Splatoon 3 has introduced many new weapons, along with Special Weapons including the Ink Vac. This inky tool of destruction is a great new addition to the game and can prove useful to you in every game mode.
The Ink Vac is paired with some great Main Weapons in the game that make it even more effective and strong, both offensively and defensively. If you are looking for tips and strategies on how to use Ink Vac to your advantage, then this guide is for you.
What Is The Ink Vac Special Weapon?
The Ink Vac is a Special Weapon that sucks in ink from enemy attacks and then shoots out a projectile at the end of the attack. The more ink that is absorbed from enemies while it’s active, the stronger and larger the explosion will be. It is great to use as both a shield from attacks and a way to cover turf with ink. Weapons in Splatoon 3 will come with specific loadouts, where each Main Weapon will have a designated Sub-Weapon and Special Weapon that cannot be changed. Here are the main pieces of equipment that come with Ink Vac as their Special Weapon:
- Splat Charger
- Splatterscope
- Jet Squelcher
- Tenta Brella
- Rapid Blaster Pro
- .96 Gal
Weapons And Sub-Weapons To Use With Ink Vac
While there is no perfect loadout for Ink Vac (you don’t get to choose your three gear pieces, after all), there is a great Weapon and Sub-Weapon option that you can choose to take advantage of Ink Vac’s underestimated power. Of the six Main Weapons that use Ink Vac, your best bet overall would perhaps be to choose the Tenta Brella. This weapon allows you to shoot out an umbrella in front of you, protecting you from incoming attacks.
The Ink Vac can also be used as a shield, as it sucks in enemy ink and thus helps prevent you from getting splatted. If you use the Tenta Brella first to make a barrier behind or to the side of you, you can then use the Ink Vac to take in enemy attacks from the front. It’s a great way to make sure you have all of your bases covered.
The best Sub-Weapon to use with the Ink Vac is Toxic Mist. You can get this Sub-Weapon with the Rapid Blaster Pro. Toxic Mist is great if you want to try to stop opponents in their tracks and suck up their attacks more easily. Toxic Mist slows down opponents that walk into it, so you’ll be able to hold them up and use their attacks to charge up Ink Vac to make it stronger. The Special Power Up ability is also a great boon, boosting movement and the area of effect of the vacuum.
Turf War Strategies With Ink Vac
Ink Vac is a great Special Weapon for the Turf War mode. You can use this ability to prevent opponents from getting ink on your turf, allowing your teammates to have time to cover the surrounding ground.
To use Ink Vac to your advantage in Turf War, start by inking the ground on your team’s turf to fill your Special Weapon gauge. Then, make your way to the middle of the map or wherever you see the most opponents grouped together. Once you activate Ink Vac, make sure to focus on the surrounding enemies, so you can take in their ink. Even if the opponents stop shooting, you can still use Ink Vac as a method to stop them from inking the ground around them or cause them to retreat.
Anarchy Battle Strategies With Ink Vac
Anarchy Battles are the new Ranked Battles in Splatoon 3, with modes including Tower Control, Splat Zones, Rainmaker, and Clam Blitz.
In Tower Control, fill up your Special Weapon gauge, and head straight to the tower on the map. The other team will naturally be shooting towards the tower to take control, so this is the best time to use Ink Vac to suck up their attacks and allow your teammates to get to the tower.
With Splat Zones, you can take a similar approach to Turf War and focus on covering the Splat Zone while stopping the other team from taking over. Don’t stay in the very middle of the Splat Zone, though, as it will be hard to prevent yourself from getting splatted. Instead, stay outside the main area and support your teammates by using Ink Vac to protect them, and then use the explosion to cover ink in the Splat Zone.
Rainmaker can be a difficult mode to master. With the Ink Vac, though, you can easily support your teammates. Once your Special Weapon gauge is filled, use Ink Vac to defend your teammate who currently holds the Rainmaker. Stay in front of them so you can suck up enemy attacks, and keep moving forward towards the checkpoints. The best thing to do beforehand is to take part in some recon, so you can find the best routes to get to the checkpoints.
Finally, taking a more offensive approach in Clam Blitz is the way to go. Start by getting past your opponents on the side and attacking them from there. Use Ink Vac to ambush your opponents and suck in their ink, and then if you can hit them with your explosion, that is a great way to pick up some clams for your team.
