Step 1
Best Splatoon Raiders difficulty for beginners
Choose for comfort, not rewards. Nintendo says difficulty changes how fierce combat is, but not the loot you can obtain, and you can change the setting at any time.
Tourist: learn safely
Best if you are new to Splatoon controls, want a lower-pressure first run or need room to study a boss pattern.
Raider: start in the middle
Use the standard setting if movement already feels comfortable and you want the intended middle combat challenge.
Survivalist: harder combat
Choose this when you already handle enemy waves and want more pressure. It does not unlock a better loot tier.
Step 2
Learn the Splatoon movement and ink basics
Paint a route before fighting
Your ink is both ammunition and movement space. Paint toward cover and leave a second route behind you so a Salmonid wave cannot trap you in uninked terrain.
Swim to move and refill ink
Entering Swim Form in your own ink speeds up traversal and refills the ink supply used by weapons. Refill during quiet moments instead of waiting for the Tank to empty in a crowd.
Test motion aiming before disabling it
Gyro aiming can feel unfamiliar to first-time players. Try small controller movements and use the stick for broad turns; adjust sensitivity gradually if the default feels too fast.
Use the Bot Buddy as a tool
A Deep Cut member joins each raid in a Bot Buddy. It fights, can help you reach higher ground and contributes to powerful Showstopper attacks after collecting Power Eggs.
Step 3
Which Tank should a beginner choose?
There is no confirmed best Tank. A Tank defines which specialized Gadgets you can equip, so choose the action you want available most often. You can swap Tanks between missions.
Speed Tank
Mobility, fast attacks and evasive movement.
Pick it if: repositioning and escaping danger matter most. Blast Boot, Dash Bomb and Booyarang support mobile play.
Power Tank
Direct attacks, armor breaking and crowd pressure.
Pick it if: you want direct pressure, shield breaking and wide attacks against groups.
Tactical Tank
Deployables, traps and battlefield control.
Pick it if: you prefer deployable attacks, range and controlling an area before enemies arrive.
Step 4
Build a simple beginner weapon and Gadget loadout
| Loadout part | Beginner decision | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Use a comfortable weapon with enough level and range for the current stage. | Keeping a familiar but badly underleveled drop forever. |
| Gadget 1 | Choose a dependable answer to your main problem: mobility, crowds, armor or range. | Equipping two tools that perform the same narrow job. |
| Gadget 2 | Cover the first Gadget's weakness or support the weapon's short range or slow attack. | Choosing by visual effect without reading compatibility. |
| Gadget Parts | Improve an effect you use repeatedly, such as damage, fire rate or duration. | Spending every rare Part before testing the Gadget. |
| Relic Power | Equip a passive effect that supports the stage or current build. | Assuming rarity alone makes an effect useful. |
Important: the game includes more than 100 weapon variations with levels and rarer versions that can carry special powers. This is why a flexible decision rule is more useful for a first raid than a pre-launch “best weapon” ranking.
Step 5
Splatoon Raiders first raid tips
Read the objective before chasing loot
Raids use different goals, and some stages restrict the tools available. Learn the win condition first, then explore detours when the route is under control.
Keep moving when Salmonids surround you
Enemy numbers can grow quickly. Repaint blocked ground, move toward open space and use a Gadget to create room instead of standing still to finish one target.
Use cooldown Gadgets before the emergency
Gadgets return after cooldown. Use them deliberately throughout the raid; saving both forever gives up damage, mobility or control you could have used multiple times.
Collect Power Eggs for a Showstopper
Power Eggs contribute to the Bot Buddy's large attack. Watch the meter and use the finished Showstopper when its area or damage can change the fight.
Do not panic after a solo defeat
Nintendo says solo players keep everything they pick up regardless of the outcome. Use the recovered resources to improve, lower the difficulty if needed and retry.
Change one thing between attempts
Swap the Tank, one Gadget or the weapon—not the entire build. A small change makes it clear which tool solved the failure point.
Step 6
What to upgrade first at the Hideout Ship
The Hideout Ship turns raid pickups into long-term progression. Exact optimal routes depend on final costs and your drops, so solve a real obstacle before following a universal build.
Mechanic's Shack
Strengthen Tanks and improve core combat capability.
Shiver's Workshop
Craft Gadgets and develop the tools your Tank can equip.
Frye's Weapon Stash
Level useful weapons or scrap unwanted drops for materials.
Big Man's Catalog
Review discoveries, Relics, Briny Scrolls, enemies and equipment information.
Step 7
Should beginners play solo or multiplayer co-op?
Start solo to learn at your pace
Solo play lets you explore, pause between decisions and keep collected items even after defeat. Your Bot Buddy still accompanies you in combat.
Use co-op when a stage blocks progress
Up to four players can raid online or by local wireless, and power scales automatically. Call for Help can bring temporary online assistance to a difficult raid.