Splatoon 2 is a frantic multiplayer game that pits two teams of Inklings against each other across competitive and cooperative modes. Whether you enjoy playing Unranked or Competitive Matches, Tower Control or Turf War, there are thousands of possible gear and weapon loadouts to test. Some players enjoy splatting enemies with Chargers, while others prefer to focus on covering the ground with Rollers. What abilities work best for which type of weapon?
Customize your gear with abilities that boost your style of play. Here are some ability suggestions to help elevate your game to the next level.
Ability Information
In Splatoon 2, Inklings can equip three types of gear that add abilities to their loadout. Hats, Clothing, and Shoes are the three primary slots of equipment. Clothing has different brands which also result in different common and uncommon abilities.
Clothing items will feature up to three ability slots. Upon purchase, only one ability slot is initially available. Wear the gear in matches to gain experience. Once you reach a certain level, a new ability is added. The abilities that fill the additional slots are randomized.
Abilities can be stacked — if your gear has the same ability then the effects will combine, and provide an added benefit (though there are diminishing returns the more you stack abilities).
Some abilities are uniquely attached to the specific gear and cannot be rolled as secondaries. Such skills include Tenacity, Comeback, Respawn Punisher, and more.
Here is a handy visual guide of abilities, courtesy of reddit user clearrants:
Weapons Information
Splatoon 2 features a wide variety of usable weapons for players that are classified into different categories. Not only does each weapon type result in different strengths and weaknesses, it can also affect which abilities to seek out to further enhance your play.
Shooters
Shooters are automatic rifle weapons that will continuously shoot ink when firing. The high rate of fire and solid accuracy make them a well-balanced weapon for covering turf and splatting enemies. Best used as a weapon in Turf War games.
Best Weapons:
Tetatek Splattershot
.52 Gal
Berry Splattershot Pro
.96 Gal Deco
Recommended Abilities:
Run Speed Up — Increases movement speed in Inkling form.
Special Charge Up — Increases Special Gauge fill rate.
Special Saver — Reduces special-gauge decrease after getting splatted.
Blasters
Blasters are slow single-shot weapons that fire large gobs of ink that have the ability to explode in mid-air. They are great weapons for dispatching other players. Best used as a weapon in the Tower Control modes.
Best Weapons:
Luna Blaster Neo
Custom Range Blaster
Grim Range Blaster
Rapid Blaster Pro Deco
Recommended Abilities:
Swim Speed Up — Increases movement speed in squid form.
Stealth Jump — Hides your Super Jump landing point from distance players.
Haunt — Once you’ve respawned, reveals the position of players who splatted you.
Chargers
Chargers are powerful, long distance weapons that have a slow-rate of fire and are primarily used for splatting enemies instead of covering turf. Best used in the hands of accurate players who want to dispatch enemies and cover allies as they move in close. Useful in all game modes, but requires a talented player to use efficiently.
Best Weapons:
Bamboozler 14 mk III
Bento Splat Charger
Bento Splatterscope
Custom E-liter 3K Scope
Recommended Abilities:
Ink Saver Main — Decreases the amount of ink consumed by your main weapon.
Respawn Punisher — Increases respawn time and special-gauge spawn penalty for you and any player that splats you.
Quick Respawn — Reduces respawn time after getting splatted repeatedly without splatting any opponents.
Splatlings
Splatlings are heavy machine gun weapons that require a charge before unleashing a steady stream of ink. They are devastating at close range and can be used to cover turf and splat enemies. Requires a talented player to be effective to compensate for its charge up time. Can be used effectively in all game modes.
Best Weapons:
Heavy Splatling Remix
Refurbished Mini Splatling
Heavy Splatling Deco
Zink Mini Splatling
Recommended Abilities:
Ink Recovery Up — Increases ink-tank refill rate.
Run Speed Up — Increases movement speed in Inkling form.
Ink Saver Sub — Decreases the amount of ink consumed by your sub weapons.
Rollers & Brushes
Rollers and Brushes are weapons fine-tuned to spread ink across a wide area. These weapons are non-firearm style and have a unique use, such as spreading ink on the ground via a roller or throwing ink quickly using the paintbrush. These weapons are best utilized in the Turf War game mode.
Best Weapons:
Carbon Roller
Dynamo Roller
Octobrush
Gold Dynamo Roller
Recommended Abilities:
Ink Resistance — Reduces the damage taken and improve mobility when walking through enemy ink.
Ink Recovery — Increases ink-tank refill rate.
Swim Speed Up — Increases movement speed in squid form.
Sloshers
Sloshers are bucket-type weapons that fling large spreads of paint forward. These weapons have decent range and have a relatively high recharge rate. Sloshers are used effectively from high ranges to splat enemies beneath you. This weapon type is effective at close range and is viable both as an offensive weapon and to cover ground. Effective in all game modes.
Best Weapons:
Slosher Deco
Soda Slosher
Sloshing Machine Neo
Tri-Slosher
Best Abilities
Ink Saver Main — Decreases the amount of ink consumed by your main weapon.
Run Speed Up — Increases movement speed in Inkling form.
Cold-Blooded — Decreases active time of opponent Point Sensors and other items that reveal enemy locations.
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