Splatoon 3 - Ranked Mode strategy

Splat Zones: Tentatek set As with many shorter ranged weapons, the Splattershot's priority in Splat Zones is not to paint, but to attack opposing painting units. That's why you bring Splat Bombs as a first strike against other zone painters. However, due to the multipurpose qualities of this basic weapon, your priority might better be described as staying  on the Zones and preventing any takeovers. Keep an open mind between painting and attacking, for even if you don't splat an opponent, you still build meter for a Triple Inkstrike  counterattack. These should be saved for an emergency, against superior numbers or to instantly reverse a turnover. If the zones are safely under control, only then extend to gain extra meter. Not much to add except not to fixate on splats, even with a set designed around combat. Stay on zone, and even the impact of an enemy Suction Bomb can be overturned in a second. Engage mid to long range fighters without overextending, using Splat Bombs t

Splat Zones: Deco set Carbon Roller Deco is a fast flanker with a subweapon relevant to the game mode. Avoid direct confrontation with the short ranged units fighting for the Zones but harass with Burst Bombs from the sides, or travel while the Bomb is airborne for the sake of misdirection. Ironically, it's when an opponent is otherwise occupied that you don't want to Burst Bomb . That's when you close in for the splat before they escape. You bring the set with direct damage options for faster eliminations, but don't underestimate the asset of occupying more space and sharking from a larger ink pool. Trizooka is more direct damage, an excellent tool against players painting from defensive positions. The level playing field of most  Splat Zones maps works to your advantage here, in addition to your natural flanking playstyle offering shots from odd angles. Tower Control: Vanilla set You're either fighting around the tower or looking for a way to get in. If it's

Splat Zones: Custom set  Splattershot Jr is one of the best painting units in the game but needs exrra power to survive from within the zones. With poor follow ups to a tossed Splat Bomb, Torpedo seems like a better option. You don't need to follow up on the attack. The paint released is often reward enough. The goal is to quickly charge special, and the problem with Big Bubbler is that you can't well attack outside of it, nor does it help you initiate any offense. Nor does it support a playstyle based on painting the edges of the stage, necessary so as to keep control.  Although Wave Breaker from flanks isn't as effective, multiplying the amount of obstacles thrown into the field is what leads to attacks of opportunity. Ultimately, Custom set offers the tools most likely to cause damage to an opponent, which helps with eliminations and overall control. Tower Control: Custom set When you think about it,  Torpedo  is your only real way of painting the area near the tower c

Splat Zones: Vanilla set Although Fizzy Bombs might seem best for turfing,  I'd like to remind people that the Luna Blaster is designed for splatting. Lead with a  Splat Bomb and prevent opponents from escaping. You're outranged by the same weapons that can quickly cover a zone, so immediate power is required. Against midrange targets, you can afford to be patient. They often can't paint as much and you can afford to pressure them from a distance as long as you don't waste time charging bombs. When there's no immediate threat to the Zones, break from the path and seek other avenues from which to attack.   Zipcaster kinda follows that idea to surprise otherwise isolated anchors. Nevermind the capture of the Zones or any notions of defense: win through overwhelming offense. In a sense, Splat Zones plays very much like Turf Wars: knowing you can't win by inking, you win by splatting. Tower Control: Vanilla set Naturally you want to get as near to the tower as pos

Splat Zones: Zink set Splat Zones demands much from the Mini Splatling: it must act both as a zone painter and defender against enemy painters. The trick is to be methodical, deciding what task you set up for yourself at the start of every burst and fulfilling them, your range and rate of fire allowing for either but not both. The charge delay prevents you from effectively pushing into uncharted territory. If harassed at range, fire back with Toxic Mist  to stall and prevent advantageous position to be used against you. Even tossed into the zone, it can make enemy movement within hazardous, and helps setting up your firing frenzy. Rather than overextending with Ultra Stamp, Big Bubbler  locks down your forward position, helping others push for you. The Zink set offers a wealth of defensive options to supplement your turf gathering abilities. Mini is often the better painting option on the individual level, with the kit offering team support. Tower Control: Vanilla set The Mini Splatlin

Splat Zones: Forge set If this were Splatoon 2 I'd suggest the vanilla set. Point Sensors were actually quite effective at covering a large area of the Zones and allowed you to be ink economical with your shots; saving on guesswork for the ink thirsty Splattershot Pro. Angle Shooter just doesn't work the same way. That's why you bring the Forge set and toss a Suction Bomb  to remove large sections of the Zone from enemy control. Reduce your opponent's fighting space, hem them in and eliminate. Long bombs might also cause enemies to swim forwards and into your lines of sight.  Booyah Bomb  is the push breaker, with the main weapon having outstanding synergy with the special. It's large scale area takeover, forcing enemies out of cover so you can advance on them. All in all, the new Splattershot strategy seeks to eliminate large areas of turf under enemy control so as to splat individual targets piecemeal. Tower Control: Forge set A no-brainer: Suction Bomb  for the t

Splat Zones: Vanilla set Despite the Nouveau offering options that paint the field, I'm learning to appreciate the vanilla kit in this mode. The Dapples tiny range makes it hard to fight in the open, so flank and drop Squid Beakons  behind obstacles. The goal is to force others to face you outside the zones and help your mates win center. You don't just drop a Tacticooler, you pair it with a Squid Beakon . The more you spread out your beakons, the easier it becomes to roll and surprise someone. This kit emphasizes encirclement strategies to takeover the zones from multiple angles. Constantly press the attack lines forwards. Nothing in either kit offers defensive options so keep moving and gain as much territory as possible. Save a Squid Beakon  for your anchor friends, one for when you're behind enemy lines and the rest is up to your personal fighting skills. Tower Control: Nouveau set Your overall strategy would be to abuse the clutter of Tower Control maps for hit and run

Splat Zones: Nouveau set Hover about the Zones looking for your best move. Regardless of where you swoop in, paint profusely. Keep your options open and you can find yourself advancing towards the enemy rear lines at a moment's notice. Whenever your advance gets checked, lay a quick Ink Mine before leaving. Ink Mine is neither a defensive or aggressive subweapon, it's something you place at the edge of your territory because you know it'll be triggered. Ink Mine releases a considerable amount of paint, which leads to Ultra Stamp , your all-purpose offensive special. Unlike Killer Wail 5.1, Ultra Stamp paints the zone and protects your presence within the zones. As a bonus, it cancels the various bombs tossed inside the zones. It's versatile enough to threaten the opposing backline. Once you've finished your push, go back to laying Ink Mines and farming special all over again. Tower Control: Vanilla set Splat Bomb  from the Vanilla set is preferred in a game mod

Splat Zones: Deco set Slosher doesn't paint efficiently and lacks the forward movement of an aggressive slayer; best to hold back and wait for an opportunity to splat while marking targets with the  Angle Shooter . In this game of Take & Hold, you are definitely the Hold. The problem with Splat Bombs are their high ink cost. You're expected to both fight and paint with a main that drains 7% of your tank with every swing. Stick to defense and concentrate on preventing a takeover, forcing opponents to move forwards into your attacks. Though Triple Inkstrike seems like the relevant special, don't ignore the offensive capabilities of Zipcaster . An Angle Shooter hit ahead of special brings the threat of a combo kill, making this special far more fearsome. Removing an anchor this way is more valuable than bombing the Zones with ink. Tower Control: Vanilla set The ability to deliver lethal damage at range gives the vanilla set the advantage in Tower Control. You are obviously

  Splat Zones: MG set The Aerospray makes for a poor zone painter due to low damage output. All the paint in the world can't help when even a humble Splattershot bullies you into leaving. That's why you need Fizzy Bombs ; either to paint the Zones for you, harrass, or to draw a flanking path. Its ability to paint is disproportional to its ability to fight. It's often better to avoid the main battle entirely to ink as much as possible outside. This can lead to rear attacks, or  Fizzy Bomb strikes from an unforseen angle that ends up cutting enemy movement in a crossfire. Reefslider is an inexpensive hammer blow at 180p, best delivered to an exposed opponent. The advantage over Booyah Bomb is that it keeps you on the front lines. Hanging back to defend a zone is never an option; so overpaint while on advantage, gathering excess resources if not splats. Tower Control: MG set The Suction Bomb solved a lot of problems for the Aerospray back in Splatoon 2; now you'll have to

It is my belief that no one mains a specific Weapon Set in Splatoon. You main a weapon, then pick the loadout that best works for the Ranked Mode in question; Turf Wars being regarded as neutral. With the arrival of Chill Season 2022, secondary sets are being introduced to Splatoon 3 and thus the following articles showcases which weapon set works best for which ranked mode, with player roles dutifully explained. This introductory blog will serve as a hub for the rest of my articles, and may be modified to add any references I deem necessary. Chill Season 2022 updates Aerospray Carbon Roller Dapple Dualies Inkbrush Luna Blaster Mini Splatling Slosher Splattershot Splattershot Jr Splattershot Pro Fresh Season 2023 updates Clash Blaster Jet Squelcher L-3 Nozzlenose 96 Gal N-Zap Rapid Blaster Splash-o-matic Splat Charger/Splatterscope Splat Roller Sploosh-o-matic Tri-Slosher Sizzle Season 2023 updates Big Swig Roller Dualie Squelchers Heavy Splatling H-3 Nozzlenose Rapid Blaster Pro Splat