![Splatoon 3: Super splatty Rainmaker [18(5)-9, Custom Splattershot Jr] @TigerEars](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-v4I1T9OL40/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Back to basics with the Splattershot Jr, the Custom model. I do well to avoid the Splat Bomb thrown at me, but I really am out of practice with Torpedoes. When I throw one, I shouldn't then just run straight towards the target, and especially not a Clash Blaster that won't be troubled by a Torpedo. Never mind, a quick dash by a squidmate dunks the popped Rainmaker on the checkpoint, giving us the early lead, and I super-jump their way. We burst the Rainmaker free again, but are assaulted by a lot of ink. I duck and dodge what I can, before quickly inking a wall and grabbing the almost-resetting Rainmaker. I find myself cornered, but armed. I get one splat and try to flush out whoever else is there, but my high-angled aiming doesn't work, and I'm splatted as soon as I come out of cover.
I'm less bemused by the splat than how none of my squidmates are near, all keeping busy near our base by interlopers. Come on, guys. At least I have Torpedoes to find anyone hiding, and confident they're not I press on. And further on, up the lift, to almost cross the Rainmaker, but to splat them anyway, leaving the Rainmaker in a good forward position. I burst it free quickly and make a dash for the podium, but the pesky Clash Blaster is there again to stop me. Just as my squidmates are again nowhere near. What the heck, guys.
Back on defence, and a new route back. I somehow splat three pinklings, including the Rainmaker, and keep the battle on our terms, even going as far as heading up the other lift, on what turns out to be an ill-advised adventure with a weapon that lacks so much range. At least my squidmates are nearby, still bunched together, and now moving the Rainmaker. I return in slow time, expecting the Rainmaker to be lost and waiting to see which way the pinklings come. Ambushing one of the pinklings is easy, although a squidmate doesn't see it coming, and although the pinklings crash the Rainmaker on the checkpoint, they are splatted away unceremoniously.
I leave the Rainmaker to my squidmates, or to reset, and go skirmishing. I catch the Clash Blaster for once not knowing where I am, and shoot them in the back with great satisfaction, before getting splatted with a reckless charge. I return in slow time, behind the Rainmaker, but jinking to try to flank the pinklings' defence. That catches the Clash Blaster maybe trying to do the same, and I am cheerful for that, and head up for another splat that becomes more mutual than I would have liked. I risk a super-jump deep in to pinkling territory, hoping for that dunk, only for our Rainmaker carrier, and I guess the rest of us, not to realise that its timer was running out.
I leap in to defence as I return, hoping somehow to go unnoticed, and think I have a splat in the bag as a Splattershot launches a Triple Inkstrike. I am confused as I get the splat and am splatted by the Splattershot who saunters off to get splatted elsewhere. Who did I splat? It doesn't matter really, and I return along a flanking route to mess up a potentially simple splat, but one that ultimately doesn't matter, as the pinklings' time has also run out, this time for the battle. Woomy!
Back to basics with the Splattershot Jr, the Custom model. I do well to avoid the Splat Bomb thrown at me, but I really am out of practice with Torpedoes. When I throw one, I shouldn't then just run straight towards the target, and especially not a Clash Blaster that won't be troubled by a Torpedo. Never mind, a quick dash by a squidmate dunks the popped Rainmaker on the checkpoint, giving us the early lead, and I super-jump their way. We burst the Rainmaker free again, but are assaulted by a lot of ink. I duck and dodge what I can, before quickly inking a wall and grabbing the almost-resetting Rainmaker. I find myself cornered, but armed. I get one splat and try to flush out whoever else is there, but my high-angled aiming doesn't work, and I'm splatted as soon as I come out of cover.
I'm less bemused by the splat than how none of my squidmates are near, all keeping busy near our base by interlopers. Come on, guys. At least I have Torpedoes to find anyone hiding, and confident they're not I press on. And further on, up the lift, to almost cross the Rainmaker, but to splat them anyway, leaving the Rainmaker in a good forward position. I burst it free quickly and make a dash for the podium, but the pesky Clash Blaster is there again to stop me. Just as my squidmates are again nowhere near. What the heck, guys.
Back on defence, and a new route back. I somehow splat three pinklings, including the Rainmaker, and keep the battle on our terms, even going as far as heading up the other lift, on what turns out to be an ill-advised adventure with a weapon that lacks so much range. At least my squidmates are nearby, still bunched together, and now moving the Rainmaker. I return in slow time, expecting the Rainmaker to be lost and waiting to see which way the pinklings come. Ambushing one of the pinklings is easy, although a squidmate doesn't see it coming, and although the pinklings crash the Rainmaker on the checkpoint, they are splatted away unceremoniously.
I leave the Rainmaker to my squidmates, or to reset, and go skirmishing. I catch the Clash Blaster for once not knowing where I am, and shoot them in the back with great satisfaction, before getting splatted with a reckless charge. I return in slow time, behind the Rainmaker, but jinking to try to flank the pinklings' defence. That catches the Clash Blaster maybe trying to do the same, and I am cheerful for that, and head up for another splat that becomes more mutual than I would have liked. I risk a super-jump deep in to pinkling territory, hoping for that dunk, only for our Rainmaker carrier, and I guess the rest of us, not to realise that its timer was running out.
I leap in to defence as I return, hoping somehow to go unnoticed, and think I have a splat in the bag as a Splattershot launches a Triple Inkstrike. I am confused as I get the splat and am splatted by the Splattershot who saunters off to get splatted elsewhere. Who did I splat? It doesn't matter really, and I return along a flanking route to mess up a potentially simple splat, but one that ultimately doesn't matter, as the pinklings' time has also run out, this time for the battle. Woomy!
![Splatoon 3: Super splatty Rainmaker [18(5)-9, Custom Splattershot Jr]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-v4I1T9OL40/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Super splatty Rainmaker [18(5)-9, Custom Splattershot Jr]
Back to basics with the Splattershot Jr, the Custom model. I do well to avoid the Splat Bomb thrown at me, but I really am out of practice with Torpedoes. When I throw one, I shouldnt then just run straight towards the target, and especially not a Clash Blaster that wont be troubled by a Torpedo. Never mind, a quick dash by a squidmate dunks the popped Rainmaker on the checkpoint, giving us the early lead, and I super-jump their way. We burst the Rainmaker free again, but are assaulted by a lot of ink. I duck and dodge what I can, before quickly inking a wall and grabbing the almost-resetting Rainmaker. I find myself cornered, but armed. I get one splat and try to flush out whoever else is there, but my high-angled aiming doesnt work, and Im splatted as soon as I come out of cover.
Im less bemused by the splat than how none of my squidmates are near, all keeping busy near our base by interlopers. Come on, guys. At least I have Torpedoes to find anyone hiding, and confident theyre not I press on. And further on, up the lift, to almost cross the Rainmaker, but to splat them anyway, leaving the Rainmaker in a good forward position. I burst it free quickly and make a dash for the podium, but the pesky Clash Blaster is there again to stop me. Just as my squidmates are again nowhere near. What the heck, guys.
Back on defence, and a new route back. I somehow splat three pinklings, including the Rainmaker, and keep the battle on our terms, even going as far as heading up the other lift, on what turns out to be an ill-advised adventure with a weapon that lacks so much range. At least my squidmates are nearby, still bunched together, and now moving the Rainmaker. I return in slow time, expecting the Rainmaker to be lost and waiting to see which way the pinklings come. Ambushing one of the pinklings is easy, although a squidmate doesnt see it coming, and although the pinklings crash the Rainmaker on the checkpoint, they are splatted away unceremoniously.
I leave the Rainmaker to my squidmates, or to reset, and go skirmishing. I catch the Clash Blaster for once not knowing where I am, and shoot them in the back with great satisfaction, before getting splatted with a reckless charge. I return in slow time, behind the Rainmaker, but jinking to try to flank the pinklings defence. That catches the Clash Blaster maybe trying to do the same, and I am cheerful for that, and head up for another splat that becomes more mutual than I would have liked. I risk a super-jump deep in to pinkling territory, hoping for that dunk, only for our Rainmaker carrier, and I guess the rest of us, not to realise that its timer was running out.
I leap in to defence as I return, hoping somehow to go unnoticed, and think I have a splat in the bag as a Splattershot launches a Triple Inkstrike. I am confused as I get the splat and am splatted by the Splattershot who saunters off to get splatted elsewhere. Who did I splat? It doesnt matter really, and I return along a flanking route to mess up a potentially simple splat, but one that ultimately doesnt matter, as the pinklings time has also run out, this time for the battle. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: A pretty clean Salmon Run [34-50-43, 36/855]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0D6Oy_fWe5A/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: A pretty clean Salmon Run [34-50-43, 36/855]
I get the random weapon on the first wave. Its a Heavy Edit Splatling, which is okay, I guess. I let my squidmates deal with the early bosses, and wait for more to turn up from a different direction. A Scrapper is nice and easy, the Flipper is avoided, and a Steelhead gives me more eggs. I dunk a couple of eggs before looking for more bosses, which must be coming. A couple of Steel Eels almost intertwine themselves, but not enough to stop me splatting the first one, and a squidmate splats the second when heading down to a Stinger. Getting the eggs back proves harder than splatting at the moment, and made more awkward with a couple of Fish Fingers. I help with one and head up another, and having that splatted before I get to the top really helps, as I was going to get stung, and instead I move to splat the Stinger. A squidmate is there too, making quick work of it, and then theres a little time left to dunk a couple more eggs. Or would be, if I managed to pick up the last one.
On to the second wave! Argh, the .96 Gal. Its so heavy and slow, I really dont like it. At least the tide has come in, so there I have less need to go anywhere, and I make the most of that by staying by the basket for as long as possible. I move out when it becomes necessary, and make myself surprisingly mobile, thanks to squidding where I can. I help with Drizzlers, Flippers, and a Maws, hopping back-and-forth across the water to stay safe and use my range. We even have a little lull, having splatted most of the bosses, but more turn up. They seem pretty straightforward, but I think thats because were on top of things. Flippers and Fish Fingers at high tide can cause problems, but with everyone splatting them early they never really cause an issue. The only really problem is being booped in to the water at the end of the wave.
I get a much more mobile shooter in the final wave, making me feel much more comfortable, I zip about inking walls immediately. The first bosses are Big Shots, which feels like a good time to break out my first Crab, despite it being so early in the wave. I leave my squidmates to tidy up the mess and head to the basket to dunk eggs. A pair of Steelheads wander on to shore, the first one wiggling too much for me to splat cleanly, or thats my excuse. I get them on the second pass, and leave the other to throw head bombs to no effect for now. Back to the action, and I splat a Drizzler with its missile, before being stopped getting up a Fish Finger. Fine, Chum, Ill splat the new Big Shot instead. Then back for a Flyfish, pausing for a Maws and a Scrapper, both of which suck so much ink out of my tank that I pull out my second Crab. I think I miss the second bin, though, but I was getting hit by a new Big Shot. Never mind, there are eggs to dunk, so I get busy with that. As do my squidmates, and we surge past quota in the final twenty seconds to get a respectable tally for the wave, and quite a nice total for the Run. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Keeping a clean sheet in Clam Blitz [14(2)-6, Range Blaster]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0WUZkVA6FUc/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Keeping a clean sheet in Clam Blitz [14(2)-6, Range Blaster]
Thats a decent first splat, and I manage to duck back in to cover too. I keep the blaster blasting, and when a squidmate splats the inkling blocking my way ahead, I push up to pressure the Hydra Splatling. I catch them from under the grate, and a second blast finishes the splat, catching the Dapple Dualies in the process. Thats a Wipeout! And just as I create a power clam. I move up, score it, and probably dont keep the pressure on with my terrible aim, but I hang around and throw a few more clams in to the basket.
The orange team look to push back, but our defence is set. I lurk near the back to help out, but again my poor aim gets me splatted. I put it down to being my first battle of the day, but Ive also seen how I battle when Im warmed up. My squidmates do better, holding back the orange team, allowing me to return without our barrier breaking. I head down the side, aiming for the power clams, helped by my squidmates keeping the others busy. I manage to blast the Dapple Dualies but not enough to splat them, and I have to dodge their Dolphin. Going forwards runs me in to the Hydra Splatling, newly super-jumped in, which they immediately regret.
We have another Wipeout! I call for anyone to super-jump to me, but thats still not relied on much, so I just lurk with intent as my squidmates catch up. They do soon enough, breaking the barrier, and even though the orange team are returning we just get more splats and a third Wipeout. What we need now is more clams. So I find some, head back, and score most of them. Not all. One lands on the ledge under pressure from the Dualies, and by the time Ive manoeuvred around to reclaim it, the basket retracts. Still, I splatted the Hydra Splatling again, which was nice.
The turf remains ours, and we just need more clams. I think I see someone trailing them, and I have one, but they disappear before I can throw it to them. I disappear too, mostly because my aim lets me down when the Splash-o-matic appears. I risk a super-jump back to the central turf, with two squidmates trailing power clams, but although I land safely I am not focussed and get picked off easily. At least I grabbed a refreshing beverage moment before, and I return immediately. I wonder if I could grab a second drink, but the Tacticooler disappears before I can reach it. I could have used it, as I am splatted quickly again.
Another super-jump, and a Suction Bomb thrown at a Splash Wall seems to get me a splat a few seconds later. I dunno what happened. A good old-fashioned blast nets me a second, but a third could be thwarted by the inkling jumping in to a Crab. I still stick my head up, thankfully keeping it. I jink across the bridge, wondering if someone got behind us, then focussing on the Hydra Splatling on their ledge. I dont get them, but Im safe, unlike my squidmates. I try to stay unnoticed, which kinda works, then wend my way back to our turf, via a lucky splat.
I dodge a B-bomb, push forwards, and help a squidmate with a splat as the Dualies dodge behind the inflatable, and mark a squidmate for splatting by throwing them clams. I didnt meant it that way! A Crab is deconstructed, a drink is quaffed, and I apply some forward pressure near the orange basket. The Hydra Splatling is scared of me, which is how it should be, and I splat them for effect, before the Splash-o-matic can catch up with me. Which they do. But weve done enough, our scores unanswered, and the battle is won. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Good moments to strike in Clam Blitz [9(3)-4, Carbon Roller Deco]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0z5zPAD6GQQ/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Good moments to strike in Clam Blitz [9(3)-4, Carbon Roller Deco]
Crowns versus non-crowns. That doesnt suggest much, but lets see how it goes. Im suitably cautious to start with, wondering where the pinklings will come from, watching the walls, but when I move forwards it is with some confidence, sticking to a wall and ambushing a pinkling coming for me. Im then a little more speculative, blindly surging up a wall a couple of times and getting lucky on the second one. The third splat is a bit too lucky, as I probably should have been splatted first, and has my running away briefly as I believe that to happen. But I survive, and whip out a Trizooka to take some pot-shots at the basket.
I hit nothing, but the coast looks clear, and my squidmates are laden with clams. I throw a couple of my own forwards to make a power clam. That gets dropped, but I follow behind and score it, getting caught myself as I try to retreat. More clams hit the basket, which is encouraging, if not a huge amount. Better still, the pinklings dont mount an immediate counter-attack, so we have time to maintain our position in the central turf. My squidmates get some splats and some clams, and press ahead again, breaking the barrier. Im watching and ready, diving forwards to provide some assault ink, bagging a splat and being a minor distraction as a second power clam hits the basket.
Were stopped again, and this time the pinklings try to strike back. Dragging a power clam kinda makes you a target, though, and sneaking around the back isnt as effective. The attack falters, and while I sit back in defence my squidmates push forwards. I catch up and add my Trizooka to another, in a nice coincidence, but our attack also falters. Still, we only suffer two splattings, and I am able to sneak in behind to score the dropped power clam, and a couple of little ones too. I run away after that, but my squidmates keep the basket open, and I manage to turn around with more clams to continue the scoring streak, before getting carelessly caught up in an Inkstrike.
The basket closes, the battle continues. The pinkling Inkbrush tries to run a quick score around the back, but I see their trail and hit them early, but just as I am accumulating clams of my own one of the Splattershots zooms past. Theyre splatted, but after theyve scored, so some defence is needed. That achieved, were back on the attack, and I find enough clams for a power clam pretty quickly. I juggle it with myself, not that it seems necessary, but one last throw puts it close to the basket as a braver squidmate scores their own. That spurs me on to make a daring throw of my own, thinking well win with the score. Almost. Were two points away, two points a squidmate handily provides before I even get to return. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: A bit of luck and a bit of skill bags gold in Salmon Run Big Run [40-55-49, 29/1105]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1H3s-SvkRno/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: A bit of luck and a bit of skill bags gold in Salmon Run Big Run [40-55-49, 29/1105]
I like to think I can get gold in Big Run, but a lot really depends on the weapons and waves you get. Three stringers, two of them Grizzco, and a Goo-Tuber is an interesting weapon set, and normal tide with no special wave is not a portentous start, but its not bad either. I help to drag a Steel Eel close to the basket for a good start, then dunk some eggs launched from a Big Shot cannon, a squidmate having splatted the Big Shot pretty quickly with the Grizzco Stringer. A Flyfish is next, and I bring two eggs back, before needing to revive a squidmate and keep the Chum at bay. I revive a second squidmate and aim for another Flyfish, until seeing an early Inkjet doing the Great Zapfishs work. I focus on eggs, and a third Flyfish, before noticing Big Shots causing problems. I dodge a Maws to get closer, then drop a Lid on two of the Big Shots, before dropping the Lid for good. I dont survive the landing. Im revived, launch a couple of eggs, and shoot back to the basket to dunk what weve launched. Forty eggs in the first wave is decent, but below the average needed for gold.
High tide is good for eggs, and a Grizzco Roller in the squad will help keep the Chum population at bay. A Lid looks an easy start, but combined with a Steel Eel causes the first casualty. Simple to recover, at least, and we take advantage of the time to deliver most eggs. Scrappers offer easy eggs at the basket, but now we have to focus as much on bosses as eggs, so I move on quickly to the Lid. A Steel Eel doesnt meander far, and Flippers are so easy to flop when wielding a Grizzco Brolly. Our Roller does a good job of splatting on Steelhead, and I help with the second, and the eggs are flying in to the basket. A couple of Flyfish turn up to be annoying, but I hit a pair of Flippers instead, before struggling to get out of the rain. I hop the water to do so, almost putting myself in to more trouble. Its nothing a Killer Wail cant help with, but maybe not solve completely. A second Inkjet saves a squidmate who then revives me, and a final flurry of eggs hitting the basket puts us nicely above average, not just for the wave but the run so far. Nice!
The tide stays high, which is promising, and we have some good shooters to work with. I try to show our Nautilus my excitement, but I dont think they get it. Never mind, a Maws is coming, and dropping eggs for everyone but me. I let my squidmates deal with the Steel Eel as I splat a Flyfish, and then a Maws gets picky about my feet, so I shoot a Scrapper instead. More Scrappers are good for eggs, as are more Maws, if we have the ink for Splat Bombs. I dont, and drop a Lid instead, coming back to have enough ink to splat a Maws after all. Our attention is drawn to one side of Wahoo World, where bosses are splatted quickly with a Crab, and I squid back the other way to dunk some eggs and splat a Drizzler. I get a bit caught up, though, and Chummed soon after, and my maths isnt quick enough to realise weve hit our target already. Im just worried that being splatted is affecting my performance, such is how Mr Grizz has affected me. Another Crab revives me, and I whip out the second Killer Wail just to keep me safer, while otherwise being ineffective. As a last ditch effort, I try to revive a squidmate with an egg, but I am just splatted in my attempt. But its okay. Weve done it, and hit gold. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Mothership, Mudmouths, and Grillers in Salmon Run [43-44-44, 36/920]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/20tC1bEVhtk/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Mothership, Mudmouths, and Grillers in Salmon Run [43-44-44, 36/920]
I think we all know where this is going. Lets start with a Mothership! The S-blast is a fair choice of weapon for Mothership, particularly at high tide, and I spend a lot of my time hitting the Chinooks as they come down. I dunk the odd egg, and my squidmates help with the rest. I get smacked by a Cohock, which is unfortunate, and the fewer Chinooks hit the ground the less chance there is of that happening. I kinda quite like Mothership with a good sniping weapon, just picking my shots, so I quite liked this wave.
On to Mudmouths! Still at high tide makes thing a bit easier, as the Mudmouths are more closely spaced. The main difficulties will be the dozens of Smallfry, and for this we have a Roller who knows what they are doing, and the Cohocks that stream out of the golden Mudmouths. For them, the E-litre 4K, with its piercing damage, can manage them. Thats my task, and I mostly do it competently. Another good wave where we all know what were doing, and we bag a decent total.
The last wave is Grillers. This time, the tide is normal, and that gives us more time between Grillers, which makes for a slightly more relaxed pace. The main problem again will be the Smallfry, and this time I have the Roller, making Smallfry control fall under my remit. I take my duty seriously, particularly when it comes to Smallfry, and with the others not being bugged by the little buggers, and some good shooting, we make it through the wave without casualty and with another good total. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Loose defence loses in Tower Control [20(1)-8, Carbon Roller Deco]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/25mU1wQHNZ8/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Loose defence loses in Tower Control [20(1)-8, Carbon Roller Deco]
I shouldnt really be going anywhere until I have some ink to move in to, but Im just jumping right in to danger. Somehow I survive, and get a splat, so thats good. Everyone else is splatted too, though, and I dont help in trying to splat a splatted pinkling, alerting the Clash Blaster to my presence. Even so, I make my inevitable splatting mutual. Im let down next by a Burst Bomb not inking a wall, although maybe it wouldnt have made much difference against the hiding Splattershot Pro. Onwards, and I push through pink ink to round the corner, splatting one pinkling and letting another get away. I try to stop the Tower but get only a glancing blow, so head back for the pinkling that evaded me. Theyre in a Crab! And facing away from me, so I get a very satisfying splat on them. I pause to help stop the Tower, then hide to catch the Splattershot trying to sneak in, before turning the Tower around.
We have a big lead to better, and an ineffective Trizooka aint gonna help. I decide to hide for a bit and surprise pinklings, which doesnt really work for a while, so I just ink some turf for me to work ink. That lets me catch a Splattershot running away from a squidmates dolphin, but I botch the surprise and get splatted too. The map shows me a good amount of green turf at least, so I risk a super-jump, and squid around to avoid attention. I mess up another surprise, but make amends with a nice Burst Bomb to the Splattershots face, following that up with a decent Trizooka, bagging two splats near the pinklings ink rail. I push around the back and manage to survive the Splattershot Pro at close range, getting lucky with the splat as my squidmates take us in to the lead. Nice!
I stick around, making myself a nuisance, or just a target that isnt the Tower, and my squidmates increase our new lead. Its an excellent effort, and one that makes us favourite for the victory. But we still need to be smart, and as the pinklings turn the Tower around I make a cautious return. That lets me catch a Splattershot heading for our flank, and the other Splattershot incautiously running in to our ink. I miss one pinkling as we scoot past each other, but the Splattershot Pro is a nice target near the Tower. I hop on the Tower to keep our momentum going, jumping off when the pinklings assault us. I miss everything with a Trizooka, but I see where the pinklings are, and splat one of them. I find myself alone as the pinklings take the Tower, but rather than hide and reset, I do what I can to stop it, as it is deep in pinkling territory. I get a splat, but am splatted, and maybe hiding would have been the better option.
We dont seem to have much to worry about at the moment, so I return with caution again, only to find myself in an effective pincer movement when I lunge at the Tower. Things still arent bad, although the pinklings are riding the Tower smoothly forwards. I stop a Trizooka under our ledge, but then get in a twist as I dont know if I should lunge at the Tower again, or avoid the pinkling to one side, and end up next to a Suction Bomb. Still the Tower trundles on, and my squidmates are as powerless as me to stop it. Our lead is lost, and although we stop the knockout victory, the tables have been turned. We have to go most of the distance in the final thirty seconds. Its a tall order. I start the effort on the Tower, my squidmates attacking in the field, but as is too often the case, our downfall comes at the hands of a Clash Blaster. So it goes.")
![Splatoon 3: Sloshing good times in Splat Zones [22(4)-6, Tri-slosher]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2B89PJqFgTE/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Sloshing good times in Splat Zones [22(4)-6, Tri-slosher]
Im bringing out the bucket for some action. I consider the risky tactic of crossing the grate first thing, and even after falling down somehow manage to get a pair of splats out of it. I drop away almost unscathed, and fall down again. My squidmates keep things going, capturing the Splat Zones, and I just loiter with intent when I finally get back up. A Bloblobber with a Point Sensor on them isnt fooling anyone about coming over the wall, and falling down again finds me the other one, who struggles to orientate themselves quickly enough. Tracking back has the Clash Blaster to deal with, which I just about get away with, and I drop down to recover some ink before not quite splatting the super-jumper.
I cross under the grate and pop up the other side to splat a Bloblobber while falling, and then tend to the walls, to try to stop the yellow team popping up. Like the Clash Blaster! I return at a bad time, my squidmates getting splatted, so I keep my head down and move behind the pressing yellow team, neutralising one Splat Zone, but missing another super-jumper. At first, anyway. Without really knowing what Im doing, I drop down and splat them. I have to get back up again, as a Bloblobber chases me. I find the other on their ledge, who I only just avoid, and then I prepare to receive a super-jumper. Its the Dualies, though, and they dodge-roll away from my Toxic Mist on landing to splat me. So it goes.
I super-jump in to trouble, lucky to splat the Clash Blaster before getting splatted myself, so I take the slow route back next. Things look calm, for a moment, but splattings are happening. I move across and pop up the other side, but am embarrassingly confused as to where the Clash Blaster is. I catch them as they drop down, but in trying to run away one of the Bloblobbers does the same to me. I risk a super-jump back, just about avoiding the Dualies trying to catch me, and out-manoeuvring the Clash Blaster. When all looks clear, I tend to the turf and walls, before heading around the side again, where I see a tracked Bloblobber going up the wall, followed by the other. I splat them both.
More tidying, then lurking, letting me catch the returning Dualies with a lingering sense of shame. I push forwards to challenge a Bloblobber, my capoeira letting me dodge their lobbed blobs. But the Splat Zones need attention. I head back and, with the help of some Toxic Mist, splat the Dualies again, and tend to the Splat Zones. The Clash Blaster wants to stop me, but I run away as a squidmate splats them. My running away isnt very effective, though, as I just run in to ink and more ink. Heading towards the yellow team will do that, and isnt technically running away. Never mind.
Were wiped out with thirty seconds to go, which simplifies my decision on how to return. The slow way, it is. I head down the side and up the back. That lets me avoid a Splashdown, and I start sloshing. I dont splat the Dualies, but manage to move around a Bloblobber looking for me, and catch the Dualies coming back up. Theres not much I can do about the Clash Blaster, though, already inky as I am. But my squidmates have things covered, and before I land my super-jump, the battle is won. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Rolling around brushes in Splat Zones [18(1)-5, Carbon Roller Deco]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2HyQv84rA7M/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Rolling around brushes in Splat Zones [18(1)-5, Carbon Roller Deco]
I dont really know what Im doing to start with, but I know I dont want to surge down the middle right in to trouble. I just wait a bit, get some height, and spot activity behind me. I drop down and get the splat, but not before the Ink Storm is released. The Splat Zones turn orange too, and I am kinda trapped. How I manage to ink a path and get close to the Splatana is a mystery, but Im happy for it. Im not too happy about how many swings it takes me to splat them, but never mind, I destroy two Beakons while Im there. I pause to swing at whoever is on the grating, splatting someone, before retreating. A squidmate has things covered behind us, so I take potshots with a Trizooka, and hit someone by accident. Sorry!
One of the brushes is inking efficiently from above the Splat Zones, and is splatted before I get up there. I take some time trying the same thing, to less effect, so I drop back down and get chased this way and that, running away from another Brush above us, to splat the Jet Squelcher again. Well, if theyre just going to sit on that grating. I head back, splat the Brush back above us, and run in to the Splatana back on the turf. I get the splat, but the Splatana isnt happy with that, and splats me back anyway. So it goes.
I am nervous about jumping in to a sea of orange, so hold back for a moment. And a moment more. But it seems the orange team arent around, so I start inking, only for the orange team to turn up. I get on to the roof, where I cant see who was up there, but do see the Jet Squelcher doing the same thing as always. I take a circuitous route to them, but splat them all the same, releasing some pressure from the Splat Zones. But an Ink Storm causes problems, when I am backed against a wall, and cant move because of an unnecessary Trizooka.
I rush forwards on my return, hoping to splat the Jet Squelcher back to their same tricks, but miss them and hit the Painbrush that drops down next to me instead. I run away, haunted by another Ink Storm, while the Jet Squelchers ink chases me. I just about get clear, but the Splat Zones turn orange. I recover, ink the Splat Zones a bit, then splat the Octobrush coming down the flank very obviously. I go back for the Jet Squelcher, am sidetracked by the Painbrush, then the Splatana, before catching up with the Painbrush, and catching the Octobrushs return. I get a good hit on the Jet Squelcher, but not the splat, so I withdraw, where the Painbrush tries to splat me from above. I hit them with a Trizooka, but am cornered by their Octobrush brethren.
My squidmates are doing well keeping the Splat Zones orange and the orange team away from them, although circumstances take a turn when I come back. I try to do what I can from my corner, even managing to avoid the Octobrush and turn the splat around on them, only to have the Painbrush appear immediately afterwards. I return to see a Brush above our turf. I wont stand for that, and chase them for a satisfying splat. And were doing well know, with the Splat Zones purple, a good lead, and only the Splatana standing. I see them and help splat them, and stand around waiting for a second splat from a super-jumper. Sadly, its the Painbrush flying in, and a single swipe sends me back to base too. But all is good. The orange team dont have the ink to challenge the Splat Zones, and our strong lead turns in to a knockout victory before I can get close to returning. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Recovering from a bad start in Tower Control [13(7)-4, Custom Wellstring V]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2N7Ck4Hdj2c/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Recovering from a bad start in Tower Control [13(7)-4, Custom Wellstring V]
Sticking to the left seems to work to start, and I scare a bucket in to super-jumping away, but then everything comes down the middle, and Im too close to it all. At least getting splatted puts me safely behind the lines. Or maybe just behind the lines. The Blaster comes close for another shot at me, and somehow I splat them first, but all the while the Tower trundles our way. I try to keep the turf yellow and the blue inklings away, getting a nice splat on the bucket, and as I continue claiming turf my squidmates turn the Tower around. That felt like a pretty rough start, though.
A Point Sensor pings me, and I miss my Bomb Defence gear, but once that drops Im back in the action. A Wave Breaker is accidentally timed to neatly despatch blue Super Chumps, and my squidmates ride the Tower to the first checkpoint. I stick to the back, which lets me catch the Blaster trying to flank us, but I cant do much about either a squidmate who looks a bit blue or the Bamboozler up on the roof. That doesnt seem to matter too much when the Bamboozler shoots at me and not the Tower, and my squidmates ride us in to the lead. Nice!
My next Wave Breaker comes out too late to splat Super Chumps, as I seem to have forgotten it does a great job of that, and even without its Point Sensor hitting them I splat the bucket with a spot of luck. The Tower is returning our way, much like the Blaster hopped up on juice. If that wasnt enough, my cat has just come in and wants some attention. I try to fit in some snuggles as I return, which is helped by my squidmates getting a Wipeout. My cat is happy, and now I can focus again.
Squidmates are on the Tower, moving it forwards, and another is stopping the other team flanking, which I look to help with but it doesnt look like Im needed. I go to support the Tower, throwing a Wave Breaker forwards before hopping on. Blasts of ink come from every direction, but its the bucket that splats me, with a lunge that sends them falling on to a Wave Breaker ripple, enough to splat them. Thatll do. I risk a super-jump back to a crowded Tower, as we are close to the goal, and only survive the landing because I fall off.
I run away, chased by the Bamboozler, who pursues me until a squidmate of mine splats them, which is nice. The Tower trundles back to the centre, but thats okay, weve got a strong lead, its the blue team that need to worry about that. We just hold our turf, looking for splats, which would open up a new opportunity to push. That doesnt quite happen, as the battle continues to rage in the middle of the Market, but my squidmates ride the Tower occasionally to tempt the blue team out of hiding so they can be splatted. It seems to work.
I help out with a lucky splat, but otherwise am content to stick to the middle turf for the moment. As support comes I hop on the Tower, then off again as the Blaster appears, but not quickly enough to avoid them. So it goes. There isnt long left in the battle, and the blue team have a long way to go. We pretty much just need to hold the turf to win. Or my squidmates can ride the Tower forwards and splat the blue team away. That works as well. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Panic-mode activate in Salmon Run [18-23-12, 16/827]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2T4h9lOGIG4/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Panic-mode activate in Salmon Run [18-23-12, 16/827]
Uh-oh. A squidmate was busy for too long and disappears in a puff of dried ink. No problem, right? Three squids can handle a Salmon Run. Probably, if we were more comfortable with the weapons, but none of us use any of them regularly. And theres the added problem of not having as much of a buffer when were splatted, as we find out before half the wave is over, and were down to one inkling standing. We survive that, but were not out of trouble, not with a Stinger around. And definitely not with two. I think about splatting one but a Goldie gets in my way, so I head to the basket, where the lure of eggs is too strong. What am I doing? We need to survive. We survive that moment too, albeit with an Inkstrike, and I run around to aim for the Stingers. Or do I? I get distracted again, this time on a Lid, and again we drop to one squid standing. That squid is me, so its time for another Special, and I shoot a Dolphin towards the basket. That helps a squidmate, and splats me. But Im back up before long, and finally splat a Stinger, after which I just run away for the remaining seconds.
We make it to the second wave, and the fog clears, only for the tide to come in. I get a very slow .96 Gal, but it should be a bit more powerful than the Inkbrush. We get off to a good start, splatting the bosses as they appear, dividing our attentions appropriately, and no one getting splatted until, well, pretty soon, as Im blindsided by a Steel Eel. My revival is quick, and quick enough to help splat a Steelhead that clears a load of turf. The Flyfish are starting to cause real problems, though. I think about splatting one only to be lifted by an appearing Lid. I shouldnt be confused for quite that long, so I get splatting and reviving, and manage to reduce some of the Flyfish pressure. I get a bit stuck as I try to avoid a Steel Eel not even coming for me, and the other Flyfish splat me, and were down to one for the first time in the wave. We made it quite far. A second Inkstrke helps revive us, and with a bit of care we survive this wave too. This wave two.
On to the final wave, the tide easing, a Luna Blaster in my hands. Walls are inked for escape routes, and I sensibly splat a Stinger immediately. Other nearby bosses are splatted, and everything feels calm. I make the mistake of lingering by the eggs, launching them basket-wars, instead of moving on and keeping up the splattings, but I get back in to position before long, splatting a Stinger and recovering a couple of eggs. I keep moving, and think about doing something about the Flyfish missiles Im having to avoid. But I get confused as a Stinger aims at me, and I think its one way when its the other. I splat a Flyfish Bin, but am splatted by the Stinger that is so obviously now behind me. I should splat it, but instead use a Lid to get back on to the ledge. And maybe that was for the best, as my squidmates get splatted. The ledge puts me in a good position for my second Dolphin, and I just about revive one squidmate. Unfortunately, the wave has got away from us, and time runs out, with our delivered eggs nowhere near quota. We just need tahm to come back.")
