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PK Flash is Ness' Neutral Special Move from Super Smash Bros. Melee onwards. When the move is initiated, a sphere of green light appears above Ness. As the B button is held, the ball of light moves downwards and increases in power, until the B button is released, or until it is fully charged, at which point it explodes with very high lethality. The ball of light is arguably easier to control in Brawl than it is in Melee, it can only be controlled sideways.

Overview[]

PK Flash can be charged until it falls to the altitude from where Ness initiated it. It can be slightly moved horizontally and vertically by using the Control Stick. If the attack falls upon a platform or a higher level of a stage before it is detonated, it will disappear harmlessly. This can be a problem, especially in Brawl, since it falls below Ness' height when fully charged. On the upside, it is still considered fully charged if the B button is released right before it hits the ground. When performed in the air, it puts Ness into a helpless falling animation.

Fully charged, without the influence of special conditions, it deals a maximum damage of 39%, with huge knockback strong enough to knock people off the stage. Due to Ness's accent, many players mishear "PK Flash", instead hearing any of a variety of phrases, such as "PK Pulse", "PK Cross", or "PK Push". However, when Kirby copies Ness, he clearly says "PK Flash" when he uses it, even though Kirby and Ness have the same voice actress.

PK Flash is an extremely powerful attack but also moves quite slowly. It gets more powerful the longer a player holds down the special attack button; maneuver it towards the opponents to catch them in the blast; the center of the blast is the most powerful part and the move can kill at percentages as low as 60%. Due to its slow speed, PK Flash is hard to hit an opponent with. Ness can hit an opponent with it more reliably if they are suffering shield break or when they are helpless. PK Flash is very useful for edge-guarding; when the opponent is recovering low, move PK Flash off the edge of the stage. When they reach the peak of their recovery, release the special attack button to hit them with the blast. This is most effective with characters like Link, Falco, Mario, Wario, and Little Mac.

Ness' Special Moves
64 Melee Brawl 3DS/Wii U Ultimate
Standard Special PK Fire PK Flash
Side Special PK Fire
Up Special PK Thunder
Down Special PSI Magnet
Final Smash PK Starstorm

Custom Variations[]

Rising PK Flash[]

Rising PK Flash is one of Ness' Standard Special moves that can be used via customizations. It's a PK Flash that just keeps rising. Deals less damage and has less sideways movement. It also moves faster and has longer range.

Strengths

  • Useful for attacking airborne opponents for K.Os
  • Longer vertical range

Weaknesses

  • Only travels upwards
  • Deals less damage
  • Very little horizontal movement
  • Can be reflected, and absorbed.
  • Leaves you vulnerable

PK Freeze[]

Main article: PK Freeze

PK Freeze is one of Ness' Standard Special moves that can be used via customizations and Lucas' default Standard Special Move. This move works very similarly to PK Flash, but it freezes upon explosion. PK Freeze travels further than PK Flash, but it moves slower and deals less damage.

Strengths

  • Freezes opponents (if fully charged) and can leave them vulnerable when frozen
  • Travels further

Weaknesses

  • Moves slower
  • Doesn't launch opponents at lower percentages
  • Can be reflected and absorbed.
  • Deals less damage
  • Leaves you vulnerable

Ness' Custom Special Moves
Custom 1 Custom 2
Standard Special Rising PK Flash PK Freeze
Side Special PK Bonfire PK Fire Burst
Up Special Lasting PK Thunder Rolling PK Thunder
Down Special PSI Vacuum Forward PSI Magnet

Origin[]

PK Flash (localized as "PSI Flash" in EarthBound) can only deal minor effects like uncontrollable crying, feeling strange, or becoming numb at lower power levels. However, at the Omega (Ω) level, it is capable of instantly destroying enemies in rare cases. It is one of only two offensive PSI moves which are unique to Ness, the other being PSI Rockin.

In MOTHER3, Lucas would learn PK Flash after he was shocked by an electrical discharge. PK Flash in MOTHER3 didn't have any power levels, so PK Flash could deal minor status afflictions like uncontrollable crying or instant destruction at any point of the game. Despite knowing it in game, Lucas does not use PK Flash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Trivia[]

  • Out of all of Ness’ special attacks, PK Flash is the only one he can canonically use in Earthbound.
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