TheSplatoonseries has always been known for its over-the-top weaponry, featuring gigantic paint brushes, miniguns filled with ink, and everything in between.Splatoon 3looks like it’s going to continue tradition, showing off some pretty unique-looking weapons over the last year or so. So far, fans have gotten a look at a Crab Tank vehicle, a grappling hook-like Zipcaster, anda giant vaccum weapon that sprays ink all over the arena, amongst many, many others.
Nintendo has also just announced thatall the basic weapons from previousSplatoonentrieswill be brought over toSplatoon 3, giving the game an already pretty packed arsenal. Still, aSplatoongame would be nothing without its helpful array of Sub Weapons, and thankfully,Splatoon 3looks to be bringing back a few fan-favorites and maybe even adding a few new pieces to the mix.
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All The Splatoon 3 Sub Weapons Revealed Thus Far
WhereSplatoon 3’s Special Weaponshave been a real focus of recent trailers, the game’s Sub Weapons haven’t really been featured all that much. With Sub Weapons essentially just being secondary tools that often have a specialized purpose, this does make sense, but their usefulness shouldn’t be overlooked just because their visuals aren’t overly flashy.
Right now, only a handful of Sub Weapons have been confirmed forSplatoon 3, all of which are weapons that have appeared inpreviousSplatoonentries. Most of the Bomb weapons fromSplatoonandSplatoon 2are going to make an appearance in the series' third entry, hopefully bringing the same level of explosive fun to the upcoming game.
The Splat Bomb is making its return once again. This Sub Weapon takes on a triangular shape, and can either be thrown or rolled by the player. When the bomb first touches the ground, a timer begins. Once the timer hits zero, the bomb explodes, spraying ink all around the immediate vicinity.
The Suction Bomb is also making a return. This bomb has a larger blast radius than the standard Splat Bomb, but does have a longer fuse timer, meaning that it’s often easier for opponents to avoid. The key selling point of the Suction Bomb, however, is the ability to stick it to a wall, making it a useful trap weapon.
The Burst Bomb is one of the more chaotic Sub Weapons returning inSplatoon 3. Where most of the other Sub Weapons take up so much ink that they can only be fired once per refill, the Burst Bomb can be launched multiple times in one go. Unlike the aforementioned bombs, the Burst Bomb explodes immediately on impact, but its damage output is significantly lower than both the Splat and Suction Bomb, requiring at least two direct hits before the opponent is defeated.
The Curling Bomb was one of the more interestingSub Weapons added withSplatoon 2, and it makes an impressive return inSplatoon 3. The Curling Bomb is launched in a straight line in front of the player, bouncing off any objects or surfaces in its way, leaving a large amount of ink in its wake. Eventually, the Curling Bomb’s timer will run out, and the bomb will explode, spraying the arena with even more ink, and damaging anyone its radius. CraftySplatoonplayers will be able to time the Curling Bomb’s detonation to their advantage, cooking the bomb for an increased blast radius.
The last Sub Weapon officially confirmed forSplatoon 3is the iconic Splash Wall. Throwing this onto the arena will spawn a protective barrier in front of the player, blocking any incoming shots, and refusing entry to enemy players. Fans will likely see a lot more Sub Weapons beconfirmed forSplatoon 3before its September 9 release date.
Splatoon 3releases July 31, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
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