Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Captain Falcon

The fan favorite racecar driver of Smash Bros. returns with his signature flair and speed. Captain Falcon is one of the fastest characters in the game, and has a toolkit that makes him one of the stronger characters at aggressive play. Fast dashes, great throws, nice combos and a variety of devastating attacks make Captain Falcon an offensive threat. Captain Falcon is also one of the most stylish characters in the game, with an arsenal of risky and flashy moves that will rouse the crowd and intimidate foes if pulled off. Captain Falcon's focus on offense gives him a sizable flaw in his defense. Lacking a projectile, he is forced to play at close-range and sometimes has trouble against tight projectile zoning. Captain Falcon also has one of the weaker recoveries in the game. Nevertheless, he is an exceedingly fun character for any player that likes to win with style.

Basic attributes

Captain Falcon is fast. On the ground, he is second only to Sonic at dashing, making him a speedy character indeed. Captain Falcon is not too bad in the air either, with above average lateral air speed and one of the highest fall speeds in the game, which synergizes well with Captain Falcon's solid aerials and helps him pull off slick combos. Captain Falcon is a middle-heavyweight, being in the range of characters like Link. Even though his recovery is nothing to write home about, Captain Falcon has a handy wall jump when Falcon Dive isn't enough.

Moveset Analysis

Standard Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
(+)	(+)	(+)	Rapid Barrage	Captain Falcon punches two times. Hold or steadily hit the button to cause him to finish the combo with a strong punch. Mashing the button makes Captain Falcon enter a repeating series of jabs, finishing with one long-reaching jab forward. Captain Falcon's brief three hit combo is still a quick and reliable move, with the last hit knocking foes far away from Falcon and sometimes KOing. The repeated jab is somewhat unreliable, given that foes can commonly escape before the combo finishes. However, the finishing hit has deceptive range, and might catch foes offguard if they escaped the repeated jab or you miss entirely.
(+)	(+)	(+)
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+	Falcon Roundhouse	Captain Falcon performs a roundhouse kick. The attack can be angled up or down with the control stick. This move is decent for spacing. It has good reach, and you can angle it to strike in several directions, but it's relatively slow for Captain Falcon. Usually, you should just stick to short hopped aerials for mid-range poking, so this move doesn't see much use.
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+
+	+	+	Blazing Axe	Captain Falcon does an axe kick, which can meteor smash opponents at Captain Falcon's ankles. Like many of Captain Falcon's ground moves, this attack feels unnaturally slow and awkward, but it does have great reach, making it somewhat usable if you space it well. Landing the meteor smash won't be easy, but the kick's good range and sweeping motion helps you strike recovering foes with it from onstage.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Falcon Sweep	Captain Falcon performs a sweep kick with both legs. This move is awkwardly sluggish, but it has surprising reach and a nearly horizontal knockback angle. This feature makes it great for setting up edgeguards and edgeguarding itself. The high horizontal knockback can doom characters with more restricted recovery trajectories like Mario, Little Mac or even fellow Captain Falcons.
+	+	+
while dashing	while dashing	while dashing	Speed Tackle	Captain Falcon charges forward and hits with his whole body. This move is a standard dash attack. It is quick to come out and launches Captain Falcon a short distance forward. It is a fast and reliable punish, and it can potentially lead to a combo if you land a weak hit. Like all dash attacks, this move is punishable if blocked, so use it with care.
while dashing	while dashing	while dashing
while hanging	while hanging	while hanging		Captain Falcon climbs up and does a revolving kick on to the stage.
while hanging	while hanging	while hanging

Smash Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
Smash ( or )+	Smash ( or )+	( or )++	Inferno Elbow	Captain Falcon reels back and delivers a powerful elbow strike. The attack can be angled up or down with the control stick. This move is hands down Captain Falcon's strongest smash attack, making it a natural KO move. In terms of strength, it is one of Captain Falcon's best KO options, usually KOing as early as 80% uncharged. It's glaring flaw is that it is quite slow, being shieldable on reaction during the windup and leaving you open to punishment afterwards. Use its range to your advantage and perhaps incorporate it out of a pivot to increase your chances of landing this.
Smash ( or )+	Smash ( or )+	Smash ( or )+
Smash +	Smash +	++	Roundhouse Revolver	Captain Falcon kicks upward two times. This move is rather weak and inaccurate, but it is a decent anti-air and has mild KO potential if unstaled. Due to Captain Falcon's speed and low traction, using an Up Smash out of a dash causes Captain Falcon to slide a fair distance ahead while using the move, which can catch foes offguard but also prevent both hits from connecting properly. It is punishable if you miss due to its moderate duration, so throw it out sparingly.
Smash +	Smash +	Smash +
Smash +	Smash +	++	Glorious Kick	Captain Falcon kicks in front, then behind him. The front kick is weak for a smash attack, but the back kick has surprising power. Although it's not the best multi-directional attack, this move does hits both sides, so you can use it to punish a predicted roll. However, like Captain Falcon's other smash attacks, it is easy to respond to if you use it carelessly and is very punishable as well if you fail to hit, so don't use it too often.
Smash +	Smash +	Smash +

Air Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
			Twin Kicks	Captain Falcon kicks forward two times.
+	+	+	Knee Smash	The famous Knee of Justice. Captain Falcon lunges out with his knee. Hitting an opponent with the knee as the spark appears results in heavy knockback.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Justice Backhand	Captain Falcon punches behind him.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Falcon Wheel	Captain Falcon performs a spin kick over him.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Power Stomp	Captain Falcon stomps downward, meteor smashing foes.
+	+	+

Throws

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
after grab	after grab	after grab	Knee Strike	Captain Falcon knees the grabbed opponent. This move has great speed and average damage, leading to average overall damage output. Like all grab attacks, it's used once or twice to tack on extra damage after a grab.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Speed Impact	Captain Falcon punches the grabbed opponent forward. This move is a standard sideways throw, tied with Back Throw for Falcon's most damaging throw option. Use it to get foes offstage to set up a potential edgeguard when your front is to the nearest edge.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Falcon's Boot	Captain Falcon kicks the grabbed opponent backward. This throw is practically a reverse version of Forward Throw despite its different animation, just minutely slower and weaker. Like Forward Throw, it is used as a standard sideways throw, sending foes offstage for edgeguards.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Falcon Upper	Captain Falcon punches the grabbed opponent upward. This is one of the many unfortunate Up Throws overshadowed by their character's Down Throw. Up Throw does vertical knockback and can set up combos, but Down Throw is simply much better at its job, given its lower knockback making it better at comboing. Up Throw has some situational use, mainly at early percentages against fast fallers.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Shining Slam	Captain Falcon smashes the grabbed opponent into the ground. This is Captain Falcon's bread-and-butter throw, his go-to setup for combos. It has weak knockback and a slightly diagonal upward angle, which leads very nicely to Captain Falcon's aerial attacks. This should be the throw you use the most, as it starts much of Captain Falcon's combos.
after grab	after grab	after grab

Special Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
			Falcon Punch	After a significant delay, Captain Falcon unleashes an incredibly powerful fiery punch.
			Falcon Dash Punch	The Falcon Punch is weaker, but Captain Falcon slides forward during the attack.
			Mighty Falcon Punch	The Falcon Punch takes even longer to come out, but hits with even more force.
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+	Raptor Boost	Captain Falcon rushes forward. If he reaches an opponent, he will uppercut on the ground or do a downward hook in the air.
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+
			Heavy Raptor Boost	Captain Falcon rushes forward slower and over a smaller distance, but his uppercut is stronger.
			Wind-Up Raptor Boost	After a brief delay, Captain Falcon rushes forward very quickly and over a greater distance, but his attack is weaker.
+	+	+	Falcon Dive	Captain Falcon leaps upward. If an opponent is near, he will grab on to them and explode, launching himself higher up. Near the end of the attack, he can directly hurt foes with his flaming fist.
+	+	+
			Falcon Strike	Captain Falcon leaps up with an uppercut. He will not grab nearby opponents during the move.
			Explosive Falcon Dive	Captain Falcon leaps up slower and shorter, but his grab attack is extra powerful.
+	+	+	Falcon Kick	Captain Falcon kicks with his leg enveloped in flame. He will kick forward on the ground and diagonally downward in the air.
+	+	+
			Falcon Kick Fury	Captain Falcon does a kick that hits multiple times.
			Lightning Falcon Kick	Captain Falcon takes longer to start the kick, but the kick itself travels farther and is very fast. Captain Falcon can stun enemies upon landing from a Lightning Falcon Kick.

Taunts

Control			Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
		+	Captain Falcon beckons the opponent and yells "Come on!"
( or )	+		Captain Falcon charges up surrounded by flames.
( or )	( or )	( or )
		+	Captain Falcon salutes and says "Show me your moves!" Oddly, he has different animations depending on the direction he faces, taking longer to execute the taunt if facing right.

Final Smash - Blue Falcon

Captain Falcon calls his signature racecar: the Blue Falcon, which comes zooming in from the foreground. If the car hits any opponent, they will be taken to a cinematic cutscene where Captain Falcon commits vehicular manslaughter at supersonic speeds, launching them at an angle. This final smash is a standard trapping variety, as it requires you to hit at least one character with the Blue Falcon for it to initiate. The initial hitbox is moderately large, but the animation can throw you off of the machine's position. When aiming it, simply visualize the rough shape of the car in front of Captain Falcon, and try to get as many characters as you can. Blue Falcon is slightly unique in that it pauses the battle for the rest of the players to let the cutscene play out, which can disrupt other players' strategies or divert their attention.