really just need to get super used to being hit by lasers throughout the match. Minimize the degree to which they disrupt you. If you have 20XX, you can set a Falco to SHL laser on FD and get used to dash dancing around while being pelted with lasers. You can also practice powershields and WD OoS after each laser.
Pick up falco for a day and that'll probably help a ton because ItI'm reading and appreciating everybody's suggestions, I just don't have any additions/thoughts since I've got 0 experience in the MU. Thanks a ton, everybody.