Splatoon Raiders Beginner Tips: Start Strong at Sea

7/25/2026

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Splatoon Raiders Beginner Tips: Start Strong at Sea

Splatoon Raiders is the rare spin-off that actually feels different from its parent series, and if you’ve just picked it up, the opening hours can be a little disorienting. That’s not a flaw — it’s the game asking you to unlearn some Turf War habits. Here’s my take on how to get comfortable fast.

Why Raiders feels different

It’s built around exploration and co-op objectives rather than pure territory control
Movement and positioning matter more than raw splat counts
The Deep Cut crew (Shiver, Frye, and Big Man) anchor the adventure, giving it more of a story-driven flavor

Guides are already popping up across the gaming press — Kotaku recently published a set of tips for newcomers finding their sea legs — and the common thread is clear: patience beats aggression early on.

My honest advice for your first sessions

1. Treat ink as mobility first, damage second. In my experience with Splatoon games, new players fixate on splatting enemies. In Raiders, painting a path for yourself and your squad is almost always the better play.

2. Communicate, even without words. The series’ ping-and-signal systems exist for a reason. Use them constantly. A well-timed “Booyah!” isn’t just charming — it keeps morale and coordination up. (And yes, always say it back.)

3. Don’t hoard upgrades. Spend early, experiment often. The game showers you with resources in the first stretch precisely so you can find a playstyle you enjoy.

4. Rotate weapons. The temptation is to main one weapon forever. Resist it. Raiders’ objectives reward flexibility, and you’ll plateau quickly with a one-trick loadout.

Pros & cons for newcomers

Pros: Approachable co-op, gorgeous art direction, genuinely fresh structure for the series. Cons: The opening tutorialization is light, and solo players will have a steeper learning curve than squads.

Verdict

If you own a Switch 2 and enjoy co-op games with personality, Raiders is an easy recommendation — just give it three or four sessions before judging it. Players who only want competitive Turf War should stick with mainline Splatoon.

Source: Kotaku