Splatoon Raiders hands you a deep pool of ink-spraying gear to fight through the Salmonids of the Spirhalite Islands. Weapons span everything from rapid-fire shooters and long-range chargers to heavy melee blades, with more than 50 named variants spread across eleven core weapon types. Picking the right one comes down to how quickly it clears crowds and how well it holds up against tougher Boss and Seasoned Salmonids.
Quick answer: The Splatana is the strongest weapon class right now, with the Plastic Splatana at the top of the pile. Charge its slash to deal 2 to 5 times normal damage, and pair it with a Speed Tank so you can close the gap safely.
Best weapons to use in Splatoon Raiders
Damage output over a short window is what matters most. Salmonid Dens run on a 120-second timer per floor, so weapons that delete crowds quickly are worth far more than slow, high-accuracy options. Close-range melee gear that also handles crowd control sits at the very top, with fast-firing ranged weapons right behind it.
Splatana (top pick)
Every Splatana variant tops the rankings. Normal slashes hit hard at close range, and a charged slash multiplies that damage several times over, which chews through both hordes and Boss Salmonids. The catch is range. You have to be right on top of enemies, so mobility and HP management carry the build. A Speed Tank helps you dart in and out without eating hits.
Shrimp Roller
The Shrimp Roller blends area damage with wide ink coverage and can plow straight into an incoming wave. It is one of the most versatile picks, comfortable whether you are painting ground or breaking a Salmonid line head-on.
Gas-Can Splatling
This is the Gatling-style option. Its very high fire rate lays down heavy ink coverage while mowing down enemies from a safer distance, making it a reliable ranged answer to swarms.
Sippy-Cup Dualies
If you want double the guns and quick footwork, the Dualies deliver. The Sippy-Cup Dualies keep aggressive brutes in check while giving you the dodge rolls needed to reposition and dodge incoming damage.
Unleaded 4K
The 4K weapons are charge-up snipers that hit for big single-target damage and shoot ink forward as they fire. The Unleaded 4K is the pick for players who prefer to pick off threats before they ever reach melee range.
Full weapon tier ranking
Weapons are graded on damage per second first, then horde management and versatility against single-target bosses. Here is where the current standouts land.
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| SS | Plastic Splatana |
| S+ | Shrimp Roller, Balloon Roller, Gas-Can Splatling, Diner Dualies, Sippy-Cup Dualies, Steam Blaster, Oil Blaster |
| S | Unleaded 4K, Toy-Claw Blaster, Toy-Horn Blaster |
| A | Flamingo Splattershot Jr., Water-Wing Splattershot Jr., Soap-Bottle Splattershot |
| B | Bamboo Stringer |
| C | Pulley Brush, Cycle Brush |
All weapons by type
Weapons fall into distinct families, and each family carries several variants that tweak stats like range or ink efficiency. Note that these are separate from Gadgets, the Tank-tied abilities you build back at the Hideout Ship.
| Type | Variants |
|---|---|
| Splattershot | Plastic-Bottle Splattershot, Soap-Bottle Splattershot, Glass-Bottle Splattershot, Primo Plastic-Bottle Splattershot, Water-Wing Splattershot Jr., Flamingo Splattershot Jr., Lifeguard Splattershot Jr. |
| Squelcher | Jam Squelcher, Perfume Squelcher, Olive Oil Squelcher |
| Roller | Balloon Roller, Shrimp Roller, Inner-Tube Roller, Duct Roller, Turbine Roller, Engine Roller |
| 4K | Diesel 4K, Unleaded 4K, High-Octane 4K, Detergent Charger, Cleaner Charger, Bleach Charger |
| Slosher | Polyethylene Slosher, Sand Slosher, Camo Slosher, Oil Drum Pow Slosher, Shichirin Pow Slosher |
| Splatling | LN2 Splatling, Gas-Can Splatling, Buoy Splatling, Water-Jug Splatling |
| Dualies | Diner Dualies, Sippy-Cup Dualies, Sport Bottle Dualies |
| Twincans | Aluminium Twincans, Steel Twincans |
| Brella | Palm Brella, Flower Brella, Fruit Brella, Thermal Brella |
| Blaster | Oil Blaster, Steam Blaster, Butane Blaster, Toy-Claw Blaster, Toy-Horn Blaster, Toy-Shark Blaster |
| Brush | Cycle Brush, Pulley Brush, Touring Brush |
| Stringer | Bamboo Stringer, Racket Stringer, Alpine Stringer |
| Splatana | Wooden Splatana, Plastic Splatana, Rail Splatana |
Nintendo lists eleven weapon types and more than 100 total variations to discover, so expect additional variants beyond the named ones above. Some rare weapons carry special powers on top of their base stats.
How to get weapons
There are two main ways to add weapons to your collection while raiding. Defeated Salmonids can drop a weapon, and those drops are random, so keep fighting if you are hunting a specific one. Weapons also spill out of breakable crates scattered around each raid, so smash every crate you pass. On solo raids you keep everything you pick up even if the raid ends in defeat.
How to upgrade weapons
Weapon leveling happens at the Weapon Stash aboard the Hideout Ship, where Frye handles the work. Spend Spirhalite Shards to raise a weapon’s level, which increases its stats. Higher-level weapons hit harder, so investing in your main pick pays off against tougher Salmonids. Frye can also break weapons down into materials at the same station if you would rather recycle a duplicate than upgrade it.
Whichever direction you go, the fastest clears come from favoring damage and crowd control. A charged Splatana carries most fights, but a fast Splatling or a mobile pair of Dualies gives you a safer ranged fallback when the Salmonid count climbs.
