Is it ok to not use PK Fire?

[Tahu Mata]

So I previously made a thread of asking people if they intentionally do not use PK Fire to show that's not all going for Ness, but after getting some advice from them and going back to using it regularly, I eventually realised that I just don't like PK Fire that much at all. I know how to and when to use it, but the move just overall doesn't mend well with me, and I find it too slow.

So I wanted to ask, is it alright to not use PK Fire?

 

[EarthBoundEnigma]

Ness without PK Fire is like Sheik without needles.
At some point, you have to learn in order to continue playing your best.

Lucas might be a better fit if even after practicing and learning, Ness' PK Fire is too slow.

 

[Uffe]

Use PK Bonfire for awhile and you'll see just how fast PK Fire itself actually is. Test the range of PKF while you're at it. You'll see just how far that goes. It doesn't matter if it's slow, there are ways of utilizing it, the most generic way just so happens to be on the ground.

 

[Luco]

In high level play, PK fire is used a little less than at lower levels. It's a moderate risk for moderate reward, and at higher levels people will probably be punishing you for it just as often as you're catching them with it. I'd say it's important to learn how to use it, but don't worry if you're not for now - there are other ways to start off grab combos.

 

[EarthBoundEnigma]

In high level play, PK fire is used a little less than at lower levels. It's a moderate risk for moderate reward, and at higher levels people will probably be punishing you for it just as often as you're catching them with it. I'd say it's important to learn how to use it, but don't worry if you're not for now - there are other ways to start off grab combos.

Yeah, many more grabs should be coming out of shield or spot-dodge, than by PK Fire... but PK Fire is almost wasted on grabs, when it is a blank check to do so much more. (STAGE SPIKES. DAIR OFFSTAGE, OR DEEPER INTO THE FIRE. BAIR THEM INTO THE FIRE FOR FULL DAMAGE. BAT IS 22-28% WHICH IS WAY BETTER THAN A GRAB FOR DAMAGE'S SAKE. NAIR CAN MIX-UP FOR JUST AS MUCH DAMAGE AS F/B-THROWS.)

 

[Duplighost]

I am not a Ness main so my opinion may be a little less valid than those stated above. I do have a bit of experience with Ness however.

Basically, PK Fire is a risk to throw out there in the middle of battle. If a fast opponent short hops over it or shields it, you leave yourself wide open for punishment. Since the move is so slow (and Ness shouts "PK Fire!" while the move is being activated), it is more often predicted than not.

I think its best use is for ledge guarding. Don't get me wrong, PK Fire can rack up some huge damage when combined with other moves. I believe it isn't to be used at one's disposal, and should be used very strategically in order to avoid being punished.

 

[CURRY]

Yeah, many more grabs should be coming out of shield or spot-dodge, than by PK Fire... but PK Fire is almost wasted on grabs, when it is a blank check to do so much more. (STAGE SPIKES. DAIR OFFSTAGE, OR DEEPER INTO THE FIRE.

Smash 4 PKF makes me sad. The length in Brawl was barely enough for walk up -> bat, and barely enough for a rising DJ dair. And the dair hitbox knockback and cooldown was nerfed.
And the ledge makes me snap to it from so far away before I'm able to do a DJ.
It's so hard landing PKF -> sweetspot dair offstage. Right now for me, it's more efficient to land a DJ nair/fair than dair after landing PKF.

Ehh, I guess landing dair comes with practice.

 

[ss3katen]

https://youtu.be/OXr81ojrMK0 PK fire has times where its safe and pretty smart to use. Like when an opponent is trying to recover

 

[Tahu Mata]

Alright, thanks for the advice, everyone.

 

[Earthbound360]

It has its moments, and the reward for landing it can be amazing sometimes (sometimes...). But overall, it's not something you rely on too much at a high level since good players WILL punish you for it.

Use it for punishing rolls/spot dodges, spacing with pivots, catching bad landings, ledge regrabs, and a niche edgeguard tool.