Crab Tank

From Inkipedia, the Splatoon wiki
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The Crab Tank is a special weapon in Splatoon 3. It is a piloted assault vehicle that can both rapidly fire ink shots and launch explosive ink blobs.

Appearance

The Crab Tank is a crab-shaped mech that can curl up into a ball. Its outer shell changes color to match the user's ink. It is armed with three turret-like cannons, one on each front limb, and one in the center of its body.

Splatoon 3

Crab Tank

Crab Tank

Category Special
Class
Sub
Special
Special points
Special depletion
Range
Damage
Impact
Fire rate
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability
Handling
Level
Cost
Requirement
Introduced Specifications
Weight
Base damage 32 (Rapid Fire)
30 (Cannon, Splash)
60 (Cannon, Direct Hit)
40 (Rolling)
Base duration 8 seconds
Ink consumption
Base range
Rate of fire
Muzzle velocity
Base accuracy
MPU effect
SPU effect
SPU effect
Other variant

The Crab Tank can walk and strafe like players, or curl up into a ball to move faster and climb up walls, inking the surface as it moves, similar to the Baller. Like a real crab, the tank walks faster side-to-side than it does forwards or backwards. When climbing, the crab tank cannot move left and right, only up and down.

The Crab Tank has 500 HP and has varying damage multipliers against certain weapons:

Weapon Multiplier
Main weapon
Splatanas (charged melee) 0.65x
S3 Weapon Main Bamboozler 14 Mk I.png Bamboozler 14 Mk I 0.8x
Chargers 1.3x
Splatanas (uncharged melee) 1.3x
Brellas (shot) 1.3x
Stringers 1.3x
Brushes (swing) 1.4x
Rollers (swing) 1.4x
S3 Weapon Main Dynamo Roller.png Dynamo Roller (swing) 1.6x
Splatanas (projectiles) 2.6x
S3 Weapon Main Big Swig Roller.png Big Swig Roller (swing) 2.8x
Sub weapon
S3 Weapon Sub Fizzy Bomb.png Fizzy Bomb 1.6x
S3 Weapon Sub Torpedo.png Torpedo (explosion) 2x
Special weapon
S3 Weapon Special Ink Vac.png Ink Vac (shot) 0x
S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank (cannon) 1.5x
S3 Weapon Special Killer Wail 5.1.png Killer Wail 5.1 1.5x
S3 Weapon Special Tenta Missiles.png Tenta Missiles 1.5x
S3 Weapon Special Trizooka.png Trizooka 1.8x
S3 Weapon Special Booyah Bomb.png Booyah Bomb 2x
S3 Weapon Special Wave Breaker.png Wave Breaker (waves) 2x
S3 Weapon Special Inkjet.png Inkjet (direct hit) 2.0835x
S3 Weapon Special Ink Storm.png Ink Storm 2.5x
S3 Weapon Special Inkjet.png Inkjet (exhaust) 2.5x
S3 Weapon Special Ink Vac.png Ink Vac (shot explosion) 2.8x
S3 Weapon Special Ultra Stamp.png Ultra Stamp (thrown hammer, direct hit) 3.273x
S3 Weapon Special Inkjet.png Inkjet (indirect hit) 3.5x
S3 Weapon Special Kraken Royale.png Kraken Royale 4x
S3 Weapon Special Ultra Stamp.png Ultra Stamp (stamp) 4.5x
S3 Weapon Special Ultra Stamp.png Ultra Stamp (thrown hammer, explosion) 6x
S3 Weapon Special Reefslider.png Reefslider 7.28x


In walking mode, the tank has two firing modes: pressing fires a ball of ink in an arc that pierces enemies and explodes on contact similar to the Explosher, while fires a rapid stream of bullets from two turrets, similar to dualies. Continuously shooting with increases the Crab Tank's firing rate drastically; it starts with a fire rate similar to the .52 Gal, but the peak rate of fire is the same as the Hydra Splatling. Interrupting the continuous fire by rolling, using the cannon with , or letting go of will reset the fire rate to its starting point. The back of the tank, where the user sits, is a weak point accessible from above, behind, or the side. This weak point appears to have as much health as a player does, and the player is immediately splatted if the weak point is damaged enough. It is currently unknown whether resistance abilities such as Sub Resistance Up affect the weak point, and if the player retains any damage the weak point sustained once the special ends.

In ball mode, the Crab Tank can move in all directions freely and climb walls, leaving a path of ink behind itself. It can also deal a modest amount of damage to opponents by rolling over them. The tank's weak point is completely protected in ball mode. Although the Crab Tank turns and adjusts its aim very slowly while in walking mode, it faces in the direction of the camera when coming out of ball mode. Switching to ball mode and back to walking mode can allow it to turn more quickly.

The Crab Tank flashes red when its duration is almost up, warning the user the special will run out soon. Once the special ends, the crab tank will disappear and the player can move after a short delay. If the tank itself is destroyed, the player is ejected rather than splatted, and the special ends. Notably, the user will retain any remaining special charge if the tank is destroyed and the special ends prematurely.

This special is one of the nine available specials in Salmon Run Next Wave.

It appears in 4 Return of the Mammalians missions:

Special Power Up

Main article: Special Power Up

Equipping Special Power Up with Crab Tank increases its duration. The following table shows the duration, in number of frames, when stacking Special Power Up.[1]

Abilities Duration
None 480 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 1 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 498 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 2 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 514 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 3 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 530 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 0 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 535 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 4 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 545 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 1 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 550 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 5 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 559 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 2 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 563 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 6 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 572 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 3 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 576 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 0 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 580 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 7 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 584 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 4 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 588 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 1 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 591 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 8 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 595 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 5 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 599 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 2 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 602 Frames
Main: 0, Sub: 9 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 605 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 6 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 609 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 3 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 612 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 0 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 615 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 7 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 618 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 4 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 621 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 1 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 624 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 8 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 626 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 5 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 629 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 2 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 631 Frames
Main: 1, Sub: 9 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 634 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 6 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 636 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 3 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 638 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 7 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 642 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 4 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 644 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 8 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 648 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 5 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 649 Frames
Main: 2, Sub: 9 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 652 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 6 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 654 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 7 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 657 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 8 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 660 Frames
Main: 3, Sub: 9 S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png S3 Ability Special Power Up.png 660 Frames

Version history

Version Adjustments
2.1.0
  • Shortened the duration of the Crab Tank when not using the Special Power Up gear ability from about 9 seconds to about 8 seconds.
  • Increased the extension rate of the duration of the Crab Tank when using the Special Power Up gear ability.
    • As a result of these changes, the duration of the Crab Tank when maximizing use of the Special Power Up gear ability remains the same as before.
  • Fixed an issue where attacks to the rear, like Ink Storm, bounce off when the tank is in walking mode even when directly striking the player.
3.0.0
  • The sound effect when activating is now less audible to teammates.
3.1.0
  • Introduced an interval where players cannot attack for roughly 0.33 seconds after returning to attack mode from mobile mode.
  • Increased the amount of time it takes for players to act again after the special ends.
  • Fixed an issue that allowed Crab Tank users who held down the ZR Button before changing from mobile mode to attack mode to start rapid firing slightly faster than usual.
5.1.0
  • Fixed issues that could occur when the Crab Tank effect ends, such as the player being at a slightly raised position and able to climb terrain at an unintended height or being unable to smoothly use Squid Surge immediately after the end of the effect.
6.0.0
  • Fixed an issue where damage done to targets by the explosion from a Crab Tank's cannon would count as double in the lobby for a special Splatfest.
  • Fixed an issue where, if a player was using the Crab Tank and changed to mobile mode at a specific moment just before a wave ended, the Crab Tank would be treated as though it was still in mobile mode even when the next wave started, leaving an ink trail behind it and causing damage by running over opponents.
6.0.1
  • Fixed an issue that caused shots from the Crab Tank's cannon to do less damage than before when hitting the body of a Steelhead while it's growing a bomb from its head.

Quotes

Leave your foes in a pinch with the scuttling tank's superior inkpower. Press for rapid-fire shots - will fire your cannon. Its back is vulnerable to enemy attacks, but you can shift into mobile mode with to protect yourself.
— In-game description

Sets

Weapons with Crab Tank in Splatoon 3
Main #ID Sub Special Special Points Level Price Class Introduced​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main L-3 Nozzlenose 2D Current.png L-3 Nozzlenose 300 S3 Weapon Sub Curling Bomb Flat.png Curling Bomb S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank 190p 13 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Shooter.png Shooter Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Order Dualie Replicas 2D Current.png Order Dualie Replicas 5015 S3 Weapon Sub Suction Bomb Flat.png Suction Bomb S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank 190p 1 S3 Icon Dualie.png Dualie Version 7.0.0 (Side Order)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Splash-o-matic 2D Current.png Splash-o-matic 20 S3 Weapon Sub Burst Bomb Flat.png Burst Bomb S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank 200p 16 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Shooter.png Shooter Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​
S3 Weapon Main Splat Dualies 2D Current.png Splat Dualies 5010 S3 Weapon Sub Suction Bomb Flat.png Suction Bomb S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank 190p 3 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Dualie.png Dualie Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​
S3 Weapon Main Splatana Stamper Nouveau 2D Current.png Splatana Stamper Nouveau 8001 S3 Weapon Sub Toxic Mist Flat.png Toxic Mist S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank 210p 20 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Splatana.png Splatana Version 6.0.0 (Chill Season 2023)​​​​​​
S3 Weapon Main Splattershot Pro 2D Current.png Splattershot Pro 70 S3 Weapon Sub Angle Shooter Flat.png Angle Shooter S3 Weapon Special Crab Tank.png Crab Tank 180p 9 Sheldon License 1 S3 Icon Shooter.png Shooter Version 1.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2022)​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Badges

Main article: Badge#Special Weapon Wins

Wining a certain number of battles with the Crab Tank will reward the player with special badges that they can use on their Splashtag.

Crab Tank Badges
S3 Badge Crab Tank 30.png 30 wins with Crab Tank
S3 Badge Crab Tank 180.png 180 wins with Crab Tank
S3 Badge Crab Tank 1200.png 1,200 wins with Crab Tank

Gallery

Strategy

For competitive tips about the Crab Tank

Click to view the strategy for Crab Tank. View the strategy page.

Trivia

  • Prior to the Salmon Run Next Wave trailer, the Crab Tank is primarily yellow with sections that change color to match the user's ink instead of the whole tank matching the user's ink.
  • The outside cannons resemble a style of juctioned exhaust headers mainly used in speedboat engines.
  • The Crab Tank's multiple legs, ability to turn into a ball, and twin machine guns make it similar to the Wrecking Ball mech from the game Overwatch.
  • If a Crab Tank user is tagged (by a Point Sensor for example), and rolls, their position tag will roll with Crab Tank.
  • In Salmon Run the attack acts as a bomb, allowing players to take down Flyfish and Mudmouths easily.
  • The Crab Tank was not added to any post-released main weapon until the Splatana Stamper Nouveau in Chill Season 2023.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese カニタンク
Kani tanku
Crab Tank
Netherlands Dutch Krabbentank Crab Tank
CanadaFrance French Crabe d'assaut[note 1] Assault Crab
Germany German Krabbenpanzer Crab tank[note 2]
Italy Italian Granchio armato Armed Crab
Russia Russian Кработанк
Krabotank
Crab Tank
SpainMexico Spanish Cangrejobot From cangrejo (crab) and robot.
China Chinese 螃蟹坦克
Pángxiè tǎnkè (Mandarin)
Crab Tank
South Korea Korean 크랩 탱크
Keuraep taengkeu
Crab Tank
Translate logo.svg Internal SpChariot[2] Sp for special weapon. "Chariot" likely comes from 戦車 sensha, which can mean either "(military) tank" or "chariot" depending on context.

Translation notes

  1. A pun with "Char d'assaut" (means 'tank')
  2. "Krabbenpanzer" can also mean "crab shell."

See also