Competitive:Snipewriter 5H

Unofficial!

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

For information about the Snipewriter 5H, see Snipewriter 5H.

First introduced in Splatoon 3 at the start of Chill Season 2022, the Snipewriter 5H is a new type of charger with the unique mechanic of loading five nonlethal rounds per full charge, allowing its user to hit more targets and turf more efficiently than conventional chargers. Its good mobility and supportive weapon set enable its user to team up with more mobile, aggressive teammates.

Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3

Snipewriter 5H

Abbreviations	Snipewriter, Pencil
Sub	Sprinkler
Special	Tacticooler
Base damage	40–68 (Partial charge) 68 (Full charge)
Base duration
Ink consumption	35%
Special points	200p
Special depletion
Role	Anchor/Support
Strengths	Range, turfing, larger hitbox, mobility, Tacticooler farming, lower gear dependency
Weaknesses	Lower damage, longer charge time, unable to store charges, unable to pierce targets

The Snipewriter 5H debuted at Chill Season 2022 with a synergistically supportive weapon set, enabling its user to fill two roles within a team composition.

Use

The Snipewriter 5H's long range, thorough turfing, and Tacticooler enables its user to fill both the anchor and support roles:

• When fully charged, it loads five rounds, providing multiple opportunities to hit targets or turf surfaces:
  • Tap shots and partially charged shots only provide single shots that have less damage and range than those fired from a full charge. They can still be used to splat a weakened opponent (with no more than 60 HP) at closer range. Otherwise, flee to safety if pursued by rushing opponents.
  • After fully charging, releasing fires the first of five rounds. Each subsequent press of fires another round until you run out.
  • While each round inflicts nonlethal damage, since Version 3.1.0, it can form combos with a wider variety of other weapons, from a single shot by the Splattershot to splash damage of some blasters and bombs.
• The Snipewriter 5H shares some characteristics with the Bamboozler 14 Mk I:
  • Its shots have a larger hitbox than those of most other chargers, making it easier to hit targets.
  • However, these shots cannot pierce targets, meaning that a teammate can body block your shots if either of you are not careful.
  • The Snipewriter 5H cannot store charges while submerged in ink. Changing to swim form or using the sub or special weapon will unload any remaining rounds but will replenish the ink tank with an equivalent amount of ink (e.g., two remaining rounds will restore 14%, or 2 × 7%, of ink).
• The Snipewriter 5H's range matches that of the Splatterscope, enabling it to cover wide areas and long paths.
• Its range and multiple rounds enable it to turf more safely than other support weapons (such as the N-ZAP '85) and more efficiently than other chargers, which also builds up the special gauge more quickly.
• A Snipewriter 5H user is very mobile compared to users of most other chargers, particularly while strafing or jumping during or after charging the weapon.

Even with its unique advantages, the Snipewriter 5H does come with other tradeoffs besides those already mentioned:

• The Snipewriter 5H requires 72 frames, or 1.2 seconds, to fully charge, which is longer than for most other chargers.
• Besides having nonlethal damage, it inflicts reduced damage against objects, particularly the Crab Tank and the armor of a Booyah Bomb user.

The Sprinkler can be used in a variety of ways to help a Snipewriter 5H user:

• Turfing areas that are either out of reach or unsafe to approach.
• Maintaining turf in highly contested areas, such as on the Tower. A Sprinkler placed high on a wall or ceiling can also be a distraction for an opponent.
• Acting as a light shield in a pinch. Sprinklers have 120 hit points but can be easily destroyed by opponents with Object Shredder.

Tacticooler can help the user and their team push in.

• Place a Tacticooler where most of the team can get to it. Placing it too far back or forward will not help the team as much since not as many people can access it.
• When equipped, Tacticooler provides many different abilities, all of which help a team push in.
  • Run Speed Up, Swim Speed Up, and Ink Resistance Up helps the user move faster and evade enemy attacks. This in particular benefits the Snipewriter user the most as the user already has decent mobility.
  • Intensify Action helps most weapons be more mobile and consistent, reducing jump spread significantly.
  • Special Saver and Quick Respawn both reduce the punishment of getting splatted, allowing the users to push in without worrying about losing special progress or being out of the battle for too long.
  • Quick Super Jump allows one to jump out of sticky situations or to reposition more quickly..
• When under the effect of Tacticooler, be aware that arrows will reveal your location while swimming. If attempting to shark, it may be better to not get the effects of a Tacticooler in order to stay hidden.
• The Tacticooler itself can be used as a mini shield, helping the Snipewriter 5H user stay safer if in the frontlines.
• When trying to get a Tacticooler, it may be best to get the effects at a later time after the cooldown has run out to allow the Special Saver effects to be more useful than getting it immediately.

Synergy

Like other, more conventional chargers, the Snipewriter 5H can provide support fire and help maintain spatial control, but its mobility allows its user to more easily either push forward with the rest of the team or retreat from an advancing opponent. Nevertheless, it can still be redundant to have one or two more long-ranged weapons on a team for a few reasons:

• A team with too many long-ranged weapons will have fewer mobile weapons that can more quickly capture turf and take control of the objective, hindering said team's ability to begin an effective push into the opponents' territory. Such a team will also have difficulty breaking out of an opponent's spawn camp.
• Longer-ranged weapons, including the Snipewriter 5H, are generally less effective at close range, so a team with too many long-ranged weapons is prone to getting flanked and sharked by the opponent.

Although the Snipewriter 5H is better at turfing than traditional chargers, it is still less efficient than other weapons, due to its high ink consumption and charge time. A Snipewriter 5H user will have to rely on their teammates to maintain map control. Not having enough turfing ability – usually from having too many blasters and chargers – 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 Snipewriter 5H's lack of lethal bombs – particularly either Splat or Suction Bombs – generally necessitates its user's teammates to equip weapons that include them. Lethal bombs provide their user's team a couple of advantages over another team that has no lethal bombs in its composition:

• Their one-hit-splat offers its user's team the chance of instantly gaining a numbers advantage, from which a game-winning push can arise.
• Their lethal explosion provides space for its user's team to either push into an area held by the opponent or stall an opponent's push.

While Tacticooler can benefit an entire team, it may not be worth it to have more than one in a comp for a few reasons:

• Tacticooler cannot move the enemy team the way other specials such as the Crab Tank or Tenta Missiles can.
• While a team with it may have an advantage, Tacticooler cannot splat opponents as efficiently as Inkjet or other aggresive specials can.
• A Tacticooler forces a team to have to go to a specific area in order to get the effects. Having multiple can disrupt a team's push and allow opponents to predict where a team will be.

Countermeasures

• Users of other anchor weapons each have to confront an opposing Snipewriter user differently:
  • Traditional chargers such as the Splatterscope and the E-liter 4K and longer-range splatlings – namely the Ballpoint Splatling and the Hydra Splatling – clearly outrange the Bamboozler 14 Mk I and can simply zone out an opposing Snipewriter user.
    • Focus more on turfing and providing support fire for your teammates while keeping an eye on the opposing Snipewriter user's position.
    • Only challenge the opposing Snipewriter user if your position is more advantageous or if you need to distract them from firing at an important teammate, such as the Tower rider or Rainmaker carrier.
  • While the Flingza Roller (212.64 DU) cannot outrange the Snipewriter, it can simply farm Tenta Missiles and use it to harass the opposing Snipewriter user.
  • Thanks to charge storing, both the Classic Squiffer (167.65 DU) and the Nautilus 47 (165 DU) are more mobile than the Snipewriter to compensate for their relative lack of range.
• The quick, powerful shots of the Snipewriter effectively prohibit shorter-ranged weapon users from rushing an opposing Snipewriter user. Rely on flanking or sharking to get within range of an opposing Snipewriter user if it has its shots, or flank them while they're charging.
• Throwing bombs or Toxic Mist at an opposing Snipewriter user can briefly force them out of position and throw off their aim and charges. While Toxic Mist does not damage the opponent, it drains their ink tank and cripples their movement, making them more vulnerable to a direct assault.

While a Tacticooler buffs a team, there are ways to deal with them.

• Be aware of where a Tacticooler is placed. Teammates will have to group up around that area to get the effects.
  • Throwing bombs can throw opponents off from getting the drink and splat unaware opponents.
  • Sharking around the cooler itself can be valuable as opponents are likely to get around the drink.
• The arrows from the effects prevent opponents from being able to shark. Be especially aware of any signs of arrows to prevent getting snuck up on.
• A Snipewriter user under the effects of Tacticooler will have their strafe speed increased drastically. Knowing where the user will strafe can prevent them from dodging shots or escaping.
• Specials such as Crab Tank or Booyah Bomb can prevent a team with Tacticooler to be able to push up, limiting the effect's time.
• Be aware of the Quick Respawn that it provides. Splatted opponents will come back quicker than normal allowing them to reposition more easily.

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 (Main)

The Snipewriter 5H consumes a lot of ink. Normally, the Snipewriter 5H can charge 2 times without slowing down.

• 3 ability points - 1 sub gives the user just around 3 full charges without running out of ink.

Last-Ditch Effort

Snipewriters are an ink-hungry weapon. When equipped, Last-Ditch Effort grants 18 ability points of three different stackable abilities for the last 30 seconds, or when the ranked score is 50 or below. These abilities include:

• Ink Recovery Up
• Ink Saver (Main)
• Ink Saver (Sub)

Ink Saver (Main) and Ink Recovery Up is the most useful for the wielder, allowing them reduce the amount of ink consumed by using the weapon in general and more quickly pressure the opponents or ink turf quicker.

Special Charge Up

Having the Tacticooler as the Snipewriter 5H's special helps it be a good support weapon. It takes the Snipewriter 12 shots on empty turf to activate the Tacticooler without any Special Charge Up. Having Special Charge Up helps the player use the Tacticooler as many times as possible so that they can support their teammates.

• 6 ability points - 2 subs makes your Points for Special go down from 200 to 190
• 10 ability points - 1 main makes your Points for Special go down to 184
• 13 ability points - 1 main 1 sub makes your Points for Special go down to 180.

Special Power Up

Special Power Up increases the duration of the effects from Tacticooler. Unlike other specials, the duration increase is noticeable in smaller amounts, allowing the user to have more gear freedom while also being able to have an increased duration, allowing a team more time to be able to push without worry.

• 6 ability points - 2 subs increases the duration from 17 seconds to 19 seconds
• 10 ability points - 1 main increases the duration to around 20 seconds

Swim Speed Up

Swim Speed Up helps boost swim speed of the user, allowing the user to get quickly to the frontlines, or escape sticky situations.

• 6 ability points - 2 subs makes your swimming speed go from 1.92 du/f to 2.01 du/f
• 16 ability points - 1 main 2 subs makes your swimming speed go to 2.14 du/f

Run Speed Up

Due to not having a charge hold, running is the only way the user can move while having a charge. Being already mobile, Run Speed Up can boost the user's mobility, allowing the user to follow up to opponents.

• 6 ability points - 2 subs lets you strafe at 0.63 du/f as compared to 0.6
• 16 ability points - 1 main 2 subs lets you strafe at 0.67 du/f as compared to 0.6
• 26 ability points - 2 mains 2 subs lets you strafe at 0.7 du/f as compared to 0.6

Sub Resistance Up

Sub Resistance Up will only reduce the damage taken from opposing sub 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.

• 3 ability points - one sub - has a lot of utility and therefore should be ran on any weapon.
  • Getting hit by splash damage from a bomb will not make the user visible on the map.
  • Three Burst Bomb indirects or three indirects from a Fizzy bomb will not splat the user.

Quick Super Jump

Using Quick Super Jump allows Snipewriter users to more easily return and retreat to or from the battles.

• 3 ability points - 1 sub decreases the Super Jump time from 1.33 seconds to 0.97 seconds.

Ink Resistance Up

Every player, including an Snipewriter 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:

Ability points	Mains	Subs	Invulnera- bility time (frames)	Rate of damage (HP/f)	Maximum damage (HP)	Run speed in opposing ink (DU/f)	Jump height in opposing ink
0	0	0	0	0.3	40.0	0.24	0.800
3	0	1	10	0.2	38.0	0.33	0.854
6	0	2	15	0.2	36.2	0.39	0.888

Thermal Ink

With multiple shots that can hit opponents, it is possible that they can escape while being hit once. Thermal Ink can take advantage of this to allow the user to know where they are, preventing flanks from that opponent.

Respawn Punisher

Not recommended. A Snipewriter 5H user will not be as safe and far back from enemy fire often, meaning it can get splatted more times than splatting others. Snipewriters also generally get assists more often than splats, which Respawn Punisher does not affect.

In Competitive Play

The Snipewriter 5H on its release was seen as a very weak weapon. This was due to its main flaw of having weak damage against Crab Tank and the Booyah Bomb, specials very prevelant in the meta. Along with this, it had a weak kit as Tacticooler was not strong enough to be seen as a useful special weapon as it could not directly compete with these specials. The weapon was ignored for most of this meta, even with buffs to the main weapon that only slightly alleviated its weakness, though these buffs would slowly add up over time.

With Inkjet coming into the meta, along with buffs to Tacticooler pushed Tacticooler into the meta. Snipewriter however wasn't used in this phase, and instead weapons like the N-ZAP '85 and the Tri-Slosher Nouveau became the main choices for Cooler. The Competitive Scene still saw the weapon as weak so not much of it was seen, although it was starting to see small use in Splat Zones as its quick turfing allowed it to contest the more rectangular zones such as in Brinewater Springs and Mincemeat Metalworks.

In the Japanese scene, Snipewriter was starting to see more and more results in tournaments, and shortly following was the Western scene. The Snipewriter's strengths of long range chip damage and most importantly, it's long range paint allowing the weapon to farm Cooler, were finally starting to be seen. And due to the lower amount of Crab Tanks, it's low object damage was not as impactful. It even had a strong matchup against one of the main weapons, the Ballpoint Splatling and against Inkjet. Snipewriter slowly became the staple Tacticooler option and eventually staple backline and support as it can cover both roles fairly well while being able to combo with many weapons in its own team and get a strong amount of Coolers, one of the best specials in this meta.