Splatoon Raiders Beginner’s Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Here’s a guide on some beginner’s gameplay tips & tricks in Splatoon Raiders.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Jul 23, 2026

Starting out as a Splatoon Raider can feel like a lot to take in all at once, especially with dozens of Salmonids swarming your screen.

Whether you’re running solo or grinding with friends, knowing your gear and your skills early on will save you a headache or two. Here’s what you need to know to stay alive, gear up properly and breeze through your runs.

Splatoon Raiders Beginner’s Guide Use Gadgets and Tanks

How to Use Gadgets and Tanks

Early in your run, you will unlock special tanks that let you fire off gadgets. These act as your sub-weapons during combat in Splatoon Raiders.

The best habit to build early on is using your gadget immediately when a fight starts. Once it goes on cooldown, hit it again the second it comes back up. You should keep this loop going until every enemy is clear.

Gadgets give you massive control over the area. They can mark targets in a crowded fight, draw enemy attention away from you, wipe out weak mobs quickly, or give you space to fall back while still dealing damage.

If you are playing with friends, you can get away with messier gadget timing since your teammates can cover your mistakes. If you are playing solo, using your gadgets on cooldown is pretty much required.

Ink the Map for Mobility and Survival

Even though you are not playing a standard turf war, spreading your ink everywhere is still the most important habit to build in Splatoon Raiders.

Swimming through your own ink moves you across the map much faster than walking. In later stages where Salmonid waves get chaotic, having a path of ink ready is usually what keeps you alive.

You also need to watch out for green Salmonid ink. Stepping in enemy ink slows your movement to a crawl and constantly chips away at your health. Spray your own color right over it to clean up the floor and stay healthy.

Master the Treasure Bot in Solo Play

You do not have to fight alone when running solo missions. One of the members of Deep Cut—Shiver, Frye, or Big Man—will join you inside the team's Treasure Bot in Splatoon Raiders.

The bot floats around and shoots nearby enemies on its own. But when you get surrounded or need quick support, press the X button to call it in.

Summons and Aggro Control

When you call the Treasure Bot, it slams into the ground where you are standing. This slam damages nearby enemies and draws their attention away from you.

It gives you a few seconds to breathe or reload. Just keep an eye on its health. If the bot takes too much damage, it shuts down for a few seconds before coming back online.

Splatoon Raiders Beginner’s Guide Hideout Ship Construction

Using the Bot as a Launchpad

The game tells you to use the Treasure Bot to reach high ledges, but it works great during active battles too. Bouncing off the bot launches you high into the air in Splatoon Raiders.

This gets you away from grounded enemies, gives you a clear view of high-priority targets, and lets you spray ink down onto Salmonids while safely floating back down.

Match Weapons to Your Playstyle

Weapons in Splatoon Raiders lean heavily into distinct fighting styles. Shooters and Dualies fire fast and work best when you are close to mid-range. However, Sloshers and Chargers attack a lot slower, so you should stay back, use cover, and stay mobile.

Running straight into a group of enemies with a Charger usually ends badly. Pick a primary weapon that fits how you like to move, then pair it with a gadget that covers its weaknesses in Splatoon Raiders.

Gear, Loot, and Upgrades Made Simple

You do not need to worry about missing gear if you skip exploring off-path areas or cannot reach a drop in time.

The game collects any leftover items and puts them straight into your loot pool at the end of the run. You can also swap weapons and tanks whenever you want without losing progress.

Shared Skill Points

When you spend skill points to upgrade a tank—like unlocking extra mod slots—you do not have to worry about wasting resources.

Those upgrades carry over across all your gadget tanks. Feel free to upgrade whatever tank you like right now without stressing about saving points for later in Splatoon Raiders.

Auto-Equipping Mods

After a few raids, you will collect a ton of upgrade mods. Checking your gear after every mission is smart, because small stat boosts like 10% extra range or damage add up quickly against large waves.

If sorting through percentages feels like a chore, use the automatic mod feature. The game does a great job of picking the best mod setup for your current gear, letting you get right back into the action in Splatoon Raiders.

Splatoon Raiders Beginner’s Guide Treasure Map