Splatoon Raiders Beginner Guide: Tips for Your First Raid

Splatoon Raiders is a spin-off of the main series, released exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. The game is a third-person shooter with RPG elements, raids, gadgets, and the series' unusual ink-based mechanics. You can play it solo, while some missions can be completed in co-op with friends or other players. In this guide, we have collected beginner tips: how to use ink, choose gadgets, unlock co-op, complete raids, and upgrade your gear faster.

These tips will help beginners get comfortable with Splatoon Raiders early on. Even players who have already completed previous entries in the series may run into problems, since the gameplay has changed noticeably.

Use gadgets actively. They are not tied to your main weapon, so you can constantly swap them and combine them in any setup, which leaves plenty of room for experimentation. Ideally, your gadgets should work well with your chosen weapon. Do not forget to upgrade the tools you use more often than the others. Note that gadgets do not consume ink.

When fighting groups of regular enemies, use weapons and gadgets that hit an area. These include the "Over Here!" attack from the Bot Buddy, the Showstopper ability, and other moves.

Call helper bots into battle. These robots deal extra damage to enemies and draw their attention. This is especially useful during longer fights. You can also use a bot as a platform to reach higher ground. This lets you access previously unreachable places or start firing from a better elevated position.

Cover the ground with ink. This restores your health and increases your movement speed, making it easier to dodge enemy attacks and stay more mobile in combat overall. Do not forget to cover enemy ink, which damages your hero.

We also recommend learning non-combat techniques connected to ink. While climbing a vertical surface, you can charge energy needed for a Squid Surge. To do this, hold the jump button. When you release it, you will dash forward.

A Squid Roll is performed by quickly changing movement direction while pressing the jump button. This lets you turn sharply without losing speed, which is especially useful when dodging enemy attacks.

If you run into trouble, replay previous missions. This will give you extra experience and resources for upgrading gear. After that, you can return to the mission you could not complete right away and try again. It is also worth exploring the open world and unlocking secret locations with unique bosses.

You can play Splatoon Raiders together with friends if you want, but first you need to complete the tutorial and the first three raids on Erpp Island. After that, a radio will appear in the left corner of the Hideout Ship, where it was not available before. Interact with it. You will see a message saying that online lobbies can now be created. Then enter a password your friends can use to join you, or open the server to anyone. Up to four players can be in one world.

Together, you can complete PvE missions selected by the host. However, access to those missions must be unlocked for every player's character. Note that enemy difficulty automatically adjusts for each raid participant, so all heroes will be placed on equal footing. Rewards also depend on your level.

Ink lets you move faster and restore health. Because of that, you should use it during fights, especially against bosses. Large groups of regular enemies are dangerous too: they cover the arena with their own ink, which deals damage and slows your hero. It is important to avoid touching it and, ideally, cover it with your own ink. In some cases, enemies try to surround your character, so it is better to mark an escape route with ink in advance.

Keep in mind that tanks differ noticeably from one another. Speed tanks have weak armor, but they are fast and maneuverable, which makes it easier to dodge enemy attacks. Heavy tanks are much slower, but they can take more damage. Tactical combat vehicles are a kind of middle ground between the first two types of armored vehicles.

Also pay attention to the gadgets installed on them. You can practice on targets to decide which option you like best. Nothing stops you from switching tanks depending on the type and number of enemies during raids.

As you play through Splatoon Raiders, you will take part in different activities called raids. These include:

Below, we have collected answers to common questions about Splatoon Raiders: how to unlock co-op, why ink matters, which gadgets beginners should use, whether missions are worth replaying, and which raids should be cleared first.

Co-op unlocks after the tutorial and the first three raids on Erpp Island. After that, a radio appears on the Hideout Ship, which you can use to create an online lobby or join other players.

Up to four players can be in one world. The host selects PvE missions, but every participant must have access to them unlocked.

Your own ink increases movement speed and helps restore health. Enemy ink, on the other hand, deals damage and slows the hero, so it is better to cover it as quickly as possible.

Early on, it is better to invest in damage and the gadgets you use most often. This will help you clear raids faster, defeat groups of enemies, and farm resources for further gear upgrades.

Yes. Replaying missions helps you get extra experience, resources, and upgrade materials. This is especially useful if you are stuck on a difficult mission or boss.