How to Win in Splatoon Raiders

Splatoon Raiders shakes up the classic ink slinging formula. It changes how you fight, move, and survive against the relentless Salmonid hordes. If you're used to the traditional turf battles, you'll quickly notice that the rules of engagement have shifted, and sub-weapons are no longer bound to specific primary weapons, so you can mix and match different types with your main weapon of choice. This freedom lets you build a custom loadout. But it also means you need to rethink your entire combat strategy.

So what does this mean for your survival rate? Adapt or die. It means you must adapt to a faster, more flexible style of play where positioning and gadget management determine whether you bring home the treasure or get splatted in the mud, and that's a truth you can't ignore. Let's break down the core mechanics you need to master to conquer these chaotic stages.

Master your tactical gadgets and movement

Deploy your sub-weapons on cooldown

Early in your journey, you'll unlock special tanks that allow you to deploy gadgets. Use them wisely. These sub-weapons are absolutely vital for controlling the flow of battle, so deploy your chosen gadget the moment a skirmish starts and trigger it again every time its cooldown ends. This constant deployment helps you manage groups of enemies, distract incoming threats, and carve out escape routes when you're cornered. But when playing solo, efficient gadget use is non-negotiable , you can't rely on teammates for cover like you can when playing with friends.

Paint the floor to stay alive

You're not in a turf war. But coating the ground in your own ink is still a matter of life and death, since swimming through it is vastly faster than walking on foot. So when you face massive waves of Salmonids in the later stages, a clear swim path is the only way to escape tight spots. Avoid enemy ink. Stepping in it slows your movement to a crawl and steadily drains your health over time. And you can't let that happen.

Utilize your robotic companion in battle

You don't have to face the enemy hordes alone in solo mode. But a helpful treasure bot will accompany you on your runs, piloted by one of three familiar faces from the franchise that fans have come to know and love over the years. Here's what you need to know about your robotic partner.

• Shiver, Frye, or Big Man will tag along to pilot the team treasure bot.
• The bot is equipped with its own ink launcher and targets enemies independently.
• Pressing the X button summons the bot to crash down, dealing damage and drawing enemy attention.
• Taking too much damage will overwhelm the bot, putting it out of commission for a few seconds.

Shiver, Frye, or Big Man will tag along in the team's treasure bot, and it has an ink launcher of its own.

Use the bot as a personal launchpad

The treasure bot isn't just for shooting enemies. It's a highly effective mobility tool too, and while the game encourages you to use its launchpad feature to reach high platforms, you can trigger it right in the middle of a chaotic fight. Launching yourself high above the battlefield lets you safely reposition, target high-priority enemies, and rain down ink on helpless Salmonids as you float slowly back down. So use it wisely.

Optimize your gear and weapon loadouts

Match your gadgets to your weapon style

Every weapon class demands a specific approach. Fast-firing Shooters and Dualies excel in close-to-mid-range skirmishes where you can stay mobile and dodge incoming attacks, but slower weapons like Sloshers and Chargers force you to keep your distance and adopt an evasive playstyle. Charging directly into a dense crowd with a slow weapon is a recipe for disaster. So don't do that. Instead, find a safe vantage point and pair your primary weapon with a gadget that complements its specific strengths.

Upgrade your tanks without fear

You'll earn skill points as you progress. Spend them on upgrading your gadget tanks by unlocking extra mod slots, and any points you invest in your current tank automatically apply to all of your other gadget tanks as well. So don't worry about wasting resources if you like to swap between different tank types frequently. Experiment freely. This system lets you try different setups without grinding for duplicate upgrades.

Let the game manage your mods

You'll return with a massive haul of new weapons and upgrade mods. A ten percent increase in reach or damage might seem minor on paper, but when you're surrounded by 30 raging Salmonids, these small stat boosts make a massive difference. Sorting through that list of incremental upgrades can feel overwhelming. But you can use the built-in optimization feature. It automatically selects and equips the best mod combination for you and lets you jump right back into the action without spending minutes menu-diving.