Make The Guardian Hawk Soar with Our Street Fighter V Falke Guide
By Jason Fanelli ·
There's a new fighter on the block in Street Fighter V, and we've taken Falke for a spin to see what her Psycho Power staff abilities are all about. See what we've learned right here.
The Guardian Hawk has swooped into Street Fighter V, bringing an interesting set of abilities with her right when players are still trying to learn all of the changes in the most recent patch. Falke’s staff gives her impressive range, and charging it with Psycho Power makes the staff incredibly versatile and deadly. Here are a few early strategies and thoughts on SFV’s newest member that should give you an edge in these first days of Falke.
NOTE: Here’s a quick guide for anyone who isn’t familiar with Street Fighter V’s move lists:
U = Up, UF = Up-Forward, F = Forward
DF = Down-Forward, D = Down, DB = Down Back
B = Back, UB = Up-Back
LP = Light Punch (default Square), MP = Medium Punch (default Triangle), HP = Heavy Punch (default R1)
LK = Light Kick (default X), MK = Medium Kick (default Circle), HK = Heavy Kick (default R2)
PPP = Three Punches (default L1), KKK = Three Kicks (default L2)
Do the Hokey Pokey
Falke’s pokes — or quick one-hit maneuvers designed for zoning and interruptions — are insane. Psycho Spitze (F+HP) is by far the best, as she extends her staff straight out in front of her and covers half the screen in one attack. Katapult (KK) works as a solid mid-screen poke thanks to some forward movement that can close gaps, but the trade is a slow start-up that can be punished. If you need something a little faster, standing LP is a low poke that opponents might not expect, and standing HK is powerful in a pinch. Use the pokes wisely, you’re going to need them playing Falke.
Anti-Air Ace
Jumping against Falke is widely discouraged, as she has more tools to knock someone out of the air than most other characters. Blaukraehe (DF+HP) is like Psycho Spitze but instead of straight across the staff extends at a 45-degree angle to the ground. Anyone in the air in front of Falke is coming down with that move. Psycho Schneide (PP) and her standing HP also terrorize airborne opponents, but her ultimate anti-air is her Super Move Psycho Fluegel (D,DF,F+PPP) where she swings her staff like a golf club. This move hits for massive damage, one of the most powerful Supers in the game, so keep those meters stocked in order to put a hurting on some poor soul trying to jump in.
Combo Queen Falke Is NOT
One major thing players will notice right off of the bat is Falke’s very low combo potential. Normals like standing LP and crouching LK do not link to other moves cleanly, instead taking what seems like an eternity of recovery frames to finish. Any combos Falke utilizes will require V-Trigger activation and a lot of practice, as her bread and butter outside of those buffs are strong pokes and zoning. If long combo strings are your thing, Falke may not be the character for you.
Shooting The Right Shot
Falke’s main point of offense lies in her ability to shoot energy from her staff, activated by holding a punch button down for two seconds. An audio cue will let you know when she’s ready to fire, so be sure to listen for it. Once she’s charged, the move changes depending on where she is on the stage. Standing still she performs Psycho Kugel, a burst of energy (and not a projectile, this is important) from the top of the staff that hits a quarter-length of screen in front of her. The crouching version is Psycho Kanonen, where she fires an energy bullet that runs along the floor. The final variation is Psycho Feder, where she fires an energy bullet diagonally downward while jumping. Remembering these three different variations -- and more importantly, knowing when best to use them -- is paramount in becoming a successful Falke player. It will take time, but the staff shots are her most versatile weapon so learning them is essential.
V Is For Victory
Falke’s special abilities are particularly dangerous, giving her serious zoning opportunities when utilized correctly. Her V-Skill Psycho Trombe (MP+MK) sees her quickly twirl her baton in front of her, staying active for a couple of seconds. This move is quick enough to catch an unsuspecting opponent unaware, particularly in anti-air situations (as if she wasn’t strong enough in that department). Her V-Trigger 2 Psycho Angriff (HP+HK when V2 is chosen) buffs her staff moves, doing more damage and changing the V-Skill to add hits. However V-Trigger 1 Staerken (HP+HK when V1 is chosen) is her most dangerous skill. By pressing HP+HK again after activation, Falke performs souped-up versions of the staff shot specials without the need to charge them. Psycho Kugel fires three bullets in multiple directions, Psycho Kanonen is lightning fast, and Psycho Feder’s bullet deflects off of the ground and comes back up. Mixing these up while in V-Trigger 1 can easily frustrate an opponent, so use them liberally and wisely.
For our take on Falke, check out our article on how she plays.