The start of a Splatoon 3 match might be the most underrated yet crucial moment of gameplay. At that moment, every team is on equal footing — no map control, no special charge, no lead. What happens in the first 30 seconds can set the tone for the entire match. In this guide, we’ll break down how to open matches strategically depending on your role and the context of the game mode. Whether you’re a frontliner, support, or backliner, there’s a right way to start.

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Why the Opening Matters

• Equal ground: No team starts with an advantage.
• Momentum builder: The first team to control mid gains crucial map control and starts building specials.
• Resource war: The first team to use specials effectively usually dictates early engagements.

Let’s break down how to take advantage of this pivotal stage.

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Special Awareness

The first thing to assess is who will get specials first.

• If the enemy comp features fast-charging special weapons (e.g., Tri-Slosher with Ink Armor), they’ll likely beat your team to it.
• In that case, your team should make an aggressive play before the specials are online. Once the enemy pops armor or a Sting Ray, a passive start will leave you cornered.

Early Aggression

• Push before they pop special.
• If you’re outnumbering them at mid (e.g., 4v3 because one is still in spawn), capitalize immediately.
• Delay equals defeat — passive teams get crushed by an early special rush.

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Frontliners: Get to Mid Fast

A common mistake from frontliners is being too slow to mid.

• On most maps, the center is easy to hold and difficult to take back.
• If you get there first, especially on maps like The Reef or Mincemeat Metalworks, you can hold advantageous positions like high ground.

Best Practices:

• Move quickly off the spawn pad — don’t waste time painting base.
• Prioritize securing top mid and nearby cover.
• If you’re using weapons like Blasters or Splash-o-matic, look for early pick opportunities.
• Do not rush blindly — stay aware of enemy specials.

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When Not to Push the Objective

A frequent error in ranked (especially Rainmaker or Tower Control) is grabbing the objective before securing kills.

What Happens:

• You grab Rainmaker → get splatted → team is now down a player.
• Enemy team gains special advantage due to lead.

Solution:

• Don’t touch the objective until 1-2 enemies are down.
• Only grab it when:
  • You have a clear numbers advantage
  • You’ve displaced key defenders
  • You’ve coordinated a push with specials

This applies slightly differently in Splat Zones (where early paint can slow down enemy control) or Clam Blitz (where early clams help you build a power clam and gain special).

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Backliners: Position with Purpose

For this section, we consulted insights from top backliner Brian. Here’s how experienced players approach opening positions:

Backliner Tips:

• Start at a standard safe spot where you can support your frontliners.
• Adjust based on where the enemy team positions.
• Change angles if your standard lane isn’t giving vision or value.
• If using specials like Sting Ray or Ink Armor:
  • Know in advance if an early special pop is worth it.
  • Don’t tunnel vision on charge speed — positioning is often more impactful.

Essentially, backliners should balance safe positioning with calculated aggression. A strong opening pick can swing the neutral phase instantly.

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Know Your Teammates’ Roles

You’re not playing alone. Coordinating implicitly — even in solo queue — starts with understanding your teammates:

• If you plan to flank early, do it fast — before your team gets outnumbered.
• Don’t abandon mid while teammates take 3v4s.
• Evaluate how aggressive your teammates are being and match their tempo.

A slow flank that fails wastes time and leaves your allies vulnerable.

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Final Advice: Practice Different Openings

You won’t master the opening game overnight. But if you experiment, reflect, and stay mindful of your comp and enemy comp, you’ll develop an intuitive feel for how to open:

• When to go fast
• When to wait
• When to pop specials
• When to stay in position

The first 30 seconds aren’t about mindless painting — they’re about shaping the rest of the game.

Get out there, open strong, and tilt the odds in your favor before the match even gets rolling.