Octolings
The elite of the Octarian army, and its deserters
- Species
- Octoling (evolved octopus)
- First seen
- Splatoon (2015)
- Affiliation
- Octarian army; later Inkopolis and Splatsville
Veemo!Fan transcription of the Octoling cheer
The humanoid form of the Octarians, trained from childhood as soldiers in the underground domes. Many left after hearing the Calamari Inkantation and now live alongside Inklings.
Octolings are to octopus what Inklings are to squid: a humanoid species with a compact animal form, a talent for ink, and a fatal allergy to water. Where they differ is history. Octolings grew up on the losing side of the Great Turf War, in domes beneath Octo Valley and Octo Canyon lit by painted skies and powered by stolen Zapfish. They are the Octarian army's elite, and for two games they were the player's most dangerous ordinary enemy.
Soldiers
In Splatoon 1 and 2, Octolings appear as squads of red-haired fighters with Octoshots and the same mobility as Inklings, guarding the deepest kettles. Octarian society trains them from childhood; Marina's recollections and the Octo Expansion's mem cakes describe a rigid, technical culture that prizes engineering and discipline. The broader Octarian population includes tentacled Octotroopers and mechanical Octoweapons, but the Octolings are the ones who look you in the eye.
The exodus
The turning point was a song. The Squid Sisters' Calamari Inkantation, played over the radio during the first game's final battle, leaked into the domes, and Octolings who heard it felt something their propaganda had never allowed for. Marina deserted. Agent 8 deserted. By Splatoon 3, DJ Octavio's army is bleeding soldiers to the surface, and Octolings are an unremarkable sight in Splatsville and Inkopolis. The Octo Expansion made them playable in multiplayer, and the series has treated the two species as equals ever since.
Sanitization
Not every Octoling made it. Commander Tartar's Kamabo Co. captured deserters wandering beneath Inkopolis and "sanitized" them, stripping their will and turning their skin gray-green. The sanitized Octolings of the Deepsea Metro are the darkest thing the series has shown, and the DJ Acht, later Dedf1sh, was among them.
Identity
Octolings have distinctive features: rounder tentacle hair with suction cups, a slightly different build, and a battle cry fans transcribe as "Veemo!" In game they are voiced and animated separately from Inklings and have their own gear tastes. Shiver of Deep Cut is an Octoling, which makes her the first Octoling idol native to the surface world, and a sign of how completely the old lines have blurred.