Mini splats in Rainmaker (6-5, Zink Mini Splatling)

I saw some nice footage of a Mini Splatling being amazing, so thought I'd replicate it. Of course, it's just not that easy, and I'm not that good unpracticed with the Mini Splatling. It's interesting to find the rhythm of the weapon, which is helped by being able to hold the trigger to charge the next shot whilst the current one is firing.

I splat the Rainmaker as my first main action, which is encouraging! It takes some battling to burst the Shield, with ink coming in from both colours, but I stay safe doing so. And I engage the incoming Splatterscope fairly well, just with a rather empty ink tank. That'll be the Disruptor draining it. I don't stop the Killer Wail, but I avoid it and get a second splat. Not too shabby.

I grab the Rainmaker and run. I consider getting a good early lead a positive enough thing that I charge ahead without waiting for support, and, I have to admit, get much further than I thought I would. If I hadn't hit that tiny cone with the Rainmaker, maybe I could have got further, but so it goes. This will be difficult for the green team to beat.

As the Rainmaker starts coming back, I decide to try to flank the green team. That gets me involved in a couple of local spats, which at least I survive, but I have no idea where the Rainmaker is. Maybe I'll find it once I return to base, thanks to a cheesy Inkzooka splat. Yes, there it is, being carried by a squidmate. Excellent.

I move up to support, and I am getting better with the rhythm of the Mini Splatling, if not aiming it. And it's one thing to get close to a Splatterscope, and quite another to get close to a Carbon Roller. But I show pretty good mobility for a bit, understanding that it is the key to survival a lot of the time for the Mini Splatling. Squidding backwards in to Suction Bombs is just something I can't avoid, though.

Despite a nice Disruptor throw, an Inkstrike throws off my aim more than usual, and the Rainmaker escapes. I catch up with it and help prevent the current push, but corner myself. At least it ends up in mutual splattings. We are putting up a good defence, but I have to admit that I let the team down a little. I look for a splat as the seconds tick down when all I had to do was grab the Rainmaker. That's not helped by two of us focussing on a super-jumping ring in extra time when the Rainmaker is in range.

Still, the green team weren't even close to taking the lead, and some of our team understood the objective. The Rainmaker carrier is splatted and we win the game. Woomy! The Mini Splatling looks to be quite fun too. Maybe I can practice more, but it seems I already want to play with quite a few options.

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Tags: console, rainmaker, splatoon, urchin underpass, wii u, zink mini splatling

Sprinklers as decoys in Rainmaker (18-6, Tri-slosher)

Sneaking around the back works quite well, I'd say. I manage to squid through the grate efficiently, and get behind the Splatterscope without her suspecting anything until she's splatted. Turning to ink ahead of me lets me spot the Hydra Splatling aiming for me, and some sloshing and moving gets a second splat. If only we had the Rainmaker. I should help with that.

It seems my squidmates have the Rainmaker under control, so I go back to inking turf. Some Sprinklers could pose a problem, so I pop my Bubbler, which also helps against the returning inklings. I splat a couple of them, but a Kraken is tricky. I'll start again. But it's good to see the Kraken Krakened.

A bit of squidding here and there lets me get back in to the action safely, and it looks safe to run with the Rainmaker. But looks can be deceiving, and I just squid in to the sight of the Splatterscope. I would say we have a better lead, but it's still not much. Then again, the teal team's carrying strategy seems to be fixed, so I head straight to our corridor and get a really easy splat.

Two more easy splats follow, when the ink from the teal team is coming from a really obvious direction, and they aren't protecting their flank. The third splat, the Splatterscope, takes a bit more effort, but I get it, and just as an inkling is returning by super-jumping. Dropping the Sprinkler on landing seems a peculiar choice, but, as I find out, it can be an effective defensive move. Just not this time.

I push up as the Rainmaker moves forwards, and get caught in a crossfire. Not a problem, as there is turf to tidy up on our side of the Underpass. I do a bit of that, and work my way back around the side. The teal team have the Rainmaker, so it's a bit of a risk, but it turns out they haven't gone far with it. I splat the Rainmaker from behind, have the good sense to pop my Bubbler when the Rainmaker's Shield bulges, and get three more splats for good measure. The last splat is the same as the first.

It looks like the one inkling I miss has grabbed the Rainmaker (what were my squidmates doing?) and is making a new break for it. I am close by, but am taunted by a super-jumping ring that, thanks to being on a ledge, proves my undoing. I return the long way, hoping I won't be too late, and my arrival from behind seems timely. But there is just too much choice of inkling to splat. That, and the Sprinkler-on-landing soaks up some of my sloshed ink. Not a bad tactic, as it turns out.

Despite the extended possession, the teal team still don't carry the Rainmaker far, which is a little underwhelming. A squidmate grabs it as time ticks down, and I head around the side to support, not realising they are heading backwards. I hope that's safe!

I get one more splat, albeit mutual, and the Rainmaker stays safe, giving us a victory that wasn't too comfortable. And I nearly broke the twenty-splat barrier, if only for a little indecision and the occasional Sprinkler. Woomy!

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Tags: console, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, urchin underpass, wii u

Finding my path in Rainmaker (8-4, Tri-slosher)

I'm trying not to get splatting right at the start of battles. It's about time, right? I'm not quite sure what else to do, though, which may be clear. I think what I do is delay how soon I get avoidably splatted. So it goes. I try a bit of support to follow, which works quite well. I maybe could have worked out sooner that the pink inkling was hiding behind the block, but I get the splat, and am stopped mostly by the swelling Rainmaker's Shield obscuring my vision.

I sit back and not make myself too vulnerable, as the pink team retake control after a nice dash by a squidmate to give us the lead, and Disrupt the Rainmaker. Maybe that gives me time to head around the side, or maybe I'll run in to trouble. Who knows? I persist with that side route, which clearly is being spotted by that cheeky little Splattershot Jr. That was a delicate little Splat Bomb roll.

I choose a different route next, somewhat sensibly, and apply some ink from above. Our Octobrush is doing splashing that ink around well, and together we burst the Rainmaker open without threat. I push on to ink a path, trusting that he'll grab the Rainmaker, but maybe I should have stayed by his side. At least the route I take gets me above the Rainmaker, and the purple inklings trying to grab it, and I stop them pretty quickly too.

I push ahead again, inking a path that probably won't last ten seconds, taking me all the way to the podium. That gives me a nice height advantage, which works very well with the Rainmaker position for a couple of splats from above. The Octobrush returns, and I wait to provide actual support as he grabs the Rainmaker, and we get further than before, but still not all the way.

My Bubbler helps me survive, and pushing past the Rainmaker lets me negate some inky threat, as a squidmate grabs the Rainmaker and squids up a wall to give us a healthy lead. And either my inky path remained from earlier, or a healthy Rainmaker blast inks the rest of the way to the podium, for what looks like a nice and simple end to a decent battle. Woomy!

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Tags: console, moray towers, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

You need to pick up the Rainmaker (3-5, Tri-slosher)

This Rainmaker battle starts out pretty normally, albeit with a splat-threatening stutter by me when trying to squid up a wall. I get myself in to a pretty good position, ink a fair path, and get surrounded by the opposition, whereupon I'm roundly splatted. It's good to see my squidmates pushed the Rainmaker nicely whilst that was happening. I think they even came up behind me.

Being splatted by the Carbon Roller is startling, but not surprising. I hardly made it a secret that I was squidding up the wall. What is more interesting is that she is in exactly the same place almost thirty seconds later, and still doesn't look to be moving.

I don't think the Carbon Roller is here to battle. I think she's here to get easy splats and pat herself on the back for being just so much better than the rest of us. And I'm not here to stroke other people's egos. I decide to sit it out for a bit and see what happens, but in a position where I can be effective quickly. Moray Towers makes this nice and easy to do.

The Rainmaker is burst out of its shield and is just sitting there. I can understand the E-litre 3K not pushing, because it's a solid support weapon, particularly at the Towers. But what about the others? It pleases me to see that my squidmates look to have caught on too, given that we have a decent lead, and are sitting back, waiting for the orange team to do something, not simply running in to be splatted for no reason.

Finally, an orange inkling picks up the Rainmaker! They don't get far, because they have almost no support, but it's movement. I'm happy to spring in to action too, having waited a whole minute since the Rainmaker was freed from its shield. I don't do well, rusty after such a long pause, but I stick around to apply my ink.

I decide to move up to see what I can do, and pop my Bubbler by accident. Oh well, I do what I can, but the E-litre 3K has a Kraken ready, and there's not much I can do about that. And at least it looks like we almost have a battle on our hands, with less than a minute to go. Somewhat surprisingly, the Carbon Roller even makes an appearance in our territory.

Our side of the map turns quite a bit orange. We maybe rested on our laurels a bit, and I'm wondering if a last-second dash will win the orange team the battle. But, nope, they left it far too late to do anything. The splats of the Carbon Roller meant nothing.

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Tags: console, moray towers, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Cheeky rolling above the Splat Zones (7-4, Carbon Roller Deco)

I find my Seekers work better when they are aimed straight down the corridors. They also get the occasional splat that I simply don't expect. I'd turn to find out which Seeker it was, but a Luna Blaster is getting close, and that's kinda dangerous. A missed flick or two thankfully doesn't get me in to too much trouble, and I splat the Luna away for now.

My Seeker Rush is poorly timed, but I can't get upset that it's because my squidmates capture the purple Splat Zone. I launch a few and move up to help add pressure, and see how high up the port I can get. I am cautious as a purple inkling's ghost returns to base, but an inkling's shadow super-jumps over me, so I take a cheeky route around the side.

We've lost control of the purple Splat Zone by the time I get above it, but I'm above it in a really nice position for our team. I flick ink to neutralise the Splat Zone as our E-litre 3K super-jumps to me, before turning to help cover our back. That gets a nice splat, and stops the purple team from getting to us quickly.

It doesn't help that I fall off the ledge, but doing so gets me in position to recapture the Splat Zone again, which is good, and I don't get ambushed from behind either. I loiter a bit, helping our score, but my Seeker Rush goes a bit wrong and the Luna Blaster gets some revenge for earlier. A purple Inkstrike hits our Splat Zone as I return, which I'm happy to cover, but an N-ZAP and her Sprinkler double up on me for a quick second splatting.

We lose control briefly, and both teams are defensive for a while. A Seeker Rush in a positive position encourages me to push forwards. I maybe could have pressed the Luna Blaster earlier, to save our E-litre 3K, but I splat her and neutralise the purple Splat Zone. I patrol rather than be too vulnerable capturing it, and look to push cheekily high again, which I manage as my squidmates capture the Splat Zones to start our counter again.

A flick catches an inkling below me superbly, and I drop down on purpose to ink the Splat Zone. Good thing too, as it seems I was followed. But I survive, add some inky threat to my stalker, and see if I can get back behind them again. Nope! They keep chasing me. Good job, Dual Squelcher.

I probably shouldn't have survived that Luna Blaster encounter, but I nevey say no to a bit of luck. A second bit follows quickly, as my random flick finds the inkling, and I roll back towards the purple Splat Zone. The Luna Blaster reappears, and although I think I've jinked successfully, she out-manoeuvres me for the splat.

The Splat Zones are mixed with ten seconds to go, so I try to send out a 'Nice!' as I squid along, bouncing in to walls as I do it. A last-second assault on our Splat Zone doesn't quite succeed in time, and the battle is won. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller, console, port mackerel, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

One-minute Splat Zones (3-0, Carbon Roller Deco)

Sticking around our side of the Splat Zones seems like a solid opening gambit, and we keep things a nice green for a while. But that Kelp Splatterscope on the perch looks menacing to me. Maybe I can do something about it.

Normally, I'd head down the side, along the corridor where I can't be seen. But the direct way looks clear, and it would be quicker. A Seeker speeds me up a bit, and another, more opportunistic Seeker towards the base is just a bit cheeky, more so when it gets a splat.

I need to recover some ink, so it helps that I got the splat to cover my back. Or maybe if I hadn't launched the Seeker, I would still have ink to roll on. Either way, things work out, mostly when a squidmate's Inkstrike lands to cover me.

I push on to the perch, where I don't see the Splatterscope, but I do see a super-jumping ring. That's a good target, and it becomes an even better target when the Splatterscope wanders backwards on to it. A couple of flicks gets a couple of splats. Nice!

All is going swimmingly. The Splat Zones are green, our counter is ticking down nicely, and I have a Seeker Rush to play with. It's a bit of a shame that the battle ends there.

With the clock just past the minute mark, I am assuming the host got distracted whilst waiting in the lobby. And with one inkling down, it's no surprise the blue team were struggling to compete. So it goes.

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, splat zones, splatoon, walleye warehouse, wii u

Last-ditch assault on the Splat Zones (10-8, Carbon Roller Deco)

I've thrown better Seekers in Port Mackerel, but at least my squidmate covers my error, and we both cover our Splat Zone. A bit of patrolling looks to go well, but the teal team make a coordinated push and throw enough ink everywhere to cause problems and capture both Splat Zones.

It's great to see the other side route has been inked, to give us a sneaky route up to the teal Splat Zone, and I follow the orange trail to add my ink. We neutralise the Splat Zone, apply a bit of forward ink, and return to capture it. And our squidmates have successfully defended behind us, so that we soon control both Splat Zones and start our own counter.

The Splat Zones are contested again quickly, which requires more patrolling rather than big, obvious moves. So, naturally, when I try to make my big move, the Carbon Roller splats me emphatically. At least I have the joy of super-jumping in tandem on my return. We kinda get in each other's way a bit, though, and it's only getting splatted that thins us out. So it goes.

The right corridor looks like a good option again, another Beakon making the trip quicker, and, with some caution, I approach the teal Splat Zone. I seem to be holding my own for a bit, Seeker Rush helping, until, once more, the Carbon Roller gets behind me. Damn, they are some sneaky buggers. I nearly catch him, after a different inkling mis-times my Seeker, but he turns away from me and runs away from my flicked ink. I should try that.

I trade splats with the Carbon Roller near their Splat Zone, which may be the best I can hope for, and a rather reckless super-jump to a forward Beakon reminds me that there is also a Carbon Roller Deco on the teal team. It's a wonder we're not being splatted more often. I get another fun double super-jump, though.

Both Splat Zones are teal with less than thirty seconds to go, which doesn't bode well. At least we recapture our Splat Zone quickly, but there's not enough time to dilly dally any more. I send a Seeker up the corridor and squid right behind it, the Seeker itself thankfully discouraging an orange inkling from shooting its trail. I move further along than the inkling suspects, get the splat, and wait for the super-jumper.

From there, the Splat Zone. I get the upper-tentacle on one of the Carbon Rollers, whose splat puddle helpfully captures the Splat Zone for us. Nice! I try to defend against multiple inklings as help super-jumps in, and even though I'm splatted away I don't taint the Splat Zone too much with teal ink, and my squidmates turn up in time to keep everything orange.

My squidmates' arrival and assault is just what was needed. Before I even get a chance to return to the battle, extra time ends as we snatch the lead and take the victory. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, port mackerel, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Behind the lines in Splat Zones (8-2, Tri-slosher)

I see that inkling coming towards the ramp. If I had known it was the Luna Blaster maybe I'd have turned away, but so it goes. The other way may suit me better, but sneaking up on inklings whilst Echolocated isn't as easy as it could be. I should think about my Cold-blooded t-shirt again.

We have an interloper! A squidmate deals with them, but the green ink keeps coming. We have another interloper! Thankfully, their aim is slightly off, letting me stay unsplatted for an unfamiliar amount of time. What can I do with myself?

I ink the other side of the ramp, just so we can better see if an inkling tries to come around behind us, before getting some height, taking two attempts to get it right, and sloshing the Splat Zones. My sloshing finds one inkling aiming for me, and another below I had no idea was there.

Another inkling is persuaded to stop being where she is, which I would like to attribute to my Disruptor, but the Inkzooka is perhaps the more credible threat. My sloshing can't reach where I want it to from here, so I head all the way around the back instead. I am just about in position when I am Echolocated again, somewhat ruining the surprise I had planned. Luckily, my Bubbler serves roughly the same purpose.

I turn back on a whim, happily finding another inkling behind me, and head around to cover up the path to the ramp. Some green ink chases me, but with a bit of use of the landscape, I just about keep my integrity. I lose it a little when my attempt to return to the Splat Zones fails, in view of the splat-cam, but I simply pretend that I intended to make another patrol around the back.

I don't see any more inklings, despite my proximity to the base, But I won't complain, given that it's because the battle ends as a knockout victory in our favour. Woomy!

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Tags: console, kelp dome, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

By the skin of my beak in Splat Zones (16-10, Tri-slosher)

It's a bold move to go right around the back at the start of the battle, particularly as there isn't a charger to find on the usual perch. Naturally, the green team grab the unusually unguarded Splat Zones, and I hope to make up for my move with a few splats. I get them, and look for the fourth inkling, finding him waiting for my Bubbler to run out with really good timing.

At least with the green team out of the way we should be able to secure the Splat Zones. But we don't. I head back to see that the green team have regrouped very well, sitting atop the central column, and it is only by some good luck that I am able to splat one of them to get close. Another bit of luck lets my Bubbler pop as the Carbon Roller surprises me again, and my luck holds as I am chased around the corner.

Good positioning gets me the next splat. And, finally, the Splat Zones turn blue. Long may it last, but let me just get out of the way of this Inkstrike. And the Carbon Roller again, who I somehow outrun and out-manoeuvre, turning the tables. A bit more ink is needed in the Splat Zones, which we supply, as two of us splat a Tri-slosher, and I move around to get another splat on an inkling concentrating more on the Splat Zones.

We take the lead. I can't help but feel I've used up my luck in this battle, although I want to believe I'm on a roll that will continue. Naturally, this is the time the Carbon Roller finds me first. Well, it was quite a streak I was on! I take a long route back, inking another path for us, and again only finding inklings once I get all the way around the Dome and back in to the Splat Zones. It's nice that I find the Carbon Roller, hiding from a Kraken, but I feel a bit sad to splat the Tr-slosher again.

I spy inklings returning, and think my sloshing whilst Bubblered will keep me safe. But there are more inklings than I thought, with ink from all sides, and neither my sloshing nor my Bubbler can hold out. The Carbon Roller gets away from me, and doesn't rush back in to my Bubbler, and running out of ink doesn't do me any favours. The pause to refill means my back is turned to an Inkzooka, and unfavourable position to be in.

The Green team are now in control, and their counter is reaching our score. A blue Inkstrike neutralises the Splat Zones just in time, which is good for the team, but it seems my personal luck has expired. Where I could have got a clean splat on the Tri-slosher, it instead is mutual. That's how it goes, but what's unsettling is to see two more inklings jumping over the wall, spraying ink in to the Splat Zones, with nothing I can do about it.

I take position on the central column, fighting back the green ink, but another splat that I could have made certain of becomes mutual. Then again, I've never got on well against N-ZAPs. At least we have increased our lead, given ourselves a better buffer. And even if I've turned from hunter to hunted, with everyone getting in on the action, we only need to survive a few more seconds before we are declared victors. Or so I think.

The green team capture the Splat Zones just as the battle draws to a close, forcing extra time. And although we have a while to spread enough ink to win the battle in our favour, extra time can add extra pressure to an inkling. Or extra focus to those trying to turn the battle around.

Even when I try to keep my cool and take the long route, rather than rushing in to the Splat Zones to be splatted too soon, the green teams patrols have each other's backs. I get a splat, creating a blue splotch, only to have the Carbon Roller splat me, turning it green again. And, before you know it, our lead, and the battle, is lost. Well played, green team.

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Tags: console, kelp dome, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Top cooperation in Splat Zones (5-2, Tri-slosher)

My squidmate does all the good moves down the side channel at the start of this battle. Maybe I'm a minor distraction, helping her get the splats, but she gets the splats. They all count! She pushes higher, as I cross the bridge. I get one splat of my own, but am soon overwhelmed, and without the footwork to keep me safe.

I keep the inklings busy for long enough for our other squids to capture the purple Splat Zone, starting our counter. It's stopped before long, but we have the lead, and I super-jump to our Octoshot, still sitting almost on top of the purple base.

I sit and watch, gauging the situation, as she dives ahead of me. That's cool, and I hold for a moment longer, spying a purple inkling aiming for her. My Disruptor misses, so I don't prevent her splatting, but I get revenge, and dodge nicely around some sloshing to get a second splat nearer the Splat Zone, whilst another squidmate Krakens through the Splat Zone for a splat and to neutralise it.

Both Splat Zones are ours again, and we have squids in good positions. I super-jump to one, and start sloshing my ink around. An Inkstrike forces me to move, which turns out to be a good thing, as I bump in to a Dual Squelcher looking to avoid attention. We hold our positions well, even with a minor retreat from a Suction Bomb Rush, before pushing forwards as our counter gets close to the knockout victory.

Kraken and Bubbler pose problems for the purple team, and the battle looks won. I give a victory 'Nice!', which turns out to be a bit soon again, as an inkling has sneaked around the side and has captured our Splat Zone. Good work, inkling. Two of us stay where we are, as we mustn't lose the purple Splat Zone, as our other two fend off the inklings and turn the Splat Zone green again.

One squidmate goes chasing purple inklings, leaving our Splat Zone tantalisingly green, but our last follows behind to turn it fully green. A last-second purple Inkstrike simply isn't quick enough to do anything now. Woomy!

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Tags: camp triggerfish, console, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u