Hydra Splattling: Analysis and Thoughts

[LMG]

Charging to the "first ring" does not hinder your power or range at all. It hits as hard and as far as a fully charged shot. Just not as long of an amount of time.

I know, that's why I said "half-full charge" (the first ring of the two)

 

[Of Moose & Men]

I know, that's why I said "half-full charge" (the first ring of the two)

That's what I'm referring to. . . Charging the second ring does not make you shoot further, nor does it change the damage output, it simply allows you to shoot longer and eats up a lot more ink. Which is why myself, and a few others, have stated you shouldn't be fully charging the Hydra hardly ever, as you're just wasting Ink and precious time.

 

[SkyBlue]

That's what I'm referring to. . . Charging the second ring does not make you shoot further, nor does it change the damage output, it simply allows you to shoot longer and eats up a lot more ink. Which is why myself, and a few others, have stated you shouldn't be fully charging the Hydra hardly ever, as you're just wasting Ink and precious time.

I'll definitely take what you've said into consideration ^w^
In what little time I could practice with it, I kept fully charging since the 2nd ring doesn't take long at all, But I feel like the 1st ring of charge will be enough. and I hope I didn't imply I hated the weapon from my lenghty post above >.<
I love it so much! It's literally in it's own range tier on it's own, and can hit or push snipers out of their perches with it's insanely good range.
Honestly the biggest problem for me is my own inadequacy. Idk where to go on maps with it since I rarely used the H splatling, and never use chargers.

 

[LMG]

That's what I'm referring to. . . Charging the second ring does not make you shoot further, nor does it change the damage output, it simply allows you to shoot longer and eats up a lot more ink. Which is why myself, and a few others, have stated you shouldn't be fully charging the Hydra hardly ever, as you're just wasting Ink and precious time.

I'm not really hating on the ink consumption or the charge time, as any weapon that is strong in some areas needs to be weaker in others (unless it's a PvE game), it's the range that I'm disappointed by.

Anyways, I tried it again on Camp Triggerfish and Moray Towers. On Moray Towers the weapon can splat enemies from afar better than the Heavy Splatling, but aside of that I wasn't really impressed by it. At least it's funny watch a Slosher slowly march towards you while you slowly charge up, and ink his face off when they finally attack. On Camp Triggerfish there are some areas where I wouldn't normaly be able to reach with the Heavy Splatling, but they don't really make much of a difference aside of maybe "Competitive Scenarios", where every little detail matters. I did discover you can hit enemies hiding behind the walls on the gratings by shooting at their feet from underneath (only works from certain angles), and the weapon does feel like it shoots slower than the Heavy Splatling.

Spoiler: Further attempts

So I got to try it on Hammerhead Bridge and on Urchin Underpass... excesively... trying to use it on Hammerhead Bridge. I'm starting to notice the range a bit more now, but I really never get to use it to it's full potential. I still think it could get a bit more range to properly set it apart from the Heavy Splatling, like the Mini Splatling and it's insanely short charge time. At it's current form, while I hate to say it, it does feel like a rebalanced (to not say nerfed as it does have some perks, even if slight) Heavy Splatling instead of having its own identity

 

[chrisblass1]

Finally got a chance to try it out aaaaand not as good as it could be.
Like many others said the charge speed is what's really holding this weapon back, it can do a lot but is takes to long to actually do anything and the range is all right but it could be a little better. I feel like it's better to stick with the heavy tbh

 

[SquiliamTentacles]

I am not sure, but I think that charging to the second ring MIGHT lead to the double the amount of shots (It seems to shoot for the same period of time.) If it does, it would be helpful to fully charge when there are no foes in range and you just want to spread turf or be prepared, as the second ring takes much less time to charge.

 

[Skepticpunk]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with LMG here. Testing the Hydra in the range gives me maybe an extra line of range over the Heavy Splatling, and the mobility and charge time are pretty terrible. All I could think when I tried it was that I could be doing the same exact things more easily with the Heavy Splatling.

The Splat Bombs don't really give you much CQC ability because they take too long to go off, and while the Echolocator is a pretty good tool, it doesn't really save this weapon. There are other weapons, like the Heavy Splatling, that do defense much better because they have better tools to defend with, even with the slightly reduced range.

 

[Flammie]

The charge time is the only thing about it that i really dislike, otherwise the weapon would be very useful as it is slightly less ranged than a Splat Charger.
I would say that Ninja Squid would be good, but when you have to at least charge to a full circle to get what you want, then it's not really useful.

Also i get the pun : Hydra Splating = Based on a Fire Hydrant. Clever!!

 

[Lester Roquefort]

It's a frickin beast, and i agree with the specialists, it doesn't work well... in fact, you can directly oppose Hydra Splatling users with Heavy. Though, i'll argue that the range is a massive help if your playing defense. (And actually, you can actually ambush any of the splatlings with an actual gun. Take note, i said ambush, you can't take Splatling'ers on directly.)

Actually, overall, i'd say that if you plan on sitting on your butt the entire match, use Hydra. If you plan on adjusting to whatever happens, Heavy. If you actually plan on being active, (i'm not sure on this, i tried light once and nope'd it) Light.

But that's just the impression i get with the splatlings, i might be using them wrong, and this is not taking specials into play.

 

[aceofscarabs]

The Hydra is also great at long-range suppression. Nothing makes enemies hesitate to advance like a Hydra denying a chokepoint from far enough back that they'd need to bring in a sniper or drop a Wail/Inkstrike to force you away.

 

[SkyBlue]

So I have a guilty confession to make........I've fallen in love with another weapon...........the eliter 3k....
I feel bad, I really do, but I do have the hydra to thank for this. Before the hydra splatling I was complete trash with chargers. My hands would shake and I'd just be way too anxious and would have really terrible aim because of this(never layed a finger on the scoped ones, the narrow vision would make it worse).

However the hydra splatling really helped with my aim, because it caused me to keep my hands still more while it slowly charged up, and then I had to keep it steady while it let loose its barrage. I still like the Hydra, but not only does eliter give me more range (and the better sub of burst bombs for this much range) but also feels a little easier to handle. Again I'm not bashing the Hydra, I think it's great, and props to all that are determined to main it. I just......really really love having almost unbeatable range(other than the eliter scope but that's barely much more).

Anywho good luck to all that use this terrifying weapon! I'm sure you'll splat the ink out of me one day! though not if I snipe you first ;P

 

[Joseph Staleknight]

Actually, overall, i'd say that if you plan on sitting on your butt the entire match, use Hydra. If you plan on adjusting to whatever happens, Heavy. If you actually plan on being active, (i'm not sure on this, i tried light once and nope'd it) Light.

True. I had a match where I used the Hydra to lock down the enemy's left-hand side while the other team took care of the other areas, essentially boxing the enemy in. I rarely had to leave my perch, only when their charger user tried to snipe me.

Also, is it just me or does the Hydra make the game connectivity weird? I've had a few times wielding it where it took ages to get a match going, and there were a few times when people disappeared from the battle entirely. Once, I even saw someone on my team get a head start in inking before the match started. I don't think I ever experienced it as often with other weapons.

 

[LMG]

Also, is it just me or does the Hydra make the game connectivity weird? I've had a few times wielding it where it took ages to get a match going, and there were a few times when people disappeared from the battle entirely. Once, I even saw someone on my team get a head start in inking before the match started. I don't think I ever experienced it as often with other weapons.

That sounds like lag issues an not the Hydra Splatling itself. I've had all of those happen before it was released

 

[Yellowkirbyguy]

I could hear the tuba playing as i walked down Alfonsino charging this thing up. "Stop it!....Cut it out!.... I have an ink efficiency problem!" *Trips and gets splatted*

I quite like this weapon. It could be the other non blaster main i've been looking for apart from the Mini Splatling. Though i just get the feeling alot more people could use it better than i can. Well, judging how i do against other chargers when i'm a charger anyway.

I'll probably talk more about this weapon when I have more experience with it.

 

[chrisblass1]

Okay spent the whole day playing with this weapon to get a better feel of it and its not that bad. Its very powerful and need all it needs is better range, the charging speed isnt horrible but its not good either so just a small charging speed buff would do. Sadly one good way of using this weapon is start charging before your in the battle and look around/gamepad to see if anyone close before you let loose

 

[Elecmaw]

I hate how utterly slow this weapon is. Most of it's range is neglectible unless you fire at a motionless target because it doesn't have hitscan nor the sharp accuracy chargers have, nor do you have the option of re-positioning because you'll end up wasting your charge. It really feels like a wannabe E-Liter to me.
I'd like it more if it were fun to use, but it feels so extremely sluggish.

 

[Of Moose & Men]

Sorry but that sounds much more like user error than the weapon itself. I have no trouble hitting my target a huge majority of the time, moving or not. The only trouble I have is against accurate chargers, and that usually leads to trade offs. There are some decent sized downsides to the Hydra, but none are nearly as detrimental as you are all making it out to be. If you play the weapon correctly, you will likely change your mind. Hell, some maps and modes I feel the Hydra absolutely destroys at. SZ in Port Makerel is ridiculous. I walked out of there with 19 - 3 (yes I'm S, as if that matters) one match, I was loving it.

Point is, you guys are doing what was done to the Bamboozler, that's fine, I'm just telling you you're wrong. :]

 

[LMG]

Sorry but that sounds much more like user error than the weapon itself. I have no trouble hitting my target a huge majority of the time, moving or not. The only trouble I have is against accurate chargers, and that usually leads to trade offs. There are some decent sized downsides to the Hydra, but none are nearly as detrimental as you are all making it out to be. If you play the weapon correctly, you will likely change your mind. Hell, some maps and modes I feel the Hydra absolutely destroys at. SZ in Port Makerel is ridiculous. I walked out of there with 19 - 3 (yes I'm S, as if that matters) one match, I was loving it.

Point is, you guys are doing what was done to the Bamboozler, that's fine, I'm just telling you you're wrong. :]

I don't really have much trouble using the Hydra Splatling; if anything my playstyle allows me to use the weapon within its intended role without much trouble. Hell, I can even splat enemies that try to rush me with no problem. The thing is that every time I use this weapon I just wish that I had the Heavy Splatling because it doesn't have anything to really set it apart from it. The Mini Splatling and Bamboozler both have insanely short charge times that sets them apart from anything in their category (aside of the other cool perks), but the range that the Hydra Splatling gives over the Heavy Splatling just doesn't do the same (and the longer barrage doesn't save it either). I really wish that the range was slightly longer so that I could actually go "oh crap, that's a Hydra Splatling" whenever I have to fight it or "I wish I had the Hydra Splatling" whenever I'm playing large, open maps

 

[chrisblass1]

I don't really have much trouble using the Hydra Splatling; if anything my playstyle allows me to use the weapon within its intended role without much trouble. Hell, I can even splat enemies that try to rush me with no problem. The thing is that every time I use this weapon I just wish that I had the Heavy Splatling because it doesn't have anything to really set it apart from it. The Mini Splatling and Bamboozler both have insanely short charge times that sets them apart from anything in their category (aside of the other cool perks), but the range that the Hydra Splatling gives over the Heavy Splatling just doesn't do the same (and the longer barrage doesn't save it either). I really wish that the range was slightly longer so that I could actually go "oh crap, that's a Hydra Splatling" whenever I have to fight it or "I wish I had the Hydra Splatling" whenever I'm playing large, open maps

So true, each time i see one when i have the heavy im just like "Oh look a hydra thats cool" rather than going "uh oh a hydra"

 

[Dreamy Luigi]

If anyone cares, range difference of Heavy and Hydra Splatling.

In general I feel like Heavy does everything that Hydra can do and better even if it has less range. A more versatile weapon, I'll call it.