Those who are just jumping into Splatoon 3 for the first time having not played the previous games may be surprised by the amount of extra depth that there is to the game. Specifically, one feature that may not be obvious from the very start is access to unique abilities.

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One of the potential Splatoon 3 abilities is Sub Power Up. This adds a unique upgrade to the player's sub weapon, which they can usually activate during battle by hitting the R button on their controller. While the ability serves this purpose for nearly all loadouts, the exact effect changes per sub weapon.

How To Get Sub Power Up?

Splatoon 3's Equip Menu with the selection on "Headgear," pointing out the Cycling Cap that has a Sub Power-Up

There are two avenues that players can go down to get the Sub Power Up. One that gives a player a temporary boost for the ability is purchasing a Super Sub Juicer drink with a special ticket at the consumable stand in the lobby. The other choice, however, is select gear that can be purchased.

When shopping for new headgear, clothes, and shoes, players will see that each gear provides a unique ability that will automatically kick in when worn in battle. There is a list of items that automatically come with a Sub Power Up. They include:

  • Annaki Habaneros
  • Apple Ringer
  • Arctic Monster Parka
  • Black Inky Rider
  • Cycling Cap
  • Fancyfish Stitch
  • Gray Hoodie
  • Hero Mindset Replica
  • Khaki Ranger Vest
  • Lime BlobMob Tee
  • Mako Bucket Hi-Tops
  • Neon Delta Straps
  • Pilot Goggles
  • Pink Trainers
  • Squidbeak Shield
  • Squidmark Sweat
  • Stay Crusty Cap
  • Tan Work Boots
  • Trible-Deck Specs
  • Turbo Tabi Red
  • Urchins Cap
  • White 8-Bit FishFry

If an item does not come with the Sub Power Up, players can work on leveling up and talking to Murch about adding the Sub Power-Up to any piece of an outfit. If players also increase a gear's star power, they can also stack the same ability on one item, enhancing the Sub Power Up even further.

What Are The Effects?

A player shooting a curling bomb of orange ink in Splatoon 3

Each sub weapon has a different response to a player having a Sub Power Up, even though the effect of the weapon being enhanced in almost every way is generally the same. However, as noted earlier, players can further enhance the ability of the Sub Power Up by stacking them on an outfit. The sub weapons and the effects of a Sub Power Up are:

  • Autobomb (Improves how long it takes to travel and how far it can go)
  • Burst Bomb (Increases how fast it is thrown and distance traveled)
  • Curling Bomb (Brings speed up)
  • Fizzy Bomb (Increases how quickly it goes off and how far it is thrown)
  • Splat Bomb (Improves how far it can be thrown and how quickly it gets there)
  • Suction Bomb (Increases how far it is flung and how quickly it goes off)
  • Angle Shooter (Improves the distance the line travels)
  • Ink Mine (Increases how large the mine's effect is and how long it targets a player)
  • Point Sensor (Elevates the targeting duration, speed, and distance traveled)
  • Splash Wall (Makes it more durable)
  • Sprinkler (Increases how long it lasts at full power)
  • Squid Beakon (Decreases time needed to perform a Super Jump)
  • Torpedo (Improves how fast it targets a player and how far it goes)
  • Toxic Mist (Increases how far it can be thrown and how long it lasts)

Splatoon 3 is out now on Nintendo Switch.

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