Community Glossary

Unofficial!

This article discusses content that is not part of the official Splatoon series canon but is part of the community or competitive gaming space.

This page is a collection of terms coined or used by the community. While some are mostly popular inside the community only, others are used in other gaming communities, or originated in Splatoon but were made popular throughout the internet as memes.

Buff and Nerf

Buff and nerf, used in competitive speech, refer to any attribute that became stronger or weaker, when compared to a previous version of the same attribute. For instance, the Splattershot Pro was changed to have better ink conservation in patch 2.2.0, meaning it was buffed. When an attribute becomes weaker, it is considered nerfed.

Camping

Camping is a term used in several communities, and refers to when a player stays in the same place over a long period of time, as if they had made a camping site there. Players can do this for a number of reasons. Charger users may camp in one spot, as they are most effective attacking at long range and not so much when moving about, but because this is intended, "camping" is normally used when referring to other scenarios: at times, players will stand next to a incoming Super Jump marker or squid beakon, waiting to get a kill right as the opponent lands. Players can also stay in place near the opposing team's spawn in order to attack them right as they leave safety; this is known as "spawn-camping". Because of Splatoon's mechanics, hiding in ink makes camping more effective.

Carrying

Carrying, used in the context of "carrying the team", is what some players say when they feel like they were the best players of their team, and if it wasn't for their efforts, the team would've gotten a much lower score. This is an analogy to carrying the other members of the team on one's back, while that person does all the work.

Griefing

Griefing is a blanket term for players who negatively impact the game, usually at the expense of another player's progress or enjoyment. This includes, for example, staying at the spawn point all match or not actively participating; or following another player around and squidbagging or spamming signals. Players that are doing this can sometimes encourage other players to do the same, which could eventually lead to the entire room missing out on a fight altogether and start a Squid Party.

Main and Sub

A main is a large ability slot. A sub is a small ability slot. Judd calls the big slot "main ability", but calls small slots "unlockable abilities" and "additional abilities", so there is no official way to refer to them. Players may also call big slots "primaries" and small slots "secondaries", so that there is no confusion with Main Weapons, Sub Weapons, Ink Saver (Main), and Ink Saver (Sub).

Ngyes

Ngyes, usually written in all-caps as "NGYES", is a Splatoon meme. It is one of the celebratory sound effects of the Inkling Boy. The Inkling Girl equivalent is "woomy".

Salt

A player that has salt or is being salty is considered to be exhibiting bad sportsmanship, usually about a perceived unfairness about something, like lag or situations where another player had the advantage in combat. Salt can take the form of anger, whining, or calm but unjustified complaining. This term can be found in some other communities as well.

Short names for Game Modes

Short names for game modes are used by tournaments and by the community for all the modes that are currently in the game:
TW - Turf War
SZ - Splat Zones
TC - Tower Control
RM - Rainmaker.

Splat Tim

Splat Tim 'does it'

Splat Tim is a modified Inkling Boy dressed in the Team Dogs Splatfest Tee. He was first introduced on July 6th, 2015 by Instagram user marble.soda. This meme became so well known that many parody accounts, custom images and even a custom amiibo were made based on him. Many 'family members' of Splat Tim have also been created, including Splat Tina, Splat Tom, Splat Tailor, Cale, Mar and Captian Crunch. The tagline 'He does it!' is often associated with Splat Tim.

Sploon

Sploon is referred to playing Splatoon, a short name that is used sometimes by the community.

Squid Party

A Squid Party is when all – or almost all – players in a room decide to party using taunts, instead of fighting against each other. This usually happens as a chain reaction started by one pacifist player (or a player that intended on griefing). Players in a party generally interact peacefully with the opponents, use a lot of taunts, perform flashy moves, showcase tricky jumps, shots, and glitches, and/or perform actions that players normally wouldn't, such as staying in squid form on dry land.

Taunt

For signals given to other players using the D-Pad, see Signal.

Three Inklings squidbagging.

Taunting is a type of action meant to convey victory or to anger opponents, and usually does not affect gameplay in any way. Players have used game mechanics in ways not originally intended to create various taunts.

Bowing

Bowing refers to a more uncommon taunt that involves Inklings lowering their heads using the button or tilting down on the GamePad with motion controls. This action is used either respectfully or sarcastically, depending on whether it's used on a teammate or an opponent. After a player is splatted, another player that wishes to bow will place a Squid Beakon on the place the player died, as if it were a grave, and then bow their head downwards. This can serve to mock an enemy's death, or to communicate a message of encouragement, companionship, or vengeance to a friendly Inkling.

Squidbagging

Rapidly changing to and from squid and kid forms with the button is known in the community as squidbagging, deriving from the popular first person shooter community term "teabagging". This action is usually performed by a player after they have splatted an opponent, sometimes over the splatted player's spot of death. Because splatted players must briefly watch their killer's actions while waiting to respawn, this taunt is typically used to signal victory and mock the defeated Inkling.

Twirling

Twirling in place, usually with a charger and looking in the air, is an alternative to "squidbagging" and is also a carry over of "teabagging".

Trade and Wipe

A trade is when two players splat each other. A wipe is when all players on a team are splatted.

Woomy

Woomy, usually written in all-caps as "WOOMY!", is a Splatoon meme. It is one of the celebratory sound effects of the Inkling Girl, usually heard in Inkopolis Plaza when talking or when she successfully delivers the rainmaker to its goal. The Inkling Boy equivalent is referred to as "ngyes". It is believed that woomy gained popularity from a 4chan thread in /vg/. The sound effect.