Guide: Splatoon Raiders Guide, Tips & Tricks

Splatoon Raiders shifts Nintendo's long-running ink-shooting franchise into an action RPG format on the Nintendo Switch 2. Moving away from the series' traditional 4v4 competitive PvP focus, the title centers on a single-player campaign and cooperative multiplayer. Players control a customizable Inkling or Octoling known as a "Mechanic" as they join Splatoon 3 idols Shiver, Frye, and Big Man across the Spirhalite Islands to hunt for relics, fight off Salmonid hordes, and clear Splatsville's debt.

Customization and Combat Mechanics

The core loop of Splatoon Raiders revolves around battling waves of Salmonid enemies across five distinct level formats: linear paths, multi-level dungeons, Salmonid Dens, crystal mining stages, and tutorial-focused Sampler Dungeons. Loadouts depend heavily on three Tank categories—Speed, Power, and Tactical—which govern available gadget classes. Gadgets take the place of sub-weapons and allow players to slot in specific skills to tailor their builds.

Writing for IGN, Logan Plant noted, "Each individual power is just the beginning, as these are deeply customizable tools that allow you to create tons of different builds, especially when you consider that you can have two Gadgets equipped at one time." Plant also warned that tactical planning is crucial: "Relentless hordes of Salmonids will overwhelm you if you don't head in with a solid strategy." He added, "I really enjoy every level type, each for different reasons."

In review coverage cited by Nintendo Life, Alex Olney described the spin-off as "possibly the most variable and exciting game the series has ever offered." Players are further assisted in combat by an Exploration Bot equipped with unique abilities such as "Bot Hop" and "Showstopper."

Online Co-Op and Level Scaling

Splatoon Raiders includes online cooperative play for up to four players, allowing teams to clear stages and battle Salmonids together. To keep group play balanced, the game features dynamic level scaling, adjusting enemy strength and damage directly to each individual player's current level.

Because scaling occurs per player, high-level and low-level mechanics can participate in the same sessions without disrupting stage difficulty for one another. Players can also actively offer or request help online during their adventures.

Strategy and Progression Tips

To navigate the challenges of the Spirhalite Islands, Nintendo Life outlined key strategy recommendations for players:

• Experiment with Builds: Switch weapons, gadgets, and tanks frequently to adapt to different encounters, and save preferred setups using presets in the Gear menu.
• Manage Bot Abilities: Use the Exploration Bot's abilities strategically during intense enemy rushes rather than triggering them immediately on cooldown.
• Collect Power Eggs Manually: Unlike standard loot and materials that are picked up automatically, Power Eggs must be manually gathered.
• Reroute When Stuck: If a stage presents a brick wall, return to the world map to take on alternative paths or replay cleared stages to farm materials and gain levels.
• Hunt for Compasses: Search navy blue crates for hidden compasses, which reveal secret Sampler Dungeons that reward extra Skill Points.

Difficulty settings can be adjusted at any time to alter damage taken without reducing post-level rewards. After defeating a region's boss, players also unlock a harder "Spicy" mode for those stages.

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