ok, so fastall needle charges, i found this to be extremely useful in a bunch of situations for needle control and spacing.
actually first im gonna discuss my basic projectile theory so i can put all the random techniques and stuff in context. (this might be a long post, feel free to skip first part, it will be rather basic.)
My theory with needles is that the needles that you are shooting, or even charging, (be it aerial or standing) should always be directed at the opponent so that you can actually hit them for one, secondly, the needles are actually pressuring them and not just creating a silly little wall that they can find ways around.
I hate to see sheiks just jumping in place on the edges of platforms spamming needles that clearly wont hit and end up getting rushed in between and ***** from below.
A. Falling Aerial needles
I like to think of falling aerial needles as a long fair, kinda like marths fair. Like marths fair, in order to connect it to other moves as well as keep it safe it has to be done as late as possible. Additionally, like with any aerials u r
commiting to the air by jumping and are potentially leaving yourself open. In general it is better to stay on the ground the majority of the time where sheik has the most mobility and reaction.
But you can easily use the range of the aerial needles to outspace other moves and approaches that people commit too and net free grabs. The key is to use aerial needles when u know they wont be able to evade due to being in lag from their spaced move, or they simply dont expect it. Dont just jump and expect them to sit there and get needled. It is generally easier to do this defensively similar to marth retreating fair spacing. Offensively U can overshoot needles to the back of their dash dance and follow up from there.
To use aerial needles effectively and safely u really have to master the spacing and timing of the different heights with different needle counts.
Additonally, there exists areas in the centers of stages to the sides of the plats where needles provide quick easy approaches. However these hotspots are now pretty mainstream and well known to avoid. All i have to say to best use these, just jump up there to shoot ONCE when the spacing is right then follow up. If u miss get down immediately or run back and get down the other way. You missed, don't expect them to run into more needles if u just keep jumping and shooting.
Supercamping platforms is tedious, not to mention dangerous. If u r camping the platforms, at least approach when u finally get your opening. Pure needle damage is trivial.
B. Standing Needles
I used to think little of standing needles outside of the fully charged damage, and random chip damage. After all they dont autocancel like aerial needles so they dont really combo. I now feel like they are even more important and useful than aerial needles.
They control the entire ground level of most levels save big ones. Controlling an entire axis as opposed to a small area or point makes these alot easier to connect with. Due to the cooldown give yourself slightly more than a long short hop knees distance away to use standing needles safely. (spacing varies by character speed and physics obviously)
after u annoyed their aerial camp or dash dance with a few chip needles. They will try to approach around the next needle by either fulljumping over it, Or shielding and waveshielding out quickly. But this is good for you, by trying to get around your needles they create openings for you. charge some ground needles then when they jump, u store and rush them. From here it goes into your aerial interception, double jump/platform trapping games. (Id recommend some combination of patience>grab, or bair interception)
Fastfalling?
k, so when would u ever wanna fastfall before u shoot or charge up needles?
1. Double jump fastfall needles: (NOTE: not recommended as an approach) When forced to doublejump away from an attack, due to sheiks crap aerial mobility she is very vulnerable on FD with no platforms to retreat to. If u DI well, most people will run right up just shy of your aerial range and wait for your missed aerial so they can punish. Many times they unknowingly put themselves in range of your needles instead. You want to fastfall FIRST before pressing B. just tap down and the direction to shoot, then B. The fastfall leaves u much less vulnerable and helps to combo as their is a smaller window between your needle and your landing.
Additionally, top center platforms, notably dreamland, are ideal for running off and fastfall reverse needling back to ground floor. (fastfall does not work on battlefield)
Another way to space it, is to short hop off the top plat, then fastfall reverse needle onto the side plats.
U can even simply full hop, fastfall needle. But this has very little range and is not very useful.
2. Fastfall Needle charges: This is an amazing way to transition between your aerial spacing/aerial needle game into standing needle pressure.
First off, u should know that when u start an aerial charge, then land, u go immediately into a standing needle charge with no regular landing animation. You should already see tons of potential in this. You could just full hop charge, and simply hold it all the way to the ground, then release the instant u land. Your opponent who ran back to evade your aerial "sheik zone" gets tagged with a bunch of ground needles.
Now add the fact that u can "fastfall charge, hold, release". And it significantly speeds up the transition to ground needles making it less predictable. For example, you simply short hop backwards to space a fair on an approach. They didnt bite at all. U fastfall charge, release the instant u land (practice this) and shoot a needle to entice them to approach
Even if u were setting up for a back air. U can fastfall reverse neede charge (quarter circle down) and release. Short hop back air fake to fully charged needles is a useful trick i started using when bair camping.
Off platforms: You missed an aerial platform needle? run off back fastfall reverse needle charge and instantly put the pressure back on.
Another example: Aerial needle charge, store, fastfall charge, release.
the goal is to be able to transition your needle pressure from the air to the ground in response to their actions.
As u can see there are tons more options with this. I cant list them all.
hope u enjoyed, i was bored
edit - (jesus, i wrote a short novel)
, but it was like every stock i picked a new move to practice spamming lmao)