What range changes
Fire Cannons deals ×0.7 at close range. Most gimmicks read range too: a Shellback and a Kraken both prefer close, a Siren Spitter prefers far and loses most of its own damage the moment you close on it.
Who prefers what
Reef Shark: close. Young Serpent: no preference. Diving Serpent: no preference. Shellback: close. Siren Spitter: far. Kraken: close. Leviathan: no preference.