Splatoon Raiders beginner guide
This Splatoon Raiders beginner guide covers your first hours: the Hideout Ship, picking a tank, and surviving early runs on the Spirhalite Islands.
Splatoon Raiders is a single-player-focused action-shooter from Nintendo for Nintendo Switch 2, released July 23, 2026. You play as the Mechanic alongside Deep Cut — Shiver, Frye, and Big Man.
Your first Splatoon Raiders goal is not a perfect build. It is learning the loop: explore, fight Salmonids, collect the weapons they drop, and bring salvage back to the Hideout Ship to upgrade.
Because Splatoon Raiders lets you keep your weapons and salvage even if you are defeated, early runs are low-risk. Experiment with tanks and gadgets before committing to a favorite.
First session checklist
Use this Splatoon Raiders beginner order on day one:
- 🚢 Get set up on the Hideout Ship — The Hideout Ship is your Splatoon Raiders base. Meet Deep Cut: Shiver runs the Gadget Workshop, Frye keeps the Weapon Stash, and Big Man handles cataloging.
- 🛡️ Pick a starting tank — Splatoon Raiders has three tanks — Speed, Power, and Tactical. Each starts with two gadgets. Choose the one that matches how you like to fight.
- 🤖 Bring your Bot Buddy — An Exploration Bot (Bot Buddy) supports you as you explore the Spirhalite Islands in Splatoon Raiders.
- 🐟 Beat Salmonids for weapons — Salmonids drop weapons in Splatoon Raiders. There are 100+ weapon variations, and rare weapons carry special powers.
- 🔧 Upgrade at the Mechanic’s Shack — Spend salvage at the Mechanic’s Shack to raise your Splatoon Raiders tank’s HP and attack between runs.
Terms every new player should know
Splatoon Raiders beginner glossary
| Term | Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hideout Ship | 🚢 | Your base, home to Deep Cut and the Mechanic’s Shack |
| Tank | 🛡️ | Speed, Power, or Tactical — your loadout frame with two gadget slots |
| Gadget | ⚙️ | Equippable ability tied to a tank; customizable with gadget parts |
| Salmonids | 🐟 | Enemies that drop weapons; Boss types drop a Mega Power Egg |
| Difficulty | 🎚️ | Tourist, Raider, or Survivalist — loot is the same, combat differs |
| Salvage | 📦 | Resources you keep even when defeated, used for upgrades |
Where to go next
After one clean Splatoon Raiders beginner run, read how to play for the full loop, then compare tanks so your gadget parts go toward the right build.
Recommended tools
Related guides
Verify tank, weapon, and gadget details in the live Splatoon Raiders game after updates. Details from the Nintendo Direct and eShop may change with patches.