My Falco, critiques please :D

[Shaya]

So, back in the day of melee I would play Marth and Falco, and by the time brawl came around my choice hadn't changed; yet by my first tournament, I got owned using Falco, and then put all my time into Marth.

It's been only recently that I started to use Falco again, trying to get him better; I started again in early december and used him again for the first time in a tournament in February (in the grand finals of a tournament no less, lol). So what can I say, the learning curve for me was large; and from March onwards I've started to work on side b cancelling and buffered dacus's out of sh lasers ().

Anyway life story over!

February:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRreZC43Uzc (the first time in a long time I used falco in a tournament :O)

March:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_v7bXBztIw (Shadow Moses is the best stage ever, and should be legal)

Recent (friendlies)
So these are the first matches I've recorded after I had shl buffered dacus's in the arsenal, as well as phantasm cancelling; I was overly predictable with the dacus stuff as matches earlier had me failing it BUT ANYWAY, I hope you enjoy these:
Match 1
Match 2
Match 3 (Even though the start was kinda bad, I think this was the best match :D)

I'm not the most read Falco player, but if there's any thing you think I'm missing in terms of strategy/style or other general critiques I'll appreciate it. Thanks :D

 

[Vlade]

I watched the most recent friendlies you had against Tedeth's Wolf.

Firstly I'd just like to point out that your Laser/camping game overall needs some work. Your Lasers were often going over the Wolf's head. For all I know, you might have been doing that on purpose because of wolf's reflector, but then you might as well SHDL. Also, you need to use a lot more IAP on the ground. It's good free damage if the opponent doesnt shield/dodge, and a great spacing tool when the opponent starts to get in close. And yeah, try to learn to 'backflip' your SHLs as well. It really helps for spacing. Retreating SHDL is also good.

For the start of the third match, you tried to grab too much. Near the beginning of the first match, you were struggling to get the kill, therefore your opponent could predict your boost smashes. Falco is all about playing patiently. So try to keep on pressuring the opponent with Lasers/IAP and wait for the opening where you can get that grab/usmash off. Fsmash imo is pretty underrated too, even though it's hard to land. Oh, and try to be more aggressive when edgeguarding. But obviously, not too much. Just a bair off-stage every now and then can be good. At least try to edgehog and force your opponent to land on the stage, and then punish accordingly with phantasm or a ledge-hopped aerial.

One thing I really liked about your matches was your use of dair and its techchasing potential. So nice job on that. However, after chaingrabbing and then spiking the wolf into the ground, you couldn't follow up. Since wolf popped up and didn't go straight into the ground I think you could've landed a charged fsmash after the dair. Opponents often airdodge after a 'pop-up dair'.

Additionally, I need to see more tilts. Utilt is excellent after spotdodges and overall a great move - use it when the time is right. Ftilt is very safe on the shield, so if you're spaced correctly you might as well use it. SHL > ftilt is an excellent spacing tool. Jab combo is also very good free damage. It's great after powershields too (like marth's upb) since it comes out in 3 frames.

In summary, improve your spacing with Lasers and IAP to gain control and apply pressure on the opponent. Be a little more aggressive when the opponent gets sent off stage, even if it's metaknight (in that match-up lasers are a better edgeguarding tool). Use more tilts and jab combos to mix it up.

Overall, a good start. Can't wait to see you improve. Eventually you'll get into some more technical stuff like laser > boost pivot grab and stuff Oh, and if we (perth) have an 'Eastern Invasion', you better be coming!

 

[BleachigoZX]

Maria Holic!!!!

 

[Denzi]

I watched the Shadow Moses one, I'll watch the others later.

So...

Work on laser game VERY IMPORTANT
You messed up the CG
Don't fire random grounded lasers (maybe one at most)
Fair less, Falco's Fair is the exact opposite of Marth's
If you're hitting a shield, Gatling Combo instead of Dash Attacking
Phantasm more
IAP instead of regular Phantasm
If Uair forces an airdodge, you can hit them with any other aerial.
Dair OoS can help when MK tries to pressure you with Dairs
When hit straight up, it's better to DI with Dair

I'll be back.

 

[rolrctermaniac]

I watched the one with you and meta on FD. when you are chaingrabbing MK dont try to kill with the spike, its not going to happen so instaed gatling comboas it nets more damage and sets up for an areal.

 

[Vlade]

^ Gattling combo barely works at that %. The dash attack knocks them too high or the usmash to connect.

 

[rolrctermaniac]

Well do it a little earlier than at 45%i usually do it at around 35 just depends on the character

 

[Denzi]

It works on MK at that %, but he has to be on the ground, which he won't be after a Dthrow.