Emotes are animations performed by the player character when winning a battle or clearing a Salmon Run shift in Splatoon 3. Most of them are obtained through the catalog at Hotlantis. Emotes from previous seasons can be obtained at the Shell-Out Machine.
The player starts with the emote Flip Out. It changes depending on the current weapon type the player is holding, making up a total of eleven variations.
With the weapon resting on the ground, the player jumps over it and kicks it up, swapping hands to rest it over their shoulder while slightly crouched.
The player turns backwards, pumps the weapon into the air once, and holds it pointing upwards while giving a thumbs-up with their left hand, turning to look behind as they do.
The player backflips and shoots the weapons right then left in midair. They then land, crouching and spinning the weapons with their fingers.
The player picks up the weapon's base while folded, swings it with force in the style of a golf club, then throws it into the air and rests their hands on it when it lands.
Jumping into the air, the player shoots the weapon downwards three times, then lands kneeling and pulls its string back while aiming into the distance.
The player excitedly jumps and slams the weapon into the ground point-first, then lands and leans against it with their arms and legs folded.
Regular gameplay
These emotes can be unlocked in-game anytime under certain conditions.
Card Shark
Icon
Animation
From a crouching start, the player quickly rears back and, with a serious expression, holds up the middle three fingers of each hand - their right hand close to their body and pointed up, and their left hand outstretched and pointed down.
Catalogs change with each season and feature emotes the player can unlock as rewards for leveling it up and speaking to Harmony afterwards.
Drizzle Season 2022
Drizzle Season 2022 is the first season in Splatoon 3 and features six emotes.
The Lowdown
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Animation
The player spins on the spot clockwise once and crouches, resting their left hand over their mouth and looking away.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 3 Shell-Out Machine
No Chill
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Animation
The player wipes their brow with their right hand, resting it on their hip, then fans themselves repeatedly with their left hand, looking around nonchalantly.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 15 Shell-Out Machine
Stuntin'
Icon
Animation
The player crosses their arms in an X shape in front of them, points forwards with their right hand while winking, jumps and spins clockwise in the air, then lands and crouches, resting their left arm on their leg.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 35 Shell-Out Machine
Breakin'
Icon
Animation
The player breakdances rapidly, spinning first upright, then on their head, coming to a quick stop and resting their right hand on their chin.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 51 Shell-Out Machine
Victory Strut
Icon
Animation
The player steps in place four times, flapping their elbows as they do, then punches the air with their right arm while winking.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 76 Shell-Out Machine
Double-Cross Dab
Icon
Animation
Skipping side to side, the player crosses their arms in front of them twice, rapidly spins clockwise on the spot twice, and comes to a halt by dabbing into their left arm.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 98 Shell-Out Machine
Chill Season 2022
Chill Season 2022 is the second season in Splatoon 3 also featuring six emotes.
You're Welcome
Icon
Animation
The player bows three times. First they wave with their left arm and bow theatrically, crossing their right leg behind the other while extending their right arm behind them; they then wave with their right arm and perform a more modest bow. Finally, they bow while facing straight ahead, extending both arms.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 10 Shell-Out Machine
All Chill
Icon
Animation
The player shivers and rubs their arms, glancing from side to side, before coming to a rest with their left hand on their right forearm.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 24 Shell-Out Machine
Wave 'Em Off
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Animation
The player waves broadly at the screen with both hands.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 35 Shell-Out Machine
Who's Next?
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Animation
The player sits down with their legs crossed, and begins drumming their fingers with their hands steepled.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 60 Shell-Out Machine
Robo Steppin'
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Animation
The player does the robot, ending the dance by striking a pose with their hands.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 73 Shell-Out Machine
Your Move
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Animation
The player does a quick breakdance, spinning around several times in a crouching position, then performs a one-handed handstand on their left hand while touching their feet to their right hand. They leap back to a standing pose and fold their arms, glancing back at the screen.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 83 Shell-Out Machine
Fresh Season 2023
Fresh Season 2023 is the third and ongoing season. It is the first to feature one emote with animations for weapon classes, with exception of Flip Out.
The player gleefully swings their weapon from side to side, hoists it over their right shoulder, and puts their hand on their hip.
The player makes a spinning jump, holds their Charger in the air, then grabs it with their left hand and begins angling it from side to side while glancing around.
The player pumps their left fist twice. They throw their Slosher in the air, catch it, toss it again, balance it on their right index finger, and begin spinning it around.
The player dances in a circle, twirls their Splatling into the air, catches it, and hugs it to their chest with a large smile.
As these classes have been introduced to the series after Splatoon, the player uses the Flip Out emote instead.
MVPleased
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Animation
N/A
The player jumps around playfully twice, shaking their arm(s) on each jump, then comes to a stance point with their hands expressing the peace gesture in front of their face.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 24
Later, Undulator
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Animation
N/A
The player wiggles their body 3 times facing left of the screen, then quickly comes to a stop with their legs spread apart, with one hand over their head.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 35
Backflip Atcha
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Animation
N/A
The player performs a backflip, then spins around facing their back towards the screen, then quickly glancing back at the screen.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 60
Rootin' Tootin'
Icon
Animation
N/A
The player jumps around twice throwing their hands up with their fingers pointed up, spins around to the right, makes a stance, then throws down three fingers pointed down with the other hand behind their back.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 73
Twirl Power
Icon
Animation
N/A
The player spins left , another spin right, comes to a stopping point, then puts their hand on their mouth, leaning left with their hand reaching for the screen.
Unlock
Catalog Lv. 83
Splatfest
There are two special emotes performed under certain conditions during a Splatfest. The first emote, named Win TriCol, is performed after a Tricolor Turf War, when the attacking team wins: the winners who covered the most turf perform their chosen emote, while the other attacking team nods with crossed arms.
The second emote is performed when a team wins a 100x or 333x Battle. The animation starts with the players doing a little dance before pointing a finger up in the air (at which point the tip of it shines briefly); the whole team then looks at each other, and it ends with every member striking a different pose.
An Octoling doing the Lowdown emote after winning a battle.
The first teaser for emotes in Splatoon 3 celebrating the start of 2022 with the Flip Out (Brush) emote (link to file)
Celebration of the start of 2023 using upcoming emotes (link to file)
Trivia
Flip Out and Reppin' Inkopolis are the only emotes so far that feature the player's weapon and varies based on its class.
The animations for the Reppin' Inkopolis emote are directly based on the female Inkling's victory poses from Splatoon, with some elements from the male's. They appear to have been completely remade, as opposed to imported from Splatoon.
Some emote animations sync with others when executed. One notable group of emotes with this trait are the Victory Strut and the Double-Cross Dab emotes, as their ending stances are shown at the same time.
One of the animations for Inklings and Octolings in Splatsville Square is very similar to the No Chill emote. The biggest difference is in the square, they open their mouth in a sigh, while in the No Chill emote their mouth is closed throughout.
Using supported Splatoon seriesamiibo, players can perform The Lowdown, No Chill, Victory Strut, Double-Cross Dab, Card Shark, and, as of Version 2.0.0, the Wave 'Em Off emotes by using the "Pose" selection when taking a picture with the amiibo, allowing the player to perform select emotes from previous seasons regardless of whether it is owned.