Salmon Run is a co-op multiplayer mode available in Splatoon 2 for up to four players. It can be played locally with other people (local wireless or LAN) at The Shoal or online at certain times through Grizzco Industries. The online version requires the player to be at least Level 4 to be able to play.
Producer Hisashi Nogami says that Salmon Run was made to take advantage of how portable the Nintendo Switch is and to give smaller groups of players an interesting local multiplayer experience, since other game modes need a lot of players (eight), which makes Salmon Run unique. [1].
There are three waves in each Salmon Run. To finish a wave, players must defeat Salmonids and drop Power Eggs and Golden Eggs in the egg basket. Every Boss Salmonid that is splatted drops three Golden Eggs. If these eggs are not picked up within a few seconds, a Snatcher will show up to take them back. Each player can carry only one Golden Egg at a time.
Each wave has a quota, which varies depending on the number of players present and its ranks. Players fail the run if the quota isn’t met before the wave timer runs out or if all of their shots hit the ground. Completing a run increases the players pay grade, which also determines the difficulty of runs. Players are still paid for the Golden Eggs they found even if they fail, but their pay grade may go down.
When the difficulty is high, the most waves that can be sent at once are 21, 23, and 25. This happens when the squads average rank is Profreshional 600 or above. A message appears on-screen at the start of such a shift stating “Hazard Level MAX!!”.
In this mode, Inklings and Octolings have special gear that lets them be brought back to life if they get splatted. When splatted, a lifesaver appears at their last position after a few seconds. By inking it, a teammate can revive them and they come back with a short period of invulnerability. If they collected a Golden Egg before being splatted, it is not lost. Also, if they didn’t have a Golden Egg before being hit, they might get one while they’re in a lifesaver. However, eggs cannot be deposited in the egg basket until they are revived. During the whole game, every player wears the same uniform, which includes a green cap, orange overalls, green gloves, and green boots, no matter what gear they were wearing before entering this mode. Also, no gear abilities apply during this modes gameplay.
In Salmon Run, Inklings and Octolings ink level and special weapon uses are displayed visually. The lifesaver on their back acts as their ink tank, which depletes clockwise from top. Their special weapon stock looks like two silver bags on their hat, but when they use a special weapon, the bags disappear.
The box around the squid or octopus icons glows orange to let you know that one of the teams is down or that there are less than four active players.
When thirty seconds are left, the timer turns yellow, and if the quota isn’t met yet, the box around the timer and quota lights up orange to warn you. A separate countdown shows up in the middle of the screen as an overlay for the last ten seconds. The numbers are orange if the goal is not met and green if it is.
Salmon Run is not always playable online, as the Grizzco Industries building can sometimes be closed. It opens in an irregular pattern but can be expected to be available every other day. Each Salmon Run rotation features one random stage and four random weapons to be assigned to players.
The stages menu shows when the next five Salmon Runs will start, as well as the stages and weapons for the next two. Because the rotations are planned ahead of time, new stages and weapons might not show up for a while.
One of the most popular co-op modes in the Splatoon games is Salmon Run, which pits four players against waves of Salmonid enemies in a fast-paced battle. Salmon Run is back in Splatoon 3 with new stages, weapons, bosses, and rewards to get.
If you’re new to the chaotic fun of Salmon Run or need a refresher, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to succeed in Salmon Run matches. We’ll cover how to unlock Salmon Run, the basics of play, strategies for collecting Golden Eggs, defeating Boss Salmonids, and maximizing your rewards. Let’s dive in!
Unlocking Salmon Run
Before you can access Salmon Run you need to reach multiplayer Level 4 in Splatoon 3. This requires playing through some online Turf War battles and gaining XP. Keep battling until you hit Level 4 to unlock Salmon Run.
Once Salmon Run is unlocked, you can find it by going to Grizzco Industries in the main square of Splatsville. Look for the blue bear mascot and talk to the recruiter Mr. Grizz to sign up. You’ll be ready to start your first shift in Salmon Run after a short lesson!
The Basics of Salmon Run Play
Here’s a quick rundown of how Salmon Run matches work:
- Teams of 4 players battle 3 waves of Salmonids
- Each wave has a 100 second time limit to collect enough Golden Eggs
- Defeat Salmonids to get Power Eggs (for points) and Golden Eggs
-Deposit Golden Eggs in the Egg Basket to meet the quota - Boss Salmonids drop Golden Eggs when defeated
- Revive downed teammates by inking them
- Survive all 3 waves to complete the shift!
Work together to collect enough eggs by splatting Salmonids, reviving teammates, and protecting the Golden Eggs. Communicate and watch each other’s backs to succeed!
Collecting Golden Eggs
Collecting and depositing Golden Eggs is the key objective. When you defeat a Boss Salmonid, they’ll drop multiple Golden Eggs. Grab the Golden Eggs and head to the Egg Basket as quick as you can.
Toss the Golden Eggs in by pressing A when close to the basket. Coordinate with teammates to efficiently collect eggs after taking down bosses. Don’t let them sit for too long!
Make sure to clear paths back to the basket and ink turf to swim through quickly. Use “This way!” and “Over here!” signals to direct teammates to fallen eggs. Work together to meet the rising egg quotas each wave.
Reviving Teammates
When teammates get splatted by Salmonids, make sure to revive them! Run over to their glowing lifesaver ring and ink it to get them back into the action quicker.
Stick together, lead bosses away from downed teammates, and keep an eye out for the lifesaving glow. Surviving all 3 waves is a team effort, so keep your crew revived.
Surviving Boss Salmonids
While smallfry Salmonids can be splatted easily, the hulking Boss Salmonids present a greater challenge. Each boss has different abilities and weaknesses:
- Steel Eel – Splatter its surface to slow it down and eventually splat it. Beware the shockwave tail whip!
- Steelhead – Throw bombs in its open mouth when it attacks to expose and splat its core.
- Scrapper – Get behind it to attack the core on its back. Watch out for the pickaxe swings!
- Flyfish – Throw bombs into the cockpits on both sides of its float to destroy them and splat it.
- Stinger – Hide beneath the launch pads to avoid missiles. Aim for its glowy core spot to splat it.
- Maws – Lure it with bait; then swim away when it surfaces to attack the tail.
- Griller – Have someone lure it in squid form while teammates attack it from behind.
- Goldie – Pop it quickly before it escapes! Collect all the golden eggs left behind.
- Cohozuna – The massive king Salmonid boss. Chip away at its feet and when it falls, attack the face! Work as a team.
Learn the boss behaviors and weaknesses to take them down efficiently. Use special weapons at key times for an advantage against tricky bosses.
Getting Work Shift Rewards
As you complete Salmon Run shifts, you’ll earn Power Eggs that convert to cash rewards and items. Here are some tips for maximizing rewards:
- Meet and exceed the egg quotas to earn bonuses
- Revive teammates and survive all 3 waves to increase rewards
- Raise your Job Title by completing shifts to unlock better gear
- Keep an eye out for weapon-specific bonuses
- Check the rewards table after each shift to redeem eggs for cash
- Acquire ability chunks to upgrade your gear back in the city
The better your team performs, the greater your Salmon Run rewards will be!
Helpful Salmon Run Strategies
- Ink turf paths back to the basket for quick egg delivery.
- Use weapons effectively – chargers snipe Chums from afar, rollers swiftly ink paths.
- Save specials for critical moments in the later waves.
- Don’t get overwhelmed – focus on the nearest threat.
- Alert your crew to nearby bosses and fallen teammates.
- Don’t hesitate to cash in some Power Eggs between waves.
- Swim away after reviving teammates to avoid being surrounded.
- Lure bosses away from the egg basket area.
- Don’t panic and watch your surroundings – Salmonids can come from anywhere!
Having a Splattastic Time in Salmon Run
With these tips and tricks in mind, you’ll be well on your way to Salmon Run success. No other co-op mode delivers the thrilling teamwork and splatting action of Salmon Run. Once you get a feel for the nail-biting multiplayer madness, you’ll be coming back shift after addicting shift. Stay flexible with your weapons, stick with your teammates, have fun taking down Salmonids, and celebrate hard-earned victories together. Get out there and start splatting – the Grizzco paycheck awaits!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock Salmon Run in Splatoon 3?
Reach multiplayer level 4 by completing online matches to unlock Salmon Run. Once unlocked, visit Grizzco Industries in Splatsville to play.
Where can you find Salmon Run in Splatoon 3?
Salmon Run is located at Grizzco Industries in Splatsville’s main square. Look for the blue bear mascot to access it.
What is the main goal in Salmon Run matches?
Collect the quota of Golden Eggs within the time limit by defeating Salmonids and depositing their eggs into the basket. Complete 3 waves per shift.
How do you revive teammates in Salmon Run?
Ink downed teammates’ glowing lifesaver ring to quickly get them back into the match. Always help your crew out with revives!
What is the best strategy for collecting Golden Eggs?
Ink clear paths back to the basket, toss eggs short distances to teammates, communicate fallen egg locations, and work together to safely collect eggs after defeating bosses.
How do you unlock higher job titles and rewards?
Complete Salmon Run shifts to raise your job title from Apprentice to Part-Timer, Go-Getter, Overachiever, and Profreshional. Higher titles unlock better gear and bonuses.
What is the biggest Salmonid boss threat?
Cohozuna, the towering king Salmonid boss who appears during random Xtreme shifts. He takes the entire team’s coordinated effort to take down.
How long do work shifts in Salmon Run last?
Salmon Run shifts consist of 3 waves, each 100 seconds long. Survive all 3 intense waves to complete the shift and maximize your rewards!
Does Salmon Run progress save between matches?
Yes, all Salmon Run progression including job titles, rewards, and catalog unlocks carry over between matches.
Wildcard rotation
Standard wildcard rotations come in two types: all-random wildcard rotations, which are shown in the Salmon Run schedule, and partial wildcard rotations, which are shown as three standard weapons and one in the schedule. At the start of a wave, players who are given the wildcard weapon slot () get a random weapon that isn’t shown until it’s loaned. This wildcard weapon slot has a chance to loan players the one rare weapon that is set to appear in that rotation. In all-random wildcard rotations, work crews are loaned exclusively random weapons. In partial wildcard rotations, three weapons are pre-set, similar to non-wildcard rotations, while the last weapon is random. Wildcard rotations typically take place twice per month.
There are no limits on how many players can be loaned the same weapon in a wave during all-random wildcard rotations. Players can even get the same weapon more than once in the same shift. This phenomenon extends to rare weapons as well as repeats of the pre-set weapons in partial wildcard rotations.
As of Version 4. 0. 0, a song called Frantic Aspic by ω-3 plays in place of Deluge Dirge during these rotations.
For a history of wildcard rotations, see Salmon Run data.
Local mode
You can play and host a Salmon Run locally at The Shoal, but other players will need their own consoles and copies of Splatoon 2 to join. Local play is independent of the online Salmon Run rotation, thereby being available at all times. According to Version 204.0, the host of a local Salmon Run can choose which maps are played and set the risk levels (which should not be confused with the pay grade). These levels range from 5% to 2020%. 0. 0. Versions that came before this one had a range of 5% to 2010% at the beginning of a game session. This means that players had to clear a match set at the highest level of difficulty to have the option to make it harder by 10%, with 2020% being the highest level of difficulty. A hazard level of 10% is the same as a fresh graduate, earning 215 percent of the highest pay grade. A hazard level of 120% is the same as a fresh graduate, earning 240 percent of the highest pay grade. Matches played in the local mode do not affect the rankings and battle records of the online version.
The following is a table of the different Hazard Levels corresponding Job Title:
| Title | Hazard Level |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | 5% – 15% |
| Part-Timer | 20% – 35% |
| Go-Getter | 40% – 55% |
| Overachiever | 60% – 75% |
| Profreshional | 80% – 200% |
When playing locally, Mr. Grizz has a darkened icon and is known as “Raspy Voice” while he comments as usual. There is no dialogue at the end of the result screen like there is in the online version of Salmon Run.
It is possible for players to pick the weapon they want to use during a match. The selection screen looks a lot like the equip screen. There is also an option to choose a random weapon. The weapons you can use are not the same as the ones you can buy in Ammo Knights; you can choose from a different set of weapons.
The following is a list of all available weapons in local Salmon Run.
- 2D art of an Inkling girl in Salmon Run gear
- 2D art of a work crew
- For The Art of Splatoon 2, this is a 2D drawing of an Inkling boy wearing Salmon Run gear.
- Web art in 2D for Splatoon 2’s Salmon Run mode
- 3D art of an Inkling girl wearing the uniform
- Polaroid-style render
- 3D art of a work crew
- 3D art of the egg basket
- 3D art of a lifesaver
- Concept illustration of Salmon Run
- Concept illustration of an Inkling in Salmon Run attire
- Early unused icon
- Promotional artwork