Splatoon Raiders builds guide: crafting tanks, gadgets, and presets
Splatoon Raiders arrives as part of the broader Splatoon universe created by Nintendo EPD.
The Splatoon franchise began on Nintendo platforms with Splatoon (2015), followed by Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch in 2017 and Splatoon 3 in 2022.
As with prior entries, in-universe developer posts from the Squid Research Lab are used to explain mechanics and offer example builds.
This guide rewrites and consolidates that advice into a clear, practical reference for players working with tanks, gadgets, weapon parts, and Relic Powers.
Core building blocks: tanks, gadgets, parts, and Relic Powers
Players choose a tank chassis (Power, Speed, or Tactical) and attach gadgets and gadget parts that modify behavior.
Builds also depend on weapon selection and a pool of Relic Powers that provide global buffs.
The underlying design encourages experimentation: there are no strictly "right" or "wrong" combinations, so iterative testing is the most important approach when refining a loadout.
Key practical tips (paraphrased from Squid Research Lab guidance)
- Keep experimenting: continually swap parts, gadgets, and tanks until you find combinations that fit your playstyle or solve a specific raid challenge.
Small changes can produce large improvements.
- Stack matching powers: when multiple sources grant the same power, their effects can stack to produce stronger results.
Prioritize parts and weapons that share valuable powers.
- Pair complementary effects: some powers synergize naturally — for example, abilities that freeze enemies combine well with weapons or parts that do extra damage to frozen foes.
- Stay organized: view your equipped parts on the Gear menu and press the ZL Button while on the Gadget page to inspect your setup.
The ZL Button offers context-sensitive help across Weapon, Gadgets, and Relic Power screens.
- Use Presets: save up to six favorite loadouts by pressing the – Button on the Gear screen to quickly swap between builds during raids.
Example builds (rewritten SRL notes)
- "Limitless Tether Wail": Use the Speed Tank for mobility, equip a Tether Wail-focused setup and a Reel 'Em In part to pull multiple Salmonids together, then finish them with high-damage follow-ups.
- "Invincible Mitt": Center this build on the Meteor Mitt for elevated attack power and add parts that boost next-gadget damage (for example, the Dash Bomb's Next-Gadget Damage part) to amplify burst windows.
- "Floaty Explosion": Combine Floaty Fun parts with a Torqscrew and a Shellacker to create aerial explosive setups; supplement with Bombloons during Shellacker cooldowns to maintain pressure.
Where to find more information
Nintendo and the Splatoon community publish official updates via Nintendo Direct presentations and the Nintendo eShop for platform releases and purchase options for Splatoon titles on Nintendo Switch.
For hands-on tuning, follow Squid Research Lab notes in-game and use the Gear menu tools and Presets to iterate quickly.
Splatoon Raiders arrives as part of the broader Splatoon universe created by Nintendo EPD.
The Splatoon franchise began on Nintendo platforms with Splatoon (2015), followed by Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch in 2017 and Splatoon 3 in 2022.
As with prior entries, in-universe developer posts from the Squid Research Lab are used to explain mechanics and offer example builds.
This guide rewrites and consolidates that advice into a clear, practical reference for players working with tanks, gadgets, weapon parts, and Relic Powers.
Core building blocks: tanks, gadgets, parts, and Relic Powers
Players choose a tank chassis (Power, Speed, or Tactical) and attach gadgets and gadget parts that modify behavior.
Builds also depend on weapon selection and a pool of Relic Powers that provide global buffs.
The underlying design encourages experimentation: there are no strictly "right" or "wrong" combinations, so iterative testing is the most important approach when refining a loadout.
Key practical tips (paraphrased from Squid Research Lab guidance)
- Keep experimenting: continually swap parts, gadgets, and tanks until you find combinations that fit your playstyle or solve a specific raid challenge.
Small changes can produce large improvements.
- Stack matching powers: when multiple sources grant the same power, their effects can stack to produce stronger results.
Prioritize parts and weapons that share valuable powers.
- Pair complementary effects: some powers synergize naturally — for example, abilities that freeze enemies combine well with weapons or parts that do extra damage to frozen foes.
- Stay organized: view your equipped parts on the Gear menu and press the ZL Button while on the Gadget page to inspect your setup.
The ZL Button offers context-sensitive help across Weapon, Gadgets, and Relic Power screens.
- Use Presets: save up to six favorite loadouts by pressing the – Button on the Gear screen to quickly swap between builds during raids.
Example builds (rewritten SRL notes)
- "Limitless Tether Wail": Use the Speed Tank for mobility, equip a Tether Wail-focused setup and a Reel 'Em In part to pull multiple Salmonids together, then finish them with high-damage follow-ups.
- "Invincible Mitt": Center this build on the Meteor Mitt for elevated attack power and add parts that boost next-gadget damage (for example, the Dash Bomb's Next-Gadget Damage part) to amplify burst windows.
- "Floaty Explosion": Combine Floaty Fun parts with a Torqscrew and a Shellacker to create aerial explosive setups; supplement with Bombloons during Shellacker cooldowns to maintain pressure.
Where to find more information
Nintendo and the Splatoon community publish official updates via Nintendo Direct presentations and the Nintendo eShop for platform releases and purchase options for Splatoon titles on Nintendo Switch.
For hands-on tuning, follow Squid Research Lab notes in-game and use the Gear menu tools and Presets to iterate quickly.
