Splatoon 3 Version 11.3.0 Update Adds New Weapon and Major Multiplayer Balance Changes

Splatoon 3 August 2026 Update Explained: New Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica, Weapon Buffs, Nerfs and More

Nintendo has also changed how several existing weapons perform in multiplayer. The Carbon Roller receives improvements to its vertical-swing damage and movement speed, while the Tri-Slosher gets reduced ink consumption. The Glooga Dualies receive a dodge-roll adjustment, and the .52 Gal has its distant ink-splatter radius reduced.

Special weapons have also been reworked.

Triple Splashdown, Trizooka and Ink Vac all receive changes designed to alter how they function in competitive matches. Nintendo has also adjusted the number of points required for several special weapons.

For Splatoon 3 players who care about ranked matches, X Battles and weapon performance, this could be one of the more important balance patches of the year.

Splatoon 3 Version 11.3.0 Is Now Live

Nintendo's Version 11.3.0 update became available on August 19, 2026.

The patch applies to both versions of the game:

Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo notes that players need to install the update to use the game's online features. Players also need to be running the same software version as other players in order to play together.

That means competitive players should update before jumping into multiplayer.

The update is focused primarily on multiplayer.

The Biggest Addition: Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica

The most noticeable new piece of content is the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica.

The weapon is connected to Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo's separate Splatoon experience for Nintendo Switch 2.

Players can receive the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica from the lobby terminal if they have cleared the main story of Splatoon Raiders and have the required save data on the same Nintendo Switch 2 system.

There is an additional requirement.

What Is Special About the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica?

Interestingly, Nintendo says the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica has the same weapon specifications as the Tentatek Splattershot.

That means the importance of the new weapon is not necessarily that it completely changes the competitive meta.

Instead, it acts as a crossover-style addition that connects Splatoon 3 with Splatoon Raiders.

For collectors, however, it is an important new unlock.

It also gives Nintendo another way to encourage players to experience both games.

Carbon Roller Gets a Meaningful Adjustment

The Carbon Roller, along with the Carbon Roller Deco and Carbon Roller ANG-L, receives several changes.

Nintendo has adjusted the damage-falloff rate for vertical swings.

The change allows the weapon to deal 50.0 damage or 100 damage from farther away than before.

That is potentially important for players who rely on vertical swings during fights.

The Carbon Roller also receives an approximately 5% increase to maximum movement speed while holding the ZR Button to ink while moving forward.

Why the Carbon Roller Change Matters

Roller weapons are built around controlling space.

A player using a roller is not simply trying to score direct eliminations. They can also cover territory, pressure opponents and create routes for teammates.

Tri-Slosher Gets Lower Ink Consumption

The Tri-Slosher, Tri-Slosher Nouveau and Tri-Slosher ASH-N have also been adjusted.

Their ink consumption is being reduced by approximately 5%.

At first glance, a 5% change may not sound enormous.

In a fast multiplayer game, however, small resource changes can have a significant impact.

Ink management is central to Splatoon 3.

Every weapon needs to balance attacking, painting the environment and recovering ink.

Reducing the amount of ink required by the Tri-Slosher means players can potentially remain active for longer before needing to retreat and refill.

That could make the weapon easier to use during prolonged fights.

Glooga Dualies Become More Consistent After Dodge Rolls

The Glooga Dualies and Glooga Dualies Deco receive another interesting adjustment.

Nintendo has reduced the scatter of shots after a Dodge Roll by approximately 10%.

For dualie players, Dodge Rolls are a fundamental part of movement and combat.

They allow players to reposition quickly while creating opportunities to attack from different angles.

.52 Gal Receives a Long-Range Adjustment

The .52 Gal and .52 Gal Deco also receive a balance change.

Nintendo has decreased the radius of ink splatter at the point where projectiles land from a distance by approximately 8%.

The change specifically affects distant projectile impacts.

That means players using the weapon may need to be more deliberate when trying to maintain pressure from farther away.

The .52 Gal remains a powerful weapon, but this adjustment appears intended to reduce some of its ability to influence areas from a safe distance.

E-liter 4K Gets an Ink Saver Adjustment

The E-liter 4K, Custom E-liter 4K, E-liter 4K Scope and Custom E-liter 4K Scope receive a change related to the Ink Saver (Main) ability.

Nintendo has lessened the effect of the ink-consumption reduction provided by that ability.

This is especially relevant for players who build gear around maximizing ink efficiency.

The E-liter 4K is already designed around long-range control.

Changing how efficiently Ink Saver (Main) interacts with the weapon can affect how players build their gear and manage shots during battles.

The adjustment may encourage more careful positioning and resource management.

Snipewriter 5H Uses More Ink

The Snipewriter 5H and Snipewriter 5B move in the opposite direction.

Their ink consumption increases by approximately 7%.

This is a noticeable change for a weapon that depends on charging and firing repeated shots.

Tri-Stringer Gets a Smaller Inked Area

Several Tri-Stringer variants also receive an adjustment.

Nintendo has decreased the area inked by falling spray from the weapon's shots.

This means players cannot rely as heavily on the falling spray to cover large areas.

The adjustment reinforces the importance of accurate positioning and deliberate shot placement.

Tri-Stringer users who previously relied on the weapon's secondary ink coverage may need to rethink how they approach territory control.

Triple Splashdown Receives Three Major Changes

The Triple Splashdown special weapon gets several changes in Version 11.3.0.

First, players become invulnerable to damage approximately one-sixth of a second faster after activating the special.

That is a small timing adjustment, but it can matter greatly in close-range fights.

Nintendo has also decreased the damaging explosion area by approximately 9%.

At the same time, the distance traveled by the ink fists increases by approximately 9%.

Trizooka Gets Faster Shots

The Trizooka receives one of the simplest changes in the update.

Nintendo has increased shot speed by approximately 13% without changing the flight distance.

For Trizooka users, this means shots reach their destinations faster.

That can make it easier to hit moving targets and punish opponents who attempt to escape.

Ink Vac Becomes Less Effective at Sucking Opponent Ink

The Ink Vac receives a different kind of adjustment.

Nintendo has decreased the amount of opponent ink that can be sucked up by approximately 9%.

That reduces one part of the special's defensive potential.

Players using Ink Vac will therefore need to be more strategic about when they activate it.

Rather than relying on the special to absorb large amounts of enemy fire, positioning and timing become even more important.

Special Weapon Point Costs Have Changed

Nintendo is also changing the number of points required for several special weapons.

The affected weapons include:

Splattershot Pro FRZ-N: 190 → 180
Custom Hydra Splatling: 200 → 190
Inkline Tri-Stringer: 190 → 200

This is important because special-weapon frequency can influence the rhythm of an entire match.

Lowering the requirement for a special generally allows players to activate it more frequently.

Increasing the requirement does the opposite.

The Splattershot Pro FRZ-N and Custom Hydra Splatling therefore become slightly more accessible in terms of special activation, while Inkline Tri-Stringer players need more points to reach their special.

The Update Also Fixes a Movement Exploit

Version 11.3.0 is not entirely about balance.

Nintendo has also fixed a player-control issue involving Squid Surge.

Previously, performing certain actions immediately after jumping off a wall using Squid Surge could allow greater horizontal movement than intended.

The update fixes that problem.

How Version 11.3.0 Could Change the Multiplayer Meta

The most interesting question is not simply what Nintendo changed.

It is what these changes will do to actual matches.

The update targets several areas simultaneously.

Carbon Roller becomes more capable at certain distances.

Tri-Slosher becomes more efficient.

Glooga Dualies become more accurate after Dodge Rolls.

The .52 Gal loses some distant ink-splatter effectiveness.

Snipewriter 5H consumes more ink.

Trizooka becomes faster.

Triple Splashdown changes its balance between safety, damage area and reach.

Together, these changes could slightly redistribute weapon viability.

Aggressive Players Have New Options

The Carbon Roller and Glooga Dualies changes could benefit players who prefer aggressive movement.

Both adjustments reward players who actively engage with opponents.

Carbon Roller gains better movement and damage potential at greater distances.

Glooga Dualies become more consistent after Dodge Rolls.

That could encourage more aggressive playstyles.

Resource Management Becomes More Important

The changes to Tri-Slosher, Snipewriter 5H and E-liter 4K also highlight resource management.

Some weapons become more efficient.

Others become more expensive to operate.

That creates a more nuanced balance environment.

Players cannot simply focus on damage output.

Ink availability, positioning and timing remain critical.

What This Means for X Battle Players

Competitive X Battle players should pay particular attention to the update.

Weapon balance changes can have an immediate impact on preferred loadouts.

A weapon that previously struggled to compete may become more attractive after a small adjustment.

At the same time, weapons that were already strong can become less dominant if their resource efficiency or area control is reduced.

Splatoon 3 Players Should Update Before Multiplayer

Because Version 11.3.0 changes online gameplay, players should make sure their game is fully updated before attempting multiplayer.

Nintendo's support documentation explains that the update is distributed through the internet and that all players need to use the same software version to play together.

The normal process is straightforward.

From the Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 HOME Menu:

Highlight Splatoon 3.
Press the + or – button.
Select Software Update.
Choose Via the Internet.
Allow the console to download and install Version 11.3.0.

Players with automatic updates enabled and an internet connection may receive the update automatically.

Why the Splatoon Raiders Connection Matters

The Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica is more than a new cosmetic addition.

It represents another connection between Nintendo's Splatoon projects.

Players who complete the required Splatoon Raiders progression can unlock the weapon in Splatoon 3.

This type of cross-game reward gives Nintendo another way to connect its player communities.

It also gives Splatoon 3 veterans a reason to investigate a newer entry in the franchise.

For collectors, the weapon provides another reason to complete the Splatoon Raiders story.

For competitive players, the weapon's specifications being tied to the Tentatek Splattershot means its main importance may be the new experience and collection value rather than an entirely new combat archetype.

What Should Players Test First?

Players returning after the update should probably avoid immediately jumping into serious ranked matches.

The better approach is to experiment.

Try the Carbon Roller and compare its vertical swing performance.

Test Glooga Dualies after Dodge Rolls.

Check how quickly Tri-Slosher consumes ink.

Try Trizooka against moving targets and notice the faster projectile speed.

Then experiment with Triple Splashdown to understand its new activation protection and reduced explosion area.

These changes are subtle enough that players may need several matches before their effects become obvious.

Splatoon 3 Version 11.3.0 is a significant multiplayer-focused update rather than a simple maintenance patch.

The new Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica gives players an interesting connection to Splatoon Raiders, while the extensive weapon changes could have a more lasting effect on competitive play.

Carbon Roller receives stronger vertical-swing potential and improved movement.

Tri-Slosher becomes more efficient.

Glooga Dualies become more consistent after Dodge Rolls.

Meanwhile, .52 Gal, E-liter 4K and Snipewriter 5H receive changes designed to limit or reshape their existing strengths.

11. Frequently Asked Questions

What is Splatoon 3 Version 11.3.0?

Splatoon 3 Version 11.3.0 is the August 19, 2026 update for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It introduces a new weapon and makes extensive multiplayer balance changes.