Splatoon Raiders Tips & Tricks

Before Your First Raid

Pick a Tank based on playstyle, not just stats -- Power for close-range burst, Speed for mobility and hit-and-run, Tactical for battlefield control via gadgets. You aren't locked in: Tanks can be freely switched between missions, and each carries its own compatible Gadget group, so experimenting early costs you nothing permanent.

Keep an eye out for Compasses in navy blue crates during Relic and Crystal-mining levels -- they point the way to bonus Sampler Dungeons, which are some of the best levels in the game for learning gadgets and grabbing extra Skill Points for later-game leveling.

Choosing a Bot Buddy

Each Deep Cut member -- Shiver, Frye, Big Man -- serves as a selectable Bot Buddy with a unique Showstopper ultimate. Frye's wide-range AoE Showstopper is a strong, broadly useful pick across most builds and difficulty levels, while Big Man's Showstopper offers a full heal plus temporary invincibility, making him the stronger pick specifically for higher-difficulty dungeons.

Relic Powers and Progression

Relic Powers unlock as you complete dungeons and earn their corresponding Relics -- equip them from the Gear Menu on the Hideout Ship before a raid, not mid-run. Prioritizing Gadget Recovery and Showstopper Power passives early lets you cast your Bot Buddy's ultimate more often, which compounds in value the longer a run goes.

Building Rapport

Sticking with a specific Tank and Bot Buddy combination over multiple missions builds rapport with that Deep Cut member, eventually granting a boosted version of their Showstopper ability -- worth considering if you find a combination you like, rather than constantly switching just to see everything.

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring Compasses -- skipping Sampler Dungeons means missing easy Skill Points that matter a lot for late-game leveling.
• Treating every boss the same -- some reviewers have noted certain fights lean on raw health-bar damage-sponge design rather than distinct patterns, so don't assume every boss teaches you something new about its specific mechanics.
• Neglecting the Weapon Shack -- Frye's shop lets you both upgrade weapons and scrap old ones for materials, so hoarding outdated weapons instead of scrapping them wastes a real resource.

See the full data: Splatoon Raiders Getting Started