Killer Wail
- For the variant appearing in Splatoon 3, see Killer Wail 5.1.
The Killer Wail is a special weapon in Splatoon.
While the normal Killer Wail never appeared in Splatoon series sequels, variants with new or improved functionality have appeared. In Splatoon 2, a Killer Wail like weapon called the Princess Cannon appears. Splatoon 3 features the Killer Wail 5.1, a new special weapon which consists of six small Killer Wails.
Appearance
The Killer Wail appears to be a giant gray megaphone attached to a similarly colored body. The megaphone itself is fairly standard aside from its large size. It is mainly dark gray with an even darker gray rim, and there is a warning label on the inside of the mouth of the horn speaker. The megaphone is attached to a dark gray box with a protruding cylinder on its left and its right. The ends of the cylinders change color to match the user's ink, and the end of the left cylinder has a sticker bearing the Custom logo on it. Around the cylinders are four mufflers, two on the right side and two on the left. The two that are on the top face towards the user, while the two on the bottom face away from the user. All four of the mufflers are a purple-gray color with blue and pink gradient at the top, reminiscent of heated steel. Behind the mufflers are two black handles that resemble the handles on a bicycle with hand brakes. The user's Inkling uses the handles to aim the Killer Wail. When the Killer Wail is fired, there is a brief period where a series of circles that change color to match the user's ink shoot out of it. Once the Killer Wail begins to fire, large sound waves that also match the user's ink begin to ripple out of it, and the mufflers begin spewing ink.
Splatoon
| Category | Special |
| Special points | 160p |
| Base damage | 10 per frame |
| Base duration | Aiming: 10 seconds Active: 2 seconds |
When activated, the Killer Wail first projects a series of concentric circles in its intended path for a short moment before firing massive shockwaves in the user's ink color. Any enemy in the shockwave is splatted, ignoring buildings or other obstacles. While the Killer Wail does not spread any ink of its own unless an opponent is splatted, it is useful for gaining or keeping control of the stage.
Use
- It is useful to use the Killer Wail through walls to surprise unsuspecting enemies that pass by.
- It is advisable to activate the Killer Wail from around a corner as a surprise attack, to trap enemies running into it who will splat themselves.
- Furthermore, if a player in the opposite team has the Killer Wail, the player should be cautious around corners so as to not be taken by surprise by the weapon firing.
- It requires approximately two seconds to channel and activate the Killer Wail. It is important to keep that in mind to successfully hit opponents.
- Though the main use of the Killer Wail is to splat people, it is also excellent for chasing away enemies. Aiming it at popular pathways, common sniping spots, Splat Zones, or Tower routes is useful to essentially lock out enemies from these areas.
- The Killer Wail is excellent against the Kraken or Bubbler because of its huge knockback. For instance, teammates sharing a Bubbler on top of the tower in Tower Control can all be pushed off with a well-aimed Killer Wail.
- The Killer Wail is excellent to use at corridors where the enemy has a hard time to move aside. It is very strong on stages such as Walleye Warehouse, Port Mackerel and Camp Triggerfish.
- The Killer Wail leaves a set of circles when it is about to activate. Players must be careful to see them and avoid the area it fires, if used by an enemy.
- The Killer Wail makes a loud guitar noise when activated. This allows the player to know that someone is using the weapon, and to react accordingly.
- Repeating the final boss level can help practice dodging the Killer Wail, as one of DJ Octavio's attacks uses a form similar to the Killer Wail.
Version history
| Version | Adjustments |
|---|---|
| 2.0.0 |
|
| 2.6.0 |
|
Quotes
| “ | Killer Wail is an extremely powerful special, ideal for splatting opponents caught within its lethal sonic cone. When activated, you're prompted to aim the device, which appears like a large megaphone. In addition to rotating the device, you can also tilt it, aiming it up or down. Once set, shoot the Killer Wail to send a sonic blast through the stage. This wave travels through the entire stage, passing through walls and other objects. Given the special's linear attack, aim it down narrow corridors or high-traffic chokepoints. While the Killer Wail doesn't spread ink, any opponents unlucky enough to be caught within its blast will explode, spreading your team's ink over a small area. | ” |
— Splatoon Prima Guide
| ||
Sets
Gallery
-
3D art of a Killer Wail.
-
3D art of a Killer Wail with blue ink.
-
-
A Killer Wail firing across the map.
-
Close-up of an activated Killer Wail.
-
-
Concept art of various weapons, with the Killer Wail in the middle.
Splatoon 2
Princess Cannon in the Octo Expansion.In Splatoon 2, as explained in Sunken Scroll 11, no special weapons from the first game return. The role of the Killer Wail was indirectly replaced by the Sting Ray, in that they both shoot an extremely long beam that can pass through walls.
Princess Cannon
- Main article: Princess Cannon
During the final boss Turf War in the Octo Expansion, after the player has successfully completed the objective, Pearl uses a customized Killer Wail known as the Princess Cannon together with her battle cry to defeat the final boss.
After its appearance in the Octo Expansion, the Princess Cannon returned during the Chaos vs. Order Splatfest as a special weapon of the Shifty Station stage layout MC.Princess Diaries. One minute before the end of the battle, Pearl descends to the center of the stage and any player that reach her first can obtain and use the Princess Cannon.
Splatoon 3
- Main article: Killer Wail 5.1
Splatoon 3 features a special weapon similar to the Killer Wail called the Killer Wail 5.1, which fires multiple small beams instead.
Color Wail
- See also: Princess Cannon#Side Order
A weapon similar to the Princess Cannon and Killer Wail 5.1 appears in Side Order during the fight against Overlorder when reaching the top of the Spire of Order for the first time. After getting Full Spectrum by collecting all of the Spectrum color chips in the fourth phase, Agent 8's special weapon is replaced with a unique special that Pearl calls the Color Wail. This weapon deals 8888 damage per hit to the final boss.
Other appearances
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Inkling fighter in this game uses the Killer Wail as their Final Smash. Upon activation, the Killer Wail charges for a brief moment and then fires a powerful beam that paints enemies in the players color. While the beam is firing the player is able to attack and move freely and can angle the beam up and down by moving 
.
Trivia
- When launched, the Killer Wail emits a sound like a guitar chord that lasts for a few seconds.
- A Killer Wail is used by the Octobot King in the final boss of Octo Valley, during the second phase and later. This version of the Killer Wail takes longer to activate and is narrower than in multiplayer.
- The Killer Wail is the only special weapon that is usable in some form in all three Splatoon games: as the Killer Wail in Splatoon, the Princess Cannon in Splatoon 2, and the Killer Wail 5.1 in Splatoon 3.
- In the The Ursine Anomaly - #03 in Splatoon 3's single-player campaign Return of the Mammalians, one of Mr. Grizz's attacks is very similar to the Killer Wail.
Etymology
Killer Wail is derived from "killer whale" and "wail", the latter of which references its method of splatting opponents.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
メガホンレーザー Megahon rēzā |
Megaphone Laser[a] |
 Dutch |
Megalofoon (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[1]) | Megalophone[b] |
| Dodelijke sirene (Splatoon[2]) | Deadly siren | |
 French (NOA) |
Laser perçant | Piercing laser |
 French (NOE) |
Haut-perceur | Loudpiercer[c] |
 German |
Heulboje | Howling Buoy[d] |
 Italian |
Tintofono | Inkophone[e] |
 Russian |
Мегалофон (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[1]) Megalofon |
Megalophone[f] |
| Смертоносная сирена (Splatoon[3]) Smertonosnaya sirena |
Deadly siren | |
 Spanish (NOA) |
Berreón | Bawler/Howler[g] |
 Spanish (NOE) |
Tintófono | Inkophone[h] |
 Chinese (Simplified) |
扩音器镭射[4] kuòyīnqì léishè (Mandarin) |
Loudspeaker Laser |
 Chinese (Traditional) |
擴音器雷射[4] kuòyīnqì léishè (Mandarin) |
Loudspeaker Laser |
 Korean |
메가폰 레이저[1] megapon reijeo |
Megaphone Laser |
 Portuguese (NOE) |
Onda de som[5] | Sound wave |
Translation notes
- ↑ From メガホン megahon ("megaphone") and レーザー rēzā ("laser")
- ↑ From Megalodon, an extinct species of enormous shark, and megafoon ("megaphone")
- ↑ From haut-parleur ("loudspeaker"), and perceur ("piercer")
- ↑ From heulen ("to cry or howl"), and Boje ("buoy")
- ↑ From tinta ("ink"), and megafono ("megaphone")
- ↑ From Megalodon, an extinct species of enormous shark, and мегафон megafon ("megaphone")
- ↑ From berreón ("bawler", someone who cries)
- ↑ From tinta ("ink"), and megáfono ("megaphone")
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Splatoon 3
- ↑
From Splatoon's electronic manual on nintendo.com/nl-nl
- ↑ From Splatoon's electronic manual on nintendo.ru
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- ↑ From Splatoon's electronic manual on nintendo.com/pt-pt
