The Ki-84-Ia is the best general balance between speed and maneuverability.
* It is about the only plane that can contend with the P-38 in harsh, extreme low speed maneuvering. Other planes may have better overall turn rates, or tighter turn radius, but the P-38 and the Ki-84 are the only planes that can hold as low as some 90~100mph and keep turning tightest as possible, without stalling out our destabilizing.
* Its speed is as fast as a P-38L, recording 344mph at 100ft with WEP use. The acceleration, roll rate, climb rate is all very good.
* Firepower is sufficient. Not particularly great, but a mix of 12.7mm machine guns and 20mm cannons is pretty standard in the MA.
* Its weakness is the unimpressive increase in speed at higher alts, and generally over 15k, the Spit9 would begin showing higher top speed.
* A large weakness is the loss of elevator authority at high speeds. When speed is over 350mph, keeping this plane at the semi-automatic Combat Trim, will make it impossible for you to black out. The control authority is too weak to generate enough Gs to black out despite the speed. Thus, when entering a maneuvering contest at high speeds, the use of manual trim with elev. trim positioned to 'neutral', is highly recommended.
* Another very important weakness is the tendency to destabilize at about 50mph margin just before the speed range drops down to allow use of flaps.
* The construction is relatively brittle. It cannot hold is structure above 450mph. At these higher speeds, something will fall off abruptly.
* The rudder authority is not very impressive and thus, it cannot dump unnecessary E as quickly as some planes.
* The frontal struts impair vision to left and right side of the gunsight, thus, when visually tracking up a target to the gunsight, you will momentarily lose sight of him just before he enters the gunsight.
* While it can easily zoom up to almost 0mph vertical, if the recovery process at this extreme low speed is not proper, due to the torque it has a high probability of falling under a flat spin during the attempt - especially if the flaps areout. You are going straight vertical, the speed nears 30~50mph, and just when the plane has to flip over and nose down, it will start spinning at the yaw axis - the danger point cometh.
* While the larger areas of glass offer better visibilty than most other Imperial Japanese fighters, it also means a higher probability of receving pilot wounds.
* It's dive capabilities are uninspiring.
* Extreme combat maneuvering is entirely dependant on flap systems. If flap use is proper, it will outturn a Spit9s and N1Ks at deck, and even keep up with a Spit5. However, if flap use is improper, it is just above average in maneuvering. Thus, if for any reason flap systems are damaged, more than 60% of its potential is subdued.
All in all, it's one of the best MA planes and yet, for some reason, intriguingly unpopular.
Many Japanese pilots of AH still resort to their ol' N1K2s and not this new Ki-84. That is easily explainable since the the 900 rounds of 4x20mms the N1K holds is better suited to their flying styles, as compared to the 300 rounds of 2x20mms of the Ki84.
However, what is intriguing is other players of other nationalities do not seem much attracted to it - despite the fact that as a fighter the Ki-84 is superior to the Spit9 or even the Spit5 under MA circumstances. The maneuverability is roughly simular(or even better under some circumstances), but the speed is much higher. It is about 28mph faster than the Spit5 and 24mph faster than the Spit9.
