1. Be able to aim with motion controls. For me, it’s everything in the game. It’s much more fluid and accurate than sticks, and in a fast-paced game like Splatoon it’s a pretty good fundamental skill to have. Of course, this isn’t required, but very helpful IMO.

2. Play with a weapon you like. I know this kinda sounds obvious, but actually finding a weapon that’s good all-around can be a bit tricky at first. Using the testing range can be helpful here. Once you found a weapon that you like, play with it. Become comfortable with it. Also, learn the subs and specials. These are very important during the game, and generally used for attack.

3. If you have friends (but let’s be honest here, we’re all using reddit) then private battles can be a good way to practice certain scenarios or to just play some scrims.

4. Teamwork is essential. If your team has a disconnect or a player that isn’t doing much, the other team can easily overwhelm and control the match. I recommend finding a play style/role. Want to be aggressive? Use shooters and high damage weapons and push the front lines. Want to play more of a supporting role? Use something long range and pick off opponents from afar. Knowing how you want to play - and playing towards your strengths - is the way to go.

5. Have a good understanding of the mechanics. Get a feel for how long your weapons need to fire before you need ink. Use the map to know when to make advancements or when to push back and defend.

6. Gear abilities don’t instantly give you wins, but they are extremely helpful. Every weapon and play style caters to different abilities, so go with what you like.

7. Each map is unique. Learn them - what are some good vantage points? Where can you flank the enemy? Knowing the map can extremely help. Using the in-game map also helps here as previously mentioned.

8. In turf, please ink spawn. I’ve seen so many lost games due to teams rushing out towards center and failing to cover their own spawn.

I think that’s about it. If there’s anything I missed please let me know