Ink Saver (Sub)

Ink Saver (Sub)

Applicable Gear	Any
Favored By	Firefin
Unfavored By	Forge

Ink Saver (Sub) is an ability in Splatoon and Splatoon 2. Firefin gear has a 5× chance of rolling this ability, while Forge gear has a 1/2× chance. The chance of rolling this ability can be increased by purchasing Sub-Saver Berry from the Crust Bucket.

Ink Saver (Sub) decreases the ink usage of sub weapons. In Splatoon 2, the revised ink usage of the sub weapon is indicated by the red arrow icon on the ink-tank.

Splatoon

Ink Saver (Sub) decreases the ink usage of each sub weapon by up to 35%.

Gear

Ink Saver (Sub) is the main ability of:

Headgear with Ink Saver (Sub) in Splatoon

Name	Brand	Availability	Ability
Designer Headphones	Forge	2,500	Ink Saver (Sub)
Jogging Headband	Zekko	400	Ink Saver (Sub)
Paisley Bandana	Krak-On	750	Ink Saver (Sub)
Streetstyle Cap	Skalop	600	Ink Saver (Sub)

Clothing with Ink Saver (Sub) in Splatoon

Name	Brand	Availability	Ability
B-ball Jersey (Away)	Zink	800	Ink Saver (Sub)
Blue Peaks Tee	Inkline	400	Ink Saver (Sub)
Choco Layered LS	Takoroka	1,800	Ink Saver (Sub)
Octoling Armor	Cuttlegear	Octo Valley	Ink Saver (Sub)
Pearl Tee	Skalop	400	Ink Saver (Sub)
Round-Collar Shirt	Rockenberg	600	Ink Saver (Sub)
White Tee	SquidForce	400	Ink Saver (Sub)

Shoes with Ink Saver (Sub) in Splatoon

Name	Brand	Availability	Ability
Blueberry Casuals	Krak-On	700	Ink Saver (Sub)
LE Lo-Tops	Zekko	8,000	Ink Saver (Sub)
School Shoes	amiibo	Inkling Girl	Ink Saver (Sub)
Strapping Whites	Splash Mob	8,700	Ink Saver (Sub)

Stacking

The following table shows the percent decrease in ink consumed by sub weapons with every possible amount of Ink Saver (Sub).

Abilities				Change
None				0%
Main: 0, Sub: 1				3.4%
Main: 0, Sub: 2				6.6%
Main: 0, Sub: 3				9.6%
Main: 1, Sub: 0				10.6%
Main: 0, Sub: 4				12.5%
Main: 1, Sub: 1				13.4%
Main: 0, Sub: 5				15.2%
Main: 1, Sub: 2				16.1%
Main: 0, Sub: 6				17.7%
Main: 1, Sub: 3				18.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 0				19.3%
Main: 0, Sub: 7				20.1%
Main: 1, Sub: 4				20.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 1				21.6%
Main: 0, Sub: 8				22.3%
Main: 1, Sub: 5				23.0%
Main: 2, Sub: 2				23.6%
Main: 0, Sub: 9				24.3%
Main: 1, Sub: 6				24.9%
Main: 2, Sub: 3				25.5%
Main: 3, Sub: 0				26.1%
Main: 1, Sub: 7				26.7%
Main: 2, Sub: 4				27.3%
Main: 3, Sub: 1				27.8%
Main: 1, Sub: 8				28.3%
Main: 2, Sub: 5				28.8%
Main: 3, Sub: 2				29.3%
Main: 1, Sub: 9				29.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 6				30.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 3				30.7%
Main: 2, Sub: 7				31.5%
Main: 3, Sub: 4				31.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 8				32.5%
Main: 3, Sub: 5				32.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 9				33.4%
Main: 3, Sub: 6				33.7%
Main: 3, Sub: 7				34.3%
Main: 3, Sub: 8				34.8%
Main: 3, Sub: 9				35.0%

Graph showing ink consumed by sub weapons when stacking Ink Saver (Sub).

Version history

Version	Adjustments
2.6.0	▲ Increased the maximum possible ink saved: 25% → 35%

Trivia

Prior to version 2.6.0, players could only throw a single Splat Bomb, Suction Bomb or Sprinkler, no matter how much Ink Saver (Sub) was stacked. Latter to 2.6.0, it is possible to throw 2 bombs by stacking 3 mains and 2 subs of Ink Saver Sub.
Prior to version 2.7.0 it was possible to throw out not only 4 Burst Bombs, but also 5 or 6, depending on how much Ink Saver Sub was stacked. Latter to 2.7.0, it will not be possible to throw out more than 3 Burst Bombs without having to refill.

Splatoon 2

Ink Saver (Sub) was tweaked in Splatoon 2 to have a different strength for certain sub weapons. The ability's multiple strength types are detailed in the following table. Thresholds for throwing an extra sub weapon without having to refill the ink tank are also shown.

Ink Saver (Sub) in *Splatoon 2*
Type	Max effect	Weapons	Threshold for an extra use
Type	Max effect	Weapons	Main	Sub	AP
A	20%	Burst Bomb	3	2	36
B	30%	Autobomb	0	4	12
		Fizzy Bomb	0	7	21
		Point Sensor	3	3	39
		Toxic Mist	0	7	21
C	35%	Curling Bomb	2	5	35
		Splash Wall	0	6	18
		Splat Bomb	2	5	35
		Suction Bomb	2	5	35
		Torpedo	2	2	26
D	40%	Ink Mine	0	5	15
		Sprinkler	0	5	15
		Squid Beakon	3	2	36

Gear

Ink Saver (Sub) is the main ability of:

Headgear with Ink Saver (Sub) in Splatoon 2

Name	Brand	Availability	Ability
Designer Headphones	Forge	2,500	Ink Saver (Sub)
Jellyvader Cap	Skalop	10,000	Ink Saver (Sub)
Jogging Headband	Zekko	400	Ink Saver (Sub)
King Facemask	Enperry	500	Ink Saver (Sub)
Li'l Devil Horns	SquidForce	Nintendo Switch News	Ink Saver (Sub)
Paisley Bandana	Krak-On	750	Ink Saver (Sub)
Sennyu Bon Bon Beanie	Splash Mob	CoroCoro Comic	Ink Saver (Sub)
Snorkel Mask	Forge	3,000	Ink Saver (Sub)
Streetstyle Cap	Skalop	600	Ink Saver (Sub)

Clothing with Ink Saver (Sub) in Splatoon 2

Name	Brand	Availability	Ability
B-ball Jersey (Away)	Zink	800	Ink Saver (Sub)
Blue Peaks Tee	Inkline	400	Ink Saver (Sub)
Choco Layered LS	Takoroka	1,400	Ink Saver (Sub)
Fresh Octo Tee	Cuttlegear	Octo Expansion	Ink Saver (Sub)
Green Cardigan	Splash Mob	1,700	Ink Saver (Sub)
Half-Sleeve Sweater	Toni Kensa	4,100	Ink Saver (Sub)
Missus Shrug Tee	Krak-On	9,200	Ink Saver (Sub)
Moist Ghillie Suit	Forge	8,500	Ink Saver (Sub)
Pearl Tee	Skalop	400	Ink Saver (Sub)
Round-Collar Shirt	Rockenberg	1,600	Ink Saver (Sub)
Steel Platemail	amiibo	Octoling Boy	Ink Saver (Sub)
Varsity Jacket	Zekko	11,500	Ink Saver (Sub)
White Tee	SquidForce	400	Ink Saver (Sub)

Shoes with Ink Saver (Sub) in Splatoon 2

Name	Brand	Availability	Ability
Blueberry Casuals	Krak-On	700	Ink Saver (Sub)
Deepsea Leather Boots	Rockenberg	12,000	Ink Saver (Sub)
Hero Snowboots Replicas	Cuttlegear	Octo Canyon	Ink Saver (Sub)
Honey & Orange Squidkid V	Enperry	5,800	Ink Saver (Sub)
LE Lo-Tops	Zekko	8,000	Ink Saver (Sub)
Musselforge Flip-Flops	Inkline	280	Ink Saver (Sub)
Orca Woven Hi-Tops	Takoroka	3,600	Ink Saver (Sub)
Red Iromaki 750s	Tentatek	1,050	Ink Saver (Sub)
School Shoes	amiibo	Inkling Girl	Ink Saver (Sub)
Sea Slug Volt 95s	Tentatek	3,260	Ink Saver (Sub)
Strapping Whites	Splash Mob	8,700	Ink Saver (Sub)

Stacking

The following table shows the percent decrease in ink consumed by sub weapons with every possible amount of Ink Saver (Sub). There is a column for each of the ability's strength tiers.^[1]

Abilities	A	B	C	D
None	0%	0%	0%	0%
Main: 0, Sub: 1	1.9%	2.9%	3.4%	3.9%
Main: 0, Sub: 2	3.8%	5.6%	6.6%	7.5%
Main: 0, Sub: 3	5.5%	8.3%	9.6%	11%
Main: 1, Sub: 0	6.1%	9.1%	10.6%	12.1%
Main: 0, Sub: 4	7.1%	10.7%	12.5%	14.3%
Main: 1, Sub: 1	7.7%	11.5%	13.4%	15.3%
Main: 0, Sub: 5	8.7%	13%	15.2%	17.4%
Main: 1, Sub: 2	9.2%	13.8%	16.1%	18.4%
Main: 0, Sub: 6	10.1%	15.2%	17.7%	20.3%
Main: 1, Sub: 3	10.6%	15.9%	18.5%	21.1%
Main: 2, Sub: 0	11%	16.6%	19.3%	22.1%
Main: 0, Sub: 7	11.5%	17.2%	20.1%	23%
Main: 1, Sub: 4	11.9%	17.9%	20.8%	23.8%
Main: 2, Sub: 1	12.3%	18.5%	21.6%	24.7%
Main: 0, Sub: 8	12.7%	19.1%	22.3%	25.5%
Main: 1, Sub: 5	13.1%	19.7%	23%	26.3%
Main: 2, Sub: 2	13.5%	20.3%	23.6%	27%
Main: 0, Sub: 9	13.9%	20.8%	24.3%	27.8%
Main: 1, Sub: 6	14.2%	21.4%	24.9%	28.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 3	14.6%	21.9%	25.5%	29.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 0	14.9%	22.4%	26.1%	29.9%
Main: 1, Sub: 7	15.3%	22.9%	26.7%	30.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 4	15.6%	23.4%	27.3%	31.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 1	15.9%	23.8%	27.8%	31.8%
Main: 1, Sub: 8	16.2%	24.3%	28.3%	32.4%
Main: 2, Sub: 5	16.5%	24.7%	28.8%	33%
Main: 3, Sub: 2	16.8%	25.1%	29.3%	33.5%
Main: 1, Sub: 9	17%	25.5%	29.8%	34.1%
Main: 2, Sub: 6	17.3%	25.9%	30.2%	34.6%
Main: 3, Sub: 3	17.5%	26.3%	30.7%	35.1%
Main: 2, Sub: 7	18%	27%	31.5%	36%
Main: 3, Sub: 4	18.2%	27.3%	31.8%	36.4%
Main: 2, Sub: 8	18.6%	27.9%	32.5%	37.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 5	18.8%	28.1%	32.8%	37.5%
Main: 2, Sub: 9	19.1%	28.6%	33.4%	38.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 6	19.2%	28.9%	33.7%	38.5%
Main: 3, Sub: 7	19.6%	29.4%	34.3%	39.2%
Main: 3, Sub: 8	19.9%	29.8%	34.8%	39.8%
Main: 3, Sub: 9	20%	30%	35%	40%

Graph showing ink consumed by sub weapons when stacking Ink Saver (Sub).

Version history

Version	Adjustments
Base game	▼ Decreased the maximum possible ink saved for Burst Bombs: 35% → 30%
2.0.0	▼ Decreased the maximum possible ink saved for Burst Bombs: 30% → 20% ▼ Decreased the maximum possible ink saved for Toxic Mist: 35% → 30%
4.3.0	▲ Increased the effect of the Ink Saver (Sub) gear ability for: Ink Mine Point Sensor Sprinkler Squid Beakon
4.5.0	▼ Decreased the effect of the Ink Saver (Sub) gear ability for Point Sensor by roughly 8%.

Gallery

The revised ink usage of the sub weapon is indicated by the red arrow icon on the ink-tank.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	インク効率アップ（サブ） Inku Kōritsu Appu (Sabu)	Ink Efficiency Up (Sub)
Dutch	Subspaarder	Sub saver
French	Encrémenteur (sec.)	Ink saver (sub) (sec. is an abbriviation of seconde (second))
German	Sekundärverbrauch	Secondary consumption
Italian	Eco-colore second. (Splatoon 2) Eco-colore secondario (Splatoon)	Roughly means "Secondary Ink Saver" (second. is an abbreviation of secondario (secondary))
Russian	Запасной баллон X Zapasnoy ballon X	Spare tank X
Spanish (NOA)	Ahorro tinta (sec.)	Ink saving (sub) (sec. is an abbreviation of secundario (secondary))
Spanish (NOE)	Tintahorro (sec.)	Ink save (sub) (sec. is an abbreviation of secundario (secondary))