Hey, squid community, how is your Splatoon 3 experience going? Are you making the most of it? Luckily, Splatoon 3 is a game that anyone can pick up and get some fun rounds in, but it’s also a game with tremendous depth if you want to put the effort in.
Here are some quick tips for new players or folks who haven’t laid down ink since the last game!
Play the story mode first!
If you haven’t played the story mode, you’re in for a treat! To start it, follow the weird dude down the sewer when you’re in Splatsville.
In this mode, you’ll travel to Alterna, one of the last strongholds of human civilization. After a couple of intro levels, you’ll land in Alterna and explore a series of connected islands filled with in-game collectibles, food and drink tickets that you can use in multiplayer* matches, and short levels that slowly introduce you to concepts that form the backbone of Splatoon gameplay. (Err…maybe not “backbone” since cephalopods don’t…have them.)
Some may think of this as a “tutorial” for the multiplayer modes, but that’s not quite the case—it’s a standalone adventure that tests both your trigger finger and your noggin. If you explore enough of Alterna, you may even discover the startling story of where Inklings and Octolings came from! (Oh, and the ending fight is rather epic…)
It’s all about movement
OK, the most important thing to know is this: Splatoon is a game about movement. All weapons in the game also shoot ink onto the ground and walls, and your movement is directly linked to ink (linked?). Your character can dive into/speed through ink of your team’s color, while movement on enemy ink will be tricky (and will usually get splatted). Hyper-focusing on trying to splat your enemies without thinking about how you can move around while engaging them will lead to many untimely splats.
Now, even if you’re not super comfortable fighting enemies by yourself, remember that laying down ink will also help your teammates’ movements! Splatoon 3 is very much a game about teamwork, but that teamwork can take different forms. So, if you’re laying down as much ink as possible, you will help your teammates’ ability to fight.
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Find the weapon for you
Yep, there are a lot of weapons, but don’t get overwhelmed! In the Weapons shop, you’ll see a “Test” option—use this option. The nice thing is that you can test EVERY weapon in the game, even if you haven’t unlocked them yet! Remember that weapons you unlock at higher levels aren’t necessarily better than lower-level weapons (in fact, many players dominate with the humble Splattershot, which can be accessed early on).
As you try out weapons, you’ll feel what weapon classes speak to you and what sub-weapons/specials round out the package. Being skilled with the primary weapon is one thing, but you need to be comfortable with everything in a kit to be the most effective. Test, test, test!
Of course, different weapons fill different roles in the game (even that can change depending on your playing mode). Just don’t be afraid to experiment with weapons on the battlefield, even if you’re not great with them at first. Everyone starts somewhere, and learning a weapon takes practice.
Gear up
Gear isn’t just for looking fresh! Gear with empty slots will eventually give you helpful abilities (you unlock randomized buffs the more you play with that gear). If you have two places or fewer on your equipment, you can get more by raising its star level—either talk to Murch by the Lobby entrance or be on the lookout for duplicates of that gear in shops.
At first, your gear may look weird if you prioritize function over form. But don’t worry—first, focus on what works best with your weapons. The freshness will come the more you play.
Quick fire tips!
Try squadding up with friends— they can be invaluable at showing you the ropes. Mess around with different control sensitivity options. Use your food and drink tickets! They can grant extra XP or in-game cash (some even do this for your entire team). Exchange them with Marigold in the Lobby to activate the effect.
To the left of Marigold (in the Lobby) are sliding glass doors: Go through them to access your customizable locker.
Use the map often and identify hot spots that need attention. Ink the base in Turf War. You don’t have to do it immediately—in fact, it can be more strategic to save spots so you can use them to charge up your Special later—but don’t put it off until the end of the match. Access the terminal in the Lobby to see your replays. Sometimes you gotta study.
Check out SplatNet 3 on the Nintendo Switch Online app for mobile devices. There are many helpful things here, but you should check out the fancy gear drops it gives you access to.
Are you ready to level up your Splatoon 3 game? What do you think about these tips? Let us know in the comment section!
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