Splatoon Raiders tank and gadgets: what to pick at the start?

The choice of tank comes very early in Splatoon Raiders, even before you have a clear idea of what's ahead. And this choice isn't trivial: it determines your available gadgets and the speed at which you progress. Don't panic, you can switch tanks - but you can only level up one at a time.

Powerful, Fast or Tactical: which one to pick first?

The short answer: the powerful tank. For beginners as well as those who want a smooth power curve, it's the strongest choice from the first hours onward. The gadgets available at the start are good enough to last well into the adventure - and that's where it really makes a difference.

A crucial point to understand: you only accumulate gadget upgrades for the tank currently equipped. So if you want to capitalize on the powerful tank and its gadgets, it's better to stick with it while you build a solid foundation. Switching tanks too early dilutes your progress.

The upgrade to unlock first: Tank Overcharge

The powerful tank has a signature upgrade called Tank Overcharge, unlocked after collecting 50,000 power eggs with this tank equipped. The idea: stay submerged in swimmer form for a certain time, then come back out to trigger a +20% damage bonus for a few moments.

A gauge appears while diving to show you when the effect can be activated. It's simple to manage once the reflex is ingrained, and the impact on how quickly you take down enemies is immediate. Priority number one: farm the 50,000 eggs as fast as possible to unlock this.

The two Powerful gadgets to prioritize

Once you have the powerful tank in hand, two gadgets clearly stand out - and they work particularly well together.

Splashette

The Splashette is all about raw damage. The idea is simple: you charge at the enemy and slash everything in an arc in front of you. Not much thinking required to use it, but plenty of damage to gain - especially as you get the upgrades.

The downside is that it requires getting close. Against enemies that hit hard up close, that can hurt. And targets that are too far away are simply out of reach. So you'll need a decent ranged weapon alongside it to compensate.

For Splashette upgrades, focus on:

• Cooldown reduction - to use it more often
• Damage reduction taken - to survive the moments when you dive into the fray

Splatellites

The Splatellites work differently: discs orbit continuously around your character, hitting nearby enemies and inking the ground as they pass. This is passive damage, meaning you don't have to do anything special - they work while you take care of everything else.

The synergy with the Splashette is obvious: you charge at the enemy with the Splashette, and the Splatellites deal extra damage the whole time. They also act as a passive shield when you're in melee range - handy for absorbing a bit of pressure. Same limitation as the Splashette on distant targets: the Splatellites don't cover long range either.

For Splatellites upgrades, prioritize:

• Duration - to extend how long the discs orbit
• Damage - so each pass hits harder
• Expand the area - to widen the zone covered by the discs

The logic of the full build

The powerful tank + Splashette + Splatellites combo shapes a playstyle clearly geared toward close-range aggro. You dive to charge Tank Overcharge, come back out triggering the damage buff, charge in with the Splashette while the Splatellites rain down damage. Effective, fast-paced, and not complicated to pull off.

What you absolutely need to keep in mind

Always keep a ranged weapon in your arsenal to handle situations where getting close is too risky or impossible. The build has a real blind spot on ranged combat - don't ignore it.