33 Tactical Tips for Mastering Salmon Run in Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 is packed with high-octane game modes, but few are as chaotic and rewarding as Salmon Run. While it offers immense fun and variety, it also presents some of the toughest challenges in the game. With its frantic waves, ruthless bosses, and constantly shifting battlefield, success in Salmon Run demands not just sharp aim but smart tactics. Fortunately, these 33 tips will help you ease the stress and boost your success, whether you’re a freelance beginner or climbing the ranks in professional play.

Wave Preparation: The Calm Before the Chaos

1. Paint Up Early: Before each wave starts, take time to ink as much of the map as possible, especially the walls. Painted walls create alternate routes for escape and faster egg deliveries.

2. Use Bombs to Revive: If your weapon is short-ranged or you’re out of position, tossing a bomb is a quick and efficient way to revive teammates at range.

3. Watch the Tide: A green wavy line at the bottom of your screen shows upcoming tide levels. Low tide means more map space; high tide means cramped, dangerous quarters. Plan accordingly.

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Egg Management and Boss Luring

4. Bait Bosses: Don’t kill scrappers or Moz immediately. Lure them closer to the basket before finishing them off for faster and safer egg collection.

5. Toss Eggs Efficiently: Throw eggs up inclines, over obstacles, or coordinate egg-passing with teammates. This can significantly boost delivery speed.

6. Eggs Go Through Enemies: Don’t let salmonids block your egg throws. You can throw eggs through them straight into the basket.

7. Use Big Shot Cannons: You can launch eggs near the basket using the cannons Big Shot leaves behind. Clear enemies around them to use this feature safely.

Ink, Awareness, and Positioning

8. Check Your Lifesaver Tank: Your ink level is displayed right on your back. Glance at it to avoid running out mid-battle.

9. Moz Timing Trick: Wait until Moz fully surfaces before tossing a bomb in its mouth. Precision and timing are key.

10. Scrapper Team Trick: After you shoot a scrapper and it stops, a teammate can hit it from behind while it’s focused on you.

11. Exploit Drizzler Jumps: When a Drizzler jumps into the air, it’s exposed. Use this window for massive damage.

12. Deflect Drizzler Missiles: Shoot its projectile to bounce it back for a one-shot kill. If you can’t reflect it, take it out quickly to prevent an ink storm.

13. Rain Lure Tactic: The Drizzler targets the nearest player after landing. Use this to steer rain away from critical areas like the basket.

Weapon-Specific Strategies

14. Blaster vs. Fish Stick: A well-timed blaster shot can destroy a Fish Stick before it even drills down.

15. Stinger Targeting: Stingers always shoot the furthest player. Blasters and burst damage weapons are great for eliminating them.

16. Explosher Mastery: One of the best Salmon Run weapons. It can take out Flyfish, Mudmouths, and even hit the Mothership from afar.

17. Grizzco Stringer: A powerhouse weapon that deals 999.9 damage per shot. Use it for Moz, Drizzlers, Big Shots, and fall-off tricks on Steelheads.

Creative Kill Techniques

18. Slammin’ Lid Chain Kill: Lure enemies under it and let the lid squash them for a mass egg drop.

19. Avoid Lid Soup Smack: If you linger on top of a Slammin’ Lid, it’ll eventually knock you off.

20. High Tide Steel Eel Kill: Shoot its weak spot before it fully emerges from the water to gain precious seconds.

21. Fast Flipper-Flopper Kill: Weapons like Hydra or E-leader can kill it before it burrows back underground.

Cannon and Special Use

22. One-Shot with Cannons: Cannons can destroy most bosses in one shot, even Flyfish — just aim carefully.

23. Cannon Priority in Quahog Charge: If your weapon is weak at breaking quahogs, take the cannon. Sloshers and rapid weapons do well here.

24. Glowfly Wall Trick: If glowflies are targeting you, cling to a wall. Teammates can collect eggs while you’re safe — but be quick, as enemies will jump up after a while.

25. Tornado Toss Line: Build an egg assembly line from the shore to the basket. DPS weapons should focus on crowd control.

Event-Specific Tactics

26. Goldie Seeking Clue: The taller a gusher’s height without a Goldie, the closer you are to finding the right one.

27. Save Specials for Clutch Moments: Don’t blow your special on a whim. Use them for mob control, emergency revives, or when bosses pile up.

28. Inkjet Versatility: This special excels at range, flying over hazards, and Flyfish kills. Always aim carefully.

29. Wave Breaker Utility: Fantastic for revives and zoning. Drop one preemptively if you’re about to get swarmed.

King Salmonid & Bonus Wave Tips

30. Music Cue for King Salmonid: If the clear wave music sounds warped and ominous, prepare for an extra wave — the king is coming.

31. Extra Special Use: Even if you used all your specials in wave 3, you’ll receive one more to fight the King Salmonid. Use it wisely.

32. Balance Golden Egg Throws and Damage: When eggs are scarce, shoot the King — but prioritize throwing golden eggs for max damage.

33. The Umbrella Glitch: Hitting Salmonids with a Tenebrella shield can send them flying into space. (Nintendo, please never patch this!)

Final Thoughts

These 33 tips form a solid backbone for improving in Salmon Run, making tough waves more manageable and chaotic fights more strategic. There’s always more to learn — so if you have your own tricks, be sure to share them! And if you’re serious about upping your egg-collecting game, check out communities like Brian’s channel or the Overfishing Discord server for expert-level coordination.

Until next time, keep painting, keep surviving, and may your baskets always overflow. Peace!