Mobility

Weight is a game mechanic that matches the mobility stats of Inklings and Octolings with roughly how heavy their equipped weapon may be.

Weight classes are categories that main weapons belong to based on their weight.

Splatoon
The mechanic was not used extensively in Splatoon. At first, it was only applied to the Rainmaker, which reduces swim speed by 20% and reduces run speed by 60%. The mechanic was first applied to main weapons in Version of Splatoon.

In addition to stacking with the speed modifiers Swim Speed Up, Run Speed Up, Ninja Squid, and Disruptors, the weapon weight speed penalties listed here also stack with each other. For example, an E-liter player that picks up the Rainmaker will move slower than a Splattershot player that picks up the Rainmaker.


 * Notably, the weapons under the heavyweight class have large metallic designs.

Splatoon 2
The weight mechanic was expanded in Splatoon 2 to affect run speed based on the main weapon equipped in addition to affecting swim speed. A new lightweight class was added to allow increases in mobility. Weapon weight movement speed modifiers do not stack with each other, so if a player picks up the Rainmaker, their main weapon's movement speed modifier will be replaced with the Rainmaker's movement speed penalty. The speed modifier still stacks with Swim Speed Up, Run Speed Up, Ninja Squid, and Toxic Mist.

Special weapons
In Version of, weight specifications for the Baller were added regarding the equipped main weapon.


 * When a lightweight weapon is equipped (the Aerospray RG, Luna Blaster, Inkbrush Nouveau, and Undercover Sorella Brella), the Baller has increased acceleration on the ground to allow the player to move more quickly.
 * When a heavyweight weapon is equipped (the Custom Explosher), the maximum speed of the Baller is reduced by roughly 14%.