Splatoon 2 Strategy Guide: Shooter | Recommended Weapons, Gear, and Techniques

This is a strategy guide for Shooter, a weapon in Splatoon 2. This page contains information of basic strategy and techniques, recommended weapons and gears, and countermeasures against other weapons when using a Shooter.

Shooter

Shooter’s Characteristic

• Variety of Shooters to choose from
Shooter is the representative weapon of Splatoon. There’s lots of variation of shooters, and they all have different characteristics. It is important to know your weapon, and know the correct strategy for it.
• PvP or Painting
Most Shooters will continuously fire ink until you let go of the button. But some shooters have more ink spread than others, and Shooters with a big ink spread is suited for painting, and Shooters with a small ink spread is suited for PvP.

Click here for the list of Shooters.


Strategy

• What a PvP Shooter has to do
A PvP Shooteris required to take out enemies and defend the frontlines. Defending allies that’s expanding territory and fighting against enemies is its main role. A PvP Shooter will be continuously fighting against enemies, so the number of deaths will be greater than other, but what’s really important is the number of splats. A K/D ratio of 1.5 to 2.0 would be ideal. But don’t forget to fight along the game rules.
• What a painting Shooter has to do
A painting Shooteris required to protect itself and become a staging point for the allies fighting against enemies. Of course you will have to push the frontline by expanding territory, but you must also stay in the field as much as possible. This is because the number of deaths links directly to how much territory expanded.
It’s important to know how to protect yourself while pushing up the frontline. Also, to prevent the enemy from pushing when an ally is at an disadvantage, it’s important to let your ally super jump from you. In a situations such as a 2v4, it is best to retreat to a safe location rather than to push onward.

Techniques

• Jump Shot
Jump shot is an effective tactic when you encounter against another Shooter. Ink shot from a Shooter will spread horizontally, but not vertically. Therefore jumping will make it difficult for the enemy to aim at you.But keep in mind that the ink spread increases while in air, and is not a recommended technique to use when you are new to Shooters.
• Flanking
If you get ambushed or spotted by the enemy, flank around the enemy instead of attacking. Since Shooters are a full-auto weapon, it is good at flanking or attacking while moving. By successfully flanking around the enemy, chances of surviving will increase.
• Make use of Sub Weapons
A Shooter’s sub weapon usually has good compatibility with the Shooter. A Shooter with short range comes with Splat Bombs, and a Shooter with long range comes with Splash Wall or Burst Bombs. Understanding the characteristic of these sub weapons and using them will be much better than just using the main weapon.

Recommended Weapons

• Splattershot Jr.
Splattershot’s have high ink efficiency, and has a wide ink spread. Increase territory to fill up the Special Gauge, and put pressure on enemies in range using its sub weapon. You will become extremely strong against enemies up close by using the Special Weapon. The Main, Sub, and Special Weapons have very good compatibility with each other. Splattershot is used by both beginners and experts.
• .52 Gal Deco
.52 Gal Deco is very good at PvP and has very high firepower which can splat enemies in 2 hit in close and mid-range. Its range is not that bad as well.
• Range Blaster
Custom Range Blaster is a non-full auto blaster but does a damage of 50 per shot. It will take out enemies in 2 hits and is superior in close to mid-range. It has good compatibility with its Sub Weapon Splash Wall.

Recommended Abilities

• Ink Recovery Up
• Ink Saver (Main)
• Swim Speed Up
• Damage Up
Since Shooter is a full auto weapon, it performs well with Ink Recovery Up or Ink Saver (Main). Swim Speed Up is useful as well since ambushing enemies is an effective tactic when using a Shooter. Damage Up works well with some Shooters.

Countermeasures Against Other Weapons

Splat Dualies

You would want to avoid combat if the enemy’s Dualies has more range than your Shooter. You will most likely not be able to escape from its maneuverability, and Dualies often have higher DPS than Shooters. If caught in a firefight against it, taking distance would be a wise choice. Waiting for the enemy to run out of Ink is effective as well since Dualies have bad Ink efficiency.

Shooter

First check the enemy Shooter’s range. If your Shooter has more range than the enemies Shooter, than take on the fight. But if the enemy has more range than you, avoid a firefight and wait for the perfect moment to ambush.

Charger

If you are far away from the enemy, your best option would be to hide. You won’t be able to do anything until you close up on the enemy, so close up on the enemy while taking cover. If it is difficult to catch up to the enemy, use bombs to disrupt the enemy’s position, or use super jump to reset.

Rollers・Brushes

If the enemy is a roller, than avoid close quarter combat. Attacking from distance is effective, but be wary of Ink flung from the Roller. After a Roller flings Ink, it will not be able attack for a short amount of time.
As for Brushes, simply attack from distance. But don’t let the enemy come up close since then they will have the upper hand.

Slosher

Most Sloshers have more range than Shooters, so a firefight is not recommended. Wait for the enemy’s Ink to run out. Using bombs and such to put pressure on the enemy is effective.

Splatling

If encounter face to face with a Splatling, than there is no chance of victory. Stay in cover and close up on the enemy to gain advantage over it. Splatling will not be able to fire Ink until its weapon is charged, so wait for them to finish shooting and splat them while they are charging the Splatling.