The Splatoon 3 Salmon Run Next Wave mode will bring back many of the same mechanics that defined Splatoon 2’s Salmon Run. However, there are also plenty of new gameplay elements coming in to create a fresh experience for veteran players. Here’s an overview of Salmon Run in Splatoon 3, including all of the new features players should expect.
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Splatoon 3 Salmon Run: Overview
The core objective of Splatoon 3 Salmon Run is to fulfil a certain quota by collecting Power Eggs and Golden Eggs and depositing them into an egg basket. Players do so by fighting antagonistic fish-like creatures called Salmonids. Matches take place across three waves, with powerful Boss Salmonids providing three Golden Eggs every time they are splatted.
Anywhere from one to four players can try out this mode, with the team’s quota depending on the number of players and their respective ranks. At the end of each shift, players will receive Grizzco Points based on their performance, which they can exchange for prizes at Grizzco. In addition, players can raise their pay grades by consistently exceeding their stated quotas.
Splatoon 3 characters participate in this mode with loaned weapons, rather than the weapon sets they might use in multiplayer battles. However, it appears a larger variety of weapons and specials are available to players in this game than in Splatoon 2.
Splatoon 3 Salmon Run: What’s New
Splatoon 3 Salmon Run New Wave is also introducing a number of features that weren’t in Splatoon 2. Inklings and Octolings now have an ability called the Egg Throw, which allows them to toss Golden Eggs to their teammates or directly into the egg basket.
There are two new kinds of special events related to this mode. Every so often, an Xtrawave will take place after the third wave, in which a powerful King Salmonid attacks the stage. During this timed battle, players can shoot Golden Eggs at the King Salmonid with the new Egg Launcher weapon. Successfully damaging the King Salmonid can also result in the player obtaining a rare in-game currency known as fish scales.
An even rarer event, which happens only every few months, is called Big Run. During this event, Salmonids invade the Inklings’ hometown of Splatsville and players have to battle them on stages that would normally be reserved for multiplayer team battles.
Known Occurrences are also returning in Splatoon 3. These events can occasionally change the conditions of the stage during Salmon Run Next Wave. Two new Known Occurrences will debut in this game: Mudmouth Eruption, which causes Lesser Salmonids to jump out of a giant Mudmouth’s mouth, and Giant Tornado, which sucks items out of the water and hurls them onto the stage.
There is also a new rank that players can attain called Eggsecutive VP, which surpasses the former highest rank of Profreshional. A new stage called Sockeye Station has been confirmed, and there will likely be other new stages as well. Finally, if multiple players are teaming up together, the game will provide a warning to the last-remaining player if all of their teammates have been splatted.