Opening Gambit gives the user Run Speed Up and Swim Speed Up (and in Splatoon 2, Ink Resistance Up) for the first 30 seconds of the battle. In Splatoon 2, that time is extended by 7.5 seconds for each splat and assist the user gets while the ability is still active. In Splatoon 3, the time by which it is extended is 15 seconds instead.
The ability is ideal for reaching objectives before opponents during the start of the match. Because of this, the ability is almost never used in Turf War.
Additionally, Murch or Spyke can replace the primary ability on a piece of headgear with Opening Gambit by using 15 of each of the following ability chunks:
▲ If a player splats or assists in splatting an enemy while this gear ability is in effect, the effect will now be extended by roughly 15.0 seconds instead of roughly 7.5 seconds.
▲ Made it so that the Intensify Action gear ability will also occur when this gear ability is in effect.
The effect is equivalent to 3.0 primary gear abilities.