Big Bubbler


 * This page is about the special weapon from . For the variant appearing in, see Bubbler. For the similarly-named special weapon from , see Bubble Blower.

The Big Bubbler is a special weapon in. It is a temporary spherical barrier that prevents enemy shots from passing through but does not affect the user or their team.

Appearance
The Big Bubbler consists of three parts: the barrier generator, its launcher, and the barrier itself. The launcher is an Inkling (or Octoling) sized spinning top launcher which changes color to match the user's ink, faces upwards, and has a Squid Beakon-esque contraption of the same color at the top. It has a black ripcord, which is pulled off when the the generator is launched upwards. The generator itself has an hemispherical shape, changes color to match the user's ink, and has a white aerial screw on the top as its propeller. The barrier itself is a big translucent sphere that changes color to match the user's ink with similarly-colored lines going across it.

Description
When used, a barrier generator is spawned at the player's feet, creating a large, immobile spherical barrier. This barrier protects allies inside it by blocking incoming enemy attacks, but it cannot block opponents from entering it, and does not block enemy attacks fired from the inside, even if they pass from inside to outside the barrier. The barrier also has limited health; blocking shots slowly damages the barrier, shrinking it and reducing its active time.

The barrier detonates most enemy sub weapons on contact, dealing full damage to allied players who aren't on the inside.

Multiple special weapons ignore the Big Bubbler's barrier.

The Wave Breaker waves ignore the barrier and can damage and locate players within. The Reefslider ignores the barrier, though the explosion doesn't. The Zipcaster, Booyah Bomb, Triple Inkstrike, Killer Wail 5.1, and Ultra Stamp also ignore the barrier. However, the Ultra Stamp can only penetrate if that user uses it while holding. Otherwise, throwing it will not penetrate the barrier. The Ink Vac's Toxic Mist-like effect ignores the barrier as well, but the projectile and explosion do not. Placing a Big Bubbler on top of a Big Bubbler placed by an enemy will instantly destroy their Big Bubbler.

The barrier generator consists of two parts: one that spawns at the player's feet, which also acts as a Beakon for players to Super Jump to, and another above which sits outside the barrier. If either part is attacked, the barrier takes heavy damage, shrinking and reducing its active time much more than attacking the barrier itself.

If the special is activated beneath a grate or other solid object, the top part of the generator gets stuck on the way up, and the barrier generated will be smaller as a result. This reduces the barrier's maximum health as well, and can shrink further depending on how small the barrier is.

Underneath very low ceilings, the special gives a "Can't Use!" prompt and cannot be used. This also occurs if the user is not on solid ground.

If a moving platform (such as the Tower or the spinning platforms in Museum d'Alfonsino) intersects with the bottom barrier device, the barrier is destroyed, ending the Special early. The top device simply phases through moving platforms, and does not destroy the barrier.

If placed on a moving platform, the entire barrier will move along with it. Notably, the barrier will degrade much more quickly than usual if placed on the Tower in Tower Control.

Badges
Wining a certain number of battles with the Big Bubbler will reward the player with special badges that they can use on their Splashtag.

Strategy
For competitive tips about the Big Bubbler

Trivia

 * According to the Live from Squid Research Lab, the Big Bubbler is an improved and larger version of the Bubbler from.
 * Prior to the Release Date Revealed trailer, the Big Bubbler launcher had no Squid Beakon-esque contraption at the top.