Want to get ahead in the world of Splatoon? Put these tips into practice and you’ll be squidding your way to the top of the pile in no time!

Work as a team

Every Inkling out there has his or her own play style, whether it’s defending key areas or pushing forward into enemy territory. But you’re not just out for yourself: a team needs balance to win! If you like to attack, check the Wii U GamePad every so often to see if your teammates are in need of extra firepower, and tap their icon to Super Jump over and splash down in support. If you find yourself with a great opportunity to cover a lot of ground quickly, press up on the +Control Pad to signal to your teammates that it’s open season!

Know your maps

The maps on offer rotate every four hours, and new maps are added regularly, so there’s every chance you’ll be faced with an unfamiliar map. No problem! Enter the Lobby, and press the Y Button to do a little reconnaissance by playing the map on your own – perfect for finding prime vantage points, identifying bottlenecks to defend, and generally learning the lie of the land.

Think vertically

Only ink on the ground counts towards the final results, but as you can swim up inked walls to reach advantageous positions, covering upright surfaces can absolutely turn the tide of battle in your favour. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to ink and climb: the pipes to either side of Saltspray Rig’s lifts can be ascended, and many other maps contain boxes, ramps, walls and other vertical surfaces just waiting to be scaled. And of course, if you spot an opponent swimming up a surface, aim your ink above them to cut off their ascent, leaving them a sitting duck!

Weapon of choice

Each Inkling goes into battle equipped with a weapon set, consisting of a Main, Sub, and Special weapon, with new weapon sets unlocked as you gain more experience and increase your level in online battles. However, there are several unique weapon sets that cannot be unlocked in online play alone. Rumour has it they’re connected to special blueprints that can be won back by defeating giant Octarian weapons in Octo Valley. When you unlock a new weapon, spend a few minutes in the training area putting it through its paces – it could be the perfect fit for your established play style, or open up new strategies and ideas!

Gear up!

Your headgear, clothes and shoes all offer helpful abilities that can help support your play style, whether activating unique abilities or increasing your natural capabilities. Matching these abilities to your equipment is crucial: Ink Saver (Main) reduces the amount of ink your main weapon uses, so pairs well with Roller weapons, or Shooter types with high rates of fire. Wearing the right outfit goes a long way to putting you on the path to victory!