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Almost every player has a set playstyle with which they are most comfortable in Splatoon 3. The abilities given by the character’s gear are a great way to not only customize their appearance but to improve the efficiency of the player’s preferred style of play. Gear can be purchased in shops, through the sea urchin named Murch, or from buying physical Amiibos. This list will stay away from the Amiibo gear, and stick to the gear that doesn’t require buying and scanning figurines to unlock. Gear has a star-rating system (a rarity) that controls how many secondary abilities a piece of gear can have.
10 Red Hammertreads
Brand: Annaki Ability: Ink Saver (Main) Cost: 10,999
The Red Hammertreads give the player one of the better abilities in the game, Ink Saver (Main). This ability reduces the amount of ink used by the character’s main weapon and sub-weapon. This means the player needs to spend less time reloading their ink and can spend more time splatting opponents.
When getting secondary abilities, the Red Hammertreads have the highest chance of getting Ink Saver (sub). This would make these shoes help conserve ink for both their main and sub-weapon. As with almost every pair of shoes on this list, these can be purchased at Crush Station or at the SplatNet 3 Shop.
9 Snow Delta Straps
Brand: Inkline Ability: Swim Speed Up Cost: 8,800
There are only two sets of shoes that give the character the Swim Speed Up ability. The other pair is the Squinja Boots, but those are gained from the Inkling Boy 2 Amiibo. Every player spends a considerable amount of time swimming in Splatoon 3. Swimming reloads ink and allows players to move around faster than running, and with a bit of concealment.
The most likely secondary ability for Inkline shoes is Sub Resistance Up. Many sub-weapons are of the explosive variety; meaning they are quite capable of splatting multiple players in one colorful blast - these shoes help prevent that from happening to the wearer.
8 Arrow Toesies Blu
Brand: Takoroka Ability: Ink Recovery Up Cost: 980
There are three pairs of shoes that come with the sought-after Ink Recovery Up ability; actually four, but the fourth requires an Amiibo. The Arrow Toesies Blu are the cheapest of the three, making them affordable for nearly all players. These generally come with zero stars and one secondary ability slot, but like all pieces of gear, this can be improved with gold or Super Sea Snails.
The Arrow Toesies Blu was picked as the best of the three due to the secondary ability they are most likely to get. Takoroka shoes have a high chance of getting the Special Charge Up as a secondary ability. This is an important ability considering how powerful special weapons are in Turf Wars.
7 White 3-Straps
Brand: Splash Mob Ability: Ink Saver (Sub) Cost: 8,700
Sub-weapons do a lot of damage, and many are useful at assisting pushes into enemy territory or stopping an enemy push. The biggest drawback to sub-weapons is they use a lot of ink. The White 3-Straps give the wearer the Ink Saver (Sub) ability. This ability reduces the amount of time a player must spend reloading; which equates to more time shooting at enemies and inking the ground.
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The most likely secondary ability with Splash Mob shoes is Ink Saver (Main). This secondary ability makes the White 3-Straps a highly efficient pair of shoes to own.
6 Hero Boot Replicas
Brand: Cuttlegear Ability: Ink Resistance Up Cost: N/A
These shoes should be familiar to players who have gone through the Return of the Mammalians single-player mode. Completing this mode comes with rewards, and the Hero boot Replicas are part of that reward. These give the Ink Resistance Up ability; in other words, characters wearing these shoes take less damage from enemy ink. Nice!
Cuttlegear is similar to the Amiibo gear in that there isn’t an ability more likely to be gained as a secondary ability - all abilities have an equal chance. This can be good or bad, depending on which secondary ability is given. Just remember, secondary abilities can be removed or rerolled if an undesirable one is given. Now, if only there was a Trout Mask Replica.
5 Ink-Black Clam Dunks
Brand: Toni Kensa Ability: Quick Super Jump Cost: 11,500
When a player is needed during a Turf War, one of the best methods of getting to where you’re needed quickly is the Super Jump. There are two problems with the Super Jump though. The first is that a Super Jump must be charged. During the charge phase, a player is vulnerable to enemy fire. The second problem is that enemy players close to the landing spot are given a warning via a targeting circle on the ground that acts as the landing marker.
The Quick Super Jump ability reduces the charge time as well as the time spent in the air during the jump. When getting a secondary ability Toni Kensa shoes are more likely to get Ink Saver (Main); the value of which cannot be overstated.
4 Cyan Trainers
Brand: Tentatek Ability: Stealth Jump Cost: 700
These cool blue shoes give the player an advantage over the enemy when performing a Super Jump by removing the landing marker; effectively taking away the early warning given to enemies when Super Jumping near them. Players wearing the Cyan Trainers are much more likely to successfully ambush an opponent when performing a Super Jump.
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Ink Recovery Up has the highest chance of being selected as a secondary ability. This combo allows players to land near enemies with a Super Jump unnoticed and then get off more shots before having to wait for the ink to reload. This is a great pair of shoes for a support player.
3 Choco Clogs
Brand: Krak-On Ability: Quick Respawn Cost: 1,800
Getting splatted during a Turf War is part of the game, but if a player finds themselves being splatted often during matches they might want to get a pair of Choco Clogs. The Quick Respawn ability is perfect for players that are still getting the hang of the game and find themselves constantly respawning without splatting any opponents.
There are several other shoes that give Quick Respawn. The Choco Clogs are the second cheapest, and come with a high chance of getting a good secondary ability - in this case, Run Speed Up. Choco Clogs with this secondary will not only allow for a quick respawn but then allow the player to get to where they’re needed faster.
2 Turbo Tabi Red
Brand: Tentatek Ability: Sub Power Up Cost: 2,200
Sub-weapons can be devastating, both to the target and the user’s ink reserves. It makes sense then to boost sub-weapons to get more bang for the buck. The Sub Power Up ability improves sub-weapons. For most weapons, this is an increase in the speed the sub-weapon travels when used. Some other sub-weapons, like the Splash Wall and Sprinkler, have their duration extended.
As with all Tentatek shoes, the Turbo Tabi Red has a better chance of getting Ink Recovery Up for a secondary ability. Seeing as how much ink sub-weapons use (in some cases up to 70%), having a piece of gear that encourages their use while simultaneously improving ink recovery makes for a lethal combo.
1 Oyster Clogs
Brand: Krak-On Ability: Run Speed Up Cost: 600
There are several other pairs of shoes that give the Run Speed Up ability, but the Oyster Clogs were picked for a variety of reasons. First, these are the cheapest; making them an option for beginning players. The second reason is that these are made by Krak-On, as opposed to Zink. Third, they just look good.
As a Krak-On shoe, the Oyster Clogs are more prone to getting Run Speed Up as a secondary ability. This will improve run speed even more, and no player of Splatoon has ever said, “I wish my character moved slower.”
Splatoon 3 is available on Nintendo Switch.
