Splatoon 3 has finally arrived, bringing with it a vibrant world of ink-based warfare across a variety of creative locales. As any seasoned Inkling can tell you, choosing the right main weapon for your playstyle is crucial for gaining that all-important competitive edge. But with the diverse arsenal on offer, narrowing your selection down to find your perfect match can feel overwhelming for newcomers and veterans alike.
That’s why I’ve compiled this in-depth guide to analyze Splatoon 3’s ever-expanding catalog of primary weapons, highlighting seven of the best choices for beginners and experts based on key stats and battlefield viability. Equipped with these breakdowns of each weapon‘s strengths, weaknesses and ideal use cases, you‘ll gain the knowledge to equip yourself with supreme confidence as you dive headfirst into those furious Turf Wars and Anarchy Battles. So grab your freshest gear, prepare for things to get messy, and let’s determine the essential weapons for rising through the ranks!
Overview of Top Weapons
Before jumping into the individual write-ups, here’s a high-level comparison of stats for my personal top weapon picks across categories:
| Weapon | Type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-ZAP ‘85 | Shooter | Ink efficiency, fire rate, mobility | Short range | Mobile skirmishing |
| Kensa Splattershot Pro | Shooter | Versatility, well-rounded stats | Mastering longer range | All-round combat |
| Kensa Sloshing Machine | Slosher | High damage, range, area denial | Lower fire rate | Anchoring positions |
| .52 Gal | Shooter | Lethal damage, range, accuracy | Slow fire rate, mobility | Eliminating targets |
| Kensa Splatterscope | Charger | Extreme range, high precision | Vulnerability up close | Long-distance support |
| Kensa Dynamo Roller | Roller | Huge inking potential, 1HKO range | Speed, unwieldy flicks | Turf control, ambushes |
| Kensa Undercover Brella | Brella | All-round stats, durable shield | Low damage output | Pushing objectives |
Keep these strengths, limitations and ideal battle roles in mind as we analyze what makes each weapon tick!
N-ZAP ‘85: Rapid Fire for Relentless Aggression
- Type: Shooter
- Strengths: Ink efficiency, fire rate, mobility
- Weaknesses: Short range
- Best Suited For: Mobile skirmishing
If you like getting up close and personal with the enemy, few weapons enable the highly aggressive skirmishing playstyle quite like the N-ZAP ‘85. Boasting the highest ink efficiency rating in its class coupled with excellent mobility, it empowers you to dart around the map while constantly peppering your foes with rapid-fire pain.
The superb fire rate and solid damage output make it formidable in close-quarters combat, allowing you to quickly overwhelm opponents before their sluggish weapons can react. Just ensure you have a steady aim and you‘ll tear through rivals in seconds! Back this up by tossing Suction Bombs into hotspots or enemy paths to pressure contested areas.
With special options like the lethal Ink Storm or territory-controlling Ink Vac, you can effectively support teammates while pursuing eliminations. This versatility expands your role, turning you into the persistent thorn in your enemy’s side they can never quite seem to dislodge from the frontlines.
Just be wary when engaging enemies further away or you may end up trading unfavorably due to the short range. This can be mitigated by utilizing your excellent mobility to flank targets and catch them unaware. Operating on the outskirts of conflicts allows you to swoop in for the kill once foes are softened up. Alternatively, lay down covering fire so allies can advance as you pressure any counter-push.
Key Tips:
- Flank distracted/weakened foes for easy eliminations
- Use main weapon’s superb efficiency to bombard the frontline
- Toss Suction Bombs to secure key chokepoints
- Time Ink Storm/Vac activations to support critical pushes
With some practice mastering its aggression-empowering traits, the N-ZAP ‘85 enables you to become an unrelenting force of nature on the battlefield. Enemies will quickly come to fear its stinging shots peppering their positions!
Kensa Splattershot Pro: Jack-of-All-Trades Primary
- Type: Shooter
- Strengths: Versatility, well-rounded stats
- Weaknesses: Mastering longer range
- Best Suited For: All-round combat
The Kensa variant of the Splattershot Pro lives up to its billing with a toolkit catering to nearly any confrontation. While it lacks any standout strengths, its superb balance across critical stats like range, fire rate and mobility gives it an answer for dealing with rivals no matter their playstyle.
Medium range skirmishing is where the Kensa Splattershot Pro thrives thanks to its well-rounded coverage and accuracy. Whether pressuring foes at range or contesting objectives up close, its versatility has you covered. Support this with Sprinkler sub-weapons for area denial and an Ink Storm special to build influence across the map.
The key to mastery lies in maintaining optimal spacing between you and targets. Get too close without requiring the extra damage and more specialized short-range weapons will overpower you. But if keeping distance, be prepared to accurately snap off shots against evasive enemies. Though it takes some practice, learning to control engagements this way allows you to adapt on the fly.
With its excellent balance and varied toolkit, the Kensa Splattershot Pro truly embodies an all-rounder primary for nearly any job. While unlikely to dominate any one combat aspect, few rival weapons offer such versatile applicability across the chaos of the battlefield!
Key Tips:
- Control spacing from targets to dictate engagements
- Use Sprinklers to restrict enemy movement
- Build special gauge safely before big pushes
- Activize Ink Storm to support opponent commitment
If you want one reliable all-purpose weapon to handle nearly any threat, then the Kensa Splattershot Pro is your perfect partner through thick and thin.
Kensa Sloshing Machine: Area Denial Anchoring Weapon
- Type: Slosher
- Strengths: High damage, range, area denial
- Weaknesses: Lower fire rate
- Best Suited For: Anchoring positions
The Kensa Sloshing Machine’s intimidating industrial design suits its battlefield role – this powerhouse Slosher variant allows you to lock down territory with oppressive mid-range firepower. While the trademark tradeoff comes in its slow firing arc shots, spacing shots for maximum area coverage lets you unleash devastating delayed barrages.
A well-aimed arc can splash damage multiple foes at once, enabling you to wipe out entire advancing teams when properly positioned. The shots even coat some vertical surfaces, allowing you to pelt certain raised areas. When factoring in the high individual impact damage, you have all the tools necessary to deny opponents any room to maneuver.
With a far Ink Vac special to sniff out distant targets and Sprinklers for point control, you can become an anchor dictating the frontline’s flow. Funnel enemies into exposed lanes covered by your firing angles and watch the eliminations rack up! Just be cautious when fighting up close or against more agile opponents.
Key Tips:
- Predict enemy advances to have shots pre-charged
- Prioritize high-traffic areas and objectives
- Use Sprinklers to track approaching opponents
- activize Ink Vac onto contested zones for area control support
If you love bunkering down to relentlessly bombard predictable foe movement paths, the Kensa Sloshing Machine lets you mercilessly dictate the terms of engagement. Enemies will quickly fear lingering too long against your thundering arcs of destruction!
.52 Gal: Hard-Hitting Firepower With a Deliberate Trigger Finger
- Type: Shooter
- Strengths: Lethal damage, range, accuracy
- Weaknesses: Slow fire rate, mobility
- Best Suited For: Eliminating targets
Favor methodical, accurate shooting over spraying endless ink? Then the .52 Gal’s heavier blows and increased range are perfect for your battle doctrine. While lacking in rapid shots, properly leading targets and clipping them with the .52 Gal’s high-impact rounds spells instant elimination.
This weapon reaches lethal damage thresholds with just two clean shots against most enemies. Thus, by picking off rivals from long range before they can react or tracking evasive targets bobbing and weaving, a single well-placed salvo secures the kill. Experienced .52 Gal experts can end a team push single-handedly through superior positioning and trigger discipline.
You’ll still need to manage the slower firing and moving speed by plotting an escape route after firing. Deploying Splash Walls not only provides cover between volleys, but also makes approaching you a painful prospect for enemies. With the Bubble Blower or Ink Storm to deny areas, you have plenty of tools to control the range of interactions.
The .52 Gal’s hard-hitting blows shine once you internalize its cadence between shots and master optimizing your movement and cover usage. If you have patience and steadfast tracking aim, it’s highly lethal damage can make short work of careless opponents.
Key Tips:
- Post up at mid-to-long sightlines on objectives
- Wait for clear firing angles before exposing yourself
- Use Splash Walls for temporary cover between shots
- Support allies pushing objectives with Bubble Blower
While requiring some finesse, learning the .52 Gal’s nuances allows you to become an anchor that eliminates all who tread into your domain. Its clinical precision will have enemies thinking twice about exposing themselves to your barrels!
Kensa Splatterscope: Extreme Sniping Firepower
- Type: Charger
- Strengths: Extreme range, high precision
- Weaknesses: Vulnerability up close
- Best Suited For: Long-distance support
If you have supreme aim and tracking reflexes, the Kensa Splatterscope allows you to deliver devastating cover fire across enormous sightlines. While utterly defenceless in close quarters, its extreme range enables unmatched pressure onto distant opponents when mastered.
Paired with the Laser Sight for pinpoint aiming and Baller shield for emergency escapes, the Kensa Splatterscope enables a specialized long-range role focused on cracking defenses from afar. Its one-shot-elimination fully charged blows can wreak havoc on enemy backlines. Just be sure to relocate after firing to avoid being pinpointed.
Your priority lies in posting up at long angles down key lanes and corridors to cover ally advances or stall opponents in a crossfire. Having an escape path planned and placing Sprinklers to detect flankers is vital to survive under fire pressure. Though demanding expert aim, landing critical snipes onto damaged or stationary targets can swing team fights.
Key Tips:
- Coordinate firing spots with optimal sightlines
- Use Sprinklers to watch flanks and entrances
- Quickly reposition after firing shots
- Eliminate distracted or slowed enemies for advantage
The Kensa Splatterscope certainly isn’t for the faint of heart – its unforgiving skill cap means missed shots can spell disaster. But devoted marksmen able to leverage extreme range pressure can turn the tide of seemingly hopeless battles with timely precision blows.
Kensa Dynamo Roller: Massive Ink Control
- Type: Roller
- Strengths: Huge inking potential, 1HKO range
- Weaknesses: Speed, unwieldy flicks
- Best Suited For: Turf control, ambushes
If you love overwhelming opponents with enormous ink deposition across large swathes of territory, the Kensa Dynamo Roller is the perfect fit. Its signature extra-large roller smothers gigantic surfaces in your color with each heavy swing, enabling you to rapidly paint the floor.
The roller itself can even eliminate foes in one overhead smash should they wander too close! This allows you to control narrow chokepoints that opponents must commit through, enabling deadly ambushes. Just beware leaving yourself exposed too long after swinging or you risk being splatted during the recovery.
The Dynamo Roller does suffer from poor mobility and slow swing speed making it easy to evade. Thus, predict enemy movements along vital paths and use sprinklers for tracking to ensure they can’t escape your range. Also rely on the Ink Storm special to bombard distant areas you cannot reach quickly. Overall, you’ll be sacrificing speed for sheer dominance across vast spaces.
Key Tips:
- Fortify narrow corridors and entrances
- Use sprinklers to monitor enemy flanks
- Ambush committed opponents with smash attacks
- Support distant teammates with Ink Storm
If you love the frontline brutish approach of denying enemies any room to maneuver, the Kensa Dynamo Roller lets you become a severe headache for rivals struggling to claw back territory against its oppressive ink output!
Kensa Undercover Brella: Advancing Under a Protective Canopy
- Type: Brella
- Strengths: All-round stats, durable shield
- Weaknesses: Low damage output
- Best Suited For: Pushing objectives
The Kensa Undercover Brella provides protective support options unlike any other weapon, creating a two-phase style of pushing up under the safety of its instantly-deployed umbrella shield. While only dealing mediocre damage on its own, the umbrella coverage enables both you and teammates to advance on contested areas.
The key lies in utilizing the umbrella to tank incoming fire as you approach hotspots to provide a moving safe zone protecting allies following in your wake. Coordinating this push timing is crucial but pays dividends securing ground other weapons would struggle with.
Once within range, the Kensa Undercover Brella’s shots start pressuring any remaining enemies while your team establishes defensive hold on the newly-gained objective. Just watch that the umbrella doesn’t break before backup arrives! Having Ink Mines to track impending flanks also helps relieve pressure.
Key Tips:
- Call push timing for teammates to follow under umbrella
- Pre-fire shots to soften targets before advancing
- Toss Ink Mines to detect and slow incoming enemies
- Use Ink Storm offensively or defensively during fights
The Kensa Undercover Brella requires tight synergy against well-coordinated opponents, but mastering its shielding tactics opens up aggressive possibilities for you and your team. Stand fearless under fire and claim your prize!
Conclusion: Equipping Yourself for Victory
And there you have it – whether you prefer anchoring backlines with ruthless efficiency, enabling allies with protective umbrella rushes or just want to overwhelm your enemies with non-stop aggression up close, Splatoon 3‘s vibrant armory has a primary weapon tailored exactly for your personal battle doctrine. We only touched on a fraction of the many options, but the essential weapons analyzed today will have you carrying teams to victory in no time.
Just remember that mastery involves playing to your weapon‘s unique strengths while minimizing its weaknesses through smart positioning and ability timing. Learning these intricacies may take some trial and error, but the fulfillment of executing advanced tactics successfully cannot be understated.
Soon you‘ll have opponents cowering under the might of your specialty weapon they‘ll swear seems impossible to counter. Now get out there, start splatting and most importantly – stay fresh! What weapon are you most excited to try first in your journey up the ranks? Let me know in the comments!
