Competitive:H-3 Nozzlenose D

Unofficial

Countermeasures
The H-3 Nozzlenose D has a 30 frame cooldown that is the time attack. Use a long range weapon to take care of the H-3 Nozzlenose D swiftly and carefully.

Gear abilities
Gear abilities provide different effects in battle that benefit the player with their equipped weapon. This is a guide to gear abilities in relation to the weapon. Strategy, synergy, viability, and purpose may be written here.

Splatoon 2
The H-3 Nozzlenose D is a medium-ranged weapon with a diverse array of abilities. While it shares the same sub and special weapons with the N-ZAP '85, its burst fire and lower mobility and ink efficiency require it to be played differently.

Use
The H-3 Nozzlenose D is capable of being either a slayer or support weapon, depending on its gear abilities. The H-3 Nozzlenose D is also a very capable support weapon, thanks to its range and other traits: As a burst-fire shooter, the H-3 Nozzlenose D requires a higher level of skill than an automatic shooter to be effective: The primary weaknesses of the H-3 Nozzlenose D are its poor ink efficiency, slow mobility while firing, and long lag between firing bursts: Suction Bombs can be used in a similar fashion to Splat Bombs, with a few differences: Ink Armor enables its user's team to either initiate a push, to recapture a Splat Zone for example, or maintain one, such as while locking out the opponent.
 * Its relatively high damage per shot (41 HP) guarantees a three-hit splat, or a one-burst splat, unless falloff damage is being used (minimum 20.5 HP).
 * Main Power Up can increase the damage per shot up to 49.9 HP of damage — nearly a two-hit splat.
 * Its medium range (160.396 DU ) matches that of the Splattershot Pro, the .96 Gal, and the Dualie Squelchers) and exceeds those of other typical slayer and support weapons, such as the Splattershot and the N-ZAP '85 (both 116.99 DU ), allowing it to both zone them out and turf from a safer distance.
 * Because the maximum angle its shots – whether fired from the ground or while midair – can ever deviate is 1 degree, the H-3 Nozzlenose D is one of the most accurate weapons in the game.
 * Its ink coverage and Suction Bombs are very efficient for turfing, which helps maintain map control and quickly build up the special gauge.
 * Its range and Suction Bombs allow its wielder to safely provide support fire for teammates and poke at and zone out opponents during the neutral phase.
 * Its user must be more accurate with aiming, due to the long delay between bursts.
 * A user of any burst-fire shooter has to be able to lead their shots in order to maximize the damage per burst.
 * Starting from Version 5.4.0, its ink consumption (2.25% per shot, 6.75% per burst) is worse than that of the Splattershot Pro (2%) and the Squeezer (2.2% in semiautomatic mode). Watch your ink tank and do not travel too deep into the opponent's turf.
 * While firing, its movement speed while firing (0.6 units per frame) is slower than most slayer weapons and most other support weapons, which, combined with the lag between firing, can leave it vulnerable to attack.
 * If either poorly aimed or mindlessly fired, its long lag between firing bursts is easy to punish at close range — especially by flankers and sharks.
 * They can be thrown to lead a push into a Splat Zone or any other important area of the stage, such as the opponents' street or platform. They inflict more damage from a direct hit and have a larger overall radius of damage.
 * They can also flush out opposing anchors from perches and clearing other critical areas, such as the Tower. The Suction Bomb's ability to attach to surfaces both allows more room for error when aiming and enables the planting of craftier traps, such as underneath a grate.
 * They can also be used to poke at and zone out opponents during the neutral phase, stall an opponent's push, or provide space to escape. They take two seconds after attaching to a surface to detonate, so plant them earlier than usual.
 * Like other lethal bombs, Suction Bombs will instantly detonate upon contact with an opponent's brella shield, Splash Wall, or Baller; any bubbles, whether from a teammate or an opponent; or the Rainmaker shield.
 * Any opponents caught nearby will get splatted.
 * The Suction Bomb will also damage most of the items mentioned above except bubbles, which will either grow or shrink depending on whether a teammate or opponent produced them.
 * An opponent's Splashdown or Booyah Bomb will defuse any Suction Bombs it touches, so hold off throwing them until after the special weapon finishes.
 * Time the activation of Ink Armor carefully so that you and your teammates receive its protection before engaging the opponent.
 * Try to activate Ink Armor when most or all teammates are active. Slayers, who risk getting splatted more often, benefit from Ink Armor more than anchors do.
 * Upon activation, Ink Armor will protect its user and their teammates except for those either carrying the Rainmaker or using either Baller or Booyah Bomb.
 * Also, players protected by Ink Armor lose it upon gaining possession of the Rainmaker.
 * A support player is often expected to carry the Rainmaker while their slayer teammates provide protection up front while turfing a path of ink. While Ink Armor will not protect the Rainmaker carrier, it will still benefit their teammates. If using the H-3 Nozzlenose D as a support weapon, cast Ink Armor just before picking up the Rainmaker whenever possible.
 * Special Charge Up can hasten the process of building up the special gauge for Ink Armor, particularly to overcome the very high special gauge requirement.

Synergy
The H-3 Nozzlenose D has good range and thorough turfing but is not very mobile while firing and is vulnerable up close due to its long lag in between firing bursts. Be sure to include some shorter-ranged weapons in the team composition. Otherwise, a team with too many longer-ranged weapons will have some glaring drawbacks: Therefore, the H-3 Nozzlenose D makes a good complement to – and is well complemented by – a a more rapid firing slayer's weapon, such as a Splattershot, an N-ZAP '85, or a Splash-o-matic. Multiple Ink Armors used by the same team do not stack. Therefore, it would be redundant for a team to have more than two Ink Armor users.
 * The lack of mobility will make it difficult for such a team to mount a push.
 * The reduced ability to battle in close range will make the team vulnerable to a well-timed flank or a well-positioned shark.
 * Turfing while following a teammate builds up Ink Armor and provides friendly turf to which a teammate can retreat whenever needed.
 * Cooperate with the teammate using both the main weapon and Suction Bombs when engaging an opponent: attack from different angles, or force the opponent to come within range of the teammate's weapon.
 * If your teammate gets splatted and an opponent is still present, then determine how weakened they are before deciding whether to continue engaging or retreat. While the H-3 Nozzlenose D is a capable fighter, consider retreating – via super jumping if necessary – to maintain Ink Armor progress if outnumbered.
 * In general, when two Ink Armor-based weapons are on a team, the user of the more aggressive weapon should activate Ink Armor first, freeing them to engage the opponent without potentially losing both a potential Ink Armor and special gauge progress. An H-3 Nozzlenose D user should act accordingly to their gear abilities. For example, one with an aggressive build should cast Ink Armor first unless accompanied by a Tri-Slosher, whereas one with abilities based around support should generally allow the other Ink Armor user to cast theirs first.

Countermeasures

 * Other Ink Armor-based support weapons – namely the Splattershot Jr., the N-ZAP '85, and the Kensa Undercover Brella – each have at few advantages over the H-3 Nozzlenose D:
 * They all have better ink efficiency, allowing users of these weapons to spam their sub weapons more often.
 * They all have lower special gauge requirements, which allow them to farm Ink Armor more quickly and often.
 * They all have both more mobility when firing (0.72 DU/f, 0.84 DU/f, and 0.72 DU/f respectively) and less firing lag between shots.
 * The .96 Gal has the same range as the H-3 Nozzlenose D but also has a lower special gauge requirement and less firing lag.
 * Mobile, quick firing weapons, such as the Splattershot, once within range, can exploit the H-3 Nozzlenose D's slow mobility and long lag after firing.
 * Brellas can pose a problem for the H-3 Nozzlenose D due to the latter's slow mobility and lag between bursts, but beware of Suction Bombs.
 * Any long-ranged weapon, such as a charger or most splatlings, can fire upon an L-3 Nozzlenose with impunity. Some of these weapons even outmaneuver an H-3 Nozzlenose D; however, do not allow one to get too close.
 * When pursuing a opposing H-3 Nozzlenose D, be wary of any Suction Bomb traps the opponent may have planted, such as around a corner.
 * Keep an eye on the HUD to know when the opponent's H-3 Nozzlenose D has Ink Armor ready to use, and both watch and listen for when it is activated.
 * The best way to prevent the opponent from using armor is to splat the opponent with the H-3 Nozzlenose D (or any other Ink Armor-equipped weapon). A charger or long-ranged splatling user can prioritize an opposing H-3 Nozzlenose D user and exploit their low mobility during the long firing lag, or a slayer can attempt to pick off an unwary H-3 Nozzlenose D.
 * Fight fire with fire by having and using Ink Armor to counter the opposing H-3 Nozzlenose D user's Armor. Skirmishes between armored teams will depend on when each Ink Armor was activated, the players' skill and positioning, turf control, and the availability of other specials.
 * Ink Armor can negate up to 30 HP of damage, so there are a few main and sub weapons that can remove an opponent's Ink Armor in one hit:
 * For example, all variants of the Splattershot, the Splattershot Pro, and the Splat Dualies all inflict at least 30 HP of damage per shot and fire relatively rapidly. All variants of the Splash-o-matic and the Dualie Squelchers can also accomplish this with enough Main Power Up.
 * Object Shredder triples damage inflicted onto armored opponents, allowing weapons that cannot otherwise inflict 30 HP of damage to break an opponent's Ink Armor in one hit. Combining Object Shredder with Ink Storm can nearly neutralize armored pushes by the opponent.
 * The splash damage of most bombs will destroy the Ink Armor of opponents who have no Bomb Defense Up DX equipped.
 * Otherwise, focus fire on armored opponents for longer than usual - preferably while ganging up on one opponent at a time - to compensate for their armor.

Gear abilities
Gear abilities provide different effects in battle that benefit the player with their equipped weapon. This is a guide to gear abilities in relation to the weapon. Strategy, synergy, viability, and purpose may be written here. Ink Saver (Sub) allows more frequent use of Suction Bombs and saves ink for the main weapon after each Suction Bomb used. Having the ability to use Suction Bombs more often allows an H-3 Nozzlenose D user to more reliably slow the opponents' push. For example, constantly tossing Suction Bombs onto the Tower can force opponents off of it, delaying their Tower push.
 * 13 ability points – one main and one sub – reduces the ink requirement per Suction Bomb to just above 60.6% for an H-3 Nozzlenose D user.

Last-Ditch Effort is a Headgear-exclusive ability that, under specific conditions, grants its user 1 to 24 ability points each of the following abilities: These abilities only begin to take effect under either of the following conditions: The H-3 Nozzlenose D consumes ink rapidly, and Suction Bombs are also heavily depended upon since Ink Armor is not as farmable as with other Ink Armor-based weapons. Whether as a slayer or a support, an H-3 Nozzlenose D user can greatly benefit from both the overall reduced ink consumption and increased ink recovery.
 * There are at most 30 seconds remaining on the game clock, or Overtime has begun in a Ranked Battle, at which the maximum 24 ability points will be granted for each of the above abilities.
 * In a Ranked Battle, the opposing team's countdown has at most 50 points remaining. The effects of Last-Ditch Effort increase as the opposing team's countdown decreases from 50 to 30 points remaining, starting with 1 ability point for each ability and maxing out to 24 ability points.

The H-3 Nozzlenose D is one of many weapons whose damage is increased by Main Power Up, maxing out to 49.9 points of damage at 42 ability points – equal to three mains and four subs – as of Version 4.5.0.
 * 30 ability points – or three mains – are enough to exceed 48.5 hit points of damage.

Special Charge Up accelerates building up the special gauge for Ink Armor. Because of the H-3 Nozzlenose D has the highest special gauge requirement (220p) among all Ink Armor-based weapons, this ability is essential for a supportive H-3 Nozzlenose D user to build up the special gauge quickly enough to provide their team Ink Armor at a moment's notice.
 * 20 ability points – two mains – are enough to reduce the special gauge requirement to below 189p.
 * 30 ability points – three mains – are enough to reduce the special gauge requirement to below 180p.