Splatoon 3 Ranks Explained: Every Rank from C- to S+50 and X Battle

In Splatoon 3, your rank only counts in Anarchy Battles. It runs from C- to S+50 and is shared across all four modes. Once you hit S+0, X Battles open up: there you no longer play for rank points but for X Power, tracked separately for each mode.

This guide covers every rank in order, the points you need to climb, the difference between Series and Open, how Rank-Up Battles work, what happens at the season reset and when the next season starts. Accurate as of 27 October 2026, game version 11.3.0, based on Nintendo and the fan wiki Inkipedia.

All Splatoon 3 ranks in order

C- is the lowest rank, S+50 the highest. Each letter from C to A has three steps (minus, plain, plus). S is followed by S+, and S+ runs from S+0 to S+50.

1. 05 S+ S+0 to S+50
2. 04 S S
3. 03 A A- · A · A+
4. 02 B B- · B · B+
5. 01 C C- · C · C+

New players start at C-. According to Inkipedia, anyone with Splatoon 2 save data on the console when they first launch the game starts at B- instead. Nintendo says Anarchy Battles unlock at level 10.

Series or Open: two kinds of Anarchy Battle

Anarchy Battles come in two versions. Both use the same rank points and both rotate through the four modes Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker and Clam Blitz. The mode changes every two hours.

Points in Series

In Series you first pay an entry fee in rank points. At the end you get points for every win and for your medals, whether you stop at 5 wins or 3 losses. According to Inkipedia:

• First win: 20 points at C, 30 at B, 40 at A, 50 at S and S+.
• Each further win is worth 5 points more than the previous one. A 5-win series at A therefore pays 40 + 45 + 50 + 55 + 60 = 250 points.
• Medals: 1 point per silver medal, 5 points per gold medal. Medals from lost battles count too.
• Disconnecting: counts as a loss for you.

Since version 10.0.0, rank S and above also has Series Weapon Power: a value per weapon that the game uses to match you with players of similar strength.

Points in Open

According to Inkipedia, Open gives 20 points per win regardless of rank. Losses cost more the higher you are:

Your rank points can drop below zero, but your rank does not go down because of it. You only drop at the season reset.

Entry fees and points to rank up

The table shows how many points you start a rank with, when you move on and what a Series costs. Values from Inkipedia.

Within S+ you climb step by step with rank points. At S+10, S+20, S+30, S+40 and S+50 you need another Rank-Up Battle.

How Rank-Up Battles work

Points alone are not enough to reach B-, A-, S, S+0 and the tens in S+. Once you have enough points, the Rank-Up Battle replaces the normal Series:

• You pay an entry fee in rank points again.
• You need 3 wins before 3 losses.
• Pass: you rank up and your points reset.
• Fail: you keep your rank and lose the entry fee. You can try again once you have earned the points back.

As Nintendo puts it: losing doesn't cost you your rank, just some points.

X Battle and X Power

X Battle is the mode for the strongest players. According to Nintendo:

• Requirement: at least S+0 in Anarchy Battles.
• Solo only, no teams of friends.
• X Power per mode: Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker and Clam Blitz each have their own value.
• Placement: your first 5 battles set your X Power. After that it changes after every 3 wins or 3 losses.
• Two divisions: players from Europe and the Americas play in the Tentatek Division, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in the Takoroka Division. You choose once per season and can't switch afterwards.
• Leaderboard: the top 500 are honoured for each mode in each division.

How much your X Power moves depends on its current value, according to Inkipedia. A 3-0 run is worth at least +75 below 2,500, at least +45 between 2,500 and 3,000 and at least +20 from 3,000. A 0-3 run costs the same amounts.

With version 11.1.0 (March 2026), Nintendo changed X Battle matchmaking: the game now groups players whose X Power is likely to end up similar. In the Tentatek Division, players below and above 2,000 X Power can also be matched together.

Season reset: how far you drop

A season lasts three months. When a new season starts, your rank drops. What counts is the highest rank you have ever reached. According to Nintendo, you go down two steps:

If you are in S+ before the reset, your current rank decides: S+0 to S+9 drop to S, S+10 to S+50 drop to S+0.

That matters for X Battle: only with S+10 or higher at the end of the season do you start the new one at S+0 and keep access. Since version 9.2.0 there is an exception, according to Inkipedia: reaching the top 3,000 of the X Battle leaderboard in any mode also puts you at S+0.

From rank B upwards you can also reset your rank yourself once per season (in the lobby, with Anarchy Battle selected). The game then places you based on your results so far.

Current season and next date

• The current season, Drizzle Season 2026, started on 1 September 2026 and ends on 30 November 2026.
• According to the Japanese season schedule it ends on 1 December 2026 at 9:00 Japan time, which is 1:00 a.m. in Germany (00:00 UTC). That is when the rank reset kicks in.
• Splatoon 3 runs on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Nintendo says every change in version 11.3.0 (August 2026) applies to both consoles. That version did not change the rank system.

Tips for climbing

• Series for points, Open for groups: long win runs pay much more in Series because each further win is worth 5 points more. Playing with friends only works in Open.
• Gold medals count: 5 points each, even from lost battles. Playing the objective pays off twice.
• Bank points before a Rank-Up Battle: a failed Rank-Up Battle costs the whole entry fee. A buffer saves you a long grind.
• Aim for S+10 before the season ends: otherwise you start the new season below S+0 and have to earn X Battle access again.
• Check the rotation: the mode changes every two hours. Play ranked mainly in the mode that suits you.

Recommended hardware

You usually play Splatoon 3 on Switch or Switch 2 on the TV. These guides help with your setup:

• Switch 2 controller buying guide
• Cat 6A and Cat 8 Ethernet cable buying guide
• Gaming headset buying guide
• Power bank for gaming buying guide

Three example products (manufacturer specs, not our own tests):

Example model

For Switch 2 on the TV: Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

Compatible with

Nintendo Switch 2 only

Extras

C Button, mappable GL/GR Buttons, 3.5 mm jack

Rumble / sensors

HD Rumble 2, accelerometer and gyroscope

Battery

1,070 mAh, approx. 40 hours

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Example model

Cable instead of Wi-Fi: DIGITUS Cat 6A patch cable 2 m

According to Nintendo, Switch 2 can use a wired LAN connection in TV mode; the dock has a LAN port. Specs from the Amazon product page:

Category

Cat 6A, S/FTP shielded

Length

2 m

Rate / frequency

up to 10 Gbps, 500 MHz

Jacket

LSZH, copper conductors

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Example model

For battles in handheld mode: UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 45W

On the go, charge the Switch 2 through the top USB-C port so the cable doesn't get in the way of the kickstand. Nintendo's 54W requirement applies to TV mode, so charging in handheld mode needs less. Specs from the Amazon listing:

Capacity

20,000 mAh

Output

45W

Ports

built-in USB-C cable, 1× USB-C, 1× USB-A

Recharge

about 4 h at 45W

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Frequently asked questions

What is the highest rank in Splatoon 3?

S+50 in Anarchy Battles. There is no rank above it. The very top is measured in X Battle with X Power and the top 500 leaderboards.

How many ranks are there in Splatoon 3?

11 letter ranks from C- to S+, with S+ split again into S+0 to S+50.

When can I play X Battles?

From rank S+0 in Anarchy Battles. To keep access across the season change, you need S+10 at the end of the season or a spot in the top 3,000 of the X Battle leaderboard.

Can you derank in Splatoon 3?

Not during a season. Rank points can go negative, but your rank stays. You only drop at the season reset every three months, usually by two steps.

What is the difference between Series and Open?

In Series you play solo until 5 wins or 3 losses and can take Rank-Up Battles. In Open every battle counts on its own and you can play with friends.

When is the next rank reset?

When the new season starts on 1 December 2026, at 00:00 UTC (1:00 a.m. in Germany) according to the Japanese season schedule.

Sources

• Nintendo: Squid Research Lab dives deep into the Splatlands (ranks, Rank-Up Battles, reset, X Battle)
• Nintendo DE: Splatoon 3 for beginners (German)
• Nintendo Support: How to update Splatoon 3 (version 11.3.0)
• Inkipedia: Rank (Splatoon 3)
• Inkipedia: Anarchy Battle
• Inkipedia: X Battle
• Inkipedia: Version 11.1.0
• Inkipedia: Drizzle Season 2026
• Gamepedia.jp: Autumn 2026 season schedule (Drizzle Season)
• Nintendo: Nintendo Switch 2 tech specs (wired LAN in TV mode)
• Nintendo Store: Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller