As an avid Splatoon 3 player and content creator, I‘ve delved deeply into what makes certain characters stand out. With hundreds of hours mastering the game professionally, I‘m ready to share my picks for Splatoon 3‘s best and most impactful characters worth knowing.
Beyond basic traits, I‘ll analyze what makes specific characters so special including entertainment value, memorability, and gameplay importance. My rankings reflect not just my personal opinions, but also extensive gameplay experience and conversations with fellow competitive Splatoon fans.
So grab your Splattershot–it‘s time to dive into the ultimate Splatoon 3 character guide!
Judging Criteria: What Makes a Great Character?
Before ranking Splatoon 3’s colorful cast, let’s establish what metrics I used to evaluate them. As a professional player myself, I developed criteria based on what‘s meaningful both from an entertainment perspective for casual fans and a gameplay angle for aspiring competitors.
The three key traits I assessed were:
- Pure Entertainment Value: Humor, captivating personalities, plot relevance that heightens the overall enjoyment for players.
- Visual Memorability: The creativity, novelty, and instant recognizability of their visual/concept designs.
- Competitive Viability: How much they influence combat performance with abilities, gear, or other direct perks.
By scoring characters on these weighted measures, we end up with complete rankings factoring in appeal for all Splatoon player types–from Story Mode lovers to Ranked Battle fanatics like myself.
Now, let’s start counting down!
6. Smallfry
Overall Score: 7.2/10
Don’t let his tiny statue fool you–Smallfry packs bountiful charm! This devoted Salmonid sidkick accompanies Agent 3 in Story Mode, lending adorable emotional support. His squeaky voice and waddling sprint easily cement him as most endearing sidekick.
What I Love:
- Boundless Loyalty: Smallfry beautifully bonds with Agent 3 through every peril.
- Hilarious Animations: Watching him waddle head over heels after you never gets old!
- The Heart of Puzzles: He lends a hand solving intricate single-player challenges.
In competitive circles, Smallfry naturally doesn‘t appear. But his relevance to Story Mode and preciousness make this little buddy impossible not to love!
5. Deep Cut Splatsville Trio
Overall Score: 7.8/10
This hip music trio straight from Splatsville!–consisting of Frye (Inkling), Shiver (Octoling), and Big Man (Manta Ray) brings manic energy across Story Mode events. As hosts of the Anarchy Splatcast radio show, they drive excitement and plot progression through news and banter.
Significance:
- Riveting Radio Hosts: In addition to MC‘ing story events, they host the beloved Splatfest competitions.
- Distinct, Cool Characterizations: From Shiver‘s sass to Big Man‘s mystery, they feature loads of personality.
- Catalysts for Hype Moments: Splatfest kickoff concerts & announcing breaking developments energize the fanbase!
For propelling Splatsville‘s culture and some peak celebrations, Deep Cut earns their fame.
4. DJ Octavio
Overall Score: 8.1/10
The notorious leader of the villainous Octarian army returns once more, stealing power supplies to fuel his nefarious plans. This battle-tested troublemaker continues orchestrating schemes between games, with his towering mech suit transforming final boss showdowns into colorful spectacles!
Why He Stands Out:
- Primary Antagonist Through All Games: Octavio drives much of the series conflict.
- Grand Boss Fights: Piloting giant weapons & tech against you during climatic events!
- Strength In Numbers: Leads overwhelming hordes of enemies like Octolings into the fray.
For commanding imposing forces across decades against rising Agent newcomers, Octavio represents a formidable foe.
3. The Legendary Agent 3
Overall Score: 8.7/10
The original playable Inkling protagonist from early Splatoon headlines holds an esteemed spot in fans‘ hearts for taking initiative against Octarian forces during pivotal wars. Returning as a mentor figure guiding the fresher Agent 1, this battle-tested veteran‘s experience proves invaluable support.
Key Reasons For Top Marks:
- Fan Nostalgia: Beloved main character reprising their role ignites emotional investment.
- Compelling Growth: We witness Agent 3 mature from headstrong frontline fighter to wise mentor.
- Late-Game Playable Status: Unlocking them as a Hero Weapon makes for a unique ranked advantage.
No Inkling demonstrates more courage across the entire series than good ol‘ Agent 3.
2. Captain Cuttlefish
Overall Score: 9.3/10
The esteemed leader of the legendary New Squidbeak Splatoon, Captain Cuttlefish proudly flaunts his uniform at 130+ years young. Despite advanced age, he charges into battle against Octarian forces with heart and wit unmatched by any modern soldier.
Why We Salute Him:
- Hilarious Hardened Humor: Ever-entertaining quips lighten gloomiest wars.
- Life Experience Applied: Leverages decades of combat knowledge guiding your missions.
- Beloved Founding Father: His OG legacy pioneered the Splatoon as we know it!
Captain Cuttlefish earns our second place spot for embodying unwavering spirit while keeping morale bright even in dire straits.
1. Off the Hook Pearl & Marina
Overall Score: 9.8/10
Claiming first place glory are none other than pop icons Pearl and Marina of Off the Hook fame. These multi-talented musicians skyrocketed from humble backgrounds to headline Splatoon 2‘s news forecasts and Splatfest events with wit and style.
Top Rank Justifications:
- Sensational Music & Cinema: Their concerts and cinematic trailers ooze splat-tacular design.
- Substantial Cultural Influence: Inspiring trends far beyond anything predecessors achieved.
- Yin & Yang Appeal: Pearl‘s fiery energy and Marina‘s grace strike universal chords.
While only making minor cameos in the latest game, Pearl and Marina remain cemented as the freshest faces across the franchise thanks to their visionary creative direction.
Special Recognition
Beyond the top six, a few others deserve shoutouts:
- Mr. Grizz: The manic mastermind mogul steering Salmon Run‘s rise
- Mammalians: Adorably tiny shopkeeps
- Jellyfish: Peppy musical ensembles bringing that joyful energy
In the end, I assess Splatoon 3 as flourishing with delightful characters around every corner. By knowing the prime personalities illuminated here, you can better appreciate how they strengthen worldbuilding and competitive play alike!
Over hundreds of collective hours battling and analyzing, these are my expertly curated character rankings. Let me know your own thoughts in the comments, and stay fresh out there on the frontier my friends!
