L-3 Nozzlenose

The L-3 Nozzlenose is a main weapon in Splatoon and Splatoon 2. It is the light version of the Nozzlenose. Unlike most other shooters, pressing automatically fires three shots at a time. While all three shots within a burst are fired very fast, firing another burst takes slightly more time. Four hits are needed to splat an opponent, meaning that at least two bursts need to be fired at an opponent to accomplish this.

Splatoon

L-3 Nozzlenose

Category	Main
Class	Shooter
Sub	Disruptor
Special	Killer Wail
Level	9
Cost	5,800
Availability
Base damage	29
Base duration
Ink consumption	1% (3% per )
Special points
Sp. depletion	40%
Range	60 / 100
Damage	40 / 100
Impact
Fire rate	65 / 100
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability
Handling
Variant	L-3 Nozzlenose D

The L-3 Nozzlenose was released on 17 June 2015 at 02:00 UTC. It comes with Disruptors and the Killer Wail.

Data

The L-3 Nozzlenose is a middleweight weapon.
The ink consumption of 1% allows players to fire 100 shots before needing to refill the ink supply.
When initially firing the weapon in humanoid form, the first shot takes 3 frames to come out.
- When firing from squid or octopus form, the first shot takes 8 frames to come out.
When pressing , three shots will be fired at a time, as long as there is enough ink to fire all three.
- If there is not enough ink to fire all three shots, then zero, one or two shots will be fired instead, depending on how much ink is left in the ink tank.
When firing a burst, each shot is fired at a rate of 4 frames between shots.
After the last shot in a burst is fired, another burst cannot be fired for 8 frames.
When firing while moving, the player's movement speed is set to 0.5 units per frame.
After firing, there is a 25 frame cooldown before the ink tank starts refilling.
Shots have a radius of 2 units.
The angle its shots can deviate while on the ground is 1 degrees.
The angle its shots can deviate while in the air is 6 degrees.
The L-3 Nozzlenose has a 25% chance to shoot towards the outer reticle instead of the inner reticle.
When jumping, the chance to shoot towards the outer reticle instead of the inner reticle is immediately set to 40%.
Shots initially travel at a rate of 22 units per frame for 5 frames, having an effective range of 110 units.
Ink droplets occur every 116 units.
The frequency at which ink drips from a shot occurs at a rate of 1.5 droplets per shot.
There are a total of 15 different droplet patterns that can be created while firing this weapon.
Droplets that occur within 11 units of the player have a radius of 23 units.
Droplets that occur when they travel past 200 units of the player have a radius of 23 units.
All other ink droplets have a radius of 16 units.

Version history

Version	Adjustments
2.2.0	▲ Ink coverage increased by 10%.
2.7.0	▲ Special gauge loss: 50% → as low as 40%.
2.8.0	▲ Damage to the Rainmaker shield increased by about 20%.

Gallery

Promo image.
An Inkling shooting the L-3 Nozzlenose (front).
Shooting the L-3 Nozzlenose (behind).
Running with the L-3 Nozzlenose equipped.
Official art of an Inkling holding the L-3 Nozzlenose.
Art for Splatoon's first anniversary, with an Inkling (far left) with the L-3 Nozzlenose.

Demonstration

Splatoon 2

L-3 Nozzlenose

Category	Main
Class	Shooter
Sub	Curling Bomb
Special	Baller
Level	18
Cost	10,400
Availability
Base damage	29
Base duration
Ink consumption	1.15% (3.45% per )
Special points	210p
Sp. depletion
Range	62 / 100
Damage	25 / 100
Impact
Fire rate	65 / 100
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability
Handling
Variants	L-3 Nozzlenose D Kensa L-3 Nozzlenose

The L-3 Nozzlenose returns in Splatoon 2 looking identical to how it did in the first game. It comes with Curling Bombs and Baller.

Quick facts

A.k.a.: L-3

Role: Slayer^[1]

Strengths: Range (vs. a Splattershot), turfing, mobility^[2]

Weaknesses: requires good accuracy and the ability to lead shots, less damage and range vs. a Splattershot Pro

Recommended abilities

Ability	Purpose
Main Power Up	Increases main weapon damage up to 33.3
Run Speed Up	Increases running speed, particularly while firing

^[3]

Use

The L-3 Nozzlenose is a unique, medium ranged slayer's weapon with some supportive tendencies^[4], thanks to its various abilities.
- It has more range than a number of other slayer's weapons, such as the Splattershot, the Splat Dualies, and the Splash-o-matic, allowing it to zone out many opposing slayers in a one-on-one and both shark and turf from a safer distance.
- The ink coverage of the L-3 Nozzlenose is very efficient for turfing, which helps maintain map control and quickly build up the special gauge.
- Its mobility, particularly while firing, is amazing for a middleweight weapon, outpacing the Splattershot Pro, the Splattershot, even the Splash-o-matic. Run Speed Up can further increase this mobility, making its user a more difficult target to hit while firing.
- Main Power Up can increase its damage per shot, maxing out at 33.3 with 24 ability points - about two mains and one sub - as of Version 5.1.0.
- Comeback, Quick Respawn, and Stealth Jump are abilities that each encourage aggressive play for a slayer.
As a burst-fire shooter, the L-3 Nozzlenose requires a higher level of skill than an automatic shooter to be effective:
- Its user must be more accurate with aiming, due to the delay between bursts.
- A user of any burst-fire shooter has to be able to lead shots in order to maximize the damage per burst.
While the Curling Bomb is not as versatile as other bombs, it still has a variety of uses:
- When it travels along any inkable non-vertical surface, it leaves a trail of ink behind, providing a quick avenue to either attack or escape.
- Keep opponents guessing by sending Curling Bombs towards the opponent without swimming in its trail. Either Ninja Squid or swimming slowly can help avoid detection while swimming in the ink trail.
- It further assists the main weapon in turfing from a safe distance.
- When charged, or "cooked" long enough, it can be used to lay insidious bomb traps to hold off pursuers or flush out sharks.
- Particularly in narrow or closed areas, a Curling Bomb ricocheting off of walls can be a useful distraction to force an opponent to move in a certain direction.
The Baller is a versatile special weapon with a variety of uses:
- Taking control of a certain area of the stage, such as a Splat Zone or underneath the opponents' Clam basket.
- Forcing the opponents to clear an area, whether leading a Tower or Rainmaker push or stopping one.
- Providing its user an extra layer of protection, such as when fleeing an unsafe situation or while riding the Tower at a checkpoint. In the latter case, be wary of getting knocked off of the Tower by the opponents' weapons.
- After the Baller's explosion, nearby opponents not splatted are often damaged enough for one or two hits from the main weapon to splat them.

Countermeasures

Because of the versatility of the L-3 Nozzlenose, each of the many slayer's and support weapons each have to approach a matchup against it in a different manner:
- One-on-one matchups between L-3 Nozzlenoses on opposing teams are decided by the players' skill, positioning, turf control, and assistance from teammates.
- Try to confront an opposing L-3 Nozzlenose in a more open area, as the opponent's Curling Bombs would be more troublesome in a closed, narrower area.
- The L-3 Nozzlenose outranges and outmaneuvers many typical slayer's weapons, such as the Splattershot and the Splash-o-matic, so they would be at a disadvantage in a straight one-on-one. Careful flanking or sharking and better positioning and tactical use of bombs are more effective than brute force.
- The Splattershot Pro easily outranges the L-3 Nozzlenose but is outmaneuvered by it due to its relatively slow running speed while firing. Try to zone out the L-3 Nozzlenose and watch both the ink tank and the surrounding turf because the Splattershot Pro is also weaker in both ink efficiency and turfing as well.
- Mid- to long-ranged support weapons are often the best bet against the L-3 Nozzlenose. The .96 Gal, the H-3 Nozzlenose, and the Dualie Squelchers all outrange the L-3 Nozzlenose, and the latter also outmaneuvers it (through dodge rolling).
- Brellas can pose a problem for the L-3 Nozzlenose due to the latter's lag between bursts, but beware the L-3 Nozzlenose's mobility.
Any long-ranged weapon, such as a charger or most splatlings, can attack an L-3 Nozzlenose with impunity as long as the former can maintain a safe distance.
To avoid falling victim to a sharking L-3 Nozzlenose, always keep track of all four opponents - which ones are still active, which ones are splatted, and which ones super jumped back to their spawn point - and turf suspicious puddles of opposing ink, preferably with a sub weapon.
- Any sub weapons that can track opponents not only discourage sharking but also make marked opponents easier targets for a long-ranged teammate.
If an opponent's Curling Bomb travels nearby, immediately turf the trail it leaves behind to both cut off lanes of attack and flush out any opponents.
When attacked by an opponent's Baller, if possible, concentrate fire on the Baller – especially with bombs – to quickly destroy it and prevent its explosion.
If an opponent riding the Tower activates Baller, attack it at a proper angle – away from the Tower's stake – to knock it off of the Tower.
Splashdown can destroy a Baller if executed before the Baller initiates its explosion. The Baller's user will remain unsplatted, so prepare a follow-up attack.