Fire Bird

Fire Bird is Falco's Up Special Move in the Super Smash Bros. series. It involves Falco charging the move while surrounded by fire before launching himself in the direction the player is holding the control stick, continuing to be surrounded by fire while doing so. Fire Bird is nearly identical to Fox's Fire Fox, but it has some small differences.

Overview[]

Fire Bird resembles Fire Fox, much like how Falco's other Special Moves are each reminiscent of one of Fox's. Compared to Fox's Fire Fox and Wolf's Fire Wolf, Fire Bird hits several times while Falco is moving before dealing a more powerful hit with greater knockback at the end. Fire Bird has high KO power, making it one of Falco's finishers. However, Falco does not fly as far as Fox or Wolf using their up special moves, traveling the shortest distance of the three. Like Fox's move, hitting a surface while using Fire Bird causes Falco to bounce off of it, ending the move.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee only, Fire Bird does not burn opponents during the charge-up animation.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Fire Bird does 14% damage, and has low priority. However, it has some more differences: unlike Fire Fox, which only hits an opponent once after Fox starts moving, Fire Bird now hits opponents with multiple small hits followed by a stronger finishing blow, similar to Lucas' PK Thunder, having horizontal knockback instead of vertical. It also gained the ability to burn opponents during the charge-up.

In either version, it has lots of start-up, and falls almost straight down after using it, which means being easily edgehogged or hit out of it because of its low priority. To maximize the usefulness of Fire Bird, one should try to position Falco exactly under the ledge and use it completely vertical; this way, it can sweet spot easier. However, it is still easily edgehogged, due to the poor air speed after using it, similarly to Fire Wolf.

Falco's Special Moves
	Melee	Brawl	3DS/Wii U	Ultimate
Standard Special	Blaster
Side Special	Falco Phantasm
Up Special	Fire Bird
Down Special	Reflector
Final Smash	—	Landmaster		Team Star Fox

Custom Variations[]

Fast Fire Bird[]

Fast Fire Bird is one of Falco's Side Special Moves that can be used through customization. Fast Fire Bird does not have a charging period, but also does not travel as far and deals less damage, only hitting one time.

Strengths

Travels faster

Weaknesses

Deals less damage
Doesn't go as far

Distant Fire Bird[]

Distant Fire Bird is one of Falco's Up Special Moves that can be used via customization. Distant Fire Bird takes longer to charge and moves more slowly but is more powerful and travels farther; the charging also does not deal damage and the final hit is removed, instead dealing a more powerful hit when Falco begins moving.