Splatoon 3

Tips and Tricks: Guide for Beginners

Splatoon 3 Tips and Tricks

Our guide for beginners to Splatoon 3 will give you the best tips and tricks for starting out in the game. Read on to learn more about the game's controls and mechanics, and to see some tips and strategies for winning matches, including tier lists and useful techniques.

Beginner's Guide to Splatoon 3

Tips for Beginner Players






Create and Customize Your Character

Splatoon 3 Character Creation

The first step to playing Splatoon 3 is customizing your character. There are several hairstyles, skin tones, eye colors, and legwear to choose from, so it is best to pick the options that best suit you! In Splatoon 3, you can even choose to play either as an Inkling or Octoling from the start of the game.

Character Customization Guide

Learn the Basic Controls of the Game

Before entering a match, it is important to learn about all the essential controls in the game to move you character, use you weapons, and interact with the world. You can also remap the controls on your Nintendo Switch based on your preferences.

Button Action
Left Stick Move Character
Right Stick Move Camera
B Button Jump
Y Button Reset Camera
R Trigger Use Sub Weapon
ZL Trigger Change into Squid Form
ZR Trigger Use Main Weapon
(While in Squid Form)
Tilt Left Stick in opposite direction + B Button
Squid Roll
(While on a wall in Squid Form)
Hold ZL Trigger + B Button
Squid Surge
X Button Open Menu
Directional Pad ↑ "This Way!"
↓ "Booyah!"

List of Controls and How to Change Mapping

Familiarize with the Motions Controls

Motion Controls are essential in Splatoon 3 as it gives players a competitive advantage in matches. When starting out in Splatoon, it is important to familiarize yourself with these controls to improve your aim and be at par with your competition.

Motion Controls or Stick Controls?

Change and Customize Your Settings

Aside from Motions Controls, there are other setting options that you can tweak. Beginners should start off with lower Motion Control senstivity for more control and gradually work their way up.

Best Control Settings

Recommended Settings
Motion Controls On
(This is the recommended control settings!)
Motion-Control Sensitivity Start with -2.5 and adjust sensitivity accordingly
NSW - Right Analog Sensitivity
3.0-5.0
NSW - Right Analog Up/Down
Normal
(Disabled when motion controls are on)
NSW - Right Analog Left/Right
Normal

Best Other Settings

Recommended Settings
Color Lock Locks your Ink Color
Turn Color Lock ON to make it easier to distinguish colors!
Post Display Disables player posts and illustrations
Turn this setting ON if you don't want to see other people's illustrations.
Lobby Notifications Notify other players of your play status
Turn this setting OFF if you want your play status private.
Player Settings Change your character and Smallfry's appearance.

Best Gameplay Settings

Battle with Friends to Practice

Splatoon 3 Private Battle

Since Splatoon 3 is the third game in the franchise, much of the playerbase consists of experienced veterans from Splatoon and Splatoon 2. Playing only with friends in Private Battles allows you to experience competitive play without the pressure of playing with highly experienced players.

How to Play With Friends

Explore the Different Stages with Recon Mode

Splatoon 3 Recon Mode

The stage that you are playing in is just as vital to your strategy as your weapons and gear, so it is best to familiarize yourself with all the stages in the game. You can freely explore each stage of the game with Recon Mode.

Play Hero Mode to Familiarize with the Mechanics

Splatoon 3 Story Mode

The best place to familiarize yourself with the mechanics of Splatoon 3 is in Story Mode. The campaign lets you try out a variety of weapons against non-player opponents with no set time limit, allowing you to learn at your own pace.

Hero Mode Walkthrough

Beginner Weapons and Gear

Best Beginner Weapons

The best weapons for beginners are easy to handle, keep you out of the line of fire, and are great at both dealing damage and supporting allies. Ranged Weapons like Sloshers or Shooters are what you should look for when finding beginner weapons.

Weapon Features
Splatoon 3 SplattershotSplattershot
Lv. Unlocked: 2
Splatoon IconGreat range for inking and combat
Splatoon IconEasy to get kills with its Suction Bomb and Trizooka
Splatoon 3 Heavy SplatlingHeavy Splatling
Lv. Unlocked: 4
Splatoon IconHas massively long range
Splatoon IconSupport your team with its Wave Breaker Special move
Splatoon 3 Aerospray MGAerospray MG
Lv. Unlocked: 5
Splatoon IconFor players who want to concentrate on inking turf
Splatoon IconYou can use its Fizzy Bomb to kill enemies from afar, while it's special, Reefslider can ink turf and kill enemies
Splatoon 3 N-ZAP N-ZAP '85
Lv. Unlocked: 6
Splatoon IconHigh fire rate great on close to medium combat.
Splatoon IconIts Tacticooler is great for supporting allies
Splatoon 3 Sloshing MachineSloshing Machine
Lv. Unlocked: 14
Splatoon IconConsistent at killing opponents
Splatoon IconIts Booyah Bomb also deals massive damage

Best Beginner Weapons

Best Weapons and Gear Abilities

Splatoon 3 Weapons and Gear

After trying out some of the weapons recommended for beginners, you can start playing around with some of the harder to use weapons available in the game. Our tier lists can help you pick which weapons and gear are best to use!

All Tier Lists
Weapons Tier List Specials Tier List
Gear Abilities Tier List -

Try Out Weapons in the Test Range

Splatoon 3 Test Range

If you are unsure about how to use a weapon effectively, you can try them out at the Test Range inside the Lobby. Inside the test range is a small practice arena with some dummy target, which also display the amount of damage they receive from a weapon.

At one side of the Test Range is the Copy Machine, a new device that mimics your actions, allowing you to practice moves against a player-like opponent.

Test Range Features

All Basic Moves and Techniques

There are a variety of different moves and techniques in the game that beginners must learn in order to become more effective at combat.

Super Jump


View Full Image
1
Press the NSW - X Button to open the map.
2
Choose the player you want to super jump to with the D-Pad buttons (NSW - Dpad Up NSW - Dpad Down NSW - Dpad Left NSW - Dpad Right).
3
Press the NSW - A Button to super jump to the player.

How to Super Jump Effectively

Squid Roll

Controls While in Swim Mode (Hold ZR),
Tilt the Left Control Stick + Press B to Jump

Squid Roll Guide: How to Do a Squid Roll

Squid Surge

Controls While in climbing walls in Swim Mode (Hold ZR), Hold B then release

Squid Surge Guide: How to Do a Squid Surge

All Tips and Tricks Guide

Weapon and Gear Tier Lists
Weapons Tier List Specials Tier List
Sub Weapons Tier List Gear Abilities Tier List
Best Beginner Weapons -
Collectible Locations
All Sardinium Locations All Sunken Scroll Locations
All Gold Record Locations List of Stickers
List of Decorations List of Banners
List of Emotes All Alterna Logs
List of Badges -
Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Character Creation Guide All Hero Gear Upgrades
Mailbox Guide Tutorial Guide
All Hairstyles Splatsville Features
Golden Sheldon Licenses Guide Best Gameplay Settings
Communication Errors Guide How to Beat Boss Salmonids
How to Super Jump List of Controls
Ability Chunks Guide How to Unlock Tableturf Battle Cards
Recon Mode Guide Shell-Out Machine Guide
Power Egg Farming Guide All Hero Mode Rewards and Unlocks
How to Get Upgrade Points How to Level Up Catalog
Freshest Fits Guide How to Add and Change Gear Abilities
Test Range Features Gear Slots Guide
Star Power Guide How to Get Fish Scales
How to Get Super Sea Snails Best Deck for Tableturf Battles
All Salmon Run Rewards All Unlockables and Secret Rewards
How to Increase Salmon Run Rank Shel-Drone Guide
How to Survey All Sites When is Big Run?
All Titles and How to Unlock Best Gear Builds and Loadouts
All Medals and How to Get All Level Up Rewards
All Anarchy Battle Ranks All QR Codes and How to Scan
Speedrunning Guide List of Glitches and Bugs
Wandercrust Tour Guide All Music and Bands
100% Story Mode Completion Guide All Salmon Run Outfits
How to Make Money Fast World Map Guide
How to Get Drink Tickets All Splatfest Events and Themes
All Mystery Box Contents Disconnect Penalty Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Earn Clout How to Increase Your Rank
How to Do a Squid Surge How to Do a Squid Roll
Motion Controls or Stick Controls How to Vote for a Team in Splatfest
How to Play With Friends How to Get Wallpaper
How to Get Food Tickets How to Save
Where is the Locker Room How to Cancel Matchmaking
What is Wipeout? What is Weapon Freshness?
Inkling vs Octoling When Do Shops Restock?
How to Skip the News Intro How to Get Conch Shells
How to Get the Harmony Badge How to Watch and Upload Replays
How to Use and Add Widgets Is Splatoon 3 Multiplayer?
Do You Need NSO? How Long to Beat Story Mode
Where to Buy Official Merchandise Who is Judd?
How to Get 100x and 333x Battles Is Agent 8 in the Game?

Splatoon 3 Related Guides

Splatoon 3 Return to Top Page

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Splatoon 3 News and EventsLatest News and Events Splatoon 3 Main WeaponsMain Weapons
Sub WeaponsSub Weapons Splatoon 3 Special WeaponsSpecial Weapons
Splatoon 3 Gear AbilitiesGear Abilities Splatoon 3 Tips and TricksTips and Tricks
Splatoon 3 StagesStages Splatoon 3 CharactersCharacters
Splatoon 3 Game ModesGame Modes Splatoon 3 Gear BrandsGear Brands
Splatoon 3 Hero ModeHero Mode BossesBosses
Splatoon 3 Salmon RunSalmon Run Splatoon 3 All Gear and EquipmentGear and Equipment
Splatoon 3 Updates and Patch NotesUpdates and Patch Notes Splatoon 3 Message BoardsMessage Boards

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