10 Splatoon Raiders Beginner Tips to Crush the Hordes in Style

Splatoon Raiders shakes up the franchise’s established DNA, introducing fresh mechanics that fundamentally shift how you approach combat. The biggest change? Sub-weapons are no longer hard-coded to your primary loadout. You now have the freedom to mix and match any gadget with any weapon. Combined with your reliable robot companion, these systems make choosing the right gear for the mission more critical than ever before.

Our Splatoon Raiders beginner’s guide features 10 essential tips and tricks designed to help you master these new mechanics and maximize your haul.

Make Gadgets a Core Part of Your Combat Loop

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Early on, you’ll unlock specialized tanks that house your gadgets—the core sub-weapon equivalent in Splatoon Raiders. Don’t hoard them. Deploy your gadget at the start of every skirmish and keep using it as soon as the cooldown refreshes. These tools are vital for battlefield control; they help you mark targets, disrupt enemy formations, and clear out weaker foes while providing a defensive escape window. While you can lean on teammates for support in multiplayer, efficient gadget use is the difference between life and death in solo mode.

Paint the Map to Maintain Mobility

While this isn’t a traditional turf war, aggressive ink coverage remains vital. Swimming through your own ink is significantly faster than trudging on foot—a necessity when navigating later levels swarming with Salmonids. Furthermore, prioritize painting over enemy ink. Not only does the opposing ink slow your movement, but it also whittles away at your health over time.

Deploy Your Robot Companion Strategically

You aren’t flying solo. Your team’s treasure bot—piloted by Shiver, Frye, or Big Man—follows you throughout the mission, packing a powerful ink launcher. While the bot usually acts autonomously and holds its own, you can manually override its behavior. By pressing X, you can summon the bot to crash into a group of enemies, dealing impact damage and drawing fire. Note that the bot isn’t invincible; if it takes too much damage, it will go offline for a brief recovery period.

Utilize the Bot as a Launchpad

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Beyond its offensive capabilities, the bot acts as a mobile launchpad. Use this to reach high-ground sniping positions or to escape being surrounded. The extra elevation allows you to pick off enemies from safety while granting you a tactical vantage point during their recovery.

Tailor Your Approach to Your Loadout

Weapon classes in Splatoon Raiders have distinct identities. Shooters and Dualies excel in fast-paced, close-quarters encounters. Conversely, Chargers and Sloshers demand a patient, mid-to-long-range approach. Avoid playing aggressively with long-range gear; stay back, maintain distance, and select gadgets that complement your weapon’s specific strengths.

Experiment Often

Don’t be afraid to branch out. You can swap weapons and tanks freely, and the only minor constraint is the time needed to grind for specific mods. Experimentation is highly encouraged, so rotate your gear until you find the playstyle that clicks.

Loot Collection is Automatic

You never have to stress about leaving gear behind. If you skip a side path or simply can’t reach a piece of loot, don’t worry—the game automatically collects dropped gear, ensuring you don’t miss out on your hard-earned rewards.

Invest in Your Tanks Without Regret

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

You can spend skill points to unlock additional mod slots on your gadget tanks. Feel free to invest in whatever tank you’re currently maining; these upgrades are universal and persist across your different tank loadouts, meaning your points are never wasted.

Review Your Rewards Post-Mission

Always audit your loot after a raid. Even small numerical boosts to damage or reach might seem negligible individually, but they stack up to provide a significant advantage when you’re overwhelmed by a massive wave of enemies.

Let the Game Optimize Your Mods

As your collection of mods grows, the theory-crafting can become overwhelming. If you feel indecisive about which stats to prioritize, use the game’s “auto-optimize” feature. The logic is remarkably sound and will reliably set up your gear for optimal performance, saving you the headache of micromanagement.

Source: Polygon