Resembling the typical paint bucket, the Slosher of Splatoon 3 gives a wacky transformation to this seemingly-ordinary painting implement. Now serving as a main weapon in Splatoon 3, the Slosher can splatter ink toward turf and enemies in a straight line, with players being able to swing the Slosher in different directions to hit enemies behind high structures such as walls. These intricacies make the Slosher one of the more flexible weapons in the game, giving players more directionality in matches.
Considering the rather complex mechanics of using Sloshers in the game, players who want to dominate matches can consider using them for more tactical plays. However, the considerable difficulty in using Sloshers can make them somewhat overwhelming. Thankfully, players can rely on a couple of Slosher builds to guarantee domination in combat.
Why Go Slosher: Aiming Is Key
Players who love timing their shots for guaranteed inking instead of reckless splats might appreciate the Slosher in their Splatoon 3 gameplay. When used properly, the Slosher is an ideal weapon choice of deploying a large number of ink splats in a tactical fashion - making this roughly the equivalent of a medium-ranged sniper that can take down multiple enemies at once or even as crowd control.
However, its heavy usage does mean players need to refill their inks often, which can leave them vulnerable or unable to do more in combat. Likewise, forcing players to hold the trigger button for faster deployment means being able to do less in terms of movement, leaving players exposed if they don’t know how to time their plays properly.
Sloshers Gear Abilities: Maximize Area Control
The mid-ranged nature of the Slosher requires more tactical plays on part of players, especially since this weapon’s Splatoon 3 gameplay needs precision to work efficiently. In that case, players who want to use this kit more efficiently are encouraged to aim for Gear Abilities that enable them to do more with the Slosher than just become mid-ranged combatants. Here are some general Gear Abilities for this weapon:
- Thermal Ink: Since the Slosher is more of an environmental weapon than a main one, this ability allows players to keep track of enemies they’re hitting, especially with gamers using this weapon being prone to confusing color splashes.
- Ink Saver (Main): When attached to the heavy-consuming Slosher as a main weapon, this ability lets players spread more ink at a much further distance due to the less ink spent.
- Ink Resistance Up: Always an ideal ability for the more environmentally-leaning weapon, this defensive buff lets players take less damage and move much faster through enemy ink - which is usually a must-do when using this armament.
Sloshing Machine: Beginner Onslaught
- Sub-Weapon: Fizzy Bomb
- Special: Booyah Bomb
Players who want to train in the more timing-heavy and aiming-intensive nature of the Slosher-type weapon might want to consider the Sloshing Machine as a Splatoon 3 armament. With its Fizzy Bomb Sub-Weapon and Booyah Bomb Special, players get access to a spinning ink attack with a more effective linear reach - something made more efficient with the weapon’s longer range. Moreover, while this weapon boasts high damage, players need to train adjusting to its difficult handling and weakness against high rate of fire opponents, forcing gamers to learn how to be more tactical with their attacks - always a good thing in the high-intensity game.
Compared to other Sloshers, the Sloshing Machine does boast a larger ink shot radius, which means players might want to consider aiming even from the back if it means either hitting multiple opponents or going for area denial compared to other Splatoon 3 weapons. Not only that, but the large reach and radius of ink splats mean players are free to strike in and out of cover. Moreover, the slight delay caused by Fizzy Bombs can force enemies to momentarily stop charging, giving players enough time for a counter-attack.
Slosher: Straightforward Inking
- Sub-Weapon: Splat Bomb
- Special: Tripe Inkstrike
While the Slosher boasts rather mid stats with regards to accessibility, defense, and utility, it does dominate the offense department when used properly. This is especially the case once players learn how to use the Slosher in higher areas in Splatoon 3 gameplay, with the weapon becoming much deadlier when throwing ink to enemies below ground at a closer range. Players who get used to this weapon and learn how to deal with its quick ink depletion and rather slow slosh moving speed can dominate combat regardless of the objective.
At its core, the Slosher becomes an efficient Splatoon 3 weapon in straightforward encounters. In close-ranged skirmishes, learning the right throwing range of the Triple Inkstrike can disable faraway enemies rather easily. Not only that, the “leaping” nature of its attacks means players don’t have to worry as much about terrain blocking the way of striking opponents. Moreover, using the Splat Bomb every now and then can make for a much deadlier burst attack that can supplement this weapon’s ranged limitations.
Tri-Slosher: Third Time’s The Charm
- Sub-Weapon: Toxic Mist
- Special: Inkjet
Although scoring mid stats in areas like offense, defense, and utility, the Tri-Slosher does shine with regards to its accessibility. This ease of use can give players a lot of creative options with regards to defense and offense throughout a Splatoon 3 map, especially since its high firing rate can compensate for a lot of combat situations. However, it does deal less damage to enemies above ground, which means players need to consider verticality carefully when using this weapon.
Either way, combining Tri-Slosher with a speed-oriented playstyle can give players access to various vantage points where surprise attacks can almost always guarantee kills. Meanwhile, Toxic Mist’s debilitating features can deny areas away from otherwise pesky pushers, with Inkjet further giving the players the ability to secure areas of control for the team to take control with aggression.
Explosher: Long-Distance Bursting
- Sub-Weapon: Point Sensor
- Special: Ink Storm
The short burst-fire tendency of Sloshers in mid-range combat can make it a rather tricky weapon to use in Splatoon 3 gameplay, which the Explosher tries to remedy by giving players access to better range in exchange for accessibility and pure offensive capabilities. In turn, the weapon has glaring weaknesses in terms of close combat performance as well as high ink consumption. However, the weapon does compensate for its faster-charging and long-distance inking, allowing players to have a more area denial-inclined strategy in matches.
At its core, this long-distance capability of the Explosher gives it great potential for inking, allowing players to secure large areas at a distance and potentially ruin the opponent’s zone control opportunities. Ink Storm can also ensure players aren’t able to immediately take territory from the player’s team, with Point Sensor being a nifty tool to reveal nearby enemies to better prepare offensive plays.
Bloblobber: Small-Spaced Chaos
- Sub-Weapon: Sprinkler
- Special: Ink Storm
While the ink splot and splash mechanics of Splatoon 3 gameplay already make the title unique compared to other shooter games, the Bloblobber subverts expectations with yet another quirk: bubbles. Unlike other Sloshers, the Bloblobber instead releases various bubbles towards the target area. While the slow-moving nature of bubble projectiles make them difficult to aim, their bouncing nature and long-distance nature make them extremely efficient for sowing chaos in small spaces against Splatoon 3 opponents.
Unlike other offensive Sloshers, the Bloblobber has great defensive potential when using this weapon behind the team’s retreat to ensure opponents aren’t able to push back. Likewise, players are encouraged to try predicting the trajectory of their bubbles and use both the Sprinkler and Ink Storm to further secure AOE burst damage.
Splatoon 3 is playable on the Nintendo Switch.