Needle Storm
| Needle Storm | |
|---|---|
 Sheik gathering her needles in SSB4 | |
| User | Sheik |
| Universe | The Legend of Zelda |
Needle Storm (仕込針, Stocking Up Needles) is Sheik's neutral special move. When the special button 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.
This move acts as an auto-charge special, but with a special exception: the special button is to be held to add up to 5 more needles for the charge, as opposed to tapping to button once for an automatic charging period; simply releasing the special button at anytime will cause Sheik to drop the charge immediately and thus throw the needles.
However, like any auto-charge special, the needles can be saved for a short time later by pressing the shield button, grab button, or moving left/right (which causes a roll). This is a very fundamental technique that should be applied to all Sheik players and any auto-charge special user. It is recommended that right after the battle starts, after holding the special button to charge needles, to save the charged needles.
This trait alone is what makes Sheik's auto-charge special stand out from the other ones, in that even though it must be manually charged from a button being held down, it's possible to shield/roll cancel to save the charge like so. Players normally should also learn to adapt to this alternation of muscle memory to use this move well and to charge it as consistently as possible.
Also, Shiek at full charge, will still continue charging the needles and if the special button is released, she will throw them as usual. In order to save the needles at full charge, the shield/roll cancel still needs to be applied. Cancelling the charge in midair will warrant a normal cancel animation since shielding and rolling are impossible in midair, like with all auto-charge specials. Tapping the special button again at full charge while it has been saved will make Sheik throw the needles instantly with no charging period needed, even if B is held down.
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 KO'd, then turning back into Sheik during the next life.
Needles can disturb Shiek's opponents while getting back to stage and can pass through opposing hitboxes in Brawl, as they have transcendent priority. In Melee, like Link's arrows, the needles have hurtboxes and can be attacked; this can be used to block other projectiles.
When used in midair, the needles will strike at roughly a 45 degree angle from Sheik'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 the shield or grab button 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 they now have hitboxes with transcendent priority as opposed to damageable hitboxes.
Now this time, it also acts as a legitimate auto-charge special, in that pressing the special button a single time on the ground will cause it to start to charge automatically through a period of time, requiring the any attack button to be pressed a second time to throw (unlike Melee, where it charges if the special button is held until released, and throws right away). Therefore, storing needles is much more easier since the player can now shield/roll cancel during this automatic charging period and resume charging to full charge with just a single button press instead of holding it down.
Finally, Needle Storm only produces 5 needles at most, compared with 6 in Melee.
If Sheik is attacked while charging her Needle Storm attack, her needles fall out of her hand and scatter all over the floor.
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:
| 1. Needle Storm | 2. Penetrating Needles | 3. Paralyzing Needle |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| "Throw needles forward if on the ground and diagonally down if in the air. Can be charged." | "Throw needles that go through enemies. You can only throw up to three at a time." | "Throw needles that deal slightly less damage but paralyze opponents. Charges more slowly." |
- Needle Storm: Default.
- Penetrating Needles: Throw needles through multiple opponents, but can only charge up to three. Electric effect. Shorter range than Needle Storm.
- Paralyzing Needle: Throw single needle, paralyzing hit opponents. Attack animation is much longer, leaving Sheik vulnerable.
Description from the Melee Instruction Booklet
Hold File:GCN BButton.png then release to throw a barrage of tiny darts.
Description from the Brawl Instruction Booklet
Press the B Button to ready needles, then press it again to fling them. The longer you charge up the move, the more needles you'll fling.
Description from the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Foldout
Throw needles at opponents. Can be charged.
Gallery
Needle Storm in Melee.
Sheik gathering her needles in Brawl.
Sheik unleashes Needle Storm in the air (Brawl).
Using it on the ground (Brawl).
Sheik unleashes Needle Storm in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Trivia
- The needles loosely resemble Bo Shuriken.
