Kraken Royale

The ​Kraken Royale is a special weapon in Splatoon 3, added in Fresh Season 2023 (Version 3.0.0). Compared to its counterpart in Splatoon, it takes two hits to splat enemies, as opposed to one in the first game. It also received a new charge attack to which its one-hit splat properties have been transferred.

Appearance
The Kraken Royale transforms the user into a huge squid or octopus. Its tentacles are longer and its head is larger. Its body is slightly darker than the user's ink color, with lighter patterns at the end of its tentacles and head. Unlike its Splatoon counterpart, Octolings can use the special as well, transforming them into the octopus equivalent, which also has longer tentacles and a much bigger head.

Splatoon 3
The Kraken Royale is very similar to its predecessor. While active, the user constantly remains in squid form, can swim on top of enemy ink unobstructed, and inks ground by moving over it, although they cannot submerge in ink. By jumping, the user performs a spinning attack that can splat a foe in two hits. The Kraken Royale is also invincible to enemy fire, although it can be knocked back.

A new ability of the Kraken Royale is a charge attack, similar to a horizontal Squid Surge. After holding for a brief period, the user can move forward at a greatly improved speed, inking the ground and instantly splatting any foe in the way (similar to a Reefslider without the explosion). This ability also helps greatly reduce knockback.

Notably, the Kraken Royale leaves the player briefly vulnerable before and after transforming, far more so than its predecessor.

Badges
Winning a certain number of battles with the Kraken Royale will reward the player with special badges that they can use on their Splashtag.

Strategy
For competitive tips about the Kraken Royale,

Trivia

 * Unlike its predecessor in Splatoon, Kraken Royale is unaffected by gear abilities and can not Super Jump.
 * The Kraken Royale is the only Special that can be seen from the battle results screen.
 * Both of the first two Kraken Royale weapons were weapons whose Splatoon 1 counterpart had Kraken and their corresponding sub weapon.