Honing those Reflexes

[タオー]

I have a Falco main that I spar with on a pretty consistent basis, and I find one of my biggest shortcomings is my reaction time. He SHL's most of my approaches until I can get a nair/raptor boost in, spot dodges through most of my dairs and proceeds to pillar me to oblivion. I'm getting pretty consistent with my l cancels, but I don't know how to counter his aggression. While I know I'm lacking in technical perfection, I feel I'm just not reacting quickly enough, any exercises that can help with reflexes?

EDIT:
I am specifically struggling with: approaches, tech chasing, punishing (especially spot dodge). Also, is there an optimal DI to get out of pillars? I can SDI out of it sometimes but more often then not it just puts me in an equal bad position.

 

[Red Rice]

Against SHL, you can either powershield them or, like you said, you can nair over them or raptor boost under them. Learn the pattern the Falco is doing for SHL and mix up your approaches. Against spot dodges, just bait them out and punish hard. If your opponent thinks you're approaching and spot dodges, then tomahawk grab

 

[タオー]

Against SHL, you can either powershield them or, like you said, you can nair over them or raptor boost under them. Learn the pattern the Falco is doing for SHL and mix up your approaches. Against spot dodges, just bait them out and punish hard. If your opponent thinks you're approaching and spot dodges, then tomahawk grab

I'm pretty aware of my options (been trolling the falcon forums pretty hard for the past couple weeks) but my execution just seems to fall short of my theoretical knowledge.

As an aside, I actually recently got the 20XX Training Mod, and it's helped with mobility/tech chase/power shield training like crazy. Shout out to Achilles for making such an amazing Mod, it makes training alone noticeably rewarding.

 

[dinn3rr]

For the SHL, you should practice using your mobility/platforms to maneuver around Falco. Dashdance, wavedash/waveland, tomohawk grab, hell, even Falcon Kick. Whenever I play against a Falco, I immediately go aggresive. Don't let Falco approach you, or you won't have a good time, especially if that Falco knows your techs. Powershield their lasers if possible, and I HIGHLY reccomend LIGHT SHIELDING if Falco approaches you. The kb+your roll will definitely throw them off. However, you need to mix it up, or you're going to get punished.

Imo Falco is Falcon's worst matchup.

 

[タオー]

For the SHL, you should practice using your mobility/platforms to maneuver around Falco. Dashdance, wavedash/waveland, tomohawk grab, hell, even Falcon Kick. Whenever I play against a Falco, I immediately go aggresive. Don't let Falco approach you, or you won't have a good time, especially if that Falco knows your techs. Powershield their lasers if possible, and I HIGHLY reccomend LIGHT SHIELDING if Falco approaches you. The kb+your roll will definitely throw them off. However, you need to mix it up, or you're going to get punished.

Imo Falco is Falcon's worst matchup.

When you say aggressive, how do you approach?

 

[Twinkles]

When you say aggressive, how do you approach?

Gradually

Hard part about approaching Falco is more about the spacing rather than what option you pick. You have to pay attention and judge from the spacing/timing about when to pick an opening and go in. WD OOS really helps in adjusting your spacing against lasers. Also try baiting approaches.

The idea is just to get close so you don't have to play the laser game. You don't want to get combo'd cuz then there's no point, but if you can get a hit in, be ready to play super close quarters and chase the bird down.

Basically, constantly play the space battle until you see a good opportunity for an opening. Adjust until you have a good opening, then just go in. Then when you're in, do your best to just never let Falco out.

Also, secret tip, dash SH nair from a side platform diagonally if Falco is spamming lasers on the other side. If they don't pay attention to their spacing, you'll nick them.