Splatoon 3 Dualies Guide: Tips, Build, and Perks

Those of you who were around for the sixth generation of game consoles probably remember when dual-wielding in shooters was the new hotness. Everyone was adding dual-wielding to their games, because where one gun was cool, two were obviously cooler. Naturally, if it’s cool, it belongs in Splatoon, which is why Splatoon 3 has Dualies. Here’s a guide to using Dualies in Splatoon 3.

Splatoon 3 Dualies Guide: Tips, Build, and Perks

Dualies function similarly to Shooters, albeit with duties split up between two nozzles instead of just one. Holding down the trigger fires off alternating blasts of ink from both nozzles, with their trajectories indicated by two separate firing reticles. If you press B while firing and moving the stick, you’ll perform a dodge roll in that direction. Dodge rolling not only helps you avoid attacks but for a moment afterward, both of your reticles will align, focusing fire from both nozzles. You can perform up to 2 dodge rolls in a row.

Dualies come in five standard variants:

• Splat Dualies: Baseline Dualies, no particular gimmicks.
• Dapple Dualies: Faster dodge roll, more damage, and higher fire rate, but severely reduced range.
• Glooga Dualies: Higher range and damge, lower fire rate. Damage and range increase further after a dodge roll.
• Dualie Squelchers: Longest range and faster, more mobile dodge roll. You can also slide after rolling instead of staying in place.
• Tetra Dualies: Can perform up to 4 dodge rolls in a row, and allows you to keep firing while rolling.

Dualies are for players who like the straightforward shooting of Shooters but want a little more mobility in their kits. Not only does the dodge roll make you a harder target to pin down, but the subsequent reticle lineup is a major boon for those who have difficulty landing precise shots. Once you get the rhythm and range down pat, you can pop off some seriously deadly barrages.

Related: Splatoon 3 Special Weapons List

However, with the buffs to mobility and flexibility come detriments to range and turfing potential. Most Dualies are only good for mid-range encounters at best, and can’t take on long-range weapons like Chargers. The alternating ink shots are also not so good for covering turf, making them a less-than-ideal choice for Turf Wars versus other game modes.

Two for the Price of One

Out of all of the Dualie variants, the most highly-regarded are the Dualie Squelchers, followed by the Glooga Dualies. The Dualie Squelchers deal roughly the same damage as the Splat Dualies, so with their boosted range and mobility, they’re pretty much just a straight upgrade. As for the Glooga Dualies, precise targeting can yield rapid splatting action. With the damage boost that comes from dodge rolling, two precise shots from Glooga Dualies can yield a splat at breakneck speed.

If you’re coordinating gear for a Dualie build, consider these abilities:

• Quick Super Jump: This ability pairs well with the inherent mobility of the Dualies. You want to get around as quickly as possible, and that includes Super Jumping.
• Quick Respawn: Even master Dualie users get splatted sometimes. When that happens, get back into the fray a little faster.
• Respawn Punisher: This one is mostly for the Glooga Dualies. As long as you don’t mind taking a respawn penalty yourself, this ability can exacerbate any damage dealt to the enemy team when you splat them.
• Stealth Jump: In addition to Super Jumping quickly, it’d probably help if the opposition didn’t see you coming. Cover your tracks with this ability.
• Swim Speed Up: You’ll need to use your teammates’ ink trails to traverse quickly, making this ability a borderline necessity.

You know what they say: two heads are better than one. Turns out that applies to spray nozzle heads as well. Who knew?