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Drew has been a fan of games since he could hold a GameCube controller. Nowadays, he plays everything from mobile and PC games, to PS5 and Switch.
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Abilities in Splatoon 3 are the backbone of every Inkling and Octoling. A well-thought out loadout can be the factor that decides whether you ink or sink in a turf war. Splatoon 3 brings a host of new and returning abilities for you to choose from. With how important abilities are in the Splatlands, you’re going to want to know which ones are off the hook and which ones will make you seasick. Today, we’re ranking the 10 best abilities in Splatoon 3.
We made this list based on how crucial they are to your success splatting it up in online multiplayer!
10 Best Abilities in Splatoon 3
Let’s dive right into our list of the ten best abilities in Splatoon 3, ranked from basic to booyah-based!
10/10
Quick Super Jump
When getting back in the fight as quickly as possible can make the difference between your team pushing or getting overwhelmed, the Quick Super Jump ability is great to have on hand. This ability reduces the time spent in the “charge” phase of the super jump. It also contributes to an overall shorter time spent performing the super jump. Use this to your team’s advantage and get back in the battle quickly!
Quick Super Jump is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any piece of clothing. It favors Zink brand clothing and you will have a higher chance of obtaining it on articles of that brand. You can stack this ability in multiple ability slots to get an even greater effect. However, the diminishing returns this creates means you’re most likely better off using those slots for other abilities.
9/10
Opening Gambit
A key factor for victory in most Splatoon 3 game modes is map control. Being the first team to reach the objective or claim the central territory of a map can set you on the path toward victory right out of the gate. With the Opening Gambit ability, your movement is increased for the first 30 seconds of a match. Use this extra speed to quickly gain control of the map or objective and start the battle off in a favorable position.
Opening Gambit is a primary ability that is exclusive to headgear. As such, you can only have one piece of gear with this ability and it cannot be stacked. It pairs well with other abilities like Swim Speed Up and Quick Super Jump, which all contribute to boosting your speed.
8/10
Sub Power Up
While not used as much as a main weapon, sub weapons play a key role in your arsenal. To get the most out of your sub weapon, the Sub Power Up ability can provide a useful boost to get you out of a sticky situation. Typically, this comes in the form of an increase in the speed at which the weapon travels when thrown. While this ability isn’t universally beneficial — if you’re using an Ink Wall or Squid Beacon, for example — it can be helpful if you know you like to use the sub weapon of your preferred loadout.
Sub Power Up is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any piece of clothing. It favors Enperry brand clothing and you will have a higher chance of obtaining it on articles of that brand. This might be an ability worth stacking in multiple ability slots if you tend to rely on your sub weapon and want to max out its potential.
7/10
Ink Saver (Sub)
Sub weapons are great at getting you out of a tight spot if you’re cornered. They also consume a lot more ink than you would expect. This often leaves you exposed if you’re not paying attention to your ink levels. The Ink Saver (Sub) ability can help you manage your ink usage more efficiently by reducing the amount of ink consumed by sub weapons. If you rely heavily on your sub weapon, then this is definitely a worthwhile ability.
Ink Saver (Sub) is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any piece of clothing. It favors both Firefin and Annaki brand clothing, so you will have a higher chance of obtaining it on articles of those brands. Stacking this ability in multiple ability slots can significantly reduce the ink consumed by sub weapons. So if you frequently find yourself out of ink because you’re using your sub weapon, it might be worth it to triple up on this ability in a single article of clothing.
6/10
Special Charge Up
Special weapons are usually the strongest weapons in your loadout. As such, they have to charge by inking turf before they can be used. The Special Charge Up ability speeds up that process by increasing the rate at which the special gauge is filled. If you like to run a particularly potent special weapon, then this ability will help you bring it out faster.
Special Charge Up is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any piece of clothing. It favors Takoroka brand clothing and you will have a higher chance of obtaining it on articles of that brand. Stacking this ability on up to three ability slots can reduce the special gauge by up to 50 points needed to unleash your special weapon. If you like to use your special weapon frequently, this is a worthwhile investment.
5/10
Sub Resistance Up
An unexpected Splat Bomb or Ink Mine can be devastating when trying to coordinate a team push. Use the Sub Resistance Up ability to mitigate the damage taken from enemy sub weapons and keep yourself in the fight. Any opportunity to reduce damage taken is valuable in this game, so this ability can be quite handy. Sub weapons tend to be underestimated yet can often prove lethal, so protect yourself with Sub Resistance Up.
Sub Resistance Up is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any piece of clothing. It favors Inkline brand clothing and you will have a higher chance of obtaining it on articles of that brand. As a defensive ability, this is a great option for stacking in multiple ability slots because any additional resistance bonus you can get is a plus.
4/10
Ability Doubler
This is a universally beneficial ability because it doubles the effects of all other abilities attached to the same piece of clothing. The following abilities on this list really benefit from Ability Doubler, but realistically, any secondary ability will reap some form of benefit. We strongly recommend using this ability when possible simply because of how useful it is to have doubled ability effects.
Ability Doubler is a primary ability that can only be found on your Splatfest Tee. This makes it a required ability during Splatfests. The all-important showdown that is a Splatfest requires you to be at the top of your game, so setting an ability loadout to take advantage of this awesome ability is highly recommended!
3/10
Ink Saver (Main)
Keeping your main weapon topped up with ink is crucial to victory. Using the Ink Saver (Main) ability reduces the amount of ink your main weapon consumes. This ability is almost always useful and can often give you the edge in a shootout with an opponent. In addition to allowing projectile weapons to shoot for longer, it also allows rollers and brushes to roll or brush for a greater distance.
Ink Saver (Main) is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any article of clothing. It favors Splash Mob and Toni Kensa brand clothing, having a higher chance of appearing on articles from those brands. This is a great ability to stack in multiple ability slots because the effect of stacking this ability offers a high return on investment. As such, it is a worthwhile investment for almost any equipment loadout and play style.
2/10
Swim Speed Up
Taking advantage of one of Splatoon 3’s main mechanics — being able to dive into and swim in ink — is an excellent way of slipping out of a losing battle or getting the drop on your opponent. With the Swim Speed Up ability, you move much faster through ink in squid form. This has a variety of applications, from quickly evading enemy attacks to returning to the fight faster after respawn. The range of utility this ability has makes it one of the best overall abilities in the game!
Swim Speed Up is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any article of clothing. It favors Krak-On brand clothing and has a higher chance of appearing on articles from that brand. Stacking this ability across multiple ability slots greatly increases your swim speed. We highly recommend using this ability stacked in all three ability slots on a single article of clothing simply because the buff to your movement capabilities is invaluable.
1/10
Ink Resistance Up
By far the most universally useful ability is Ink Resistance Up. Not only does this ability decrease damage taken from enemies, but it also increases mobility when walking through enemy ink. Reducing the damage taken from enemies can often make or break a shoot out when having that extra edge over your opponent could mean the difference between victory and defeat. With the additional benefit of better mobility in enemy ink, you also gain a better chance to escape and out maneuver an enemy. Regardless of your play style, this is a must-have ability!
Ink Resistance Up is a secondary ability and can be acquired on any article of clothing. It favors SquidForce brand clothing and has a higher chance of appearing on articles from that brand. Stacking this ability has a massive increase in benefits if used in all three ability slots of a piece of clothing. Maxing out the resistance potential of your character is well worth the trouble, as it provides significant protection against enemy damage.
Final Tips
Regardless of which abilities you decide to use, you can guarantee you’ll get the abilities you want on your chosen piece of gear by talking to Murch and spending ability chunks to add that ability to an ability slot. You’ll find Murch right next to the entrance to the lobby. You will need 10 chunks of your desired ability. Have Murch scrub a piece of clothing to acquire chunks. Scrubbing removes all current secondary abilities and turns them into chunks. You also have a chance of getting ability chunks from the capsule machine in the lobby.
Another way to increase the chance of getting your desired ability on a piece of clothing is by using drink tickets. You can find these tickets at the concession stand in the lobby. Drink tickets raise your chance of acquiring a certain ability from leveling up your gear for a set number of battles. While this doesn’t guarantee you will get the ability you want on the piece of clothing you want, it does increase the chance of that happening.
A great strategy to get the abilities you want is to use drink tickets to raise the chance of that ability appearing. Then, have Murch scrub the piece of clothing to gain chunks of that ability. Rinse and repeat until you have enough chunks of your desired ability to set it on your desired article of clothing.
Join the High Ground
Do you agree with our list of the 10 best abilities in Splatoon 3? Which abilities do you think are crucial to victory? Share your thoughts in the comments down below, and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter as well so you don’t miss any of our upcoming Splatoon 3 content!
Happy gaming!
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