wangston
Smash Lord
The Guide to chain grabbing like a pro
Falco is one sexy bird. His chaingrab is arguably his strongest point and his most lethal technique he has in his arsenal. To be a great Falco you should know the ins and outs of his chain grab and all the options that it can lead to. The chaingrab is what gives falco and adv against so many characters some would even say meta knight, that is only if you get the chain grab off and you do the 60+% it can lead into.
So after everyone’s help from the forum I have successfully learned how to chain throw to Dair So I've decided to turn this into a guide on how to do this. I didn't invent the combo and really all of the credit for this guide needs to go to all the people who taught me how to do it. Thanks everyone for your help. If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement do leave them.
What is the chain throw or chain grab?
First off what’s the chain throw. With Falco you can repeatedly down throw your opponent over and over depending on what character they use. Once you chain throw them to the edge you can then dair spike them.
How to
It's really simple to do. Grab your opponent (0% preferably) down throw, grab them again, down throw, and repeat until you are close to the edge of the level. You have to leave yourself some room or it won't work. So as you're doing your final dthrow as the laser ends you need to buffer a dash(by buffer I mean input the dash before the dthrow has ended, usually once the lasers are gone) as soon as that happens you're going to enter the beginning dash animation now input a jump and a dair during that opening dash animation. It's important to buffer all of those commands so that Falco does them as soon as the last command ends. This will create the smallest window for your opponent to get out of this. That's all it takes, chainthorw, give your self some room, buffer a dash, and buffer a jump with a dair.
Grabs to use
As far a grabs go you can use a walking grab (the best), a shield cancel grab (I can't get this to work), or buffer a dash grab at the end of the down throw (use this when you want to get closer to the edge sooner). In all the real life situations I use the walking grab for all the throws because one you don't trip, and two it's the easiest to time. I can never seem to get a shield cancel grab to work it always takes too long so I really think you should write this one off because I know I do. You only need to use the dash grab if won't make it to the edge with a walking grab. It was once thought that snake could nade and get out of a chain grab but with using a walking grab and having good timing he will never get out of it.
Ask a pro about grabs
So I asked sethlon which grabs he use and he had this to say
Well you have 3 options if they get to 40% and you can no longer walking chain grab them.
1st and the best options is to try Falco's "pillar" and attempt a regrab or a tech chase depending on there percent to really deal some major damage. Read more on the Falco's new "pillar" further down.
2nd and an decent option is to d throw and use the DLX combo, hit them with your dash attack, and go right into and up smash for some okay damage and to have the opponent in the air.
3rd is to pummel them while they are in the grab so that you get a grab release on the ground, once you do that you can go into an AAA combo if they don't perfect shield all the hits, if the regularly shield you will shield poke them and hit them anyways. This is a good option when you grab some one at at 60% and up when you can't really do anything with a grab other than throw people. It is also great to add on % when some one is close to the KO with out knocking them out of your reach. Be on the look at for perfect shielders because that will stop this option in it's track.
The Reverse Pivot Boost Grab (RPBG)
This is the flashiest looking grab Falco can do. You want to use it if you aren't facing a ledge and you want to turn the grab around or you want to look like a total badass. Watch sk92 or sethlon and you will see a sexy grab like this every now and again. However this is also the hardest grab to learn. Falco can do a boost smash, because of this he can do a reverse pivot boost grab.
How to do this sexy grab
Start a dash attack and immediately attack, move the joystick to the opposite side and then grab. When you pull this off you will see falco slide further than his normal pivot grab.
There are two widely used ways to pull this off I’m sure there are more than two but these are the two most common ones. Start the dash, hit left or right on the c-stick while changing direction on the control stick and then grab. Using this method helps you move the c stick and the joystick in the same direction so it feels more natural to do.
I on the other hand prefer to use A instead of the c-stick left/right to start the dash attack. I use A because it feels similar to doing a jump cancel grab like in melee. Use what ever technique you feel comfortable using.
Ask a pro about RPBG
When SK92 was asked about the RPBG he had this to say
lolwut super sexy set up
Use a silent laser or a silent double laser and rbbg it's too sexy. Watch some of sk92 new stuff to see it. It's too sexy.
But what about the characters that are too floaty to chain grab? aka Falco's new "pillar"
There is answer to characters like Olimar, Kirby, ROB, and any other character that gets out of the chain grab early.
What is it?
What you can do is down throw, dair(of course you buffer dash it), fastfall, and regrab. Doesn't that sound simple? It sure does.
How to
Though it isn't that simple a few different problems can arise. At low percents you end up behind your opponent if you don't fast fall back some, but that is simple just turn around and grab them before they can react. You can always choose to go behind your opponent if you fast fall in that direction. I however feel like it takes a few frames longer to go behind them as opposed to fast falling straight down. Though when you are in front of them, they have more options than d smash, shield, roll and spot dodge, now they can jab you or grab you if your timing is off.
So to make up for bad timing you can use one of Falco's best moves and his best setup for a grab. A jab. Yes a jab is all it takes and you can grab them again. I've used this method on a number of characters in tournaments and they have almost no way of avoiding it, it's a free 50% on anyone. The only way they are getting out of this is if they are out of your grab range after your jab. The only person that this hasn't worked on for me is Lucario because he can airdogde before you can dair him, but that's when you mind game him in to air dodging and hit him with a charged f smash. You should also worry about Marth because he can still up B you.
Follow that shiz up
On top of this wonderful "combo" around 45% people smack the ground and have to tech or miss the tech and then go from there, this is were you come in and tech chase. If they roll at you fsmash, if they use get up attack shield and down smash, if they roll away chase them and grab them again or boost smash them. So this combo can turn into 80% if you read them right. You can keep on d airing heavy characters well into the 60s but light characters will avoid it around 45%.
If you want to f-smash you should take a step back that way you can fsmash them if they use get up attack or roll at you.
Be sure to keep in mind if you are FF straight down that at low 0-10ish% straight down is behind you, so you might try a regrab and not a dair because most characters can be grabbed twice from 0% then after the 2nd one you can dair, jab, and grab them. Also because the range of percents at which this works you can use this at anytime below 45% on almost all characters.
Videos
Instructional video
Here is a video explanation if you are too lazy to read or you need a visual representation of how it's done. This is a very old video don't watch it unless you have 7 mins time to kill, on top of that it doesn't cover the RPBG or falco's new "pillar" This is old as in like 6 months old http://www.youtube.com/v/f9Lk0BloWMY
In game footage
This is sethlon showing his sexy RPBG off on jungle japes on a DDD. Just watch the last stock it's too hawt. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV6SVIljteU
Falco is one sexy bird. His chaingrab is arguably his strongest point and his most lethal technique he has in his arsenal. To be a great Falco you should know the ins and outs of his chain grab and all the options that it can lead to. The chaingrab is what gives falco and adv against so many characters some would even say meta knight, that is only if you get the chain grab off and you do the 60+% it can lead into.
So after everyone’s help from the forum I have successfully learned how to chain throw to Dair So I've decided to turn this into a guide on how to do this. I didn't invent the combo and really all of the credit for this guide needs to go to all the people who taught me how to do it. Thanks everyone for your help. If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement do leave them.
What is the chain throw or chain grab?
First off what’s the chain throw. With Falco you can repeatedly down throw your opponent over and over depending on what character they use. Once you chain throw them to the edge you can then dair spike them.
How to
It's really simple to do. Grab your opponent (0% preferably) down throw, grab them again, down throw, and repeat until you are close to the edge of the level. You have to leave yourself some room or it won't work. So as you're doing your final dthrow as the laser ends you need to buffer a dash(by buffer I mean input the dash before the dthrow has ended, usually once the lasers are gone) as soon as that happens you're going to enter the beginning dash animation now input a jump and a dair during that opening dash animation. It's important to buffer all of those commands so that Falco does them as soon as the last command ends. This will create the smallest window for your opponent to get out of this. That's all it takes, chainthorw, give your self some room, buffer a dash, and buffer a jump with a dair.
Grabs to use
As far a grabs go you can use a walking grab (the best), a shield cancel grab (I can't get this to work), or buffer a dash grab at the end of the down throw (use this when you want to get closer to the edge sooner). In all the real life situations I use the walking grab for all the throws because one you don't trip, and two it's the easiest to time. I can never seem to get a shield cancel grab to work it always takes too long so I really think you should write this one off because I know I do. You only need to use the dash grab if won't make it to the edge with a walking grab. It was once thought that snake could nade and get out of a chain grab but with using a walking grab and having good timing he will never get out of it.
Ask a pro about grabs
So I asked sethlon which grabs he use and he had this to say
What if I don't make it to the edge of the stage to dair them to their doom?
Well you have 3 options if they get to 40% and you can no longer walking chain grab them.
1st and the best options is to try Falco's "pillar" and attempt a regrab or a tech chase depending on there percent to really deal some major damage. Read more on the Falco's new "pillar" further down.
2nd and an decent option is to d throw and use the DLX combo, hit them with your dash attack, and go right into and up smash for some okay damage and to have the opponent in the air.
3rd is to pummel them while they are in the grab so that you get a grab release on the ground, once you do that you can go into an AAA combo if they don't perfect shield all the hits, if the regularly shield you will shield poke them and hit them anyways. This is a good option when you grab some one at at 60% and up when you can't really do anything with a grab other than throw people. It is also great to add on % when some one is close to the KO with out knocking them out of your reach. Be on the look at for perfect shielders because that will stop this option in it's track.
The Reverse Pivot Boost Grab (RPBG)
This is the flashiest looking grab Falco can do. You want to use it if you aren't facing a ledge and you want to turn the grab around or you want to look like a total badass. Watch sk92 or sethlon and you will see a sexy grab like this every now and again. However this is also the hardest grab to learn. Falco can do a boost smash, because of this he can do a reverse pivot boost grab.
How to do this sexy grab
Start a dash attack and immediately attack, move the joystick to the opposite side and then grab. When you pull this off you will see falco slide further than his normal pivot grab.
There are two widely used ways to pull this off I’m sure there are more than two but these are the two most common ones. Start the dash, hit left or right on the c-stick while changing direction on the control stick and then grab. Using this method helps you move the c stick and the joystick in the same direction so it feels more natural to do.
I on the other hand prefer to use A instead of the c-stick left/right to start the dash attack. I use A because it feels similar to doing a jump cancel grab like in melee. Use what ever technique you feel comfortable using.
Ask a pro about RPBG
When SK92 was asked about the RPBG he had this to say
The timing for this isn't easy to get down at first so don't get frustrated if this takes you days or weeks to get down perfect. Once you get it down you will be good to go, it's just like getting the timing down for the boost of smash. But before you know it you will be chain grabbing DDD 4 times in a row with the RPBG and everyone will think you are the bee's knees.
lolwut super sexy set up
Use a silent laser or a silent double laser and rbbg it's too sexy. Watch some of sk92 new stuff to see it. It's too sexy.
But what about the characters that are too floaty to chain grab? aka Falco's new "pillar"
There is answer to characters like Olimar, Kirby, ROB, and any other character that gets out of the chain grab early.
What is it?
What you can do is down throw, dair(of course you buffer dash it), fastfall, and regrab. Doesn't that sound simple? It sure does.
How to
Though it isn't that simple a few different problems can arise. At low percents you end up behind your opponent if you don't fast fall back some, but that is simple just turn around and grab them before they can react. You can always choose to go behind your opponent if you fast fall in that direction. I however feel like it takes a few frames longer to go behind them as opposed to fast falling straight down. Though when you are in front of them, they have more options than d smash, shield, roll and spot dodge, now they can jab you or grab you if your timing is off.
So to make up for bad timing you can use one of Falco's best moves and his best setup for a grab. A jab. Yes a jab is all it takes and you can grab them again. I've used this method on a number of characters in tournaments and they have almost no way of avoiding it, it's a free 50% on anyone. The only way they are getting out of this is if they are out of your grab range after your jab. The only person that this hasn't worked on for me is Lucario because he can airdogde before you can dair him, but that's when you mind game him in to air dodging and hit him with a charged f smash. You should also worry about Marth because he can still up B you.
Follow that shiz up
On top of this wonderful "combo" around 45% people smack the ground and have to tech or miss the tech and then go from there, this is were you come in and tech chase. If they roll at you fsmash, if they use get up attack shield and down smash, if they roll away chase them and grab them again or boost smash them. So this combo can turn into 80% if you read them right. You can keep on d airing heavy characters well into the 60s but light characters will avoid it around 45%.
If you want to f-smash you should take a step back that way you can fsmash them if they use get up attack or roll at you.
Be sure to keep in mind if you are FF straight down that at low 0-10ish% straight down is behind you, so you might try a regrab and not a dair because most characters can be grabbed twice from 0% then after the 2nd one you can dair, jab, and grab them. Also because the range of percents at which this works you can use this at anytime below 45% on almost all characters.
Videos
Instructional video
Here is a video explanation if you are too lazy to read or you need a visual representation of how it's done. This is a very old video don't watch it unless you have 7 mins time to kill, on top of that it doesn't cover the RPBG or falco's new "pillar" This is old as in like 6 months old http://www.youtube.com/v/f9Lk0BloWMY
In game footage
This is sethlon showing his sexy RPBG off on jungle japes on a DDD. Just watch the last stock it's too hawt. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV6SVIljteU
