Beginner’s Guide#
Splatoon Raiders is not an aim-based competitive shooter — it is a PvE treasure-hunting raid: you play as The Mechanic, joining the Deep Cut trio on the Archipelago to fight off swarms of Salmonids. The first thing a new player needs to establish is not “how to splat more” but “is there ink under my feet, did I pick the right Tank, and is the difficulty right?” This page walks through everything you should do on day one, in order.
I. Character Creation: Species and Appearance#
Two decisions at character creation:
| Choice | Options | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Inkling / Octoling | Cosmetic and form details only; no combat impact |
| Appearance | Hairstyle, skin tone, outfits, etc. | Purely cosmetic |
Neither choice affects your power — your combat style in this game is defined by Tank and gadgets, so pick whichever looks best to you.
II. First Battle: Which of the 3 Tanks to Pick#
Tanks are the game’s core role system, and there are 3 of them. How to choose for your first outing:
| Tank | Role | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mobility | Players who like to roam and skirmish |
| Power | Close-range firepower | Players who like head-on brawls and high output |
| Tactical | Deployment and control | Players who like shaping the battlefield with tools and deployables |
You start with 2 gadget slots, and the third unlocks as your Tank levels. You will eventually train all three Tanks anyway — the endgame Bottomless Buffet unlock requires clearing 3 Hidden Ruins with each of the 3 Tank types — so your first pick is not a lifetime commitment. Pick the one that feels good and start playing.
Recommendation: start your first playthrough with Speed or Tactical for higher forgiveness; Power’s close-range firepower asks for straightforward positioning but punishes poor engagement timing.
III. Difficulty: Three Tiers, Switchable Anytime#
The game has three difficulty tiers, switchable at any time, and difficulty does not affect the drop pool:
| Difficulty | Positioning | Reference length (game8 data) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist | Relaxed sightseeing | ~15 hours story |
| Raider | The standard experience | — |
| Survivalist | High-pressure challenge | ~30 hours story |
This mechanic is very forgiving for newcomers: if a fight is too hard, drop to Tourist and lose nothing in drops. Don’t grind through difficulty for pride’s sake — there is no difficulty discrimination here; the drop pool treats everyone the same.
IV. Meeting Your Bot Buddies#
The Deep Cut trio fights alongside you, each with a signature Showstopper super move:
| Buddy | Showstopper | Effect | Ship facility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiver | Shark Bite | Rides Master Mega for a straight-line assault | Gadget Workshop |
| Frye | Morays in the Air | Summons morays with her flute for area damage | Weapon Repository |
| Big Man | Manta Dance | Becomes an invincible Big Man and charges enemies | Collection Catalog |
Don’t agonize over “who’s strongest” on day one — rotating through all three also builds Bond, which is worth prioritizing.
It’s worth learning all three buddies’ ship facilities on day one, because each anchors one of the game’s three progression lines:
- Gadget Workshop (Shiver): equipping and upgrading gadgets — your combat toolbox expansion;
- Weapon Repository (Frye): weapon upgrades and scrapping — surplus weapons become materials here;
- Collection Catalog (Big Man): collectibles and compendium progress — where relics, scrolls, and compasses get registered.
V. Pacing Expectations: 5–15 Minutes Per Run#
A single raid lasts about 5–15 minutes, ideal for short sessions. Overall pacing:
- The story is fully soloable, at 10–20 hours (HowLongToBeat averages ~14.5 hours; game8 says ~20);
- Clearing the story is not the finish line — the endgame (Bottomless Buffet pushes) is the long game;
- Short runs mean the “one raid, one upgrade” loop can stop on a dime — commute and lunch-break friendly.
VI. Your Day-One Checklist#
| Order | Task | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create character: pick species, customize looks | Learn basics in-game (shoot — ink — move) |
| 2 | Pick a Tank | Choose a main from the table above; learn the 2 gadget slots |
| 3 | Test difficulty | One or two raids at default; drop to Tourist if tight |
| 4 | Learn the facilities | Board the ship and visit each buddy’s facility |
| 5 | Check versions | Before online co-op, confirm Ver.1.1.0+ and NSO membership |
- Create your character: pick species and looks, then learn the basic loop (shoot — dive into ink — reposition);
- Pick a Tank: choose a main from the table above and get comfortable with the 2 gadget slots;
- Test difficulty: run a raid or two at the default tier; switch to Tourist if it feels tight;
- Learn the facilities: visit Shiver’s Gadget Workshop, Frye’s Weapon Repository, and Big Man’s Collection Catalog;
- Check versions: for online co-op, confirm you’re on Ver.1.1.0 or later with a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
VII. Common Beginner Misconceptions#
- Misconception 1: “This game has a class system” — it doesn’t. The Mechanic is the only character; progression runs on Tanks + gadgets + relic powers.
- Misconception 2: “There’s PvP Turf War” — there isn’t. No 4v4 turf battles here; multiplayer is PvE co-op capped at 4 players.
- Misconception 3: “Difficulty affects drops” — it doesn’t, a verified mechanic.
- Misconception 4: “The story requires a team” — the story is fully soloable; co-op is always optional.
Related Pages#
- Controls Guide — the Switch 2 button layout and Tank limiter release
- Combat System — ink cycling and Tank ability triggers
- Walkthrough — route planning for the story