Splatoon Raiders: The tips you wish you'd known before you started playing

Splatoon Raiders breaks the mold of the series. Even if you know the multiplayer entries inside and out, the game introduces brand-new looter shooter mechanics - new equipment, new ways of playing, new priorities. Here's pretty much everything we wish we'd known from the start.

Splatoon Raiders is not a classic Splatoon

The first instinct to drop: playing Raiders like a Turf War mode. The looter shooter logic changes everything. The goal is no longer to cover the ground in ink first and foremost - you first need to understand what the game is actually asking of you in each situation. Take the time to read the objectives before rushing in.

Learn the new equipment mechanics

The equipment system is the heart of the game. Raiders introduces loot you haven't seen in previous entries - each piece has stats, affinities, synergies. Don't keep your starting gear out of habit. Regularly compare what you pick up, even if it looks like a minor upgrade.

Adapt your playstyle to your build

Veterans will tend to play the way they've always played. Bad idea. Raiders pushes you to build a playstyle around your equipment, not the other way around. If your gear favors a certain approach - defensive, aggressive, support - go with that logic rather than fighting against it.

Don't neglect exploration

The game rewards those who search. Areas hide loot, resources, progression elements that you'll miss if you rush the main objectives. Slow down. Explore. This isn't a race!

Master mobility - it's still key

One thing that hasn't changed since the first Splatoon games: moving through ink remains vital. But Raiders adds layers of mobility tied to equipment. Certain gear alters movement speed, jump abilities, or regeneration. Figure out what your build allows you to do and make the most of it.

Communicate with your team

Raiders is designed to be played cooperatively. Coordination isn't optional - it directly determines your effectiveness. Call out enemies, share resources, cover the angles your teammate isn't covering. A good group beats a good solo player pretty much every time.

Manage your resources wisely

Loot and consumables have value. Don't waste them on situations you can get through without them. Save your best assets for critical moments - bosses, dense waves, high-stakes objectives. Resource management is often what separates a clean run from a disastrous wipe.

Watch what enemies are doing before attacking

Enemy patterns in Raiders are worth reading before you charge in. Some enemies have specific behaviors, windows of vulnerability, attacks to anticipate. Two seconds of observation can prevent an avoidable death - and in a looter shooter, every death has a cost.

Experiment with builds instead of settling on just one

Raiders was clearly designed to encourage variety. Don't lock yourself into the first equipment combination that works. Try other weapons, other pieces of gear, other synergies. The game's meta is still young - and the most effective surprises often come from combinations you wouldn't have imagined at first glance.

Splatoon Raiders released on July 23, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2. If you're new to the series, know that the game is designed as a distinct title - closer to a cooperative looter shooter than a classic competitive multiplayer shooter. Take the time to adjust to it rather than expecting an experience identical to previous entries.