Competitive:Nautilus 79

Unofficial!

This article discusses content that is not part of the official Splatoon series canon but is part of the community or competitive gaming space.

For information about the Nautilus 79, see Nautilus 79.

Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2

Nautilus 79

Abbreviations	Nautilus, Naut
Sub	Suction Bomb
Special	Inkjet
Base damage	32
Base duration
Ink consumption	15% (Full charge)
Special points	180p
Special depletion
Role	Slayer/Anchor/Flex
Strengths	Ability to store any charge, can recharge while firing, high DPS and bullet velocity, accuracy does not decrease while jumping, Inkjet farming
Weaknesses	Very low mobility while charging, short range compared to other splatlings, dependent on map control, mediocre turfing, weaker in Splat Zones

The Nautilus 79, like its silver counterpart, the Nautilus 47, is a unique splatling with its defining trait being able to store any amount of charge for an extended time, similarly to a Goo Tuber.

Use

The many unique traits of the Nautilus 79 make it a slayer:

• Just like every splatling, the Nautilus 79 has to charge before it can fire.
  • Unlike most charging weapons, the Nautilus 79's range is always the same regardless of charge.
  • Charging takes 38 frames (about 0.63 seconds) to reach the first full level and an additional 38 frames (another 0.63 seconds) to reach the second level.
  • While charging, the user's running speed is set to 0.4 units per frame, which is as slow as a Custom Hydra Splatling. However, this issue doesn't matter as much since this weapon can store its charge while swimming.
  • Like the Ballpoint Splatling, the Nautilus 79 can recharge while in the middle of firing.
• Once charged, the Nautilus 79's high firing rate (one shot every 4 frames = 15 shots per second), moderate damage (32 health points, or HP), and extremely high bullet velocity (44.333 units per frame) allow it to mow down opponents near and far:
  • While the Nautilus 79's firepower is devastating up close, it is still recommended to keep shorter ranged opponents from getting too close, where their potentially faster time to splat will allow them to either trade or win a confrontation outright.
  • Unlike other splatlings, the accuracy remains the same even while jumping, allowing it to jump and dodge enemy fire without sacrificing its splatting power.
• The most important tool of the Nautilus 79 is its ability to store charges, both full and partial, for 3.33 seconds.
  • Make sure to keep an eye on both the ink tank and your charge level before committing to a fight to ensure that you have enough ink and bullets to splat an opponent.
  • While most splatlings would hide behind an obstacle to charge and strafe out while firing, the Nautilus 79 can instead swim out and fire, offsetting its low running speed while charging and is also faster than most splatlings.
  • Since ink does not recover while storing a charge, sometimes it is best to drop the charge and let the ink tank refill, especially since the Nautilus 79 charges five times slower when out of ink.

Suction Bombs can be used in a similar fashion to Splat Bombs, with a few differences:

• They can attach to surfaces, which both allows more room for error when aiming and enables the planting of craftier traps, such as underneath a grate.
• They take two seconds after attaching to a surface to detonate, as opposed to one second for a Splat Bomb, so plant Suction Bombs earlier than usual.
• They inflict more damage from a direct hit (220 HP) and have a larger overall radius of damage (80 DU).
• 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 can also flush out opposing anchors from perches and clear other critical areas, such as the Tower.
• 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.
• A Suction Bomb can damage or destroy an opponent's brella shield, Splash Wall, or Baller or the Rainmaker shield, while detonating on contact.
  • Any opponents caught within the Suction Bomb's explosion will get damaged or splatted.
  • It will also inflate or pop a teammate's bubbles but deflate or diffuse an opponent's bubbles, while still detonating on contact.
• 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.
• Note that due to the playstyle of the Nautilus 79, which often involves holding onto a charge, Suction Bombs may not be used as frequently compared to other weapons.

If piloted properly, the Inkjet can pressure opponents – particularly anchors – more directly than most other slayer's special weapons, such as Tenta Missiles:

• Upon activation, its launching point is marked for all players – teammates and opponents – to see and, as of Version 3.2.0, also indicates when its user will return via super jump, allowing an opponent to camp or shark there. Therefore, it is advised to launch the Inkjet from a less visible and better-protected area.
  • Drop Roller allows its user to better dodge either a potential Inkjet punish or a simple super jump punish, providing a safer landing.
  • Specials are also free ink reloads, allowing the Nautilus 79 user to drop a Suction Bomb upon landing after the special ends.
• Its movement speed is determined by both the Nautilus 79's strafing speed and the number of Run Speed Up ability points equipped.
• It is also possible to morph into squid/octopus form and swim (in friendly ink) while the special is active. This provides some key benefits:
  • Morphing will halt the jets to enable the pilot to descend, making them a less predictable target.
  • Swimming is faster than flying, enabling an Inkjet pilot to activate the special at a farther distance from opponents and more quickly pursue them.
• Its altitude depends on the elevation of the surface it is hovering above, enabling it to either fly very high over an elevated structure, such as the glass roof in Shellendorf Institute, or hover high enough to challenge an opponent on a perch.
  • However, the Inkjet cannot achieve thrust off of grates or mesh, causing its pilot to merely walk on them. Avoid hovering over them to maintain altitude.
  • Pressing the button will provide a temporary extra thrust. Mastery of both boosting and descending (see above) is necessary for Inkjet pilots to become less predictable for long-ranged opponents to track and pick off.
• Its mobility enables it to reach areas that are otherwise not easily accessible — or even inaccessible, such as over the glass enclosures in Kelp Dome.
• The Inkjet's cannon fires long-ranged, Rainmaker-like bursts of ink that splat opponents in one direct hit or two to four indirect hits:
  • Lead the Inkjet's shots to compensate for their slightly slower travel speed, especially when positioned farther from an intended target.
  • Its splash damage can splat opponents positioned behind obstacles, varying from 30 to 50 damage; the closer the shot to the opponent, the more damage it deals.
• If an Inkjet falls out of bounds, such as into the water, its pilot will land back onto the location of launch — or the most previous point of solid ground. Therefore, the Inkjet can save a player from an out-of-bounds splat in a pinch. You can also use this to your advantage. When being pressured by the enemy team, going into water can save you from being splatted.

Synergy

While a Nautilus 79 is capable of turfing, it spends most of its time holding on to a charge, so its user will have to rely on their teammates to maintain map control for them to move about the map to remain an effective player. Not having enough turfing ability presents its own set of problems:

• A team whose composition lacks enough turfing ability can be rendered immobile if the other team dominates map control.
• A lack of turfing also makes it difficult to alter the course of a game, even after wiping out the other team.
• The Nautilus 79 does not like to deal with Burst Bombs, as the instant explosion of ink reduces their mobility. However, weapons with Splash Wall, particularly the Kensa .52 Gal, can mitigate this weakness.

Inkjet is particularly vulnerable while flying, due to its larger hitbox and slow air speed. Having a teammate with Ink Armor will increase the Inkjet's survivability and allow them to play more aggressively.

Countermeasures

• Since approaching a Nautilus 79 head-on results in quickly being shredded by its high bullet velocity, flanking it and catching it off guard is the safer option.
• A long-ranged weapon, such as a charger or most splatlings, can attack a Nautilus 79 from long distance with impunity. However, once the Nautilus gets close, the tables are turned, as it can outdraw its less mobile, slower firing opponent.
• The Nautilus 79 requires friendly ink to function. Since it lacks range when compared to other splatlings, it needs to use its unique held charge mechanic to swim up and get into range to fire. Maintaining map control and painting over areas will hinder its ability to get picks.
• When pursuing an opposing Nautilus 79, be wary of any Suction Bomb traps the opponent may have planted, such as around a corner or under a grate.
• If an opposing Nautilus 79 user throws a Suction Bomb onto the Tower while you are riding it, you can move to the other side of the Tower and use the stake for cover from the blast. However, be ready to fend off any opponents – including the opposing Nautilus 79 user – who attempt to attack this other side.
• Bomb Defense Up DX reduces the splash damage from both Suction Bombs (from 30 HP to 28.6 HP) and Inkjet shots (near misses go from 50 HP to 48.3 HP and splash damage goes from 30 HP to 29 HP), improving its user's survivability against both the sub and special weapons of an opposing Nautilus 79 user.
• Inkjet pilots are easy targets for long-ranged weapons such as splatlings and especially chargers, due to their low mobility and larger hitbox.

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.

Bomb Defense Up DX

Ever since its introduction in Version 4.3.0, Bomb Defense Up DX will not only reduce the damage taken from opposing sub and special weapons that are not one-hit-splat but will also reduce the duration of the tracking effects of certain opponent's sub and special weapons, such as Point Sensors and Ink Mines, allowing the user of this ability to evade detection more easily. Just three ability points, or one sub, offer plenty of utility:

• The splash damage of most bombs is reduced from 30 HP to 28.6 HP. This reduction in damage provides two benefits:
  • It prevents its user from being exposed on their opponents' map by the splash damage of most single bombs.
  • Ink Armor will not break due to splash damage from a single bomb whose splash damage normally inflicts 30 HP of damage.
• The splash damage of near-misses from either Tenta Missiles or Inkjet, the minimum splash damage of bubbles, and the collision damage from Baller are all reduced from 50 HP to 48.3 HP, enabling one to survive two hits from any of these specific means of special weapon damage.

Ink Resistance Up

A Nautilus 79 user is expected to come in contact with the opponent's ink on various surfaces, which can both be damaging and reduce mobility. Ink Resistance Up not only partially offsets the reduction in mobility but also delays the damage taken from contact with opposing ink.

• Just three ability points, or one sub,…
  • …delays the damage taken from opposing ink by 10 frames.
  • …reduces the damage taken from 0.3 HP/f (health points per frame) to 0.2 HP/f.
  • …lowers the limit on the amount of damage opposing ink on surfaces can inflict from 40 HP to 38 HP.
  • …increases the normal running speed in opposing ink from 0.24 DU/f to 0.33 DU/f.
  • …increases the jumping height in opposing ink from 0.8 to 0.854.
• Six ability points, or two subs,…
  • …delays the damage taken from opposing ink by 15 frames.
  • …reduces the damage taken to 0.2 HP/f.
  • …lowers the damage limit of opposing ink to 36.2 HP.
  • …increases the normal running speed in opposing ink to 0.39 DU/f.
  • …increases the jumping height in opposing ink to 0.888.

Main Power Up

Although the Nautilus 79 can recharge while firing, having some extra bullets in the charge can make a difference when it comes to finishing off opponents. Main Power Up will increase the firing duration of the Nautilus 79 by up to 30%, giving it more bullets to fire in the charge and also making it more ink efficient, as the ink consumption remains the same despite firing more bullets.

• Ten ability points, or one main, increases the firing duration from 104 frames to 120 frames, or two seconds, providing four extra bullets.
• Thirteen ability points, or one main and one sub, will increase this further to 122 frames and five bullets.

Quick Super Jump

Quick Super Jump decreases both the "charge" time before and the travel time of a Super Jump. Both aggressive and supportive Nautilus 79 users will benefit since Quick Super Jump allows them to both return to the front lines more quickly and escape unfavorable situations more easily to preserve special gauge progress.

• One sub, or 3 ability points, of Quick Super Jump decreases the "charge" time by 22 frames, or 0.36 seconds.

Run Speed Up

While Run Speed Up is the bread and butter of most splatling builds, the Nautilus 79 does not need as much compared to others due to its ability to store a charge. Nonetheless, some Run Speed Up will still benefit the user, mostly due to its increased mobility while firing.

• Thirteen ability points, or one main and one sub, increases the strafing speed while firing from 0.7 DU/f to 0.78 DU/f.

Swim Speed Up

Being able to store a charge while swimming is the biggest part of the Nautilus 79's gameplay. Swim Speed Up enables its user to more quickly close the distance towards an opponent, more quickly respond to an opponents' push, or even escape unfavorable situations.

• 6 ability points - two subs - increase the swim speed from 1.92 DU/f to 2.01 DU/f, which is roughly the same default swimming speed for lightweight weapons.
• 16 ability points – one main and two subs – increase the swim speed from 1.92 DU/f to 2.14 DU/f.

Ninja Squid

Not recommended. Ninja Squid does not hide the glow from a held charge.