What does 100x mean in Splatoon? A Deep Dive into Splatoon‘s wildest matches
As a long-time Splatoon fanatic, some of my most intense and memorable multiplayer moments have come from the insane x100 and x333 battles. These high-stakes matches are a hallmark of Splatfest events, capable of massively boosting your Clout with a single victory. For the uninitiated, seeing that x100 or x333 multiplier flash on-screen can be bewildering. What does it all mean? How do these matches work? Why do they create such hype during Splatfests? Read on for my comprehensive guide to understanding x100 battles in Splatoon!
A Brief History of x100 Battles across Splatoon Games
Let‘s start with some background. x100 battles were first introduced in the original Splatoon for Wii U. During Splatfests, players could find rare shells that powered up a single match with a x10 or x100 multiplier. Splatoon 2 built on this concept with Festival Shells that allowed teams to activate a x100 multiplier. If both sides triggered it, the iconic x333 match was born!
Splatoon 3 keeps this tradition alive with x100 and x333 battles returning once again for Splatfests. Each sequel has incrementally improved the system with tweaks like shell drop rates and team coordination. But that exhilarating core experience of ultra high-stakes battles persists throughout the series!
How Often Do x100 Battles Occur?
According to data aggregated on Splatoon fan sites like Inkipedia, roughly 15% of Splatfest matches involve a x100 multiplier. Out of those, approximately 1 in 15 will have both teams activate x100 for the coveted x333.
So while rare, they come up often enough over a whole Splatfest weekend to keep things exciting! Let‘s compare the x100 battle frequency across all three Splatoon games:
| Game | Avg % of Matches with x100 | Avg % of x333 battles |
|---|---|---|
| Splatoon 1 | 10% | < 1% |
| Splatoon 2 | 12-15% | 1% |
| Splatoon 3 | 15-20% | 1% |
As you can see, the chance to participate in these wild matches has steadily increased with each sequel. The Splatoon developers at Nintendo are clearly conscious of how beloved x100 battles are by the player base!
Winning Strategy and Team Composition
Approaching a standard x100 battle isn‘t too different from normal matches. But for the ultra-rare x333, you‘ll want to bring your A-game. Having voice chat for coordination is extremely useful. I‘d also recommend equipping your best combat-focused weapon like a Splat Roller or Splat Charger. Prioritize ink coverage over splats since it‘s still Turf War rules. Avoid overly supportive weapons like Sloshers or Blasters that rely on team synergy.
For your team composition, mix both slayers and inkers. Have at least one slayer focusing on splats to clear paths. Your other 2 or 3 players should excel at quickly inking ground. Anchors watching flanks and chokepoints are valuable for keeping control.
Finally, watch the map diligently to quickly respond to enemy movements. Keeping up your team‘s momentum is crucial when the match can swing heavily on just a few key skirmishes. With strong fundamentals and coordination, your squad will be well-equipped to grab those sweet x333 rewards!
x100 Battles Create Legendary Splatfest Moments
The sheer stakes of a x333 match create plenty of iconic moments. I still vividly remember one Splatfest where our team triggered a x333, then defended the lead in a down-to-the-wire finish! Chat was exploding, and we all laughed and cheered in disbelief. The rush of winning a massive x333 battle is incredible.
These moments get etched into Splatfest lore. I‘ve seen x333 wins make a huge impact on final Clout scores multiple times. Top-tier teams take pride in pulling off big x100 battle wins when it matters most. Some crews will even change their team names to reference their achievement!
Personally, I love the thrill of rallying my friends for a tough x333 battle. The teamwork required alongside the high risk & reward makes success extremely rewarding!
x100 Battles Encourage Hype and Engagement
From a game design perspective, x100 and x333 matches are genius at promoting Splatfest engagement. Having exclusive shells from event participation gate access to the multiplier encourages playing often. Players also coordinate outside games to successfully activate x100 together.
The explosion of energy when a x333 match starts is infectious! Seeing that giant number motivates everyone to play at their best, leading to unforgettable matches. And the winners are showered with festival rewards and flair to create prestige. It‘s a perfect storm of mechanisms to build hype.
No other element represents the friendly competition and excitement of Splatfests more than x100 battles!
x100 vs Tricolor Turf Wars
Splatoon 3 introduced a new way to amp up matches with Tricolor Turf Wars. In this mode, 2 teams face off against 1 team with more players. It‘s an interesting spin, but personally I still prefer the classic x100 battles. Here‘s why:
Benefits of x100 Battles:
- Rare and special since activated voluntarily
- Winners get huge clout multipliers
- Victory relies purely on skill rather than numbers
- Encourages team synchronization
- Unpredictable – no way to force them like Tricolor
Benefits of Tricolor Battles:
- Cool 2v4 dynamic that shakes things up
- Winners get standard multiplier so lower risk
- Guaranteed to occur multiple times per Splatfest
- Provides underdog appeal
Overall both modes spice up Splatfests in different ways. But the prestige and massive rewards from timing a x333 win perfectly can‘t be matched!
Crunching the Numbers on x333 Matches
Let‘s geek out on the math behind these epic battles! During a x333 match, the standard multiplier for a Turf War win gets juiced all the way up to 333x. To put that in perspective, a typical win is around 2000p of ink. At 333x, that becomes 666,000p for a single game!
Even at more reasonable ink scores, you‘re looking at over 100,000p rewards per x333 win. That‘s as much as nearly 50 regular matches! No wonder a couple good x333‘s can rocket your Clout ranking. Just beware – if you lose, that massive potential gain becomes a huge missed opportunity. The pressure is real!
Tips for Triggering More x100 and x333 Battles
Hopefully now you‘ve got a better idea of why x100 battles create such hype. Here are my pro tips for activating more of these memorable matchups during your next Splatfest:
- Stock up on shells early – Play a ton right when Splatfest starts for the best supply
- Queue with friends – Coordinate to activate x100 together in voice chat
- Use shells sparingly – Don‘t waste them outside of x100 prompts
- Focus your best weapons – Bring your S-game to maximize x333 payoff
- Review your results – Check SplatNet 3 for your x100/x333 win rates to improve
- Pray to the Splatfest gods – There‘s always some luck involved!
Conclusion: x100 Battles Epitomize the Spirit of Splatfest
That covers everything you need to know about the wildest matches in Splatoon! To me, the x100 and x333 battles exemplify everything that makes Splatfests special. The crowds cheering, teams uniting, rewards flying – it‘s peak Splatoon hype distilled into a single memorable match. I hope this guide gives you insight into how these iconic battles came to be and why we love them so much. Stay fresh out there, and maybe I‘ll see you in a x333 someday!