Splatoon 2: Beginner's Guide To Weapon Classes
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Splattitude
Splatoon 2, the sequel to the colorful Wii U shooter, arrives on Nintendo Switch on July 21. It introduces a new co-op mode called Salmon Run, a new PvP mode called League Battle that lets you group up with friends, and a new-and-improved version of the original's single player. But whether you're a raw newcomer or a superfresh squidkid, there's a lot to learn about weapons new and old going into Splatoon 2--especially with the small tweaks made to key weapons.
Click forward to see each main weapon class, any subclasses within that class, and tips on how to best use each. Keep in mind that you have to reach level 4 in multiplayer in order to buy and equip new weapons, but you can always play through the single-player campaign to try them out.
For more on Splatoon 2, check out our review and our tips and tricks for multiplayer.
The Basics
For multiplayer, weapons come in sets: main, sub, and special. When you pick a weapon, be sure to take into account what sub and special it comes with, since you can't customize your loadout. Main and sub weapons consume ink when used, and each has two main components: damage dealt and turf-inking ability (or how effective it is to spread ink on a surface with that weapon).
For example, your starter weapon set is the Splattershot Jr., which comes with the Splat Bomb sub and the Ink Armor special. The best weapon set for you really depends on your playstyle, but we recommend prioritizing your main weapon followed by your special and then your sub when choosing a loadout.
Sub weapons include:
Splat Bombs--standard grenades that explode in a small burst of ink
Suction Bomb--can stick to walls and other surfaces before exploding
Burst Bomb--explode on impact
Curling Bomb--slide along a surface leaving a trail of ink behind before exploding
Autobomb--a walking robot bomb
Point Sensor--temporarily reveals the location of enemies for you and your team
Specials include:
Ink Armor--gives your team a temporary shield and is great for support
Curling-Bomb Launcher--allows you to send out a flurry of curling bombs without having to worry about your ink tank running dry
Splashdown--hit the ground with a powerful splash of ink, splatting enemies underneath
Tenta Missiles--highlights and targets opponents and sends ink raining down on their location from afar
Inkjet--streams of ink send you up in the air, where you can then launch ink missles at opponents below you
Sting Ray--a laser of ink that can pass through walls
Continue clicking ahead for more details on each of the main weapon classes. Note that "subclasses" within these categories is separate from your sub weapon.
Shooters
Shooters are your basic automatic rifle-type weapon. Your starter weapon, the Splattershot Jr., falls into this category. This class is good for learning the basics of Splatoon and for those who want a nice balance of inking turf and inflicting damage.
Subclass: Blasters
These shooters have a lower fire rate, so time your shots carefully to avoid getting splatted by an enemy. They also give a lot of splash damage, so they're most effective if you can group enemies together and blast them all at once.
Rollers
Rollers make it easy to ink. Unlike in the original game, the longer you roll with a roller, the faster you'll go in Splatoon 2. You can also fling ink using ZR (or do it vertically by jumping and then pressing ZR). These are especially frustrating in the hands of a skilled player, so be sure to keep your distance when facing a Roller.
Subclass: Brushes
Brushes have the fastest movement speed while inking. They're a melee-ranged weapon that's good for a forward charge.
Chargers
Chargers are Splatoon's sniper class. Holding ZR will charge the shot, which increases the distance and width of the ink spray when fired. You can now swim in ink for a short time with a fully charged shot, which makes Chargers more mobile than in the original Splatoon. Hide your sights behind walls and wait for enemies to appear to be most effective, but be wary of getting flanked by quick melee attackers.
Sloshers
These are literally buckets! They're very good for inking, but they use up ink really quickly, so you have to reload in the ink pretty frequently. They're best for close combat or splashing ink up at enemies that have the higher ground.
Splatlings
These are what they sound like: heavy Gatling gun-like weapons. They use a lot of ink and take some time to charge up, which leaves you temporarily vulnerable, so hide behind walls while revving up the engine. You'll also move more slowly while shooting, so don't be afraid to dip into the ink and cancel the stream prematurely to run and/or hide.
Dualies
Dualies are a new weapon class in Splatoon 2. They're best for close encounters and feature a unique dodge roll that you can execute with B. Don't forget to use it; it's the biggest perk of the Dualies and lets you move quickly even outside your ink.