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The Tornado Launcher is a weapon in Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty, Before the Nexus and the 2016 film. Manufactured by GrummelNet Industries, it fires a disk that generates a tornado above it, which can pick up enemies, bolts, and debris.

The Tornado Launcher can be upgraded to the Tempest Launcher with use, which strikes enemies with lightning from its tornado. In Tools of Destruction, it can be further upgraded in challenge mode to the Omega Tempest Launcher.

History[]

Main continuity[]

GrummelNet developed the Tornado Launcher with patented Gadgetron Corporation technology.[1]

Ratchet & Clank (re-imagined)[]

The Tornado Launcher appears in the 2016 film, where it was created by Dr. Nefarious.[2] During his battle against Ratchet inside the Deplanetizer, Captain Qwark used the Tornado Launcher in a last-ditch attempt to defeat him, however when Ratchet convinced Qwark if the destruction of all life in the Solana Galaxy, including them, via Umbris being destroyed really was how he wanted to be remembered, Qwark destroyed the disk generating the tornado.

Characteristics[]

Tornado Launcher concept art

Concept art.

The Tornado Launcher is a purple and black carbine which holds a large disc. The disc then generates a miniature tornado, and moves to where Ratchet steers it, collecting debris, bolts and enemies.

The Tempest Launcher is a much larger, bulkier carbine with red highlights. Its storms have been rated up to F6 on the Fujita scale, and its lightning bolts smite foes with 900 gigavolts of static electricity.[3]

Gameplay[]

Overview[]

Tornado Launcher gameplay

The Tornado Launcher in action.

The Tornado Launcher fires a disc generating a tornado, which can be steered using the Sixaxis. While the disc is active the tornado will damage nearby enemies per second, and pull in more heavily damaged enemies into the tornado, which, along with bolts and debris collected, will be dispersed when it is exhausted after five seconds. While active the Tornado Launcher can be swapped out for another weapon, as the disc is remotely controlled.

Due to its area of effect, it is best used against groups of enemies, and can prove incredibly powerful against larger groups once upgraded, and even more so when supplemented with another weapon. However, without the Sixaxis the weapon becomes much useful, as without the motion controls it simply moves forwards, rather than lingering in the middle of enemy groups. Even with the Sixaxis the weapon requires careful control, as the controller must be kept level to avoid inadvertently steering the disc away from the desired targets.

With use, it upgrades to the Tempest Launcher, which fires lightning bolts at nearby enemies, which improves its effectiveness as a secondary source of damage. Each lightning bolt deals 50% of Launcher's damage per second, at a rate of around 2.5 bolts per second.

The Gyro-Turbine special upgrade, present in both games, allows its tornadoes to last twice as long (ten seconds), which is a flat upgrade that should be aimed for as soon as possible.

Tools of Destruction[]

The Tornado Launcher can first be acquired on Cobalia for 40,000 bolts. It could be upgraded with raritanium, including More Bolts, More Raritanium, More damage, and Bigger area. Especially the latter two are useful, greatly improving the tornado's strength against groups, although the Gyro Turbine should still be prioritized.

Upon reaching challenge mode, the Omega Tempest Launcher can be purchased for 5,000,000 bolts.

Quest for Booty[]

The Tornado 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. The weapon is returned, along with the Shock Ravager, by Major Worley when Ratchet returns to the island in "Warn Mayor Worley".

The Gyro-Turbine is located in Darkwater Cove, available during "Solve the Riddles of Darkwater". To retrieve it, Ratchet must head up the path that led to the Angstrom's Tune minigame all the way to the spring pad, jump up over the net to the left and across some platforms to reach the upgrade.

Before the Nexus[]

The Tornado Launcher appears as a gadget. Once purchased, it can be used any time during a run, and can be upgraded twice.

Citations[]

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