Needle Storm

Sheik unleashes Needle Storm on the ground.

File:Needle 2.jpg

When used in the air, the needles will be thrown diagonally downward.

Needle Storm is the name of Sheik's Neutral B attack. When B is pressed, Sheik will throw a slim, almost-invisible needle to attack. They can either travel straight or at an angle, depending on whether Sheik is in the air or not. The B button can be held to add up to 6 needles, and the needles can be saved for a short time later by pressing Z. Each needle does 3% damage, allowing this move to deal a maximum of 18% damage. Sheik can also hold onto stored needles after losing a life by transforming into Zelda before being KOed then turning back into Sheik during the next life.

An important technique for advanced Sheik players is needle canceling, where a needle is thrown just before the player hits the ground; this technique has very little lag.

In Brawl, the move is nearly identical, except pressing B a single time on the ground will default to starting to charge, and B must be pressed a second time to throw (unlike melee, where it charges if B is held until released, and throws right away). Therefore, in order to store, then later use a partial needle storm charge, you must press B to begin charging, press R when you have reached your wanted partial charge to store it, and then press B twice in a row to throw that partial charge, because pressing B again only once will resume charging.