Opening Gambit

Opening Gambit

Applicable gear

  Headgear

Opening Gambit is a gear primary ability in the Splatoon series.

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.

Tactics

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.

Splatoon

Gear

Opening Gambit is the primary ability of:

Headgear with Opening Gambit in Splatoon

	Name	Brand	Availability	Ability	Star power
	B-ball Headband	Zink	300	Opening Gambit
	Special Forces Beret	Forge	9700	Opening Gambit
	SQUID GIRL Hat	The SQUID GIRL	1600	Opening Gambit
	Squid-Stitch Cap	Skalop	8500	Opening Gambit
	Striped Beanie	Splash Mob	1500	Opening Gambit

Mechanics

When active, the ability provides 30 AP each of the following:

• Swim Speed Up
• Run Speed Up

The ability is active when any of the following conditions are met:

• The elapsed time indicated by the timer is 30 seconds or less.

Version history

Version	Adjustments
2.6.0	▲ Run Speed Up and Swim Speed Up will be applied as if 3 main slots were equipped.

Gallery

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Splatoon 2

Gear

Opening Gambit is the primary ability of:

Headgear with Opening Gambit in Splatoon 2

	Name	Brand	Availability	Ability	Star power
	Annaki Mask	Annaki	3600	Opening Gambit
	B-ball Headband	Zink	300	Opening Gambit
	Special Forces Beret	Forge	9700	Opening Gambit
	Squid Clip-Ons	amiibo	Inkling Girl (Splatoon 2)	Opening Gambit
	Squid-Stitch Cap	Skalop	8500	Opening Gambit
	Striped Beanie	Splash Mob	900	Opening Gambit
	Zekko Cap	Zekko	2700	Opening Gambit

Mechanics

When active, the ability provides 30 AP each of the following:

• Swim Speed Up
• Run Speed Up
• Ink Resistance Up

The ability is active when any of the following conditions are met:

• The elapsed time indicated by the timer is 30 seconds or less.
  • When the ability is active, that amount of time is extended by 7.5 seconds for each splat and assist the user gets.

Version history

Version	Adjustments
1.4.0	▲ During its active period, Opening Gambit now also grants the effects of the Ink Resistance Up gear ability.
3.0.0	▲ While active, Opening Gambit's duration will be extended by 7.5 seconds for each opponent splatted by the player or assist they are credited with.

Splatoon 3

Gear

Opening Gambit is the primary ability of:

Headgear with Opening Gambit in Splatoon 3

	Name	Brand	Availability	Ability	Star power
	Annaki Mask	Annaki	3,600	Opening Gambit
	B-ball Headband	Zink	300	Opening Gambit
	Beachcomber	Inkline	9,800	Opening Gambit
	Ocho OctoPhones	Forge	3,000	Opening Gambit
	Retro Framers	Enperry	9,900	Opening Gambit	<!—- --><!—- -->
	Special-Forces Beret	Forge	9,700	Opening Gambit
	Squid Clip-Ons	amiibo	Inkling Girl (Splatoon 2)	Opening Gambit
	Squid-Stitch Cap	Skalop	8,500	Opening Gambit
	Striped Beanie	Splash Mob	900	Opening Gambit

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:

• Run Speed Up
• Swim Speed Up
• Ink Resistance Up

Mechanics

The mechanics in Splatoon 3 have been indicated to be similar to those of Splatoon 2. When active, the ability provides 30 AP each of the following:

• Swim Speed Up
• Run Speed Up
• Ink Resistance Up
• Intensify Action

The ability is active when any of the following conditions are met:

• The elapsed time indicated by the timer is 30 seconds or less.
  • When the ability is active, that amount of time is extended by 15 seconds for each splat and assist the user gets.

Version history

Version	Adjustments
3.1.0	▲ 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.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	スタートダッシュ sutāto dasshu	Start Dash
Dutch	Vliegende start	Flying start
French (NOA)	Départ toute allure	Start with full speed
French (NOE)	Chapeaux de roue	Flying start
German	Startvorteil	Head start
Italian	Partenza a razzo	Rocket launch
Russian	Стартовый спурт Stortovyy spurt	Start spurt
Spanish	Acelerón de salida	Starting speed up
Chinese (Simplified)	最初冲刺 zuìchū chōngcì (Mandarin)	Initial Sprint
Chinese (Traditional)	最初衝刺 zuìchū chōngcì (Mandarin)	Initial Sprint
Korean	스타트 대시 seutateu daesi	Start Dash