Barracuda

The barracuda is a large bony fish build. Having invested points in jaws and sharp teeth, the barracuda is a powerful rushdown fighter that usually inflict wounds on targets. Furthermore, it also invested points in being able to safely eat fish which eat toxic algae, expanding their prey and giving them a trump card against almost anything. They are great for new and intermediate players wanting to play as predators that can use stealth, but due to its high skill cap, veteran players can make use of it and dominate the ocean. However, it is frail, while they can surive a stray hit, they will quickly be knocked out when forced into direct combat. However, workarounds exist and it is versatile with many playstyles. It has a similar build to Muskellunge and Pike.

## Overview

This build has the general archetype of a glass cannon, high power and mobility but little bulk and defense. It also has good stealth, which it uses to approach its prey before it burst into high speed to catch its prey. They also piss dogs off. This build sometimes travels and hunt in groups, as that puts an intimidation debuff on the server their in.

## Abilities and Skills

### Teeth

Like most predatory builds, Barracuda invest points into sharp strong teeth and a strong jaw, allowing them to easily bite through flesh.

### Toxin

Because the Baracuda eats reef fish, it may carry on the toxic algae eaten from other reef fish. This gives the [Ciguatera] debuff on builds that are not immune to it like humans.

## Strategy

You are a formidable rushdown-grappler hybrid. You have 2 sets of teeth. 1 outer set traps the prey and the inner set crunches and damages it. Against players that are at most a weight class above you, you can bite them and spin around to rack up more damage.

### Early Game

When first spawning, you would be paired with up to 1,999 other barracuda fry. Then, you would instantly be thrown into a battle Royale. If you come out on top, you would have gained a lot of EXP by cannibalism.

### Ambush

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Usually, the best strategy is ambush. Ambush damage deals additional damage as it catches the victim off guard and is easier to hit their weak spots. Good hiding places include dense groups of aquatic plants, caves or groups of rocks. If the prey notices you, pursue them. Then, return to your hiding place. You may be tempted to eat fishes along the way, but for security only do so if they lead back to a hiding place. Use your speed to your advantage to secure prey and hide in areas of high traffic. You will play as an assassin, targeting the weak and vanishing away with your speed or simply hide from the strong.

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Minimise the impact of your lunge, while it costs power it has a softer crunch which is more effective against group strategies. Target weak points of the target to deal extra damage without a hard crunch.

Of course there are other strategies. Group strategies work too and are stronger against sharks which negate stealth. They have higher intimidation, especially when they open their mouth, revealing sharp teeth and cutting their resolve.

### Charge

Want to take down targets fast? Charge! Hide in an ambush place and rush at them, dealing huge damage. If they can detect you, hide behind their back or target their weak points.

Of course, you gain less EXP when you are in a team, but it is worth trying for maximum damage.

### Suicide Execute

If you are willing to die in exchange for removing nearly anything, then first, eat reef fish and try to get the Toxin buff. Then, bite the target and provoke them into eating you. Then, watch them die. If you hit it, wounds would be inflicted which will pair up with poison. Eventually, the target dies and becomes an EXP loot bag for your teammates.

### Nerve Damage

Nerve Damage are an extremely powerful debuff that can be regularly applied. Target animals with thin skin and attack their thinnest skin parts. If you bite deep enough the enemy will get the debuff. Usually, you would attack the tail but you can attack the front if you are feeling brave to maximise nerve damage power.

### Combatting Sharks

While many Barracuda mains struggle with sharks, it is far from impossible, though difficult to combat them. You are designed for rushdown. Usually, you would run and bit the shark’s weak points and scatter. Do not flee in a single direction as sharks have deceptively high mobility. Surround them, as while they have 360° view, their jaws are not 360°. Causing nerve damage can be catastrophic for the shark. The gills are the weak spot of a shark too. Eventually, they will be forced to flee. If they are dead, you have a happy group of barracudas, as sharks have a lot of EXP and their meat is very filling.

### Combatting Dolphins

Like sharks, hiding from them is futile. A dolphin's best weapon against you are traps. This could be devastating, as dolphins are smart enough to know that something will hide in hiding spots. However, if you want to hide, hide in narrow caves that dolphins cannot reach. If you play as teams, do not go to the bottom of the sea.

Now onto actually combatting them. First, be trapped and wait for dolphins to come. Then, surround the dolphin and beat it up, and try to remove the trap (you have high int). If you catch them around you, it is best to fight them for exp and to remove a threat. Like sharks, causing nerve damage can be devastating, but try to mix up your strategy as, due to their high INT, dolphins can predict your moves if you repeat it, and develop counterplay.

### Mating Quest

To complete the game, you have to complete the Mating quest. The male would repeatedly move around and the sperm will be passed to the eggs of the female. Then, the female lays the eggs. This is one of the flaws of the barracuda.

Barracuda relies on sheer number of eggs for their young to survive. You could hide the eggs in a hiding place if you are female, and then ambush with a different hiding place, while bringing food to the eggs to prevent cannibalism when they hatch.

### Combatting other (big) predators

There are many threats to the Barracuda, such as the Gharial. Try to run, but if you can’t, attack their weak points (usually eyes or underside). It is more effective in a team.

### Blinding

Barracudas have high enough intellegence to execute this move, so worry not. First, target the eyes, then use your sharp teeth to bite the eyeballs and then remove it. This can be used against predators to escape or stubborn, fleeing prey to catch them.

## Best Lineup

Orcas are an excellent pairing. You can help catch the fast but frail moving fish while the orca beats the bulky fish. This helps especially against Sharks too as they are pretty much the only threat to you. However, they have been nerfed recently.

Cleaner Wrasse are good support for all marine classes, and the barracuda is no exception. Parasites are the worst enemy of fishes, so consider adding them to your lineup. Furthermore, you can protect them from marine animals who want to bully the cleaner wrasse.

Octopi are a viable pairing. You can actively chase fish only to be eaten by them.

## Tier Placement

Although they are a glass cannon, barracudas have excellent stat distribution for a formidable rushdown fighter. Furthermore, they have a variety of strategies they can use to be a powerful predator, and did I mention they can be in schools for intimidation? The barracuda may have poor matchups like the shark and dolphin, but skilled barracuda players can always develop counterplay to them and workarounds to their shortcomings.

So, in skilled hands, barracudas will be dominating the ocean, beating down their competitors and even assumed "bad matchups". The only thing keeping the Barracuda out of S tier is the requirement of high skill to effectively use it and it’s lopsided stats. The barracuda sits at the top of A tier.