Fighting the Ki-84

[Slade]

Seems no other plane has my number more than those that pilot the Ki-84.  I fly everything but find that consistent across all platforms.

Assuming pilots of equal skill, what are some observations you have concerning being successful against the Ki-84?

Thanks,

Slade 

[Mister Fork]

I fly the Ki-84 almost all the time in the MA and my observations are all based on experience and facts.   6 points.

1. It has a short ammo count, so shots taken usually need to be on target - and never wasted to get someone to turn. If they're shooting, a good Ki-84 pilot will only fire if they have a shot. If they're shooting crazy all the time, it's a NOOB and you may have the upper hand. 
2. It's acceleration is sports-car like - don't expect to outrun it if you're slow and decide to extend out even in a Dora/K4/Tempest as it will catch up and chew you up before it's WEP runs out.
3. It's WEP is very powerful, short, but also recharges very fast. See point 2.
4. And it turns like a beast. If it can't out turn with you, it'll can probably out climb or out accelerate your aircraft.
5. Coupled with a slow stall speed, the thing is like an Oscar with a giant engine and better armour.  Don't get low and slow with it.
6. Lastly, always keep your speed up when fighting the Ki-84. It turns best at around 250MPH - speeds above 300 it starts to get a little sluggish. Use high speed turns and engagement to your advantage.

It's like a hornet... you see it, you want to smack it, but your experience tells you...just leave it alone.

[Slade]

Great points Mister Fork.

Thanks! 

[Skyyr]

It's literally the easiest/most forgiving plane in the game, next to the Spit 16. Treat it like a Spixteen and you'll stop dying to it.

[bozon]

It's literally the easiest/most forgiving plane in the game, next to the Spit 16. Treat it like a Spixteen and you'll stop dying to it.

KI84 does not like high speeds and it has uberflaps that deploy under 200 mph or even less. Do not let it drag you down to that speed range!. At 250 mph and above it does nothing spectacular, nor will it outclimb you very easily since it takes a few good seconds to go from a zoom into a climbing spiral during which your bullets will close the initial gap.

If you get defensive, fight down hill to keep the speed up. If he decides to conserve energy and not press the attack, way bye-bye and disengage in a dive. If he really latches on to you, you should try to dive past 450 mph and close to 500 to leave him behind. When you can't reach that speed or if your own plane can't handle it, take him as fast as you can, roll till he is lagging by 90-120 degrees in the roll, chop throttle and pull hard - you are very likely to force him into high speed scissors. Not a guranteed win by any stretch, but a fare chance.

For some reason they are modeled with a relatively durable frame (were they known for their ability to sustain damage?), so you need to put some damage on them to confirm a kill. Not at the Yak3 level or even F6F, but still quite durable. 3 out of 4 Doctors recommend quad nose-mounted Hispanos, just to be sure.

Spit16s are much more difficult enemies, except when they are poorly flown (read: usually). The slow-speed flaps of the 84 are easily offset by the excellent ability of the Spit16 to handle high speeds.

[JOACH1M]

If you have altitude bring that ki down. It accelerates way to fast, it will either compress, or you want to scissor it will work too, bring it down, make those flaps go back inside and force an overshoot.

[save]

If the Ki84 press its attacks in high-speed turning dives, it's elevators seem to depart from the plane. Also they seem to be soak up less damage if you compare it with late Russian planes with less armour.

[Aspen]

KI84 weaknesses are pretty well laid out above.  High speed turning and falling apart in high speed dives.  Its a great turner when it deploys flaps at 155 MPH (I think) but can be vulnerable in a fight at speeds just above that against planes that get flaps out at a little faster speed.

If you can't out turn it, make a pass and get out or make a couple BNZ passes and then surprise the KI by cutting speed and getting flaps out when he is expecting another BnZ.  If he doesn't react quick, you can catch him above his flap speed and get guns on before he transitions to shedding some E.  It is great at forcing an overshoot and having the acceleration to stay with the overshooter long enough to get hits.  Its a very good climber but not as good as some other popular rides.  Be very careful roping a KI since they prop hang pretty well and when you expect them to flop over they are just hanging there pointed at you when you start back down.

Its doesn't wing stall easily so it can float in low speed knife fights very well.

For all its great assets, something keeps it from being more popular.  My guess is top speed and having to be careful when diving.

[ink]

I fly the Ki-84 almost all the time in the MA and my observations are all based on experience and facts.   6 points.

1. It has a short ammo count, so shots taken usually need to be on target - and never wasted to get someone to turn. If they're shooting, a good Ki-84 pilot will only fire if they have a shot. If they're shooting crazy all the time, it's a NOOB and you may have the upper hand. 
2. It's acceleration is sports-car like - don't expect to outrun it if you're slow and decide to extend out even in a Dora/K4/Tempest as it will catch up and chew you up before it's WEP runs out.
3. It's WEP is very powerful, short, but also recharges very fast. See point 2.
4. And it turns like a beast. If it can't out turn with you, it'll can probably out climb or out accelerate your aircraft.
5. Coupled with a slow stall speed, the thing is like an Oscar with a giant engine and better armour.  Don't get low and slow with it.
6. Lastly, always keep your speed up when fighting the Ki-84. It turns best at around 250MPH - speeds above 300 it starts to get a little sluggish. Use high speed turns and engagement to your advantage.

It's like a hornet... you see it, you want to smack it, but your experience tells you...just leave it alone.

it does not have a short clip...it has 300 cannons....IIRC they are the fastest firing cannons in game....so it seems like it is short....and what 700 MG which are very capable of killing....

it handles fine at 300....it loses pieces at 505...depending on G forces applied.

the best thing about the KI84 is its ability to take punishment....


if you can get it past the 400-425 mark you have a much better instantaneous turn rate....that's when it becomes a dump truck...but a smart Ki stick will be de-throttled....


there are other planes that can out turn/out maneuver it...but it does everything good to great....


I hate agreeing with 11k....but it is the best plane for actually fighting in the hanger.

[Rich46yo]

Its a great airplane. I'd rate it as one of the 3 best fighters in the game.

[DmonSlyr]

Take it into a dive and once about 420 mph pull up into a barrel roll defense.

Many faster planes can out run it, and also most can out dive it. The controls on the ki84 give out close to 420, so if you can spiral dive and BRD over them while their controls freeze up, you can potentially gain a shot or 6 advantage.

Another good way to fight them in the MA going head on, is to make 1 aggressive emilman (can't spell) and go in for a quick attack shot, giving up some energy, but don't go up with them if you don't have more E initially. Continue to fly straight and then slowly gain alt, turning back if you want to continue the fight.

Sometimes a quick aggressive snap shot attempt is the best attempt to kill better turning planes as some won't suspect you to turn in so quickly.

[Tilt]

Start above it.