Splatoon 3 - Ranked Mode strategy

Splat Zones: Dark set Tetra Dualies aren't so dependent on their kit but I'm showing which set works best in which mode for the sake of completion. Tetras use their ink reserves to stay mobile and paint as much as possible, even when they can't directly head for the zones for fear of feeding. In that context, Reefslider has the biggest impact when fighting for the zones. It's a huge hammer blow more likely to lead to a takeover than Zipcaster. The Tetras are hardly special spammers but can quickly ink the outside areas for meter. If you don't have the initiative in a skirmish, drop an Autobomb and stall for time. Autobombs can also be used to pester people on higher platforms while you're painting. Your priority is moving from area to area, but saving some ink for a diversion can be life saving. Tower Control: Light set If all you use the Sprinkler for is meter building, that would be well enough. You're an aggressive mobile painter constantly searching

Splat Zones: Vanilla set The goal of the Vanilla set is to make it harder for the enemy to paint the zones, while giving you personal space to ink from within. Plant your Splash Wall  as far ahead as possible and swing repeatedly to give your team early and relevant fighting space. Force the enemy to engage you, then evade and counterattack.  There are also flanking tactics worth considering. Understand you can place your beachhead anywhere on the map and let your teammates crossfire against those firing at your wall. Retreat as necessary. You're a highly effective painter and you need only seconds to convert a zone. Ink Vac is a highly relevant special and a definite push stopper. Your main is great at building meter, so practice making the special a regular and effective part of your offense. Swim back to get the shot you want and lay waste to the zones. Tower Control: Express set With poor splatting power, your role will mostly be painting and reconnaissance. Paint the field ah

Splat Zones: Vanilla set With enough Run Speed Ups, you become a mobile backline anchor that's nonetheless vulnerable to bomb assaults. While evading attacks, toss a Sprinkler so as not to lose all the paint you've laid. If Sprinklers cover the Zones, an opponent might switch its attention, allowing you to mount a counterattack. You can also use Sprinklers in the conventional manner: tossed at walls facing away from enemies so as to lure foes to you. More effective than Point Sensors at revealing opponents. When in control, Sprinklers can be tossed across the enemy base as a distraction or a safe meter building device. Wave Breaker beats Kraken in one respect: it allows you to keep painting with your main and subweapon. It impedes enemy forays into the zones and ultimately helps your control position. With a Sprinkler active, it gives you a freedom of option as what to do next. Tower Control: Deco set The Deco set is built around mobile support, highlighting others with Po

Splat Zones: Custom set This isn't Splatoon 2 anymore. The Dualie Squelchers are an ink hungry weapon and using their subweapon requires forethought. Luckily, Splat Zones is simple enough: cover the zones from midrange while rolling away from trouble. You don't want to toss a Splat Bomb and find yourself bereft of ink. Squid Beakons can therefore wait. They serve as lures once control is established in addition to helping teammates return to battle faster. Since you're essentially patrolling once Zones are taken, the Beakons can be dropped off while swimming. No need to be clever: your priority is establishing pressure from midrange. Building meter into Super Chump is the ideal way to capture a maximum of territory. Of course it doesn't share much synergy with Squid Beakons; that isn't the point. Put a large painting threat on the board and swim around attacking those who take out the chumps. Tower Control: Vanilla set A good mixture of painting and offense is req

Splat Zones: Vanilla set This requires some forward thinking. Your main is one of the best weapons adapted towards painting the zone. Opponents will not approach you head on. You don't need to safeguard the progress with Ink Mines. You need to be wary of potential flankers with Point Sensors . Problems arise when there are multiple zones. You're not well suited to offense or pushing, so concentrate on following your assault units and paint in their wake, while keeping an eye out for any flankers. You might think you're zone painter but you're actually flanker watch. Surprisingly, Killer Wail 5.1 is not for spotting additional threats but to offer fire support. It gives cover fire when you want to push forwards and takeover new territory. If you tag someone with a few shots, you can activate the Wail to finish them off. Tower Control: Annaki set Outwardly, the Nova provides paint support in Tower Control, producing swimming ground for teammates. In actuality, you take e

Splat Zones: Vanilla set With the ability to separate its canopy as an independent painting device, the Tenta Brella can follow up on turfing with lethal blasts. If you concentrate on the basics, you shouldn't need help painting or controlling the zones. Pushing ahead is a different matter however, and even your canopy can be overwhelmed. Rather than pushing and possibly overextending, drop one or more  Squid Beakons  during lulls inside the zones. The goal is to establish a constant presence and let others take risks. Beakons can also serve as incentives to pull opponents into your fields, where you can sneak in for a point blank shot. Ink Vac is another great sucker punch, specifically sucking up ink from adversaries trying to paint over your traveling canopy. It's a powerful push denial device and serves well when you're without a canopy. It's also great push support for your team when they decide to advance. Tower Control: Sorella set This is another slow game mode

Splat Zones: Vanilla set It's important to keep your options open in Splat Zones. Sure you want to flank and deliver that sweet charged swipe at point blank range but you must retreat and keep that stage painted if noticed. You have good painting range on horizontal swipes while offering fire support with charged shots. With flanking being the main objective, Torpedo  thrown from odd angles are more likely to survive and paint the ground. They're also your most likely tool to chip damage and lead to a splat, essential in a game mode where loss of control can occur instantaneously. Don't just trade paint: flank and aim to gain splats. When in a bind, building meter is easy and productive in setting up the stage for a counterattack. Ultra Stamp is a versatile slaying special made all the more deadly when stemming from flank. It's a great tool to push advantage, essential considering the lack of defensive options from the wiper. Tower Control: Deco set Painting and special

Splat Zones: Deco set The Rapid Blaster Pro is a mobile, evasive backliner that pings whatever targets are available. It also has a long inkprint that easily reaches the end of a zone. Because you're vulnerable on defense, tag offensive units early with Angle Shooter both to prepare a counterattack and to warn friends of the threat. It's often safer to bounce an Angle Shooter around a zone than to try filling the area with ink. Ink is painted over, while tracking offers lasting info on your foe's next move. On offense, the  Angle Shooter and main gun combo shot will quickly eliminate an anchor. Killer Wail 5.1 is another source of chip damage to combo with RPBD. More importantly, it tracks positions and helps you aim like an automatic Angle Shooter . With added tools to rapidly eliminate enemies, the Deco is preferable as an anti-painter weapon. Tower Control: Vanilla set Being a Blaster on Tower Control is nice, but low DPS means you're vulnerable to short range fi