Some questions from a fairly fresh (new) player...

[greece_monkey]

Hi guys, I got Splatoon a week or so ago and I'm still loving it. I've sunk about an hour a day into it plus a solid 5 hours on a weekend and I'm level 19 and B- (98) rank. I'm trying to keep the mentality of "my rank doesn't matter, I'm new so I won't take things personally"... but even so I was wondering if you guys could help me with a few things and offer some tips!! And also, if you have any helpful guides to link that would be great too. I've checked out squidboards but haven't read much so far. I've spent a week in the dark so to speak to figure stuff out on my own and now I think I'm ready to look up hard stats and things.

1. I sometimes have a big problem with teams on Moray Towers with 1-2 snipers, especially in Turf War. Seems like I can't get past them when they're guarding the middle area unless one of my teammates distract them somehow. Besides that one area (you know which one I'm talking about), are there any other places where snipers like to hang out on Moray? Any tips on sneaking up on them or distracting them for my teammates? As it stands now I don't really like Moray but I realize my liking something or not doesn't change anything and I'd like to get better at moving around on Moray Towers!
2. How do I optimize my gear? I've heard stuff opens up when I reach level 20, but how much gold does it cost to get extra slots for abilities? My friend told me about some kind of exploit you can do involving moving around your save file; is there a video or guide for this? How helpful/safe is it? I don't have any qualms about messing with that sort of thing; I've done RNG abuse in Pokemon before :p
3. A highlight of my week Splatoon-wise was planting a sticky bomb right where someone was super jumping and getting the kill. I want to know how precise the timing has to be for that kind of thing so I could maybe practice it so I can do that consistently because it was super neato!!!
4. How are you supposed to use the inkzooka? I use the tentatek splattershot for turf wars and tower control and usually I end up wasting it or completely forgetting I have a special weapon. The splattershot jr. (?) and the n-zapper are other weapons like the tentatek but in general I like the handling of the tentatek even if the other two have easier specials. I dunno if the tentatek is high tier or whatever (or even if Splatoon is a 'tier' sort of game) but I've been enjoying it!!
5. I need some general tips for rainmaker. It's the only mode where I'm completely lost, especially on Kelp Dome for whatever reason. I haven't played rainmaker lately so I don't know exactly what I'm having trouble with. It's a big reason why I'm still B- (besides the fact I'm kind of a noob atm).

Anyway, been having a blast with the game so far. I like playing ranked more than Turf War :D

 

[LMG]

2. I've heard stuff opens up when I reach level 20, but how much gold does it cost to get extra slots for abilities?
3. A highlight of my week Splatoon-wise was planting a sticky bomb right where someone was super jumping and getting the kill. I want to know how precise the timing has to be for that kind of thing so I could maybe practice it so I can do that consistently because it was super neato!!!
4. How are you supposed to use the inkzooka? I use the tentatek splattershot for turf wars and tower control and usually I end up wasting it or completely forgetting I have a special weapon. The splattershot jr. (?) and the n-zapper are other weapons like the tentatek but in general I like the handling of the tentatek even if the other two have easier specials. I dunno if the tentatek is high tier or whatever (or even if Splatoon is a 'tier' sort of game) but I've been enjoying it!!

I'll answer the ones I can in order:

• Both adding slots and rerolling abilities costs either 30,000 credits or 1 Super Sea Snail.
• When someone is Super Jumping without Stealth Jump, I believe that a part of the indicator gets smaller as they get closer to the spot, but I can't remember which one.
• Mostly point in the general direction of the enemy and shoot. If you can line up the shot properly, it will pretty much always splat whoever you're shooting at if they're still there as the shot travels very fast and is deceptively large (and hiding behind cover is wonky at best when the shot hits terrain at an angle). I'm not the most accurate player around but I almost never fail to splat someone with an Inkzooka, so if you practice a bit you're good to go. If you still don't like the feel of the Inkzooka you can always try the standard Splattershot

 

[Dreamy Luigi]

Hi guys, I got Splatoon a week or so ago and I'm still loving it. I've sunk about an hour a day into it plus a solid 5 hours on a weekend and I'm level 19 and B- (98) rank. I'm trying to keep the mentality of "my rank doesn't matter, I'm new so I won't take things personally"... but even so I was wondering if you guys could help me with a few things and offer some tips!! And also, if you have any helpful guides to link that would be great too. I've checked out squidboards but haven't read much so far. I've spent a week in the dark so to speak to figure stuff out on my own and now I think I'm ready to look up hard stats and things.

1. I sometimes have a big problem with teams on Moray Towers with 1-2 snipers, especially in Turf War. Seems like I can't get past them when they're guarding the middle area unless one of my teammates distract them somehow. Besides that one area (you know which one I'm talking about), are there any other places where snipers like to hang out on Moray? Any tips on sneaking up on them or distracting them for my teammates? As it stands now I don't really like Moray but I realize my liking something or not doesn't change anything and I'd like to get better at moving around on Moray Towers!
2. How do I optimize my gear? I've heard stuff opens up when I reach level 20, but how much gold does it cost to get extra slots for abilities? My friend told me about some kind of exploit you can do involving moving around your save file; is there a video or guide for this? How helpful/safe is it? I don't have any qualms about messing with that sort of thing; I've done RNG abuse in Pokemon before :p
3. A highlight of my week Splatoon-wise was planting a sticky bomb right where someone was super jumping and getting the kill. I want to know how precise the timing has to be for that kind of thing so I could maybe practice it so I can do that consistently because it was super neato!!!
4. How are you supposed to use the inkzooka? I use the tentatek splattershot for turf wars and tower control and usually I end up wasting it or completely forgetting I have a special weapon. The splattershot jr. (?) and the n-zapper are other weapons like the tentatek but in general I like the handling of the tentatek even if the other two have easier specials. I dunno if the tentatek is high tier or whatever (or even if Splatoon is a 'tier' sort of game) but I've been enjoying it!!
5. I need some general tips for rainmaker. It's the only mode where I'm completely lost, especially on Kelp Dome for whatever reason. I haven't played rainmaker lately so I don't know exactly what I'm having trouble with. It's a big reason why I'm still B- (besides the fact I'm kind of a noob atm).

Anyway, been having a blast with the game so far. I like playing ranked more than Turf War :D

1. Be quick and move with your team, you could make a dash for the wall up to the "perch" and rush them or at least distract them for your team to start making plays.
2. Go to Spyke and you can spend 30000 to add a slot and 30000 to reroll all 3 slots. Some brands on gear have likely abilities and a unlikely ability (e.g. Squidforce is more likely to get Damage Up sub abilities but not likely to get Defense Up sub abilities), you''ll have to look them up on the various Splatoon wikis.
3 Timing isn't that hard as long as it isn't too late, I'd say throw it as soon as you see it because then it'll normally blow up as they touch the ground.
4. Inkzooka is good at taking out snipers from afar, or just surprising anyone you see from far away closing in. Also decent at pressuring people from entering mid or something like that.
5. Try getting kills before grabbing the Rainmaker because if 4 of them are still alive it's incredibly hard to push it anywhere. Try grabbing it once you get 3 of their members down and then push it. Swim Speed is godly in this mode I find but depends on your weapon if you want to run it.

 

[Leronne]

1. in turf moray, try charging your inkzooka and kill the sniper when you have a good view of them. some chargers tend to to jump shots from the pathway that leads from that place, so be careful with that. other than that, there aren't any other place they can hangout very well.
2. can't help you here. sorry. you can look up splatoon save scumming and see what you can find. also last ditch effort, bomb sniffer and recon are terrible abilities. just ignore these. and pay attention to the brand when rerolling. http://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Brand rerolling is basically a slot machine, with some abilities being able to appear more often depending and less often depending on the gear. empty brands like KOG, cuttlegear etc, basically means that every ability has the same amount of chance of being rolled. if you have any questions about rerolling, feel free to ask me.
3. at 21 seconds, it shows a type of super jump timer. so you could probably base it of of that one. other than that, i would highly recommend just shooting (from a safe distance) at the opponent when he lands. you can throw a suction bomb just in case they manage to escape. also
   
4. practice practice practice. also, don't just pull out the inkzooka whenever it gets charged up. wait for a perfect moment. even if you die, before you use it, you only lose around ~50% which is a lot better than losing the whole thing when you use it and not hit a single target. also, the tentatek is considered top tier (there is no weapons tier list, but is considered by many to be one the best weapons in the game). i see it way too often in S rank (though the numbers have somewhat decreased).
5. like they said. make sure there are enough opponents killed to pick it up. you're also a big target so stay close to at least one teammate so they can protect you. unless it's like a last minute push, don't blindy pick it up and rush into their base. i used to hate this mode, but have grown very fond of it. also throwing splat bombs and suction bombs at the shield make it blow up faster.

 

[Elecmaw]

1: Chargers in Moray are only good if the enemy team can capture the center, if you get further then that they become a whole lot less threatening. Ranked Moray has a lot more cover spread around for you to hide in. Also, don't jump in front of chargers whenever in Squid-Kid form. This actually makes you way easier to get hit.

2: This is called roll-scumming. You'll need a portable storage device for this to work:
-First, save up some $$$ or Snails for rolls. The more the better.
-Copy your save to your storage device.
-Turn off your Wii U, then unplug the storage device.
-Play Splatoon and start rolling. Then quit Splatoon.
-If the rolls are desireable, get your storage device back. Use the file currently on your Wii U to overwrite the one on your storage device.
-If the rolls aren't good, get your storage device back. Use the file currently on your storage device to overwrite the one on your Wii U.

I'm not here to lecture you on cheating, it's ultimately your decision. But please for the love of god don't use this option to preserve your Rank.

3: As the above poster put it, the SJ marker has an arrow on top of it that gradually depletes. If it's empty, it means the inkling is about to land.

4: If the enemy team has chargers, save your Zooka for them. Chargers aren't very mobile and therefore easy to hit. Even if you end up missing they'll at the very least will hide in the meantime. Don't use it for enemies straight in front of you.
You can also practise Inkzooka in the testing area.

5: Rainmaker is a mode that's tough as nails to carry. Unlike other modes it requires a lot of teamwork and communication, and you're far more dependent on your teammates than Zones/Tower. A valid strategy is to pop Kraken and hopefully have the RM follow you through the inktrail Kraken leaves behind, but it's a matter of hoping they'll get the idea on what you're trying to do. Generally speaking Kraken is by far the best special for this mode, i'd strongly reccomend you pick a weapon that has it.
One trick is to avoid getting your entire team killed at all costs. It's bad enough in other modes but in RM, the enemy can get a huge lead while your team is respawning.

 

[GirlyMii]

I change my weapon to make sure I have an inkzooka for moray towers for those lovely snipers :) I build up and squid and wait until they are shooting to the sides or down or elsewhere and use it. I think the aerospray mg is the best weapon for that level and you should have access to it.
In regards to rainmaker use the recon option and practice the level and diff routes.

 

[FinInfinite]

As a sniper main I can tell you that if you see a Splat Charger/Splatterscope, they are far less likely to be on "The Spot" on Moray. My favorite place to go when I'm not using E-Liter is the pedastal on the right that has a clear view of people peeking over "The Spot".(1) Also watch out when you've made a good push (especially in Tower Control); resourceful snipers will go to the tower just above and behind that right pedestal or another raised spot on that ramp.(2, 3, 4) That can sometimes be mitigated by squidding up the far right tower and flanking them, but try not to get splatted in the process. Speaking of which, an E-Liter can reach you if you're on the edge of the far right tower, so watch out for that! (red lines)

Here's a visual reference.

 

[Vitezen]

1. On Moray, snipers will typically be on the high ledge directly above the middle. The best way to counter snipers in this position without a charger yourself is to get to middle fast, and lock down the sniper spot with grenade spam until you or someone else can hold middle and push up to claim that spot. Also, take advantage of supers like the inkzooka, kraken, and wail. If snipers already control mid, try going around the path to the right and hiding behind the wall until you can get to middle and spam the sniper spot.
2. Don't bother optimizing gear until you know the ins and outs of your weapon and strategies. You'll just have to re-optimize it if you change your mind.
3. Practice.
4. Use the inkzooka as a sniper rifle.
5. If you can't identify exactly what you're doing wrong, you can't improve. If you're not confident in how to handle the mode, focus on killing the enemy and defending the rainmaker, and let someone else carry it. That way you can see what others do right or wrong, and identify the behavior in your own game.

 

[Quilavaflare]

Hi guys, I got Splatoon a week or so ago and I'm still loving it. I've sunk about an hour a day into it plus a solid 5 hours on a weekend and I'm level 19 and B- (98) rank. I'm trying to keep the mentality of "my rank doesn't matter, I'm new so I won't take things personally"... but even so I was wondering if you guys could help me with a few things and offer some tips!! And also, if you have any helpful guides to link that would be great too. I've checked out squidboards but haven't read much so far. I've spent a week in the dark so to speak to figure stuff out on my own and now I think I'm ready to look up hard stats and things.

1. I sometimes have a big problem with teams on Moray Towers with 1-2 snipers, especially in Turf War. Seems like I can't get past them when they're guarding the middle area unless one of my teammates distract them somehow. Besides that one area (you know which one I'm talking about), are there any other places where snipers like to hang out on Moray? Any tips on sneaking up on them or distracting them for my teammates? As it stands now I don't really like Moray but I realize my liking something or not doesn't change anything and I'd like to get better at moving around on Moray Towers!
2. How do I optimize my gear? I've heard stuff opens up when I reach level 20, but how much gold does it cost to get extra slots for abilities? My friend told me about some kind of exploit you can do involving moving around your save file; is there a video or guide for this? How helpful/safe is it? I don't have any qualms about messing with that sort of thing; I've done RNG abuse in Pokemon before :p
3. A highlight of my week Splatoon-wise was planting a sticky bomb right where someone was super jumping and getting the kill. I want to know how precise the timing has to be for that kind of thing so I could maybe practice it so I can do that consistently because it was super neato!!!
4. How are you supposed to use the inkzooka? I use the tentatek splattershot for turf wars and tower control and usually I end up wasting it or completely forgetting I have a special weapon. The splattershot jr. (?) and the n-zapper are other weapons like the tentatek but in general I like the handling of the tentatek even if the other two have easier specials. I dunno if the tentatek is high tier or whatever (or even if Splatoon is a 'tier' sort of game) but I've been enjoying it!!
5. I need some general tips for rainmaker. It's the only mode where I'm completely lost, especially on Kelp Dome for whatever reason. I haven't played rainmaker lately so I don't know exactly what I'm having trouble with. It's a big reason why I'm still B- (besides the fact I'm kind of a noob atm).

Anyway, been having a blast with the game so far. I like playing ranked more than Turf War :D

1. Really, you have a few options here. Without using a charger as well, pressuring with subs and specials is the best way to buy yourself some time. Just try to progress as best as you can while keeping them at bay. It can be tricky to juggle tasks, but is possible. I personally really like Bomb Range Up if I plan on using Splat or Suction Bombs on a map where chargers are prevalent, as it allows you to toss them from a safe location. You can also wait it out while building up your special. Inkzooka is best for taking out snipers, but Bubbler, Kraken, or Bomb Rush will certainly work as well. There is also the option to just try to move around them and pay your attention elsewhere if you have no better choice. Chargers thrive on easy, still targets, so make yourself unpredictable and keep moving while making good use of cover. If you can sneak around to flank them, even better!

2. "Optimization" is all in the eye of the beholder. It's a good idea to figure out what things you have the most trouble with and find abilities to counteract that (such as the bomb range up example above), or compliment your play style best. There is indeed an exploit for getting essentially unlimited rolls. Just search for "Splatoon Save Scumming" on Youtube or Google and you will more than likely find what you are looking for. As far as I know of, there are no real side effects to this and it is a quite common practice.

3. This has already been pretty well covered by the others.

4. The Inkzooka is a great special, but requires more positioning than other specials. It works better in support situations than directly offensive situations, but can be used any way you want. Try getting up high and striking oncoming opponents from far away, especially chargers that are giving your team a lot of trouble. It is also really good in any narrow area or corridor, and gives your team the perfect opportunity to move in closer. People will often try to hide if you pull out the Inkzooka, so cover as much space as you can with it. Also try ceasing fire for a few seconds to see if they will come out from cover, where you can easily kill them again.

5. In Rainmaker, more than any other mode, making sure you have control of all of the different paths. Only the Rainmaker has to get to the base to win, and if there's an open corridor where no one is looking, they WILL take advantage of it. If you are in control of the Rainmaker, be sure to use its huge power and spread to clear out the area of enemies. Play defensively behind your team mates if possible, as pushing alone will likely result in death. Don't be afraid to spam and/or retreat as necessary until your team can cover you, and ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings. If you are not in control, try to ink a path for the Rainmaker and take out enemies in the way. It is also incredibly important to watch their back for them, as splatting from behind is the easiest way to take out a Rainmaker. (So go for some of those yourself if you are the team on defense!)

Hope I helped out a bit and that this wasn't too lengthy. Goodluck, and if you have any more questions feel free to ask! I find that there's almost always someone nice enough to give you some answers around here.

 

[Flying_Tortoise]

1. at 21 seconds, it shows a type of super jump timer. so you could probably base it of of that one. other than that, i would highly recommend just shooting (from a safe distance) at the opponent when he lands. you can throw a suction bomb just in case they manage to

I always just remembered the timing x.x
tfw you've spent over 500+ hours into this game and you never realized there was a timer until just now...