Splatoon 3’s sequel to the hitSplatoon 2game mode Salmon Run is amore difficult and refined experiencethat calls for a new level of skill and teamwork to master; with the new occurrences, boss Salmonids, and mechanics, you’re going to need all the help that you can get.
Related:Splatoon 3: Known Occurrences In Salmon Run, Ranked
Weapon rotations are the backbone of what can make or break a round of Salmon Run, so it’s worth getting to know which weapons can help make getting to Eggsecutive VP all the easier. The important thing to remember is that no one weapon can do everything by itself– a good rotation is defined by weapons that work well in concert.
10Dynamo Roller
The Dynamo Roller is a bit of a one-trick pony, but no one can deny that it can clear out lesser Salmonids with the best of them. What helps the Dynamo Roller do its job so well is its superior damage when rolling, allowing it to one-shot most lesser Salmoids with ease.
The Dynamo Roller is particularly good at taking care of streams of enemies, being able to sit in place and only move when needing to do damage to the oncoming onslaught. This weapon is not the end-all, though – be sure it is paired with a mobile weapon that can paint if the Dynamo Roller is cornered. Regardless, this is a weapon with a high skill ceiling that can do numbers if used correctly.
9Grizzco Stringer
The Grizzco Stringer is a Grizzco variant of the new Splatoon 3 weapon class, the Stringer– unlike its cousins, though, this weapon requires a lot less practice to become powerful on the battlefield. Shooting triple the shots of the default Stringer, this thing is a menace that can bust bosses in no time flat.
But what sends this Stringer over the line between great and fantastic is that it absolutely shreds through Cohozuna’s health during the Xtrawave, being one of the few weapons that can do more damage than the provided egg cannon. The only downside to this weapon is its high ink cost per shot. But when you can get a free Cohozuna round with just one of these things on your team, it’s all worth it.
8Dapple Dualies
The Dapple Dualies prove that just because a weapon doesn’t thrive in the competitive scene doesn’t mean it can’t be a great Salmon Run weapon. With the Dapple Dualies' superior mobility, damage, and ink efficiency, they make a weapon that can kill bosses and lesser Salmonids alike.
Related:Splatoon 3: Every Weapon And What They Do
The Dapple Dualies' weakness is their stunted range, but very few weapons can do as much as these toothbrush-bearing guns can alone. If these things are in a rotation, they will perform best with at least one ranged weapon to cover their backs– otherwise, they fit well into most rotations without much trouble.
7Splat Brella
Despite the lackluster treatment that the Brella gets in competitive play, any great Salmon Run player should be happy to give this weapon a home when it’s in rotation. The Splat Brella has fantastic damage for dealing with bosses. Meanwhile, lesser Salmonids are disposed of quite easily by just opening the built-in shield.
If the Splat Brella finds its way into a rotation, it’s probably a safe bet since it can fit multiple different roles with little difficulty. A solid long-range option on the rotation would be the best thing to cover the few weaknesses of the Splat Brella.
6Grizzco Slosher
The Grizzco Slosher is a Grizzco Variant of the class that has been around sinceSplatoon 1– the Slosher. This weapon is particularly fantastic because of its armor-piercing abilities, which allow it to kill enemies that typically require more grey matter to overcome, such as Steelheads and Flyfish.
The Grizzco Slosher’s main weaknesses are its range and ink efficiency, but all of its strengths are a fantastic reason to gamble with a random rotation. All it really needs to play well is a weapon that can work on lesser Salmonids and give it paint to work with.
5Sploosh-O-Matic
The Sploosh-O-Matic is another weapon that lacks competitive popularity but finds its home among Salmon Run legends. Despite its short range, it deals serious damage per second. It also has great ink efficiency, making it superior at clearing out lesser Salmonids and above average at taking care of bosses.
As long as the rotation that this thing finds itself in has at least one good long-range weapon to take care of Steelheads and Stingers, the Sploosh-O-Matic can do its job well. If there’s a threat, step one is to take the Sploosh on location, and step two is to decimate it.
496 Gal
The 96 Gal flips the script fromits long-range support rolein the competitive scene, becoming a powerful boss slayer when added to a Salmon Run rotation. Because of its fantastic range and damage, it does extremely well against bosses without sacrificing its ability to survive the oncoming Chum that will doubtlessly attempt to nip at its heels.
Related:Splatoon 3: Every Salmonid Boss, Ranked
This thing is essentially an all-rounder that can fit into most rotations without a problem, given that it has the range for rotations dominated by short-range Shooters and damage for rotations filled with slower boss killers.
3Squiffer
The Squiffer is one of the strongest Chargers you can get your hands on during Salmon Run because of the utility of its near-instant charge. Since, like most Chargers, the Squiffer provides piercing damage, the quick charge can absolutely crush bosses back to back with little difficulty.
The Squiffer is also ink efficient, meaning you’re not likely to be low on shots as long as there’s a bit of paint on the ground. If you want to get the most out of this weapon, just ensure there’s also a weapon that can take care of lesser Salmonids while you crank out trick shot after shot.
2Grizzco Charger
The Grizzco Charger is considered by most to be the most powerful Salmon Run weapon because of its ability to shred through almost every boss, including high health bosses such as Grillers and Goldies, with little difficulty. This is mainly because it has charge speed (comparable to a Bamboozler) and range (comparable to an Eliter) without losing its ability to do piercing damage.
The only weakness that the Grizzco Charger has is its inability to take care of Lesser Salmonids due to its high ink cost per shot. Regardless, the ability to take care of Grillers alone is enough to make this a must-play if it’s available during a random rotation.
1Ballpoint Splatling
When you need a weapon that can do it all, the Ballpoint Splatling is your choice. Its short-range mode does tremendous damage, but as soon as you need a distant target eliminated, its long-range mode will do the work. Since it can hold a charge and reuse existing charges, it is a nonstop shop of ink drops to put a stop to any plots that the Salmonids send your way.
Ifthis strange weaponis in a rotation, you might as well play, because it can fit into basically every role. Its one catching point is its inability to hold and reuse charge when you need to use specials or bombs. For such a small weakness, you should be queued up to play on sight.
