![Splatoon 3: Joe goes down in Salmon Run [44-31-42-xs, 20/987] @TigerEars](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Akdf2OQlqT4/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Okay, guys, I'll ink the walls, don't worry. Still, my squidmates splat the early bosses efficiently, and don't get splatted by some drizzle. I'm revived quickly and splat a boss here, a boss there, before being chased off a ledge by Cohocks. Then it's up a Fish Finger, or not, or maybe I do, and back down to help with a Flipper and just about avoid a Maws. Back up the wall to dodge-roll and splat a Scrapper and Lid sequentially, where I'm reminded that a Stinger is nearby. I run out of ink to do much, so pause to refill, then I'm off, to get to where a squidmate is splatting the Stinger. At least I can grab another egg to stuff in the basket.
The walls need a touch-up at the start of the second wave, but not much more, so I'm splatting bosses quickly. The Steel Eel has everyone's attention, and I'm happy to see a squidmate catch up with me at the Flyfish. The Lid's in an awkward position, but at least it lets me splat a Fish Finger, and then I juggle a couple of eggs back to the basket. From there, it's forwards for a Steel Eel and finishing a Flyfish, but I don't have ink for a Maws. That's a shame, as double-dipping from eggs, which I don't need to do, has a Scrapper bump me in to Maws's second bite. So it goes. I'm nicely revived, letting me head up a Fish Finger, where I hope to throw eggs. I try to revive a squidmate, but they get help before my Splat Bomb hits them, and as I refill my tank to throw more eggs I realise we need too many eggs for this to help. I dive off, in to enough rain to make me use an Inkjet to escape it and help out. Thankfully, there are enough eggs lying around for us to hit and just about exceed quota.
Time to go mobile with the Aerospray! Luckily, I realise a Steelhead bomb is on the ledge before I head up, and I reposition to splat it before heading up a Fish Finger and coming back down to bring a Lid with me. I deliver some eggs, but get a bit caught up in the bosses and don't achieve much for a moment. A few Scrappers are easy enough to evade and splat, though, and give us some easy eggs, along with a Snatcher flying past. I run away for a bit to deal with a Stinger, but fail to get away again, leaving me in an awkward position. I may not take the most efficient route back, but I am revived in time to throw my final egg in the basket, thank you, squidmate, and we complete another Run. Or do we?
Here comes Joe. And they're coming for me. I have no idea where the first bosses are, so I just run in a direction, and pop up to hit the red spot, which seems to be a popular choice. Then we have eggs, but not many. I throw one at the red spot before having to evade the next bite, still managing to get some hits against the spot. Going up the Fish Finger for eggs seems like an idea, and I get another shot on target, before being targeted again. I leave Joe to bite air as I try to splat a Drizzler, getting some eggs but having to leap out of the way of another bite. Unfortunately, my aspect gets me splatted by a Stinger, leaving me out of action but near eggs. I grab one and hope for the best, which handily comes in the form of a squidmate's Splat Bomb. I chase a Snatcher for two more eggs and launch the one I have at a distant Joe. It hits, but I realise the red spot is visible, so I go back and aim the other two more accurately. Joe's health is lacking, but time is running out. One more bite, though, and Joe's back is available for us all to hit. Joe is splatted, and we get a gold scale. Woomy!
Okay, guys, I'll ink the walls, don't worry. Still, my squidmates splat the early bosses efficiently, and don't get splatted by some drizzle. I'm revived quickly and splat a boss here, a boss there, before being chased off a ledge by Cohocks. Then it's up a Fish Finger, or not, or maybe I do, and back down to help with a Flipper and just about avoid a Maws. Back up the wall to dodge-roll and splat a Scrapper and Lid sequentially, where I'm reminded that a Stinger is nearby. I run out of ink to do much, so pause to refill, then I'm off, to get to where a squidmate is splatting the Stinger. At least I can grab another egg to stuff in the basket.
The walls need a touch-up at the start of the second wave, but not much more, so I'm splatting bosses quickly. The Steel Eel has everyone's attention, and I'm happy to see a squidmate catch up with me at the Flyfish. The Lid's in an awkward position, but at least it lets me splat a Fish Finger, and then I juggle a couple of eggs back to the basket. From there, it's forwards for a Steel Eel and finishing a Flyfish, but I don't have ink for a Maws. That's a shame, as double-dipping from eggs, which I don't need to do, has a Scrapper bump me in to Maws's second bite. So it goes. I'm nicely revived, letting me head up a Fish Finger, where I hope to throw eggs. I try to revive a squidmate, but they get help before my Splat Bomb hits them, and as I refill my tank to throw more eggs I realise we need too many eggs for this to help. I dive off, in to enough rain to make me use an Inkjet to escape it and help out. Thankfully, there are enough eggs lying around for us to hit and just about exceed quota.
Time to go mobile with the Aerospray! Luckily, I realise a Steelhead bomb is on the ledge before I head up, and I reposition to splat it before heading up a Fish Finger and coming back down to bring a Lid with me. I deliver some eggs, but get a bit caught up in the bosses and don't achieve much for a moment. A few Scrappers are easy enough to evade and splat, though, and give us some easy eggs, along with a Snatcher flying past. I run away for a bit to deal with a Stinger, but fail to get away again, leaving me in an awkward position. I may not take the most efficient route back, but I am revived in time to throw my final egg in the basket, thank you, squidmate, and we complete another Run. Or do we?
Here comes Joe. And they're coming for me. I have no idea where the first bosses are, so I just run in a direction, and pop up to hit the red spot, which seems to be a popular choice. Then we have eggs, but not many. I throw one at the red spot before having to evade the next bite, still managing to get some hits against the spot. Going up the Fish Finger for eggs seems like an idea, and I get another shot on target, before being targeted again. I leave Joe to bite air as I try to splat a Drizzler, getting some eggs but having to leap out of the way of another bite. Unfortunately, my aspect gets me splatted by a Stinger, leaving me out of action but near eggs. I grab one and hope for the best, which handily comes in the form of a squidmate's Splat Bomb. I chase a Snatcher for two more eggs and launch the one I have at a distant Joe. It hits, but I realise the red spot is visible, so I go back and aim the other two more accurately. Joe's health is lacking, but time is running out. One more bite, though, and Joe's back is available for us all to hit. Joe is splatted, and we get a gold scale. Woomy!
![Splatoon 3: Joe goes down in Salmon Run [44-31-42-xs, 20/987]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Akdf2OQlqT4/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Joe goes down in Salmon Run [44-31-42-xs, 20/987]
Okay, guys, Ill ink the walls, dont worry. Still, my squidmates splat the early bosses efficiently, and dont get splatted by some drizzle. Im revived quickly and splat a boss here, a boss there, before being chased off a ledge by Cohocks. Then its up a Fish Finger, or not, or maybe I do, and back down to help with a Flipper and just about avoid a Maws. Back up the wall to dodge-roll and splat a Scrapper and Lid sequentially, where Im reminded that a Stinger is nearby. I run out of ink to do much, so pause to refill, then Im off, to get to where a squidmate is splatting the Stinger. At least I can grab another egg to stuff in the basket.
The walls need a touch-up at the start of the second wave, but not much more, so Im splatting bosses quickly. The Steel Eel has everyones attention, and Im happy to see a squidmate catch up with me at the Flyfish. The Lids in an awkward position, but at least it lets me splat a Fish Finger, and then I juggle a couple of eggs back to the basket. From there, its forwards for a Steel Eel and finishing a Flyfish, but I dont have ink for a Maws. Thats a shame, as double-dipping from eggs, which I dont need to do, has a Scrapper bump me in to Mawss second bite. So it goes. Im nicely revived, letting me head up a Fish Finger, where I hope to throw eggs. I try to revive a squidmate, but they get help before my Splat Bomb hits them, and as I refill my tank to throw more eggs I realise we need too many eggs for this to help. I dive off, in to enough rain to make me use an Inkjet to escape it and help out. Thankfully, there are enough eggs lying around for us to hit and just about exceed quota.
Time to go mobile with the Aerospray! Luckily, I realise a Steelhead bomb is on the ledge before I head up, and I reposition to splat it before heading up a Fish Finger and coming back down to bring a Lid with me. I deliver some eggs, but get a bit caught up in the bosses and dont achieve much for a moment. A few Scrappers are easy enough to evade and splat, though, and give us some easy eggs, along with a Snatcher flying past. I run away for a bit to deal with a Stinger, but fail to get away again, leaving me in an awkward position. I may not take the most efficient route back, but I am revived in time to throw my final egg in the basket, thank you, squidmate, and we complete another Run. Or do we?
Here comes Joe. And theyre coming for me. I have no idea where the first bosses are, so I just run in a direction, and pop up to hit the red spot, which seems to be a popular choice. Then we have eggs, but not many. I throw one at the red spot before having to evade the next bite, still managing to get some hits against the spot. Going up the Fish Finger for eggs seems like an idea, and I get another shot on target, before being targeted again. I leave Joe to bite air as I try to splat a Drizzler, getting some eggs but having to leap out of the way of another bite. Unfortunately, my aspect gets me splatted by a Stinger, leaving me out of action but near eggs. I grab one and hope for the best, which handily comes in the form of a squidmates Splat Bomb. I chase a Snatcher for two more eggs and launch the one I have at a distant Joe. It hits, but I realise the red spot is visible, so I go back and aim the other two more accurately. Joes health is lacking, but time is running out. One more bite, though, and Joes back is available for us all to hit. Joe is splatted, and we get a gold scale. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: We can work with three in Salmon Run [19-28-32, 34/554]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BRhEvuBNZxI/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: We can work with three in Salmon Run [19-28-32, 34/554]
I muck around at the start, running rings around a static squidmate, just having a bit of a lark, waiting for the bosses to roll up. But they disappear! That wasnt meant to happen. Okay, down to business. Im a little upset the Drizzler missile does nothing, but happy to splat the Flyfish in one cycle. I kinda run out of ink, though, and dont get any eggs. And a Stinger has waddled up, which feels important. Its good to see a squidmate thinks that too, and I finally start delivering some eggs. A squidmate is splatted, so I focus on that first, because we dont have the numbers to ignore it. Then dunk some eggs, see a Drizzler missile do nothing again, and fall off the ledge trying to splat it conventionally. And with a splatted squidmate in the distance. I hope my other squidmate has that covered, and throw more eggs in to the basket, before escaping some drizzle. I see a squidmate down by the Big Shot cannon, so leave them to it, and get back to the basket. Weve made quota, which is good, and now we just need to survive the final few seconds. Which we just about manage.
On to the second wave, and down to the shore. We have a Cohock rush, which is normally fairly straightforward, but now well be missing a cannoneer or egg gathering. This could be tricky. A trio of Flippers makes it easier to start, and backs us half our quota, and I get us another sixth of the way there by splatting a Fish Finger. I splat another Fish Finger, this one from the ground, then head out, as some distant bosses will causes us problems. I splat the Stinger, but abandon the Flyfish when a squidmate is splatted. Our other squidmate revives them, which is good, but Im back at the basket and so dunk eggs and try to keep the turf clear there. Flippers arent helping any more, and I hop in to a cannon to clear the area for a few shots, before going back in to survival mode. On to the final wave!
Mudmouths again arent too tricky normally, and dont feel like they should pose much problem for a trio, only the waves of Smallfry and Cohocks become more difficult to deal with. I focus on the Mudmouths themselves, to keep numbers down that way, particularly as I have the Snipewriter, which isnt that useful against Smallfry. But we also need eggs, so I try to get them in to the basket too. A couple of Inkstrikes probably help, and we hit quota with plenty of time to space. I also think my squidmates must be doing a great job with keeping the Smallfry down, because I am barely spooned by them the entire wave. For going down to three early on, I think we performed excellently. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Slinking around the Hub in Splat Zones [18(2)-6, Carbon Roller Deco]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BUGm3g4B58Y/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Slinking around the Hub in Splat Zones [18(2)-6, Carbon Roller Deco]
I have no real plan to start this battle. Maybe it shows. Unlike the Aerospray, lobbing its first B-bomb within seconds. I think I dodge it, and maybe I do, as I am splatted instead by the other Aerospray sliding a Dolphin in to our Splat Zone. I slink back to the action, such as it is, and get a weak flick against a pinkling below, who must have been very inky to start with. Then I lurk. I slink around the side, get behind the pinklings, and start throwing ink in random directions, barely hitting anyone. Its not the best tactic, as it turns out. I might need to develop it.
At least my squidmates have given us a lead. I help out by hitting a pesky Aerospray pestering our Roller with a Burst Bomb, before sliding across to catch the B-bomber on landing. And the super-jumper landing next to them. I move on to splat the Blaster too, and a squidmate splats the Decavitator trying to splat me from behind to complete the Wipeout. Nice! We have a bit of time, so I tidy up, then inadvertently use a squidmate for bait for my Trizooka. Im hit with a Point Sensor, but that drops quickly, and the squidmate super-jumping to me becomes more bait, dragging in the Blaster who thinks Ive gone away. I havent.
I head back to the pinkling side, chase a slippery Aerospray, then more successfully chase the Blaster. That has my running in to the Decavitator, which wouldnt be so bad if I head a heavier Roller. I return to things happening not near me, so I take the opportunity to ink the pink Splat Zone. That gets attention, and if only my first swing was better, I would find myself stuck under a Splashdown. I resign my body to its fate, and return shortly, heading right around the back to immediately give away my position by destroying a Sprinkler. Back I go.
More splats happening, just not near me for a while. My idea to get on the plinth doesnt even help with a second Trizooka. I run away as pink Specials fly in, and run back in as I see a super-jumper about to land. Its the Decavitator, but luckily they have spotted a squidmate, and I can get close for the splat. I run away from the Blaster, leaving an unlucky squidmate behind, and return as the Decavitator makes a reappearance, to their misfortune, and I hang around to just about save a super-jumping squidmate from an Aerospray. I almost run away again, but cant help but turn around, which lets me splat the Blaster, and the second Aerospray as they land from throwing a B-bomb. I land in the B-bomb, which is a shame, but the splats were worth it, and our score continues ticking over. Or it did.
The Decavitator is the only inkling up, and they turn the Splat Zones pink on their lonesome. I take the long way back, running in to an Aerospray, or maybe it was two, and roll through the Splat Zones. That finds the Blaster, and again I find myself not accurate enough from a distance to stop them activating a Splashdown on top of me. So it goes. As time winds down, the Splat Zones are pink and the pinklings are pushing in to our turf. I encounter them close up, and probably shouldnt have survived. But I do, and help recover the Splat Zones, pausing only to splat a hapless super-jumper, doing their panicked best to stop our victory. But they cant. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Back with the bucket in Tower Control [19(3)-6, Tri-slosher]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ba1154yc-1A/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Back with the bucket in Tower Control [19(3)-6, Tri-slosher]
Taking a break from the Wellstring, Im bringing out the bucket. I am clearly rusty, as I have no idea where to go initially, or where to run, or what my range is. Its a really poor start. I try to play a little more defensively, which works and lets us turn the Tower around. I just about dodge a Splat Bomb and Chicken, which a squidmate doesnt, but Im not quite quick enough at sloshing the Flingza Roller behind the wall. I try my luck heading down the blind side, starting as a flank and turning in to going right behind the lines. The yellow team dont see me, so my sloshes come as a surprise to a couple of them, which is good for us.
I ride the Tower for a bit, jumping off to splat the N-ZAP 89, and hopping the block to actually be quicker than the Flingza Roller this time. With ink lapping at my heels I follow up to splat the Splattershot Nova, before running away. Not far, though, as the Tower is there, so I hop in to an Inkjet to show that I still need more practice with it, and end up landing in the path of the Flingza Roller. So it goes. I return down the blind side again, taking care to drop off the ledge in cover, and approach the Tower from behind, where two more inklings arent expecting me to be.
Riding the Tower has me targeted by a Killer Wail, which I only just dodge, and I continue my dodging to get back on the yellow ledge, where I close with the Range Blaster quicker than they can get a bead on me. I drop down to get up the block, where an inkling evades me, and another Killer Wail comes for me. I run away, ending up by the Tower, and also by a Chicken that I dont register. Thats okay, as my squidmates keep the push going, and I super-jump back, where the Flingza Roller waits to greet me.
I risk another super-jump, this one deep behind yellow lines, and it pays off. I protect a squidmate also jumping in from the Flingza Roller, catch the Splattershot Nova who missed seeing me, and splat the N-ZAP 89 off the Tower. I nearly turn the Tower around, but the Range Blaster is somewhere. I dont quite see them, so just chuck Toxic Mist and slosh around. I dont think it works, and instead the Flingza Roller appears for some deserved revenge. Another trip down the side, and although I am spotted, from two angles, I somehow survive and get close enough to the Splattershot Nova to splat them without getting splatted back, and that lets me approach the rest of the yellow team from behind.
We turn the Tower around with thirty seconds left on the clock and a good lead already under our belts. Some random sloshing stops the Flingza Roller, but it takes more than that against the Splattershot Nova, who keeps their range, holding me at bay, and although neither of us splats the other, our little duel stops one yellow inkling from battling for the Tower, which ultimately works in our favour, as time runs out. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Nearly toppling the Triumvirate in Salmon Run [68-36-48-xf, 38/1574]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C025Pyx5LlA/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Nearly toppling the Triumvirate in Salmon Run [68-36-48-xf, 38/1574]
All-random weapons comes outside of a weekend, and Im here for it! Even if Im not quite ready. I get the Grizzco Slosher to start with, the best weapon, but perhaps to be underutilised for Goldie Seeking. Its still pretty good, if not as useful as a Roller. And our Roller knows what they are doing, which is good and lets us harvest plenty of eggs, even if the seeking part of the wave is less efficient than Id like.
Down to low tide for the second wave, with another Grizzco weapon. I have the Stringer this time, which is really good, if you know what youre doing. Im not allowed to show off splatting a Stinger in one hit, but never mind, I get a Fish Finger and some Flippers to splat quickly. Another Stinger appears too, if a bit out of range for a one-hit splat, and I encounter the main drawback of the Stringer, it being really ink-hungry. I recover, but have to run away from a Steel Eel. That gives me a chance to get the angles right on a Steelhead, though, even if heading back to the basket has my floundering. I am not surprised at getting splatted, but a little surprised at what splatted me. Overall, a decent wave.
The tide comes right in for the final wave, and I have a little Sploosh-o-matic, which Im quite happy with. I can shoot and shoot and keep shooting for ages, and as long as I get close to the salmonids I can splat them quickly. This is not a bother most of the time, but I do need the help of a ledge to splat the Steelhead. Splatting the Flipper is made more tricky by the Fish Finger above not yet being splatted, which takes me too long to work out. I want to go up the Finger, but a Cohock convinces me Im not going anywhere, so I use a B-bomb to keep me safe. It also splats a Flyfish. An Inkstrike helps splat a Stinger and the Fish Finger, mostly clearing the area, which makes it time for last-second egg dunking, which we achieve pretty well.
But its not over. Here comes the Triumvirate, and at high tide. I think that helps more than hinders. I get the Grizzco Roller, which is normally a lot of fun but feels out of place during the King fight. I do what I can, which starts well, splatting a Lid and Drizzler combined, but then Im just running around, and getting bounced by my own bad rolling in to the water. Im revived and find myself near two Steelheads that require too much good timing than the situation allows, so I use a B-bomb to turn them in to golden eggs. I fire those eggs, zoom across the other side of the Station, create more eggs with my second extra B-bomb, and launch those successfully in to Joes red spot. With seconds to go, Joe bites Boros to splat them, and a few last hits splats Zuna moments later. Can we splat Joe too? Maybe with a bit more time we could have. But that was pretty close. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Staying out of trouble in Salmon Run [38-34-35-xs, 27/1561]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C1gwqtkanlQ/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Staying out of trouble in Salmon Run [38-34-35-xs, 27/1561]
The Runs have been a little splatty of late, even with a set of weapons that feel pretty safe, so Im making a conscious effort to not make hasty decisions and try not to put myself in to hazardous situations. High tide immediately complicates that effort, giving much less turf to work in, which a squidmate demonstrates by getting splatted pretty early, but it should be fine. I keep myself mobile, splat bosses, deliver eggs. I splat the Fish Fingers quickly, as their ability to gunk up turf and reduced mobility can be underestimated, and Im just lucky with my positioning to splat the Drizzler and Stinger. Theres a nice reminder of why we (should!) ink walls when a Steel Eel looks to bite me, but I have an escaped route ready, which I take all the way across the water, in part because of the Flipper next to me. I pause to gauge the situation, and to get some ink back, and return to the action, where I splat Lid and Maws at the same time, dropping down to revive a squidmate and dunk some last-second eggs. Its a good first wave, even if I happen to be the sole squid standing at the end of it.
The Wellstring is a nice weapon for the second wave, although the tide going out gives more walls to ink. A couple of Flippers to start are nice and relaxing, although a Big Shot could pose problems. Two definitely will. My Wellstring makes short work of them, and its good to see the Painbrush coming to help. I move on to drop a Lid, pause to splat a Steelhead, splat the Lid, and splat a Fish Finger in quick succession, enjoying the Wellstring all the while. Another Big Shot appears, so I move to splat it, pausing for a Maws, and running from a damaged Steel Eel, taking the scenic route to a Stinger. I just about have time to get back in range of the basket to launch one more egg its way, and this time Im not the only squid standing at the end of the wave! Theres two of us.
I take my Splash-o-matic down to the low-tide area, and wait for the salmonids to come. A Fish Finger is my first target, splatted mostly by the Painbrush, and I make a daring leap on to the rail to splat an inkoming Steel Eel, almost ignoring my good health record to this point. A Steelhead is a good target to clear some turf, and behind that is a Stinger or three that need attention. I throw out a Wave Breaker to help, as a Lid flies in above one. I ride that and stay out of reach of a Steel Eel, before heading back to the basket, Stingers splatted. Another one waddles to shore as I use my second Wave Breaker for giggles against two Scrappers, but I ignore the new Stinger in favour of eggs, as we still need to hit quota, which isnt helped by throwing an egg wide. But we get past quota easily, and all survive to the end of the wave.
But not the end of the Run, as a Horrorboros appears! This could ruin my clean run so far, but a Kind Salmonid kinda doesnt count towards that. And I have the Painbrush! Well, what happens happens. Still, I stay completely out of trouble to start with, as my squidmates wade in, a Crab appearing to deal some good early damage to Boros. I get involved as more Lids appear, but even then I get a bit confused and nearly squished or panned. I move out again, throwing my egg at Boros and brushing him a bit, before getting back in to the thick of the bosses. A Wave Breaker helps, mostly against Smallfry, and a Flyfish nearly causes me a splatting, but I push through and, with Boros almost defeated, start throwing eggs. Some of them hit, the last one I make sure does, and we splat Horrorboros! Even better, I made good with my attempt to keep the Run clean. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Needing a big comeback in Splat Zones [11(8)-4, Custom Wellstring V]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CnYhpLaSMl0/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Needing a big comeback in Splat Zones [11(8)-4, Custom Wellstring V]
I hear three little chips off in the distance, but no splat for me. Meanwhile, the Splat Zones turn green, and prove difficult to change colour. I get three more chips, which somehow turns in to a splat, and with a green inkling or two down, we are able to start our score ticking over. We press forwards a little, but I cant knock the Hydra Splatling off their perch, and they fly in to a B-bomb launch to preserve themselves anyway. Those are easy to dodge, but less so when you swim in to a small lip.
The Splat Zones turn green again, and have a Bubble above them when I get back. I start hitting that, only for the Decavitator to come for me. I splat them, but their charge hits me too. And we lose the lead. We battle to get the Splat Zones pink again, which doesnt take too long, but the inkling I splat that I thought was the Decavitator was instead the Carbon Roller, which leaves the Decavitator room to pop their Bubble and splat me with practiced speed.
I return as the only pinkling up, which causes me to stay at range initially, and for a bit longer, as inklings seem to be lurking to splat me at short range. I cant ink the Splat Zones much, but with my squidmates back I get braver and push forwards. The opposite Wellstring is a threat, so I try to change the angle with them, only to find myself in sight of the Hydra Splatling. They splat me a bit quickly, which is disappointing. Worse still, the green team have just about won. I dont think Ill get back to the Splat Zones in time to change anything, and I dont, but luckily my squidmates do. The Splat Zones are neutralised, and turned pink, just in time to avoid the knockout defeat.
We have quite the effort ahead of us to hold the Splat Zones now, even with a hefty buffer on the green teams score. It kinda focusses us, though. I remember my Point Sensors again, which highlights two inklings and lets me splat one of them, while my squidmates go on a rampage. I lurk near th eback of the action, using my range to help and my inking power to keep the turf pink. Were safe for a while, keeping the green team at bay, until the Wellstring gets close and chucks a Wave Breaker in to the Splat Zones. But Wellstring versus Wellstring is an even match, and as I hold the turf my squidmates move in for the splat. Next is the Hydra Splatling and their B-bomb. But it is surprisingly too late. Despite having been on the back foot, we have held the Splat Zones for as long as they did, and just a bit more. I didnt think we were going to win that. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Assisting with the splats in Rainmaker [16(9)-5, Custom Wellstring V]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DnuKOEMs6Qk/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Assisting with the splats in Rainmaker [16(9)-5, Custom Wellstring V]
Woo, two Wellstrings on our team! No wonder we burst the Rainmaker free first, which gives me the first splat too. Now lets do something with it. Thats pretty much what my squidmates do, while I wibble around at the edges of the battle. A Splashdown splats our Rainmaker, but not before they hit the first checkpoint. Again, Im wibbling at the edge, confusing a squidmate for an opponent, but at least Im in the right place to grab the Rainmaker on the checkpoint and dash forwards to where my squidmates are making a path. I waste a bit of time trying to get a splat, but keep the move going and get us in to a strong lead before the Decavitator splats me.
I super-jump back, and immediately back-track. The purple team hold the Rainmaker rather than clear their lines, which means it is still in a good position for us when its dropped. I mess up my range but again am in a good rear position to hold the turf. I move up after splatting the Splatterscope, and grab the Rainmaker, keeping it safe from a Splashdown. I think a gap has opened up and dash in to it, only to see the Splat Bomb too late. So it goes.
Our forward position is compromised, so I take the slow way back, if with a leap to the lower turf. I find myself chased by a Hammer, which isnt so bad when you have a lot of turf, and manage to splat the Brolly attacking a squidmate. The Rainmaker is somewhere, and when I find it I move up, grab it again, and start making some more slow progress. I mis-judge the situation, though, and make my move when it is getting more dangerous ahead. I last longer than I should, but it wasnt the best move.
The purple team manage to clear their lines, and make a good dash to the checkpoint, but suffer losses as their coherence slips, in much the same way that ours does as we make another push. I probably shouldnt have thrown my Wave Breaker in front of a Hammer, or stood in front of it in defiance either. Never mind, despite the purple team using the Wipeout opportunity to take the Rainmaker to our checkpoint, they get no further, and we gain some patience, looking for splats before extending ourselves.
I get my Wellstring working, using its inksplosions to hit and splat inklings behind obstacles, or at range, and we look to have another opportunity ourselves to move the Rainmaker forwards. I get a better Wave Breaker out, and push forwards, but run straight in to the Sploosh-o-matic. Its a minor hindrance, and I super-jump back to the Rainmaker who is being suitably cautious. We hold the turf, extend our influence forwards, and slowly move up as we get more splats. And with just one purple inkling not splatted, our Rainmaker dashes for the inked podium! Only the unsplatted inkling is the Splatterscope, and they have their aim trained on the podium. Were denied the dunk. Our lead is all but insurmountable, however, and although I dont get to the Rainmaker first, and miss a close-range shot, I manage to splat the escaping Rainmaker in mid-air to secure the victory. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Thwarted by Smallfry in Salmon Run [45-50-44-xf, 35/1502]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EH2IZCg8sMo/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Thwarted by Smallfry in Salmon Run [45-50-44-xf, 35/1502]
Everyones inking the walls! This is so lovely, and maybe not as obviously necessary when we get Mudmouths. But its still good to have vertical paths ready before we need them. I have the Hydra Splatling, so I am on Cohock duty, which I take moderately seriously, but eggs in the basket is good too. Its a straightforward wave, even with a relatively high quota, and we breeze through it like we should.
High tide still for the second wave, and me with a Squeezer. I quite like it in Salmon Run, and put it to good use against Fish Fingers, Stingers, and Steelheads, but I get caught out by Smallfry too often, mostly the ones of the ground when Im splatting the ones in the air. I really ought to have splatted the spoony critters at my feet first, but I get a bit too focussed on one thing occasionally. Im more disappointed that my Splat Bomb bounces off Maws, as I thought it was a good throw. I also thought Id get up the wall to be greeted by golden eggs and not a gaping maw. At least I drag her back to the basket, where we boost our quota to the half-ton.
Another special wave to end, this time we are hunting the Goldie. Sadly, the tide went out a little, so we dont have the limited options of high tide, and we are little relying on the Goldie wandering close to the basket. Still, we have a Hydra Splatling to splat the eggs out of the Goldie, so I am happy to use my ink keeping them safe from the Cohocks and Smallfry. That helps us get a load of eggs, but we also have to keep the Goldie coming, so I make a point of finding it, before pulling out the classic move of dodge-rolling off a ledge. Its the final wave, so Specials are used, which boosts are eggs nicely, and we end up with a decent total.
Uh-oh, here comes a Zuna. And two Fish Fingers with it. I clearly dont know how to splat Fish Fingers with a Splat Brolly, but Im soon revived and bringing down a Lid. I also use my extra Inkstrike to splat a Flyfish and revive a distant squidmate, both seeming like a good idea, before finding eggs to throw towards Zuna. And miss, but never mind. I use the last egg to create three more from a Steelhead, and splat a Drizzler to make it six, four of which might have hit Zuna. Maybe three. I move on to another Fish Finger, where I learnt my lesson from before, but Zunas been moved. My squidmtes have more eggs elsewhere, so I move too, and try to get close to the available eggs. That just gets me squished, which is a shame, and we dont manage to get our splat. We still get a decent reward, at last. Woomy!")
![Splatoon 3: Denied the dunk in Rainmaker [13(2)-8, Carbon Roller Deco]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EHJWrooeYF8/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Denied the dunk in Rainmaker [13(2)-8, Carbon Roller Deco]
The green team have the ink to free the Rainmaker, but none of us are caught in the inksplosion, so we start with a statelmate. A Splattercolour Screen is a good way to break things, and moving around to try to find opportunity gets me splatted. The first splat too. I dont think the medal is for being splatted first, though. I return to my squidmates all getting splatted and the green team pushing the Rainmaker. I dodge some trouble, my squidmates return, and I just about squeeze under the shots of the .52 Gal for my first splat. I head back towards the Rainmaker and try my best to splat the Slosher grabbing it, and feel a little hard done by when they evade me for so long. And I get splatted by their final Rainmaker blast. So it goes.
Weve got some work to do now. I super-jump back as the Rainmaker is reset, not realising I am jumping to the squidmate plummeting to their doom. I land safely, though, and start helping regain possession of the Rainmaker. I move around another Screen and try to sneak up on the .52 Gal, but I dont fool them, managing only a score-draw. But a squidmate got the Rainmaker to the checkpoint, which is good. I super-jump back and watch for the inkling who threw the Suction Bomb at me. They raise their head soon enough, but I miss a flick, and they are off Zipcasting around. I try to catch their landing, but the .52 Gal is too mean to let me stay there.
I return to the green team taking control of the turf, and sit back loitering for a while. I think I see an opportunity and leap at it. A squidmate gets there first, but thats okay. I push past and return to grab the Rainmaker and make a run. It looks like Im going to get caught until a friendly B-bomb lands to engulf me. Good move! Except it doesnt evaporate ink flying in to it, and I am splatted anyway. Great idea, all the same. The map shows someone being irritating near our podium, no doubt the Octobrush and their Zipcaster, but they can be ignored. I move up instead, applying some pressure, as do my squidmates. I splat the Slosher as they splat me, and other splattings happen, while the Octobrush goes Zipcasting again, but a squidmate has pushed the Rainmaker further forwards, which is good.
We still need a few more steps for the lead, and were in a good position to try for it at the moment. I cant risk a super-jump, but a far-ahead squidmate grabs the Rainmaker and dashes along the ready-made path, and steals the lead before Ive even got half-way back. Nice! I move up to splat the Carbon Roller aiming for a squidmate, and aim for the Rainmaker only to see it dive off the Bridge. Thats a shame, but my spirits are buoyed by accidentally running in to the Octobrush and splatting them, a feeling that lasts all of a second before the .52 Gal picks me off like Im just some newb yet again.
I return to see the Octobrush not contributing to the battle and just building up for another Zipcaster, so I punish them for that, and turn around to catch the Carbon Roller as I pass through a Screen, and despite the fading colours manage to splat the Slosher picking up the Rainmaker. Nice! I hide from the .52 Gal, though. At first, at least. Then I think I stand a chance. And I kinda do, but the .52 Gal reminds me whos the boss. The colour returns to me, which is nice, and we have the Rainmaker. The Octobrush is zipping around again, so I wait for them to land, as does a squidmate, and we mete out some inky revenge.
Then its time for the Rainmaker! I can see it through the monochrome, and I hide until the right opportunity comes. A squidmate pulling out a Crab seems to be it! I grab the Rainmaker, some splats happen around me, and then its just a dash to the podium, behind a supporting squidmate inking the way, all the way up to the top of the podium for the dunk! Woomy! Or was it a dunk? Judd, in his wisdom, seems to think time ran out before I dunked the Rainmaker, which clearly was the not the case. Stupid cat. Its still going in my playlist of Rainmaker dunks.")
![Splatoon 3: Making up for a mistake in Rainmaker [13-10, Carbon Roller]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E_4fh64dfYw/mqdefault.jpg "Splatoon 3: Making up for a mistake in Rainmaker [13-10, Carbon Roller]
I dont want to get close to all the ink being thrown around at the start, but with a small path around the burst Rainmaker I sense an opportunity. Its a shame the Dualie Squelchers jinked backwards when I got close. I risk a super-jump, landing safely as the battle continues in the middle of the Springs. I help burst the Rainmaker free, fail to grab it, and push forwards, not entirely helped by the refreshing drink highlighting me. Still, I get around the podium and splat the Squelchers cleanly this time, as the first checkpoint is cleared.
We try to keep the push going, and I apply some pressure first from the side and then the front, which nearly works. I am undone, though, by the Nautilus managing to activate their Splashdown before I splat them. Another super-jump, this one I see from the air to be doomed to a splatting, so I head back again slowly. The orange team are moving the Rainmaker, and I am unconvinced of the Carbon Rollers power to challenge bursting the Rainmaker, and hold back, hoping to splat whoever picks it up. But that doesnt account for a well-timed Dolphin. Not only does the orange team hit the first checkpoint, but they wipe us out. Thankfully, they dont immediately push for turf.
I head down the side, and somehow sneak up on the unattended Rainmaker. I make a grab for it, and miss, although I hit an inkling. I head back for another attempt, as the Rainmaker threatens to reset. So let it reset! I should not have picked it up, as I just get splatted and the Rainmaker sits next to our checkpoint. This time, the orange team dont make the same mistake, and burst it free to dash in to the lead. That was a mistake I made. The situation isnt helped by getting accidentally squished by the Dynamo Roller, but at least my squidmates recover the Rainmaker.
I push forwards, boosted by another drink, and get one splat early before making a path deeper in to orange turf. I swing back around, where the Rainmaker is trying to stay unsplatted, and get another splat myself, but the Rainmaker is dropped. I find myself in a good position, though, and get a double-splat to complete a Wipeout. Perfect! I whip out a Trizooka and burst the Rainmaker free, grabbing it and dashing forwards, using the path I just inked, to just about sneak in to the lead. Its by one point, but thats enough! I think Ive made up for my earlier mistake. Now to keep the lead.
The Rainmaker jumps the ledge, so I have to turn around from my super-jump. My squidmates stop the Rainmaker, and I help by splatting the Dualie Squelchers. I leave the Rainmaker alone, and scoot around the back to try to splat the Nautilus, which doesnt work, but I loiter for the super-jumper, which bags me a splat, if only to leave my back open to a splatting. The orange team recover the Rainmaker and dash forwards, getting near to the lead, but stopped short. This time, we jump the ledge, and Im happy to hang back and partly defend, partly look for opportunity. I think I find it, but I really dont. Still, time comes off the clock, even if the Rainmaker is in orange hands again.
My squidmates stop the Rainmaker, and the orange team seem to take a break. I think theyre sensibly looking for splats to create a gap, but that just lets us recover the Rainmaker ourselves. I sneak forwards, get spotted, but squid around looking for splats myself. I only get the one, but the Rainmaker is back in orange turf, were in overtime, and the orange team cant quite recover quickly enough to threaten again. Woomy!")
