How to Deal with Falco Lasers

Though we try not to let it get us down, Falco lasers can make the blood of the calmest player boil. Panic not! They’re less scary than you may think and here are some ways to render them almost useless! 

Take Them!

Falco lasers only do 3% to begin with, even though they build up little percent, it’s usually not worth the worry as they become staled to 1-2%. However, the main issue that players face is how it stunts their momentum, especially with characters who rely on it, such as Captain Falcon. When you allow the lasers to hit you without a shield, it still gives you a range of movement options. You can dash out of the laser hitstun, jump to a platform, or attack after the stun. You can even crouch to avoid a single laser completely with certain characters or you can at least avoid being hit with one of the lasers when the Falco sends out double lasers. These options become harder when the Falco is closer to you as laser hitstun will last 12 frames on the first hit but a similar 11 frames when it becomes stale.

You can move out of the hitstun sooner if you crouch cancel it, as the hitstun will only last 7 frames instead. If the Falco is further away from you, this gives you time to react by moving closer or further away depending on what you want from your neutral. Falco’s main game after lasering is to be able to stun you to then follow up with an aerial or shine to start a combo so positioning yourself well is crucial so that you don’t get caught out by this. Losing your momentum will only become an issue when you’re too close and you haven't set a plan for how you want to approach a hungry Falco that wants you to approach them!

A setting is available on 20XX in which you can get a CPU Falco to spam lasers and this is an effective way to practice your movement out of laser hitstun. On the new 20XX (4.07++), you can use the replay function (dpad down) and use L/R to toggle the players; you can make Falco short hop laser and also make the timing random so it's closer to an authentic human player. In addition to this, you can learn to maneuver your way around Falco's single lasers. Moves such as Sheik's dash attack, Falcon's raptor boost, and Marth's dash attack will slip under Falco's lasers. Falco's lasers also have a lot of startup so you can even catch him out before a laser comes out and if your character can dash under the lasers anyway, you have a safe approach if you're too slow to do this.

 

(Clockwise from left: Team Dignitas | Lucky acting out of Falco's laser hitstun, Team Dignitas | Lucky jumping out of laser hitstun, and Panda Global | Plup shielding, taking the laser, crouching, and jumping to platform to avoid Falco lasers.)

Jumping

Final Destination becomes a big fear for the opponent of a Falco as there seems to be nowhere to run and hide and he has free reign to laser you to his heart’s content. Fear not, you can simply full hop over the laser if platforms aren’t available but beware! Don't jump too close unless you’re planning an attack as Falco can take advantage of being underneath you; he may also read your jump if it becomes too predictable and jump to catch you with a laser or an aerial. Be sure that if you find yourself in this situation to use a move that can trade or prioritise over Falco’s next move or be ready to DI away if this is not possible. You can also aerial over the top of the laser which can then cover Falco's approach or punish him for not moving away. For instance, a Fox full hop down air over a Falco laser can be really effective when followed up with shine to begin a combo.   

  
(Clockwise from left: Tempo Storm | S2J neutral airing over a Falco laser, Wizzrobe jumping over Falco lasers, and Alliance | Armada shielding and jumping over a Falco laser) 

Platforms

If you’re lucky enough to not have to play on Final Destination, then platforms can become your best friend! By positioning yourself on a platform, Falco is forced to either jump onto a platform himself or approach. If he jumps to the platform opposite you then you can use that opportunity to approach; approaching underneath is effective as you can possibly punish him for being above you. For instance, Marth can just uptilt through the platforms or upair which can begin a deadly combo. Some Falcos may wait for you to come back down from the platform but inch closer so that they can pounce on you with an aerial and begin their combo. Stay aware that the platforms are not safe forever and that your choice to move is what will keep you safe. Shield dropping and faking your position so that it seems like you’re coming back down to ground level can be effective as it will bait the Falco into committing to a move which you can then punish with a shield drop aerial or a move that will hit through the platform, such as Falcon’s down air. 

    
 
(Clockwise from left: Team Dignitas | HugS using platforms to avoid Falco lasers, Wizzrobe shield dropping through a platform to gain positional advantage against Falco for the punish, Team Dignitas | HugS shield dropping and using a missile to counter Falco's laser attack)

Shielding

Shielding is another technique that has a multitude of options. Firstly, you can powershield. The idea makes new players tremble at the knees but it’s not a difficult technique to get down as long as it’s practiced a little. There are two types of shields: light shield and regular shield. To light shield, you gently press on either of the trigger buttons without clicking them. We refer to those as the 'analogue' inputs; as long as it doesn't click in, the analogue can range anywhere between a really light shield and a stronger one.

The lightest shield is bigger, will be more effective against shield pokes and it will make you slide further away from your opponent when they attack the shield. The heavier light shield will make you slide less, stay closer to your opponent and it's easier to act out of. Secondly, there is regular shield. We refer to this as the 'digital' input which is when you click the trigger button all the way in. To powershield, you have to quickly hit down the trigger button while not spending too long in the analogue zone and go straight to the digital zone; otherwise this can mess up your powershield. You can remove the analogue input by holding in the L/R trigger fully when plugging in your controller to make powershielding easier. 

Another option is just to use your regular shield without powershielding. This can be effective if you practice acting out of it. If a Falco approaches you with lasers and gets close enough, they may try and attack with an aerial. You can catch them while doing this, by jumping out of shield to attack, repositioning or even rolling. Staying in shield too long however can be fatal as Falco’s shield pressure is nothing to sleep on. Depending on the size of shield, a double shine may be the opening for a Falco to start a devastating combo.

 
    

(Clockwise from left: Alliance | Armada powershielding a Falco laser, Tempo Storm | S2J rolling out of shield, and Wizzrobe wavedashing out of shield to avoid a post laser down air)

What if they're camping? What if they play different than people I'm used to playing? It may all seem difficult but don't panic. Falco lasers are frustrating to deal with, but they can be worked around. Many of these techniques will work with a camping Falco. Jumping to platforms or dodging them to approach can scare a Falco. You can even dash towards a camping Falco each time you take a hit from a laser and threaten their stage space. They're already at risk from being in a corner to camp to begin with. As long as you can threaten their space, taking lasers won't give you too much of a disadvantage in comparison. Be wary of their effective range however. Positioning is key against a camping Falco and not getting too damaged in the journey getting to them. A Falco may try and change his laser patterns to catch you out but try to look for repeated patterns so you can adjust to it and avoid them accordingly.

(Clockwise from left: Abate lightshielding a post laser down air so his Luigi does not get combo'd, Misfits | La Luna punishing double laser from the edge with crouch cancel down tilt, and VGBC | Amsa crouching under a laser from ledge and punishing with downtilt)

What about single and double lasers from the ledge? In the great words of Misfits | La Luna, double laser from the ledge is 'not safe, my guy' and there are many different options to punish it, both stylish and simple. As shown above and below, a lot of the time you can crouch and punish. There are even compilations of double laser being punished and they're all fun and unusual; it's been proven to be not very good.
 
All in all, Falco lasers are a great tool for building up petty damage, approaching, and starting combos but they can be dealt with as long you can keep calm and recognise which techniques may help you against the many different playstyles of Falco. Each have their own particular way of using lasers: more lasers, less lasers, more tactically placed lasers. You can figure out from their pattern of play what technique will work best for your playstyle and character. Good luck!

(Left to right: MVG Echo Fox | Mew2King punishing double laser from the ledge with neutral air out of shield using Sheik and punishing with reverse up b out of shield using Marth) 

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