Splattershot Jr.

For other types of Splattershot Jr., see Splattershot Jr. (disambiguation).

The Splattershot Jr. is a main weapon in Splatoon and Splatoon 2, coming from the weapon brand Splat. It is the first weapon used by all players, given at the start of the in-game tutorial.

As the beginner weapon, the Splattershot Jr. appropriately has a quick firing rate, a high ink efficiency, and high shot spread, which enables its user to quickly ink large territories. Its loadout always includes both an offensive option and a strong defensive option. Since Version 3.2.0 of Splatoon 2, it is also the first weapon to feature a unique ink tank.

Splatoon

Splattershot Jr.

Category	Main
Class	Shooter
Sub	Splat Bomb
Special	Bubbler
Level	1
Cost
Availability
Base damage	28
Base duration
Ink consumption	0.5%
Special points
Special depletion	60%
Range	32 / 100
Damage	27 / 100
Impact
Fire rate	75 / 100
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability
Handling
Other variant	Custom Splattershot Jr.

The Splattershot Jr. comes in a set with Splat Bombs and the Bubbler.

Data

The Splattershot Jr. is a middleweight weapon.
The ink consumption of 0.5% allows players to fire 200 shots before needing to refill the ink supply.
When initially firing the weapon in humanoid form, the first shot takes 3 frames to come out.
- When firing from squid or octopus form, the first shot takes 8 frames to come out.
When firing continuously, it has a fire rate of 5 frames between shots (12 shots per second).
When firing while moving, the player's movement speed is set to 0.72 units per frame.
After firing, there is a 20 frame cooldown before the ink tank starts refilling.
If a shot is in the air for more than 8 frames after being fired, it loses 0.88 damage per frame until it reaches 14 damage at frame 24.
Shots have a radius of 2 units.
The angle its shots can deviate while on the ground is 12 degrees.
The angle its shots can deviate while in the air is 18 degrees.
The Splattershot Jr. has a 40% chance to shoot towards the outer reticle instead of the inner reticle.
Shots initially travel at a rate of 22 units per frame for 3 frames, having an effective range of 66 units.
Ink droplets occur every 80 units.
The frequency at which ink drips from a shot occurs at a rate of 1.5 droplets per shot.
There are a total of 7 different droplet patterns that can be created while firing this weapon.

Version history

Version	Adjustments
2.7.0	▼ Special gauge loss: 50% → up to 60%

Quotes

“

Everyone's got to start somewhere. Good rate of fire and efficient ink use to boot. Not the most accurate of weapons, but it sprays ink so wildly you're bound to hit something!

”

— In-Game Description

“

This here is the Splattershot Jr. It’s the first weapon new arrivals to Inkopolis get their hands on when getting their feet wet in Turf War. While not the greatest in terms of range or power, this bad boy has excellent rate of fire and solid ink efficiency. As the "Jr." indicates, it’s a well-rounded weapon that’s just perfect for noobs.

”

— Live from the Squid Research Lab

Gallery

Promo image.
3D art.
An Inkling wielding the Splattershot Jr.
The Inkling throwing a Splat Bomb and holding the Splattershot Jr.
The Inkling in a Bubbler running and holding the Splattershot Jr.
The Splattershot Jr.'s range.
2D art of an Inkling holding the Splattershot Jr.
Concept art of various weapons, with the Splattershot Jr. at the lower left.
Callie holding a Splattershot Jr. in the Splatoon manga.

Demonstration

Splatoon 2

Splattershot Jr.

Category	Main
Class	Shooter
Sub	Splat Bomb
Special	Ink Armor
Level	1
Cost
Availability
Base damage	28
Base duration
Ink consumption	0.43%
Special points	180p
Special depletion
Range	35 / 100
Damage	22 / 100
Impact
Fire rate	75 / 100
Charge speed
Ink speed
Mobility
Durability
Handling
Other variants	Custom Splattershot Jr. Kensa Splattershot Jr.

The Splattershot Jr. returns once again as the starting weapon, looking identical to how it did in the first game. It comes with Splat Bombs and Ink Armor. As of Version 3.2.0, the Splattershot Jr. and its variants, the Custom Splattershot Jr. and Kensa Splattershot Jr., now have a larger ink tank with 10% more capacity, making it an easier weapon for beginners and experts alike.

Quick facts

A.k.a.: Junior

Role: Support^[1]

Strengths: Turfing, Splat Bomb spamming, Ink Armor farming^[2]

Weakness: Weak in most one-on-one encounters^[3]

Recommended abilities

Ability	Purpose
Ink Saver (Sub)	Allows more frequent use of Splat Bombs
Special Charge Up	Accelerates building up the Special gauge for Ink Armor

^[4]

Use

The Splattershot Jr. has a wide shot spread, enabling it to turf large areas in a short amount of time, which provides two benefits:
- Turfing allows the team to either gain or maintain map control. This also allows the Splattershot Jr. to quickly capture zones in Splat Zones.
- It also builds up Ink Armor very quickly, allowing the user's team to mount a push at a moment's notice. Special Charge Up can further hasten the process of "farming" armor. If there are no other urgent tasks, just keep turfing so Ink Armor is ready whenever needed.
The main tradeoff of the wide shot spread is the resulting poor accuracy, which, along with the short range, makes the Splattershot Jr. a poor main weapon for directly engaging most opponents.
- It is still capable of quickly splatting opponents, provided that its user can catch an opponent by surprise and within its short range. However, playing too aggressively risks depriving the user's team both map control and Ink Armor, so be judicious about when to either flank or shark.
- Otherwise, if a certain matchup is disadvantageous, disengage - by dropping a Splat Bomb behind whenever possible - and bring a teammate along. Quick Super Jump can help escape more quickly.
The most reliable way a Splattershot Jr. player can engage an opponent is through constant and coordinated use of Splat Bombs:
- When attacking an opponent's position, try to throw Splat Bombs behind the opponent. This more effectively cuts off the opponent's potential escape routes.
- Splat Bombs are great at either stalling an opponent's push or providing cover while fleeing.
- Ink Saver (Sub), combined with the larger ink tank unique to the Splattershot Jr., allows the player to throw bombs more often. 23 ability points – two mains and one sub – enable a Splattershot Jr. user to throw two consecutive Splat Bombs with a full ink tank.
- Using any special weapon also provides a free ink tank refill. Therefore, it is possible to throw a bomb or two before and after using the Ink Armor. Combining this tactic with enough ability points of Ink Saver (Sub) (see above) can create a pseudo-Splat-Bomb Launcher.
- When beginning a push, especially after activating Ink Armor, throw a Splat Bomb towards the opposing team to provide space to push in.
The Splattershot Jr. is a great complement to a slayer, particularly one whose weapon has trouble turfing, such as a Splattershot Pro or a blaster.
- Turfing while following a teammate builds up Ink Armor and provides friendly turf to which a teammate can retreat whenever needed.
- Cooperate with the teammate using primarily Splat Bombs when engaging an opponent: attack from different angles, or force the opponent to come within range of the teammate's weapon.
Ink Armor allows its user's team to either initiate a push, to recapture a Splat Zone for example, or maintain one, such as while locking out the opponent.
- Time the activation of Ink Armor carefully; it takes up to two seconds to activate Ink Armor, which lasts for at least six seconds.
- Try to activate Ink Armor when most or all teammates are active. Slayers, who risk getting splatted more often, benefit from Ink Armor more than anchors do.

Countermeasures

Because the Splattershot Jr. is generally a poor main weapon for splatting, almost any weapon with longer range, better accuracy, or higher damage can defeat it in a one-on-one with relative ease. However, watch out for the Splattershot Jr.'s Splat Bombs.
A Splattershot Jr. will most likely assist a teammate armed with a more formidable weapon; that opponent is usually the higher priority. Trying to engage against both is usually a poor idea, so either find a teammate to assist or try to lure the Splattershot Jr.'s teammate to stray too far from them to receive assistance.
Keep an eye on the HUD to know when the opponent's Splattershot Jr. has Ink Armor ready to use, and both watch and listen for when it is activated.
- The best way to prevent the opponent from using armor is to splat the opponent with the Splattershot Jr. (or any other Ink Armor-equipped weapon). A charger user can prioritize said opponent when sniping, or a slayer can attempt to pick off an unaccompanied Splattershot Jr.
- Focus fire on armored opponents for longer than usual - preferably with everyone ganging up on one opponent at a time - to compensate for their armor.
- Object Shredder triples damage inflicted onto armored opponents. Combining this with Ink Storm can nearly neutralize armored pushes by the opponent.