Splatoon Raiders: Which Tank Should You Pick First? Speed, Power or Tactical Explained
Splatoon Raiders is now live on Nintendo Switch 2, and one of the first big decisions new players face is which Ink Tank to run into their opening raids. Nintendo’s official product page confirms the game ships with three Tank types — Speed, Power and Tactical — and Nintendo’s own listing states each tank is compatible with its own range of specialized gadgets, which you can further customize using the loot you find, and players can equip the one that matches their play style or swap tanks between missions to try a different approach.
That built-in flexibility means the “first” Tank pick isn’t a permanent commitment, but reviewers and early guides agree it still shapes how the opening hours of the Spirhalite Islands campaign feel.
Speed, Power and Tactical: what each Tank actually does
Pocket Tactics, which has already published impressions after diving into the single-player campaign, frames the choice around combat pacing rather than raw stats. The outlet notes if you want more weaponry circling you to take out salmonids, the tactical tank is for you – but if you want to run away fast, or be able to hop into the air and away from chaos, choose the speed tank.
Pocket Tactics also points out that there are three tank types you can choose from as part of your build, each with different gadgets you can equip that change your abilities in combat, so it’s worth testing out all three to see which fits your style. The Power Tank, meanwhile, is generally described across early guides as the option built for direct, close-quarters confrontation with Salmonid swarms rather than repositioning or ranged control.
Game8’s early build recommendations for Power and Speed
Guide site Game8 has already published suggested early-game loadouts built around two of the three Tanks. For an aggressive approach, Game8 recommends that the best early game Power Tank build includes the Steam Blaster weapon for AoE damage, paired with the Splatchet and Spinwheel gadgets to slash through mobs and cover the area with ink, alongside the Wind-Up Key and Ballroom Mask Relics to maximize the build.
For players who prefer mobility, the same guide suggests a Speed Tank build using the Steam Blaster weapon with the Blast Boot and Dash Bomb gadgets for a hit-and-run playstyle, combined with the Miniature Scoop and Sea Bead relics for faster gadget cooldown and quicker HP and ink recovery while submerged. Game8 sums up the decision simply: an uber-offensive player suits Power Tank, a tactical zone-heavy player suits Tactical, and anyone who likes a run-and-gun playstyle should go Speed.
Upgrading whichever Tank you settle on
Because Nintendo allows free swapping between Tanks across missions, the bigger long-term investment is in upgrades rather than the initial pick. Nintendo Life’s dedicated Tank guide explains that tank upgrades are available every time you level up in Splatoon Raiders, and levelling up comes from collecting Power Eggs while exploring the Spirhalite Islands. Each level-up hands out a skill point that can be funnelled into specific Tank traits, giving players room to specialise their chosen build well beyond the base loadout.
Nintendo Life also stresses that customisation runs deeper than weapons and Tanks alone, noting Splatoon Raiders is full of customisation options, and changing weapon, gadgets, Bot Buddy, Tank and Relics can drastically shift the tide of battle, so it’s worth switching things up regularly to find what suits your playstyle, with useful combinations saveable as presets in the Gear menu.
Difficulty settings won’t punish an early Tank mistake
Part of what makes an early Tank pick low-risk is Splatoon Raiders’ difficulty structure. Nintendo’s own storefront copy confirms players can find their sweet spot with Tourist, Raider, and Survivalist difficulty levels and change it anytime, since this only affects combat, not the loot available. That means a newcomer who picks the “wrong” Tank for their taste, or simply wants an easier ramp while learning gadget timings, isn’t locking themselves out of better gear later.
An early Aussie snapshot: Speed leads a small local poll
The Tank debate has already reached local social media. Australian gaming creator PixelShaun ran a quick poll this week asking followers which Tank class they were picking, tagging Nintendo’s Australia and New Zealand account directly. The informal, small-sample poll closed with Speed well ahead, though with only a handful of votes cast it’s more a taste of early community sentiment than a verdict on balance.
For Kiwi and Australian players jumping into Splatoon Raiders on Switch 2 now that it’s available locally, the takeaway from official messaging and early guides is consistent: there’s no wrong first Tank, only a slower one to switch away from if it doesn’t click.
Read also: Splatoon Raiders Beginner Tips: Picking a Tank, Gadgets and Difficulty Explained
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