After the massive success of Splatoon, its sequel had much to live up to. Simply releasing an updated version with new story elements was not going to be enough. So, in order to help evolve the series, Splatoon 2 introduced Salmon Run, a PvE game mode where players take on swarms of zombie-esque creatures called salmonids. This mode has returned in the series' third installment.
While most salmonids are small and only threatening in large groups, the boss salmonids are a different story. These bosses provide a sizable threat with only one of them, and in groups, they are responsible for most failed salmon runs. While they should all be dealt with as quickly as possible, these are the ones that pose the biggest threat, not counting special event bosses.
8 Flipper-Flopper
Added in Splatoon 3, the Flipper-Flopper is a dolphin-esque Salmonid that dives in and out of ink. As it dives, it aims for players with a wide circle, filling it entirely with ink upon impact. The only way to avoid this and create an opening is to fill up the circle with ink before the Flipper can dive.
This attack is far from the most threatening one a boss salmonid has to offer, but it can easily catch players off guard. In the middle of a heated match, swapping aim from salmonids to the ground long enough to stop the Flipper can be a death sentence.
7 Maws
Maws is one of the boss salmonids that came with Salmon Run in Splatoon 2. It is a huge fish with some light equipment attached to it. Its form of attack is to swim underneath players, before sprouting up to devour them from below. The only way to stop it is to shoot it while it is above ground, or preferably leave a bomb in the spot it is about to munch on.
In theory, Maws is quite simple to deal with. However, it’s surprisingly easy to get caught off guard by it. The timing for dropping a bomb and swimming away takes some learning, and any mistakes are met with an instant death.
6 Steelhead
Steelheads are a familiar sight in Salmon Run, yet have managed to avoid becoming total pushovers. They attack by periodically filling up a balloon on their heads with ink, launching it as a large grenade of sorts afterwards.
The usual strategy is for players to fill the balloon with ink before the salmonid can, causing it to explode and take out the steelhead. However, due to the sheer height of this salmonid, it can be a challenge to accurately aim up and hit the balloon fast enough. Charger players who know what they are doing can do this in one shot, however.
5 Drizzler
The Drizzler is less a directly offensive salmonid, and more of a supporting/harassing one. It’s a little salmonid with an umbrella, who will periodically shoot out an ink storm, before becoming vulnerable to attack for a few seconds. Its ink storm can also be shot down if players are fast enough.
Drizzlers are more annoying than directly threatening. They can be easy to miss in the commotion of a salmon run, and their ink storms deal just enough damage to make a usually survivable situation unwinnable.
4 Big Shot
Newly introduced in Splatoon 3, the Big Shot joins in the roster of boss salmonids who use one of the game’s special weapons against players. In this case, it fires projectiles that turn into ‘wavebreaker’ waves once they hit the ground.
As anyone who has played Splatoon 3 multiplayer can attest, the wavebreaker is surprisingly threatening. It forces precise jumping in an already hectic situation, and only three hits are needed to splat a player. Luckily the Big Shot’s cannon can be used to benefit the player once the salmonid itself is dead.
3 Steel Eel
It’s very easy to get crept up on by one of these. Steel Eels, as their name implies, are long, serpentine machines that spray ink all along their bodies. Their only weak spot is the salmonid piloting the contraption, but it’s all the way at the back, making it somewhat hard to reach.
Eels are one of the worst bosses to have around when things are getting overwhelming. Their walls of ink can completely lock off many avenues of movement, and box players in before they know it, especially on smaller Salmon Run maps. Not to mention, having to find the pilot with other salmonids in the way can be a disaster.
2 Flyfish
For many Spaltoon players, the Flyfish is actually the most detestable boss salmonid of all. Its attacks are similar to the ‘tenta-missiles' special weapon, firing a deluge of homing missiles at players. Even worse, is that the only way to kill it is with two well-timed, well-aimed bomb throws into its missile baskets.
Coordinating simultaneous throws with strangers is almost impossible, meaning the Flyfish is likely to get off at least two barrages, and draw a lot of player attention. While guns with bomb-like properties can make the process easier, everybody hates having to deal with a Flyfish.
1 Stinger
As detestable as the Flyfish is, the Stinger takes the cake. Stingers are like snipers, sitting atop large stacks of pans and firing a concentrated stream of ink into players. To make matters worse, they always spawn at the edges of the map, meaning at least one player must go out of their way to locate and take one out.
Stingers exert a lot of pressure if allowed to stay on the field. If two of them are up at once, they might just be able to end the round right there. Their threat level is precisely why they are such a high priority target, and one of the bosses nobody wants to deal with.