15 BEST Splatoon 3 Abilities

In this guide we discuss the best 15 abilities in Splatoon 3.

Just like its predecessors, Splatoon 3 features a wide range of abilities to choose from, each ability offering something different and fresh. Choosing the right abilities for your playstyle and weapons is essential for victory. In today’s guide, we will discuss the best abilities you can equip in Splatoon 3.

Key Takeaways
  • There are two types of abilities in Splatoon 3, one being the abilities that weapons come with, and the additional abilities are the ones shown in the list.
  • Each ability has its own perk, and you can choose whatever suits your playstyle and weapon best.
  • Some of the best abilities in the game are Ink Saver, Ink Recovery Up, Ink Resistance Up, Comeback, and Intensify Action.
  • Each ability has its pros and cons, depending on what weapon you put on.

Best Abilities In Splatoon 3

List
List of Abilities in Splatoon 3

Abilities in Splatoon 3 come in two types, the weapon abilities and the abilities you can put in the additional slots present in the weapons. The abilities assigned to your weapons are permanent and cannot be changed, but what really makes a difference in the gameplay are the additional abilities you assign to those weapons.

Also, consider reading our guide on Splatoon 3 Maps and learn more about all the new and returning maps.

Depending on what abilities you assign to your weapons, your performance in matches will change for better or worse. Splatoon 3 gives you a decent amount of options to choose from, having over 20 abilities in total. You can equip any ability you like according to your play style, but below, we have discussed the 15 best abilities in Splatoon 3 that most people will find useful.

Summarized information on the best Splatoon 3 abilities: 

AbilityFunction
Ink Saver (Main & Sub)It reduces your ink consumption and gives you an edge over your opponents
Ink Recovery UpIt reduces the time for your ink to refill and you can return to action swiftly
Ink Resistance UpWith this, you face less damage from ink therefore helps you to win battles
Quick Super JumpThis will help you to circumnavigate the map easily allowing you catcyh your enemies off surprise
Swim Speed UpThis increases your mobility in water when you are in squid form
ComebackIt gives you special perks when you respawn for a limited time
Last-Ditch EffortIn the last 30 seconds of the battle, this will boost your ink recovery and weapon efficiency
Quick RespawnThis helps you to return to the battlefield in less time
Special SaverThis doesn't take away all opf your equipment when you die and respawn
Special Charge UpThis reduces the time for your special to recharge
Run Speed UpIt will increase your speed and mobility once you are in your humanoid form
Ninja SquidIt will help you move around the map without triggering your opponents
Tenacity
It helps you compete better against teams having numerical advantage by automatically charging your special gauge
Intensify ActionThis makes your aim stable while using Squid Rolls and Squid Surges
Opening GambitIt increases your speed for first 30 seconds into a match and thus you can gain significant advantage over your enemies

1. Ink Saver (Main & Sub)

Description  It directly decreases the ink consumed amount of your main and sub-weapon
Gear Any

Ink Saver, without a doubt, is the best ability in Splatoon 3, in our opinion. The perk offered by this ability is very simple, which is, reducing your ink consumption. But for a game where every shootout relies on ink, which is basically the ammo of this game, you never want yourself in a situation where you are out of it.

Furthermore, Ink Saver is a great ability to trick your opponents because, with the passage of time, you get a general gist of how long it would take for your opponent to run out of ink so that you can launch your counterattack.

With Ink Saver equipped, you can trick your opponents into thinking you are out of ink, which then gives you the opportunity to unload your saved ink on them as soon as they expose themselves.

Furthermore, Ink Saver ability comes in two types, Ink Saver (Main) and Ink Saver (Sub). As obvious from the name, the main one can be applied to main weapons, and the sub one can be allotted to sub-weapons. Our recommendation would be to allow the Ink Saver (Main) to Chargers, Splatlings, and Blasters. As far as the Ink Saver (Sub) is concerned, you can allot it to any high-cost sub-weapon.

2. Ink Recovery Up

Description  The refill rate of Ink-Tank is increased
Gear Any

For our second ability, we highly recommend Ink Recovery Up. This ability increase the rate at which your tank refills and allows you to come out of hiding and rejoin the battle more quickly. Ink Recovery Up truly shines when it is paired up with Ink Savers, allowing you to restore your huge tank quickly and giving you an edge in situations where you are facing off against multiple opponents.

3. Ink Resistance Up

Description  The damage taken is reduced, as well as mobility while walking through the enemy ink is improved.
Gear Any

Ink Resistance Up, in simple words, reduces your damage intake from the ink. This boosts your survivability rate tremendously and allows you to withstand enemy damage for far longer than you usually do. Another great utility offered by Ink Recovery Up is that you won’t slow down when you walk in the enemy’s ink, giving your mobility a huge boost. 

4. Quick Super Jump

Description  Enhance the overall super jump speed
Gear Any

Quick Super Jump gives your mobility a much-needed boost and allows you to travel around the map faster. With Witch Quick Super Jump equipped, not only will you be able to flank, ambush or chase enemies faster, but you will also be able to get away from unfavorable encounters way swiftly.

While you are at it, also consider going through our guides on Turf War Tips and how to join Turf War in Splatoon 3.

5. Swim Speed Up

Description  Enhance the overall Swim form’s movement speed
Gear Any

In Splatoon 3, you can maneuver around the map either in your humanoid form or squid form. Swim Speed Up increases your speed while you are in squid form, boosting your mobility and enabling you to travel around the map much more easily. Splatoon 3 doesn’t restrict you from sticking with your default preset and allows you to customize your character. Consider going through our Splatoon 3 character appearance guide to learn more about it.

6. Comeback

Description  After respawning, it increases a few abilities for some time
Gear Headgear

With Comeback equipped, you will gain certain benefits quickly every time you respawn. This is a must-have ability because it will not only enable you to regain your footing in the match but also allow you to score some extra kills. Also, consider reading our guide on how to change hair color in Splatoon 3.

This ability is recommended for those players who like to play aggressively and engage in fights more often because if you have a defensive approach, this ability will be of no use to you. We recommend using Comeback with mid to close-range weapons.

7. Last-Ditch Effort

Description  It increases the weapon-ink ability for the last 30 seconds of the fight, as well as enhances ink-recovery rate as well
Gear Headgear

Last-ditch effort boosts your ink-recovery rate and weapon’s ink efficiency in the last 30 seconds of the battle. Combined with Ink Saver and Ink Recovery Up, you will be almost unbeatable during the last 30 seconds of the battle and, depending on your skill level, can turn the tables against insurmountable odds. 

8. Quick Respawn

Description  After getting splatted, it reduces the Respawn time. So you could return to the battlefield as fast as possible.
Gear Any

As the time name suggests, Quick Respawn reduces your respawn time and allows you to return to the action more quickly. We highly recommend pairing this ability with Comeback and Quick Super Jump if you are an aggressive player and want to push back the opponent’s team.

9. Special Saver

Description  After getting killed, it reduces your special gauge
Gear Any

Every time you die in Splatoon 3, you receive a penalty in the form of special gauge depletion. In other words, the more you die, the less likely it is for you to use your special abilities during the match. You can not outright remove this penalty; however, it can be reduced to an extent by equipping a Special Saver. 

With Special Saver allotted to your weapons, the amount from the special gauge that is depleted as a penalty of dying is reduced, increasing your chances to use your specials more often.

10. Special Charge Up

Description  The fill rate of special-gauge is increased 
Gear Any

Special Charge Up increases the rate at which your special charges in Splatoon 3. We highly recommend pairing it with Special Saver to increase the rate at which you can make your special attacks. Furthermore, we also recommend allotting this ability to weapons with powerful special attacks.

11. Run Speed Up

Description  Enhance your movement speed and mobility when you are in your Octoling form
Gear Any

Now, being in the squid form comes with its own set of restrictions, and obviously, you cannot play the entire round without switching back to your humanoid form. While Swim Speed is great for evasion and covering distance, Run Speed Up boosts your speed in the humanoid form, allowing you to evade much more efficiently and strike back more effectively.

12. Ninja Squid

Description  You can easily spend time on the man while leaving no traces of the opponents
Gear Clothing

With Ninja squid equipped, you can move around the map in your squid form without alerting the enemies. Usually, in Splatoon 3, your character makes splashes as he/she moves around in squid form, making your location exposed to the enemy. Ninja Squid removes this problem by allowing you to traverse the map without making yourself exposed.

13. Tenacity

Description  If your active team members are less than the opponents, It directly fills your special gauge 
Gear Headgear

It is not uncommon in multiplayer Team vs Team battles, where one side has more players than the other. Now, most video games don’t really give the team at an obvious disadvantage any relief, but that is not the case in Splatoon 3. With Tenacity equipped, your special gauge will charge automatically if your team has fewer players than the opponent.

This kind of situation happens more often than not, making Tenacity another one of our highly recommended abilities, which can help you in giving a considerable edge when the tides are against you. Before reading further, why not go through our guide on how to make art in Splatoon 3?

14. Intensify Action

Description  It uses Squid Rolls and Squid Surges to fire the enemies
Gear Any

We recommend Intensify Action to those players who like being in squid form and utilize Squid rolls & Squid Surges very often. Intensify Action essentially makes it easier to perform said actions and also helps you to keep your aim steady when firing after jumping.

15. Opening Gambit

Description  For the first 30 seconds of the fight, your movement speed is enhanced which can prove helpful against the enemies
Gear Headgear

It’s common for players to leave the match or lose morale as soon they see the difference between the scores at the start of the match. The Opening Gambit ability gives you a speed boost for the first 30 seconds of the match, and racking up kills during that time period can certainly give your team an advantage that is very difficult to gain halfway through the match.

This concludes our guide on the best abilities in Splatoon 3. We hope the abilities listed here were helpful in enhancing your experience and making you better at the game. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below.

Next: Splatoon 3 Review

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Moiz Banoori is the brains behind eXputer. Having worked at various Video Game sites, with 8 years of Content Writing Experience and a Journalism Degree at hand, he presently monitors teams, creates strategies, and publishes qualified pieces through his aptitude at eXputer. Feel free to get in touch with him through his gaming profile on Steam and PSN.

Experience: 8+ Years || Manages Teams, Creates Strategies, and Publishes Guides on eXputer || Education: Bachelors in Journalism.

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