Splatoon 3 Update 11.3.0 Adds a Weapon Only Splatoon Raiders Players Can Claim
Splatoon 3 update 11.3.0 is rolling out today on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and it adds a new main weapon that most players cannot claim yet. The Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica is handed out through the lobby terminal, but only to accounts with Splatoon Raiders save data where the main story has already been cleared. Everything else in the patch is competitive balance work, and it lands squarely on the weapons that have been dominating Splat Zones.
Nintendo published the version notes ahead of the rollout, which went live at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET on 19 August, or 10 a.m. JST on 20 August in Japan. There is no separate Switch 2 build to download. The same update covers both consoles.
What the Splatoon 3 update 11.3.0 weapon unlock actually requires
The Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica is not a new weapon class. It carries the same specifications as the Tentatek Splattershot, so it is a cosmetic variant with an identical kit rather than a fresh entry in the meta. That matters for anyone hoping the patch shifted the shooter balance by adding something new.
The unlock has three conditions, and all of them have to line up:
- You need save data for Splatoon Raiders, the Switch 2 spinoff.
- That save data must have the main story completed, not merely started.
- You must be playing Splatoon 3 on the same user profile attached to that Raiders save.
Once those are met, the weapon is claimed from the terminal in the lobby. Players without Raiders have no alternative route to it in this version.
Which weapons got hit hardest
The main weapon pass reads as a correction to how easily some kits could hold a zone. Carbon Roller variants came out ahead, with more vertical swing damage at range and roughly 5% more movement speed while inking. Tri-Slosher variants use about 5% less ink per swing.
The nerfs are more pointed. The .52 Gal loses roughly 8% of its splash radius on impact, Snipewriter variants burn about 7% more ink, and E-liter 4K variants now get less out of the Ink Saver (Main) ability. Glooga Dualies variants scatter about 10% less after a dodge roll, which is a straight buff to their post-roll accuracy. Tri-Stringer variants had the size of their falling spray area cut.
Special weapons changed too. Trizooka shots travel 13% faster. Triple Splashdown activates its invulnerability sooner and throws its fists 9% further, but its damaging area shrank by 9%. Ink Vac can absorb 9% less opponent ink.
Special point costs
Three kits had their special point requirements adjusted, which is usually the change that quietly decides a weapon's viability in ranked:
- Splattershot Pro FRZ-N: 190 to 180
- Custom Hydra Splatling: 200 to 190
- Inkline Tri-Stringer: 190 to 200
The update also fixes a minor bug affecting movement during a Squid Surge.
How to install it
Splatoon 3 requires the current version to play online, so the update downloads automatically the next time the game is opened while the console is connected. If it does not, highlight the game on the Home menu, press the + or - button, and choose Software Update, then Via the Internet. Nintendo's online play needs an active subscription, and the service had two scheduled maintenance windows on 18 August across both consoles.
Splatoon 3 launched on the original Switch and now runs on Switch 2 as well, joining a growing list of cross-generation titles. Mojang is testing a similar path with the Minecraft closed beta that more than doubles render distance on the newer hardware, while newer arrivals such as DayZ on Switch 2 at 15.9GB are built for the Switch 2 from the start. Nintendo's own numbers show the audience is there, with Pokemon Pokopia passing 5 million sales in a little over four months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica in Splatoon 3?
You need Splatoon Raiders save data with the main story cleared, and you must play Splatoon 3 on the same user profile linked to that save. When both conditions are met, claim the weapon from the terminal in the lobby. There is no way to unlock it in version 11.3.0 without Raiders.
Is Splatoon 3 update 11.3.0 available on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. The same 11.3.0 update covers both the original Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and there is no separate Switch 2 download. The weapon unlock still depends on Splatoon Raiders save data rather than which console you own.
What weapons were nerfed in Splatoon 3 version 11.3.0?
The .52 Gal variants lost roughly 8% of their impact splash radius, Snipewriter variants consume about 7% more ink, and E-liter 4K variants gain less from the Ink Saver (Main) ability. Tri-Stringer variants also had their falling spray area reduced, and Ink Vac absorbs 9% less opponent ink.
Is the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica better than the Tentatek Splattershot?
No. It has identical weapon specifications to the Tentatek Splattershot, so it performs the same in a match. It is effectively a cosmetic reward for Splatoon Raiders players rather than a new option that changes the shooter balance.
Do you need the update to keep playing Splatoon 3 online?
Yes. Splatoon 3 requires the latest version for online play, so the update downloads automatically when you open the game with the console connected to the internet. You can force it by highlighting the game on the Home menu, pressing + or -, and selecting Software Update via the Internet.
