Baller

The Baller is a special weapon in Splatoon 2. It puts the user into a movable player-sized ball that protects them and can explode on command.

Appearance

The Baller is a transparent sphere that is just large enough to encase an Inkling or Octoling, reminiscent of a hamster or water ball. There are two white strips of tape encircling the Baller that are ripped off when it takes enough damage. A small reservoir of the user's ink rests in the bottom of the Baller.

Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2

Baller

Category	Special
Class
Sub
Special
Special points
Special depletion
Range
Damage
Impact
Fire rate
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability	400 / 100
Handling
Level
Cost
Requirement
Added in		Specifications
Weight
Base damage	50 (Contact) 55 (Splash, far) 180 (Splash, near)
Base duration	6s (automatic detonation)
Ink consumption
Base range
Rate of fire
Muzzle velocity
Base accuracy
MPU effect
SPU effect
SPU effect
Other variant

When using the special, an Inkling or Octoling enters the Baller. This allows them to move quickly and blocks incoming damage taken while inking the ground as they move, and also allows them to roll up walls. If is held while in the bubble, or after a set time, the Baller explodes, covering the surrounding area in ink. The Baller being inked results in it shrinking, eventually disappearing, instead of the player using it taking damage. The Baller works similar to Splash Wall in matters of destructive bombs. They explode immediately upon touching it, which can be disastrous for teammates nearby.

It appears in three Octo Expansion Stations:

• A04 Roll Out Station
• H02 Ballercise Station
• J08 F11 Whack-Fu Station

Special Power Up

Main article: Special Power Up

Equipping Special Power Up with Baller increases its durability and explosion radius. The following table shows the HP increase percentage for Baller when stacking the ability.

Abilities				Change
None				0%
Main: 0, Sub: 1				4.8%
Main: 0, Sub: 2				9.4%
Main: 0, Sub: 3				13.8%
Main: 1, Sub: 0				15.2%
Main: 0, Sub: 4				17.9%
Main: 1, Sub: 1				19.2%
Main: 0, Sub: 5				21.7%
Main: 1, Sub: 2				22.9%
Main: 0, Sub: 6				25.3%
Main: 1, Sub: 3				26.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 0				27.6%
Main: 0, Sub: 7				28.7%
Main: 1, Sub: 4				29.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 1				30.8%
Main: 0, Sub: 8				31.8%
Main: 1, Sub: 5				32.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 2				33.8%
Main: 0, Sub: 9				34.7%
Main: 1, Sub: 6				35.6%
Main: 2, Sub: 3				36.5%
Main: 3, Sub: 0				37.4%
Main: 1, Sub: 7				38.2%
Main: 2, Sub: 4				39.0%
Main: 3, Sub: 1				39.7%
Main: 1, Sub: 8				40.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 5				41.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 2				41.9%
Main: 1, Sub: 9				42.6%
Main: 2, Sub: 6				43.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 3				43.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 7				45.0%
Main: 3, Sub: 4				45.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 8				46.5%
Main: 3, Sub: 5				46.9%
Main: 2, Sub: 9				47.7%
Main: 3, Sub: 6				48.1%
Main: 3, Sub: 7				49.0%
Main: 3, Sub: 8				49.7%
Main: 3, Sub: 9				50.2%

Version history

Version	Adjustments
1.2.0	▲ During use, reduced amount of damage received from opponent Shooters (excluding Blasters), Splatlings, and Dualies by 40%: 1x → 0.6x. Damage dealt by L-3 Nozzlenose: 1x → 0.7x. Damage dealt by H-3 Nozzlenose: 1x → 0.65x.
1.3.0	▲ Made the Baller less likely to be knocked back when hit with enemy attacks. ▲ Increased durability of the Baller by about 33% when the gear ability "Special Power Up" isn't being used: 300.0 → 400.0. Durability when using the maximum amount of "Special Power Up" remains unchanged. ▲ Increased damage radius of explosion by roughly 17% and radius of ink coverage by roughly 7%. Direct radius: 70 units → 80 units. Explosion radius: 120 units → 140 units. Ink coverage radius: 65 units → 70 units. ▲ Increased minimum damage caused by explosion: 30.0 → 55.0. ▲ Increased power of explosion to knock back opponents.
1.4.0	▲ Increased damage dealt to opposing Ballers by bursting bubbles by roughly 150%: 1x → 2.5x. ▼ Made movement of the Baller easier to hear for surrounding players. ▼ Decreased the radius of minimum damage (55 damage) dealt by the explosion of the Baller by roughly 14% when Special Power Up isn't being used: 140 units → 120 units. Due to changes in gear ability balancing, this radius will be the same as it was previously when the maximum amount of Special Power Up is being used.
2.3.0	▲ Made it so the player can change direction of movement more quickly than before.
3.0.0	▲ Climbing surfaces where inkable walls connect to non-inkable walls will now be easier.
4.3.0	▲ Greatly increased damage dealt to opponent Brellas. Increased damage to opponent Brellas varies from roughly 3 to 4.8 times the previous amount depending on the Brella.
4.9.0	▼ Baller will no longer deal 180.0 damage to anything past a certain height above its explosion. As a result of this change, and when it explodes on flat ground, the Baller will no longer deal 180.0 damage to opponents in mid-air performing a Splashdown, or those who've pressed while using an Inkjet to gain extra height. There is no change to the range in which an exploding Baller will deal 55.0 damage.
5.1.0	▼ Decreased duration of active time from roughly 7 to roughly 6 seconds.
5.2.0	▼ Can now be affected by Toxic Mist. ▼ Extended the time the Button has to be held down to trigger this by roughly 16/60 of a second: 30 frames → 46 frames. ▲ When a weapon that has a fast walking speed when not firing or a fast squid-form swimming speed is equipped, increased acceleration on the ground to allow the player to move more quickly. This applies to the following weapons that can use a Baller. Aerospray RG Luna Blaster Inkbrush Nouveau Undercover Sorella Brella ▼ When a weapon that has a slow walking speed when not firing or a slow squid-form swimming speed is equipped, reduced maximum speed by roughly 14%. This applies to the following weapon that can use a Baller. Custom Explosher

Quotes

“	Enter a defensive ball that protects you from a certain amount of damage as you play. The ball will eventually explode, allowing you to use the moment you emerge from it as an attack. You can also hold to build up power and cause the ball to explode yourself.	”
— Splatoon 2 Sub & Special Guide

“	Baller! Yes, this is a new special weapon called the Baller! Roll around the stage in an oversized hamster ball that protects you from a certain amount of damage. If you hold down ZR, the ball will fill with ink, eventually causing an explosion on the spot.	”
— Squid Research Lab

Sets

Main weapons with Baller in Splatoon 2

	Main	#ID	Sub	Special	Special Points	Level	Price	Class	Introduced
	.52 Gal	50	Point Sensor	Baller	170p	14	9500	Shooter	7 July 2017 (1.0.0)​​​​​
	Aerospray RG	31	Sprinkler	Baller	180p	28	16900	Shooter	7 July 2017 (1.0.0)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
	Custom Explosher	3041	Point Sensor	Baller	220p	22	12400	Slosher	5 December 2018 (4.3.0)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
	Glooga Dualies Deco	5021	Splash Wall	Baller	180p	24	13700	Dualie	25 April 2018 (3.0.0)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
	Inkbrush Nouveau	1101	Ink Mine	Baller	180p	7	7000	Roller	11 November 2017​​
	Kensa Charger	2012	Sprinkler	Baller	190p	19	14500	Charger	14 September 2018 (4.0.0)​​​​​​
	Kensa Rapid Blaster	242	Torpedo	Baller	200p	21	13500	Shooter	5 December 2018 (4.3.0)​
	Kensa Splat Dualies	5012	Suction Bomb	Baller	200p	16	13000	Dualie	14 September 2018 (4.0.0)​
	Kensa Splatterscope	2022	Sprinkler	Baller	190p	28	20400	Charger	14 September 2018 (4.0.0)​​​​
	Krak-On Splat Roller	1011	Squid Beakon	Baller	170p	12	9200	Roller	7 July 2017 (1.0.0)
	L-3 Nozzlenose	300	Curling Bomb	Baller	220p	18	10400	Shooter	7 July 2017 (1.0.0)​​
	Luna Blaster	200	Splat Bomb	Baller	170p	19	12100	Shooter	7 July 2017 (1.0.0)​​​​​
	Nautilus 47	4040	Point Sensor	Baller	180p	26	14700	Splatling	1 August 2018​​​
	New Squiffer	2001	Autobomb	Baller	180p	17	11000	Charger	25 April 2018 (3.0.0)​​​​​​​​​​
	Slosher Deco	3001	Sprinkler	Baller	210p	8	8000	Slosher	15 December 2017​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
	Undercover Sorella Brella	6021	Splat Bomb	Baller	180p	19	11900	Brella	1 June 2018​

Gallery

• 

  Baller promotional image

• 

  An Inkling in the Baller

• 

  Agent 8 in the Baller

• 

  Render

• 

  Artwork for Koshien 2020

Strategy

For competitive tips about the Baller

View the strategy page.

Trivia

• When a player is splatted by a Baller's explosion, a message with "The Baller Inksploded!" appears. The message "Splatted by Baller!" appears in other instances.
• Baller, Splashdown, and Ink Armor are the only special weapons to appear on at least one weapon in every class.
• According to The Art of Splatoon 2, researchers made the Baller to find out how to contain ink released by Inklings when they used a special weapon.
  • It was revealed that to hold all the ink, the Baller would have to be seven times its volume than the prototype, although it would become unable to roll around the stage.
  • They settled on having the Baller hold a portion of ink and releasing the rest as the user moved around inside.

Etymology

"Baller" is a noun form of the verbal sense of "ball" (to play a ball sport, particularly basketball or soccer). It can also be interpreted literally in the sense that the special encases the user in a ball (or "balls" them).

In the former sense of a player of e.g. basketball, it has also extended meaning to be used generally to refer to those who are particularly cool or live extravagantly.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	イカスフィア Ikasufia	Squid Sphere
Dutch	Barstbubbel	Burst Bubble
French	Chromo-sphère	Color-sphere
German	Sepisphäre	Sepia sphere
Italian	Cromosfera	Color Sphere
Russian	Шарокат Sharokat	From шар shar ("ball") and кат kat ("roll")
Spanish	Esfera tintera	Ink Sphere