24. FALCO

Franchise / home series: Star Fox

Notable non-Smash games: Star Fox 64 (1997); Star Fox: Assault (2005)

Falco Lombardi joined the roster in Melee as Fox’s ace pilot wingman, giving the Star Fox series a second, more cocky representative. While he shares some base concepts with Fox, Falco quickly developed his own identity both thematically and competitively.

In Smash, Falco’s moveset initially mirrored Fox’s but with key differences: a higher jump, slower run speed, a blaster that causes flinching, and altered hitboxes that favor aerial play. In Melee, he became one of the top-tier characters, celebrated for his powerful shine combos, laser lockdown, and explosive punish game. His ability to control space with short-hop lasers made him a cornerstone of the metagame.

Later entries differentiated Falco further, giving him more unique animations, altered specials, and a stronger focus on vertical KOs and aerial dominance. Even as his relative strength has changed from game to game, Falco consistently appeals to players who enjoy technical, aggressive playstyles and high-flying combo routes.