Splatoon 2 Salmon Run: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Play With People You Know

Splatoon 2 Tips for Salmon Run

This should come as no surprise, but like other online shooters playing Salmon Run in Splatoon 2 with people you know will make things much easier for you. Not only can you hook things up to do voice chat, or use another program entirely to chat, but you’ll be able to coordinate much better. Playing with random other players means you could get a team that doesn’t coordinate well or teammates who set off to do their own thing instead of trying to collect Salmonid eggs.

If you really want to have an action packed night of Salmon Run, grab three of your friends and settle in for a night of Splatoon 2.

Ink Paths to the Basket

Splatoon 2 Tips for Salmon Run

Inking turf is always important in Splatoon 2, no matter which mode you’re playing, and this includes Salmon Run. The very first things you and your team should do before a round starts is ink paths to the basket, and all around the map. This makes it much easier to get around by swimming in squid form, allowing you to quickly get to where the enemies are.

Most importantly, however, you need paths to quickly get yourself to the basket when you’re carrying a Salmonid Egg. Time is the most important factor in Salmon Run, so make sure you have paths set up to streamline getting around.

Stick Together and Communicate

Splatoon 2 Tips for Salmon Run

Another way to streamline things in Salmon Run is by having your team stick together. You probably could still triumph part of the time if everyone did their own thing, but sticking together is definitely the preferred way. Make sure to use your quick communications on the D-Pad to tell your teammates “This Way!” when you spot a boss. Maintaining communication to keep your team organized is important, as you’ll want everyone to take a boss down then grab the eggs and shuttle them back to the basket.

Make sure to rush over and shoot your teammate if they get downed as well, getting them up is incredibly fast and you don’t want to leave anyone downed for long. It can be easy to get stuck in your own little world taking down Salmonids, but remember the mode is about teamwork.

Be Familiar With the Weapons Offered

Splatoon 2 Tips for Salmon Run

Salmon Run is a limited time mode that’s only accessible during certain time in the day, at least for now. Each time Salmon Run is on, however, it’ll offer a different weapon loadout. The weapon that you use during each round in Salmon Run is randomized, meaning you’ll want to be familiar with what’s offered.

If you open the menu with X while in Inkopolis, then go to the Stages category you can see the next couple instances of Salmon Run, the times they’ll run and what weapons will be available. This could be anything from Splat Dualies to an Ink Roller, so make sure you’ve at least got a little practice with each weapon.

Always Focus on Bosses and Eggs

Splatoon 2 Tips for Salmon Run

This should go without saying, but the big focus of Salmon Run is on taking down bosses and delivering their eggs. Each time a Salmonid Boss appears you’ll see a notification and a horn will sound. At that point, you should immediately start looking for where the boss has appeared and take them down. Not only are bosses powerful enemies that can easily splat you, but collecting their eggs is the main objective of each timed round.

Once you hear that horn, gather your team up, take down the boss, then bring those eggs to the basket. Don’t bother with the small fry too much, unless they’re in the way of a boss or overwhelming you and your team. Other than that, find the boss, then rinse and repeat.