Before everyone says “no, it’s Incineroar” or spams the yeetsmash video (which, as a heads up for rookies, is a worthless video since the CPUs don’t DI, and it was from ledge which isn’t particularly useful in terms of practicality), here me out:
I had an Incineroar player tell me Ness’s back throw is still stronger overall because Incineroar’s backthrow can be DIed to live at percents Ness would kill. I’m not inclined to believe him, but my pride in my main makes me secretly hope it’s true XD
I won’t be able to test this for a while so I figured I’d ask here.
EDIT: In a surprise maneuver, I'm actually in a position to lab it out! It seems the Incineroar player was right, thus far, though not necessarily for the reason he gave. If you throw Mario from the starting position in the training room on FD, Mario dies at 112 with Ness and 122 with Incineroar. From center stage, Ness kills at 124ish and Incineroar kills at 153ish. Going across the entire stage, Ness kills at 148 while Incineroar doesn't even kill at 250 (I mean, forward throw kills waaay before that, but that's besides the point). Granted, this is all still without any DI, but I somehow doubt even the best DI in the world will negate the 24+% margin from center stage.
I am therefore concluding that Ness's back throw is indeed still the strongest in the game because, while it may not kill quite as early at ledge, it will kill at much lower percents from more realistic stage placements without needing to rely on landing a successful counter.
Now every time someone tries to tell you Incineroar/Doc/Shulk has a stronger backthrow, you can push up your glasses and tell them why they're wrong
EDIT (again): Found someone to test the DI theory with. It's true! Ness's backthrow kills 10% earlier than Incineroars from even the ledge with optimal DI. Ness mains rejoice, we can continue to claim the back throw throne!
I had an Incineroar player tell me Ness’s back throw is still stronger overall because Incineroar’s backthrow can be DIed to live at percents Ness would kill. I’m not inclined to believe him, but my pride in my main makes me secretly hope it’s true XD
I won’t be able to test this for a while so I figured I’d ask here.
EDIT: In a surprise maneuver, I'm actually in a position to lab it out! It seems the Incineroar player was right, thus far, though not necessarily for the reason he gave. If you throw Mario from the starting position in the training room on FD, Mario dies at 112 with Ness and 122 with Incineroar. From center stage, Ness kills at 124ish and Incineroar kills at 153ish. Going across the entire stage, Ness kills at 148 while Incineroar doesn't even kill at 250 (I mean, forward throw kills waaay before that, but that's besides the point). Granted, this is all still without any DI, but I somehow doubt even the best DI in the world will negate the 24+% margin from center stage.
I am therefore concluding that Ness's back throw is indeed still the strongest in the game because, while it may not kill quite as early at ledge, it will kill at much lower percents from more realistic stage placements without needing to rely on landing a successful counter.
Now every time someone tries to tell you Incineroar/Doc/Shulk has a stronger backthrow, you can push up your glasses and tell them why they're wrong

EDIT (again): Found someone to test the DI theory with. It's true! Ness's backthrow kills 10% earlier than Incineroars from even the ledge with optimal DI. Ness mains rejoice, we can continue to claim the back throw throne!
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