Competitive:Kensa Splattershot Jr.

The Kensa Splattershot Jr. is a main weapon in Splatoon 2, released on 2018-11-07 at July 27, 2024. It is a Toni Kensa-branded variant of the Splattershot Jr.

Splatoon 2
The Kensa Splattershot Jr. comes equipped with Torpedoes and Bubble Blower. It is also provided with a larger ink tank with 10% more capacity – as are its variants, the Splattershot Jr. and the Custom Splattershot Jr. – making it even more ink efficient.

Quick facts
A.k.a.: Junior, K-Junior

Role: Support

Strengths: Turfing, Torpedo spamming, can use Bubble Blower offensively (with Torpedoes)

Weakness: Weak in most one-on-one encounters without the Torpedo-Bubble Blower combination, dependent on abilities

Use

 * The Kensa Splattershot Jr. has a wide shot spread, enabling it to turf large areas in a short amount of time, which provides two benefits:
 * Turfing allows the team to either gain or maintain map control. This also allows the Kensa Splattershot Jr. to quickly capture zones in Splat Zones.
 * It also builds up Bubble Blower quickly, allowing the user to either use the Torpedo-Bubble Blower combination (see below) more frequently or help mount a push at a moment's notice. Special Charge Up can further hasten the process of building the Special gauge.
 * The main tradeoff of the wide shot spread is the resulting poor accuracy, which, along with the short range, makes the Kensa Splattershot Jr. a poor main weapon for directly engaging most opponents.
 * It is still capable of quickly splatting opponents, provided that its user can catch an opponent by surprise and within its short range. However, playing too aggressively risks depriving the user's team both map control and Bubble Blower, so be judicious about when to either flank or shark.
 * Otherwise, if a certain matchup is disadvantageous, disengage - by either dropping or throwing a Torpedo behind whenever possible - and bring a teammate along. Quick Super Jump can help escape more quickly.
 * The most reliable way a Kensa Splattershot Jr. player can engage an opponent is through constant and coordinated use of Torpedoes:
 * When attacking an opponent's position, try to throw Torpedoes in a direction that distracts the opponent from firing at a teammate.
 * Torpedoes are also useful for poking at opponents during the neutral phase.
 * When rolled on the floor or against a wall like a Splat Bomb, a Torpedo will remain in its first stage and explode in a similar fashion. While less powerful than a Splat Bomb, a rolled Torpedo is still good at either stalling an opponent's push or providing cover while fleeing.
 * While only one Torpedo may be used at a time, Ink Saver (Sub) can still conserve ink for each use of Torpedo, allowing more frequent use of them. 16 ability points – one main and two subs – combined with the larger ink tank unique to the Kensa Splattershot Jr., enable its user to throw two consecutive Torpedoes without having to refill.
 * Using any special weapon also provides a free ink tank refill. This is most taken advantage of during the Torpedo-Bubble Blower combination.
 * The Kensa Splattershot Jr. is a great complement to a slayer, particularly one whose weapon has trouble turfing, such as a Splattershot Pro or a blaster.
 * Turfing while following a teammate builds up Bubble Blower and provides friendly turf to which a teammate can retreat whenever needed.
 * Cooperate with the teammate using primarily Torpedoes when engaging an opponent: attack from different angles, or force the opponent to come within range of the teammate's weapon.
 * Bubbles launched from the Bubble Blower can turf surfaces and splat opponents when popped, but they are even better at providing protection:
 * Create some distance from the opponents before activating Bubble Blower, as a Bubble Blower user is vulnerable at close range.
 * When Bubble Blower is active, the main weapon cannot be used, but Torpedoes can still be launched.
 * Blowing bubbles in front of a push (e.g. Tower, Rainmaker, or Power Clam) can protect its user and any teammates from incoming opposing fire. However, just like with a Splash Wall, any bombs that hit a bubble will instantly explode, so remain behind any bubbles to avoid getting splatted by opponents' bombs.
 * Bubbles will grow when hit with friendly ink and shrink when hit by opposing ink. Equipping Special Power Up will produce larger bubbles from the start.
 * Object Shredder increases damage dealt to bubbles – both friendly and opposing – by 30%, allowing for quicker growing and popping of bubbles.
 * A Kensa Splattershot Jr. user with Object Shredder and Special Power Up can combine Torpedoes and Bubble Blower to push into any key areas of the stage :
 * Throw a Torpedo toward an opponent who is neither too far nor too high above. The Torpedo has to lock on to an opponent and change into its second stage, which will cause it to briefly float in midair. Torpedoes that remain in their first stage are not damaging enough to perform this tactic.
 * Quickly activate Bubble Blower and launch a bubble toward the floating second-stage Torpedo, which will detonate and burst the bubble, splatting any nearby opponents. This might require moving towards the Torpedo before launching the bubble.
 * Repeat by launching another Torpedo towards an opponent before releasing another bubble, or use any remaining bubbles for other purposes.

Countermeasures

 * Because the Kensa Splattershot Jr. is generally a poor main weapon for splatting, almost any weapon with longer range, better accuracy, or higher damage can defeat it in a one-on-one with relative ease. However, watch out for the Kensa Splattershot Jr.'s Torpedoes, and keep an eye on the HUD to know when the opponent's Bubble Blower is ready to use to avoid getting caught in the Torpedo-Bubble Blower combination.
 * A Kensa Splattershot Jr. will most likely assist a teammate armed with a more formidable weapon; that opponent is usually the higher priority. Trying to engage against both is usually a poor idea, so either find a teammate to assist or try to separate the two opponents from one another using certain sub or special weapons.
 * There are a few ways to deal with an opposing Kensa Splattershot Jr.'s Bubble Blower and the bubbles it produces:
 * Picking off an opponent using Bubble Blower too close will stop the production of bubbles outright.
 * Bombs are not only usually the most efficient way to defuse opposing bubbles, but they can also splat any opponents caught in their blasts. However, the Kensa Splattershot Jr.'s own Torpedoes can also explode upon contact with the bubbles while growing them, so keep a safe distance from them.
 * Splashdown is usually the quickest means to destroy an opponent's bubbles. However, remember that an opposing Kensa Splattershot Jr. with Object Shredder can pop them very quickly with Splat bombs, so getting caught in their explosion is very likely. The Baller's explosion can be a safer alternative.
 * If activated early enough, Ink Storm can quickly defuse any opponent's bubbles that travel underneath the cloud.