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The Predator Launcher is a weapon in Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty, Before the Nexus and Ratchet & Clank (2016 game). Manufactured by GrummelNet Industries, it locks onto multiple targets as the trigger is being held down, and fires Predator missiles at them when released. Larger targets can be locked onto by multiple missiles, with each missile targeting a different spot.

The Predator Launcher can be upgraded to the Raptor Launcher with use in Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty, and Ratchet & Clank, whose missiles release sticky napalm after exploding. In challenge mode, the weapon can upgrade to the Omega Raptor Launcher.

History[]

Main continuity[]

The Predator Launcher used a new and improved laser guided lock-on system when Ratchet purchased it in Tools of Destruction,[1] suggesting a previous version existed prior to Ratchet's arrival in the Polaris Galaxy.

Ratchet & Clank re-imagined[]

The 2016 re-imagined game is primarily an unreliable retelling of events by Qwark.
The re-imagined game primarily describes Captain Qwark's account of events. As Qwark is an unreliable narrator, and contradictory events are in-universe fiction (though those which correspond still apply). Please see Project:Bulletin board/Canon for the wiki's coverage of canon.
Search the Blarg Warship for weapons cutscene

Ratchet acquiring the weapon onboard the blarg warship in Nebula G34.

In Captain Qwark's retelling, the Predator Launcher was a top secret blargian weapon created by Dr. Nefarious for the warbots and located in the blarg warship outside the Blarg Tactical Research Station.[2] Ratchet found the weapon in "Search the Blarg Warship for weapons" taking a shuttle to the warship from the Research Station, and retrieving it from within the warship. Once retrieved, a self-destruct sequence begun, and Ratchet had to flee the warship to return alive.

Characteristics[]

The Predator Launcher is a small, dark-red carbine held with a left-hand grip and a trigger. It contains a missile-shaped red node on barrel end from which it releases missiles to target at enemies.

The Raptor Launcher is a bulkier, brown and blue carbine with yellow highlights.

Gameplay[]

Overview[]

The Predator Launcher locks onto enemies and then releases missiles at them, dealing moderate damage and having a low blast radius. Initially, the weapon can be useful against a lot of enemies, particularly against aerial foes and bosses. However, as its damage can only be spread out amongst a certain number of enemies, its damage is underwhelming and eventually becomes outclassed. Its ability to lock onto a single large enemy (bosses usually) multiple times allows it to remain somewhat useful once fully upgraded. If an enemy locked onto with a missile dies, or Ratchet changes weapon, the missiles self-destruct before firing.

With use, it upgrades to the Raptor Launcher, causing its missiles to release napalm after exploding. Firing multiple missiles, each targeted at an independent enemy, will quickly allow the entire area to become saturated with napalm.

Tools of Destruction[]

Make a Trade with the Smuggler gameplay

The Predator Launcher in action.

The Predator Launcher is available upon reaching Kortog for 25,000 bolts. It can be upgraded with raritanium upgrades, including More damage, More ammo, More missiles, and Faster shooting. All of these are useful in their own way, each addressing a minor shortcoming. At V3 and V5 the Launcher gains an extra missile lock, independent of the raritanium upgrades, thus allowing for a max total of eight locks.

Its special raritanium upgrade, the Dual Target Detectors, allows two missiles to lock onto a single target (the same enemy or the same spot on a larger enemy). This can effectively double the Launcher's damage output, but as a downside this also means you can easily waste ammunition by locking onto a weaker enemy twice. It will also run out of ammunition far faster, and can only lock onto four enemies, rather than eight.

The Raptor Launcher's V5 upgrade will cause each missile to spawn six globs of napalm, which lasts for ten seconds, and deals 30% damage per enemy per second on touch.

In challenge mode, the Omega Raptor Launcher could be purchased for 7,000,000 bolts.

Quest for Booty[]

The Predator Launcher is available at the beginning of Quest for Booty at V3, but is lost in the Azorean Sea when Rusty Pete launches Ratchet and Talwyn to Hoolefar Island. It is recovered from the sea by the Smuggler, and returned to Ratchet alongside the Nano-Swarmers upon reaching Darkwater Cove in "Search for Clues". It still upgrades to the Raptor Launcher with use.

The Dual Target Detectors upgrade is located in the Lythoin Caves before the bolt crank leading up to the battle with Sprocket. To acquire it, Ratchet must look for a gate opposite of the crank, and remove the stack of metal crates behind it, revealing a spring pad which leads to the upgrade.

Before the Nexus[]

The Predator Launcher can be purchased, and functions very similarly to its previous appearances. It is useful as it is precise at targeting enemies. It requires upgrading at least once to defeat the boss, though its upgrades must be purchased and it cannot be upgraded to the Raptor Launcher.

Ratchet & Clank (2016 game)[]

The Predator Launcher is earned for free after completing "Search the Blarg Warship for weapons". It similarly upgrades to the Raptor Launcher with use, and can be upgraded with raritanium.

Basic raritanium upgrades included upgrades to its ammo capacity, the lock speed improving how quickly its missiles locked on to enemies, and the width of the targeting cone allowing it to lock on to more enemies. Four mystery upgrades are available: Overlooked Sensors allowing more missiles to be deployed per-target in one go, Ammo Loyalty Card increasing the amount of ammo found in crates, Critical Cores increasing the width of the missiles' explosion radius, and Recursion Depth allowing more missiles to lock onto a single target.

In challenge mode, the weapon can be upgraded to the Omega Raptor Launcher once purchased from a Gadgetron vendor with the full Predator Launcher holocard set unlocked.

Behind the scenes[]

A similar weapon was planned for A Crack in Time called the Phoenix Launcher, but was cut mainly because it was exactly like the Predator Launcher from a gameplay perspective.

Citations[]

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