Octostriker

"That's an Octostriker! Beware the Inkstrike. Get out of the way when you see it coming!"

- Cap'n Cuttlefish

The Octostriker is an Octarian, and a variation on the Octobomber. It appears in the missions Unidentified Flying Object, Undeniable Flying Object, Unwelcome Flying Object, and Unavoidable Flying Object in Octo Valley.

Description
In each level, an Octostriker rests in a pool of purple Ink atop a flying saucer over the Stage. When Agent 3 arrives, a short cutscene shows it awakening and beginning to fire Inkstrikes from a cannon on its head. Agent 3 must then navigate the level and its various enemies while evading these attacks. However, a large purple marker on the ground allows Agent 3 to anticipate them, and the Octostriker cannot target them at all if they are hiding in their own Ink. At the end of the mission, they will be able to Super Jump up to the Octostriker's flying saucer and engage the creature directly, making it something of a mini-boss.

When Agent 3 arrives on the saucer, the Octostriker will float out of its pool and begin flying around, though rather slowly and awkwardly. It can still launch Inkstrikes, but its main defense is the group of other Octarians it summons, which must be splatted or evaded by Agent 3. Either way, the Octostriker takes priority; defeating it ends the mission, splatting all other Octarians aboard the saucer. It also drains the pool of Ink, revealing the Zapfish powering the saucer.

These other Octarians summoned by the Octostriker vary depending on the mission; Unidentified Flying Object and Undeniable Flying Object have Octocopters, Unwelcome Flying Object contains Octotroopers, and Unavoidable Flying Object has Octobombers. The layout of the saucer also varies, with Unidentified Flying Object having a plain, uncluttered surface, Undeniable Flying Object with Gushers, Unwelcome Flying Object with three walls and an Ink Rail, and Unavoidable Flying Object with Balloon Fish.

Appearances

 * An Octostriker first appears in the Octo Valley mission Unidentified Flying Object, patrolling a modified version of the Tutorial Area at sunset.
 * Another Octostriker appears in Undeniable Flying Object above Bluefin Depot.
 * Unwelcome Flying Object also features an Octostriker, this time watching over Urchin Underpass.
 * An Octostriker also appears in Blackbelly Skatepark at night in Unavoidable Flying Object.

Trivia

 * Octostrikers look like giant Octobombers except their "wings" are darker.
 * After they are splatted by Agent 3, their "helmet" can be seen flying off.
 * In Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion DLC, the Missile Octocopters act very similar to Octostrikers, but they fire Tenta Missiles instead.