_Yes!_
Smash Hero
Mission Complete! A Guide to Fox McCloud
(Thanks to leafgreen for contributing.)
Hey guys, Yes! here, and it’s time to educate the world about our friend Fox. We all know he’s top tier by now, and he’s more than capable of winning tournaments. This guide will cover Pros and Cons of Fox, an analysis of each of his moves, possible combos and my general strategy for each move, and match ups (as time goes on). This is meant to give the new players a crash course on Fox, and maybe for the veterans to brush up on some basics. Keep in mind that the Possible Combos section of each move is just to get you all thinking; there are probably many more options to do with Fox. Also keep in mind that the analysis of these moves are in my opinion only. At any point someone feels that I made an error in this guide, feel free to let me know. Constructive feedback is preferred.
PROS:
Fast
Good Projectile
Can stop camping with Shine
Amazing combos and great KO power
Great punishes
Few laggy moves.
Can combo nicely as a Fast faller.
CONS:
Poor recovery and can be easily gimped
Poor range
Fast faller so gets combo’d easily
Only safe edge guard he has is shine spiking because of his fast falling speed and poor recovery.
Fox Moves
A moves
A
A quick and simple jab which can supposedly pop the opponent up. Also good for interrupting momentum and a quick poke.
Usefulness: 7/10
AA
Fox does a quick one two punch. I wouldn’t recommend using this.
Usefulness: 0/10
Possible Combos: none
AAA
This can rack on damage quickly. It’s good to use after a Nair at low percents. Someone correct me if I’m wrong here, but I believe it’s safe on most shields so it’s hard to be punished.
Usefulness: 7/10
Possible combos: none
Forward tilt
It’s a good poke, and is safe on block, but Fox has better options. I’d seldom use this move.
Usefulness: 5/10
Possible combos: none
Down tilt
I recently found this move to be great with edgeguarding, since there is no auto sweet spotting.
Usefulness: 8/10
Possible combos: Dtilt -> Uair
Up tilt
This move is one of Fox’s best moves along with Dair. It leads to multiple combos AND can kill at higher percents. Use this move appropriately.
Usefulness: 10/10
Possible Combos: Utilt ->Dair ->Utilt ->Dair, etc.
Utilt -> Bair
Utilt ->Fair
Utilt ->Uair
Utilt ->Usmash (low percents)
Dash Attack
Good for closing in, can combo nicely as well.
Usefulness: 8/10
Possible combos: Dash Attack -> utilt (see utilt combos) || dash attack -> dash attack *if not di'd properly* etc
Forward Smash
This is a good move for punishing and edgeguarding, but not much else. Use dash cancel pivot fsmash for mindgames.
Usefulness: 5/10
Possible Combos: None
Down Smash
This has great horizontal knockback to get opponents offstage. It can be done right after dair for a KO near the edge of the stage.
Possible Combos: None
Usefulness: 7/10
Up Smash
This is another one of Fox’s best moves. His best kill move and can be used in many combos for the kill or to rack up damage. It’s a very fast move and has a very high risk/reward ratio.
Usefulness: 12/10
Possible combos: *on fast fallers* Usmash Usmash at lower percents
Not too sure about others, I’ve never tried.
Neutral Air
An excellent move that has high priority. Good for approaching with and can start combos.
Usefulness: 9/10
Possible combos: Nair ->Nair ->Nair, etc *at lower percents* || Nair ->Utilt -> (see utilt combos)
Nair ->usmash (see usmash combos) || Nair -> AAA *at lower percents*
Nair ->Shine (see shine combos) *at lower percents*
Weak Nair ->Running Usmash *at higher percents for the kill*
Up Air
A good combo starter/finisher. Can lead to ceiling KO’s off of combos.
Usefulness: 7/10
Possible combos: Uair -> Uair This works at medium percents like 50-70%, and works especially well on platform stages.
Forward Air
A highly damaging aerial if not DI’d properly by your opponent. A good combo finisher from Utilt, and can be the cause of ceiling KOs. Also useful in recovery in conjunction with double jump (rising fair).
Usefulness: 9/10
Possible Combos: Fair -> Fair (On platform stages.)
Back Air
This move has moderate KO power and can finish a utilt combo.
Usefulness: 8/10
Possible Combos:
*at lower percents* Bair ->Dsmash || Bair ->Utilt (see utilt combos)
*after a utilt at around 30-40%* Bair -> (if opponent doesn't tech) Running Up Smash
Down Air
This is one of Fox’s best moves. It can lead to many high damaging combos and KOs.
Usefulness: 10/10
Possible combos:
Dair ->Utilt (see utilt combos) || Dair ->Dsmash
Dair ->grab (see grab combos) || Dair -> Shine (see shine combos)
B Moves
Neutral B
Fox’s laser is probably my best friend. I tend to be a campy player so I use this to rack up damage and force an approach to take advantage of an opening. Make use of his short hop double laser (SHDL).
Usefulness: 12/10
Possible combos: …Laser ->Laser -> Laser…It’s like an infinite!
Side B
Fox’s illusion. It is one of fox’s recovery options, meant specifically for recovery. Never attack with this move since it has low priority and doesn’t combo into anything. If timed correctly by pushing B again, the distance of fox's illusion either shortens or extends.
Usefulness 10/10 (FOR RECOVERY ONLY)
Down B
Fox’s shine. Good for reflecting projectiles. It can also be used to “spike” characters that have poor recoveries (aka shine spikes). Shine stalling however, is an amazing mind game which allows your opponent to get impatient and make a mistake for you to punish.
Fox's shine now comes out on frame one. I love this new change because it is a great "gtfo combobreaker" move. Example: Fox is being juggled. DI the juggle the best way possible, then Shine once you're out of hitstun and you should free yourself from being juggled anymore.
The latest updates enable Fox to jump cancel (JC) his shine. To jump cancel a shine, you simply shine and jump to cancel it. The useful application of this is to JC with a short hop and follow up with an aerial. This is great for shield pressure and linking combos. Personally, I see other measures that do the same amount of damage and take much less effort. If you're a crowd pleaser or are very aggressive, this is perfect for you.
Usefulness: 8/10
Possible combos:
JC shine -> dair -> JC shine -> dair, etc.
JC shine -> nair (I haven't seen vids of this working, but it's good shield pressure)
Up B
Firefox. It’s useful for recovery only. Do not attack with this move.
Usefulness: 10/10 (FOR RECOVERY ONLY)
Possible Combos: none
As far as recovery goes, since Fox's recovery is so predictable, it's mandatory to mix it up to keep your opponent guessing.
Grab Moves:
Forward throw
Low damage, and no real combo options. I don’t recommend this move unless at ridiculously high percents and you can throw them offstage with it.
Usefulness: 2/10
Possible combos: Fthrow -> dash attack (if not teched at lower percents)
Back throw
About as useful as Fthrow imo.
Usefulness: 2/10
Possible combos: Bthrow -> rising fair (only if they jump after being thrown)
Up throw
Useful on platform stages to follow up with an aerial and/or put your opponent in a bad position.
Usefulness: 5/10
Possible combos: Uthrow -> Uair (platform stages)
Down throw
Fox’s best throw. Does the most damage and can combo no matter how it’s di’d. Always use this throw when possible.
Usefulness: 10/10
Possible combos (oh so many!): There are many combos off of Dthrow, so I will classify them in terms of how the opponent could DI them.
DI’d Away from Fox: Fox must run after the opponent…This is the most frequent DI used by opponents, or at least the ones I’ve fought.
On fast fallers, you can only tech chase.
On normal fallers, you can do a running Usmash, a running SH Dair (see dair combos), a running SH nair (see nair combos) *At lower percents, I prefer to do running SH Dair.
On floaties, running usmash/SH dair/ SH nair works at lower percents. At higher percents it’s harder to combo floaties.
No DI:
This rarely happens, since everyone DI’s, but I’m assuming that a running FH (full hop) Dair (see dair combos) works, and maybe even a rising fair.
DI’d Towards Fox:
Rising Fair, FH Dair, FH Bair or FH Uair works here.
I recommend Dair the most, since you have the most options after dair.
Videos
These vids go from oldest to newest. I will try to get new vids of myself up soon.
Yes!'s Fox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ZB8WIezGI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIRWPPvgLtk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4lBwqHgdjk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDMgezOJVm8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVtA8JigRRY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NcCJcxPVk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1fPzi_qT98
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5fcPE0poac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfMWEuLjs6I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYfAYsK3Cgk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_a4MQKXD1M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szn2EUTo80Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywhfeDLOmtA
(don't mind the massive amounts of sd's )
Vist's Fox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPzxhz5pEjc
Blackanese's Fox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNf5DloexOs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg21B-KLHV8&feature=related
Match Up Discussion:
The floor is open to everyone here. We can discuss match ups together as time goes.