Needle Storm
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 (roughly 45 degrees towards the ground), depending on whether Sheik is in the air or not. The B button can be held to add up to 5 more needles, and the needles can be saved for a short time later by pressing Z, L or R. This is a very fundamental technique that should be applied to all Sheik players. It is recommended that right after the battle starts, After holding the B Button to charge needles, to save the charged needles. 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. Needles can disturb your opponents while getting back to stage and destroy most projectiles, including Fox's and Falco's lasers and even a Samus' fully charged shot.
When used in midair, the needles will strike at roughly a 45 degree angle from Shiek's position towards the ground. Effective for disrupting and returning to the stage. If thrown after the apex of the jump and below the maximum height of Sheik's single jump, in a technique called needle canceling, the needle storm incurs no significant landing lag, allowing Sheik to combo aerial needles immediately into ground attacks, grabs, dashes, or even more needles. Reverse needle canceling refers to charging needles in the air, then tapping L, R, or Z to stow them. This too produces zero lag, and can be used to efficiently store needles, to grab the ledge, or to increase jump distance.
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.
Gallery
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Needle storm in SSBM.
