Killer Wail 5.1

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For the variant appearing in Splatoon, see Killer Wail.

The Killer Wail 5.1 is a special weapon in Splatoon 3. It fires a series of six prolonged lasers that pierce through walls and automatically track opponents.

Appearance

The Killer Wail 5.1 consists of six floating speakers, in contrast to the Killer Wail's singular megaphone. Each speaker is identical and will fire a sound wave beam similar to the Killer Wail's but is much narrower. The back of each speaker holds a can of spray paint, which bears a strong resemblance to that of the Suction Bomb.

Splatoon 3

Killer Wail 5.1

Killer Wail 5.1

Category Special
Class
Sub
Special
Special points
Special depletion
Range
Damage
Impact
Fire rate
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability
Handling
Level
Cost
Requirement
Introduced Specifications
Weight
Base damage
Base duration 6 sec
Ink consumption
Base range
Rate of fire
Muzzle velocity
Base accuracy
MPU effect
SPU effect
SPU effect
Other variant

When activated, six flying speakers spawn in a vertical hexagon formation and follow the user. The user can then target opponents one at a time by facing the camera in their direction, indicated by a reticle. By switching targets after the previous pair has locked on, each pair of speakers can be locked onto a different opponent. If there is no targeted opponent when a speaker pair activates, the speakers simply point in the camera's direction and fire. Each individual speaker will then choose randomly to either rotate left or right for its duration.

The speakers activate two at a time and from top to bottom in roughly .5 second intervals, each firing a narrow, wall-piercing beam that deals damage to opponents that touch them. Once they start firing, the speakers float in place and rotate, tracking locked-on opponents' movement roughly half a second behind their current position. The speakers have their own individual durations, shutting off in the order they activated.

If a locked-on opponent is splatted, the speakers will continue to rotate continuously in the same direction as they were before the target was splatted. If a locked-on opponent is splatted before the speakers begin firing, they will turn to face the target's last location before choosing to rotate as if there was no target.

This special is one of the nine available specials in Salmon Run Next Wave. In this mode, the Killer Wail 5.1 can deal piercing damage and be used to splat armored bosses such as Steelheads and Drizzlers.

Special Power Up

Main article: Special Power Up

Equipping Special Power Up with Killer Wail 5.1 increases its firing duration.

Version history

Version Adjustments
1.2.0
  • Fixed an issue with where the megaphone targeting a locked-on opponent who was splatted during its active period would move.
2.0.0 Salmon Run Next Wave:
  • Increased the precision with which it tracks Boss Salmonids.
  • Damage dealt increased by about 25%.
3.0.0
  • Made it easier to activate the effect from the Special Power Up gear ability, even when the player only has a few items with that gear ability equipped.
    • The effect gained from equipping the maximum number of Special Power Up gear abilities will not change.
5.0.0
  • If there is no target it can lock onto in the area of effect, it will now lock onto the target last in the area of effect.
    • Added a display indicator and sound effect to clarify the locked-on target when the lasers are fired.
5.1.0
  • Increased damage dealt by approximately 17%.

Quotes

Unleashes six speaker-shaped, laser-emitting devices to surround and devastate your enemies. Lock onto an opponent, and the emitters will track and blast them wherever they go! You can continue to use your main weapon and sub weapon while the Killer Wail 5.1 is firing.
— In-game description

Sets

Weapons with Killer Wail 5.1 in Splatoon 3
Main #ID Sub Special Special Points Level Price Class Introduced
S3 Weapon Main .52 Gal 2D Current.png .52 Gal 50 S3 Weapon Sub Splash Wall Flat.png Splash Wall S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 200p 11 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Shooter.png Shooter Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Bamboozler 14 Mk I 2D Current.png Bamboozler 14 Mk I 2050 S3 Weapon Sub Autobomb Flat.png Autobomb S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 190p 23 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Charger.png Charger Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Douser Dualies FF 2D Current.png Douser Dualies FF 5050 S3 Weapon Sub Ink Mine Flat.png Ink Mine S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 200p 22 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Dualie.png Dualie Version 7.0.0 (Fresh Season 2024)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Inkbrush 2D Current.png Inkbrush 1100 S3 Weapon Sub Splat Bomb Flat.png Splat Bomb S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 180p 7 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Brush.png Brush Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Neo Sploosh-o-matic 2D Current.png Neo Sploosh-o-matic 1 S3 Weapon Sub Squid Beakon Flat.png Squid Beakon S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 170p 13 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Shooter.png Shooter Version 3.0.0 (Fresh Season 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Order Stringer Replica 2D Current.png Order Stringer Replica 7015 S3 Weapon Sub Toxic Mist Flat.png Toxic Mist S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 190p 1 S3 Icon Stringer.png Stringer Version 7.0.0 (Side Order)​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Rapid Blaster Pro Deco 2D Current.png Rapid Blaster Pro Deco 251 S3 Weapon Sub Angle Shooter Flat.png Angle Shooter S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 190p 29 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Blaster.png Blaster Version 4.0.0 (Sizzle Season 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Splattershot Nova 2D Current.png Splattershot Nova 100 S3 Weapon Sub Point Sensor Flat.png Point Sensor S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 190p 8 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Shooter.png Shooter Version 2.0.0 (Chill Season 2022)​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Tri-Stringer 2D Current.png Tri-Stringer 7010 S3 Weapon Sub Toxic Mist Flat.png Toxic Mist S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 180p 4 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Stringer.png Stringer Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​​​​

Badges

Main article: Badge#Special Weapon Wins

Winning a certain number of battles with the Killer Wail 5.1 will reward the player with special badges that they can use on their Splashtag.

Killer Wail 5.1 Badges
S3 Badge Killer Wail 5.1 30.png 30 wins with Killer Wail 5.1
S3 Badge Killer Wail 5.1 180.png 180 wins with Killer Wail 5.1
S3 Badge Killer Wail 5.1 1200.png 1,200 wins with Killer Wail 5.1

Gallery

Strategy

For competitive tips about the Killer Wail 5.1

Click to view the strategy for Killer Wail 5.1. View the strategy page.

Trivia

  • The Killer Wail 5.1 is a modified version of the original Killer Wail from Splatoon.[1]
  • The number refers to the 5.1 surround sound audio system, commonly used in home theatres.
    • 5.1 capable audio systems consist of five relatively similar full spectrum speakers, as well as an additional low-frequency speaker. Despite this, the Killer Wail 5.1's six speakers all appear to be identical.
  • In Salmon Run Next Wave, if a player uses a Killer Wail 5.1 with proper timing during the opening of an Xtrawave, it will attempt to target the King Salmonid during its introduction animation. (This will not damage the King Salmonid.)
  • In Side Order, the player's and Pearl Drone's Killer Wail 5.1 is able to redirect itself automatically after splatting the target instead of going aimlessly in another direction.

Etymology

"Killer Wail 5.1" is a combination of "Killer Wail" (which in turn is a portmanteau of "killer whale" and "wail"), and 5.1 surround sound system. "Wail" references its method of splatting opponents, while 5.1 (the most common format for surround sound systems) references its plural speakers. Notably, both Wii U and Nintendo Switch support 5.1 output.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese メガホンレーザー5.1ch
Megahon rēzā 5.1ch
Megaphone Laser 5.1ch
Netherlands Dutch Megalofoon 5.1 Megalophone 5.1[a]
Canada French (NOA) Laser perçant 5.1 Piercing laser 5.1
France French (NOE) Haut-perceur 5.1 Loudpiercer 5.1[b]
Germany German Heulboje 5.1 Howling Buoy 5.1[c]
Italy Italian Tintofono 5.1 Inkophone 5.1[d]
Russia Russian Мегалофон 5.1
Megalofon 5.1
Megalophone 5.1[e]
Mexico Spanish (NOA) Berreón 5.1 Bawler 5.1 or Howler 5.1[f]
Spain Spanish (NOE) Tintófono 5.1 Inkophone 5.1[g]
China Chinese (Simplified) 喇叭镭射5.1ch
Lǎbā léishè 5.1ch (Mandarin)
Speaker Laser 5.1ch
Hong Kong Chinese (Traditional) 喇叭雷射5.1ch
Lǎbā léishè 5.1ch (Mandarin)
Speaker Laser 5.1ch
South Korea Korean 메가폰 레이저 5.1ch
Megapon reijeo 5.1ch
Megaphone Laser 5.1ch
Translate logo.svg Internal SpMicroLaser[2] Sp stands for special weapon, and Micro may refer to a microphone or it being a smaller variant compared to the Killer Wail's megaphone.

Translation notes

  1. From Megalodon, an extinct species of enormous shark, and megafoon ("megaphone")
  2. From haut-parleur ("loudspeaker"), and perceur ("piercer")
  3. From heulen, a verb which means "to cry or howl", and Boje ("buoy")
  4. From tinta ("ink"), and the suffix -fono ("-phone").
  5. From Мегалодон Megalodon, an extinct species of enormous shark, and мегафон megafon ("megaphone").
  6. From berreón ("bawler" (someone who cries))
  7. From tinta ("ink"), and megáfono ("megaphone").

See also

References