High Tide

General Tips

Map Specific

• Before the water level rises you have just enough time to paint one outer wall of your choosing. This is only important for HT night waves.
• Be very careful when using the moving platforms as it is fairly easy to splat or be splatted with impatient use of the moving platforms.
• Splatting or stalling bosses on the far side for too long will starve the basket side of eggs. Running far eggs requires excessive use of the moving platform and, on top of slow egg running, it’s also highly likely that freelancers won’t cooperate properly with moving platform usage and cause deaths.
• Far Flyfish can be crippled, but should be splatted if possible. Crippled Flyfish on the far side are still a huge problem in High Tide on top of other bosses potentially zoning the basket side like Steel Eels. Especially for slow/heavy weapons.
• Crippled Flyfish only target the closest player. If there are 3 crippled Flyfish on the far side, it’s possible for 1 person to take aggro from them and draw their attention away from the basket momentarily to allow teammates to run eggs. But this is a risky strategy as that is still a lot of missiles so it is best to splat Flyfish if possible.
• If your weapon has enough range it’s possible to use it to push the closest moving platform to the far side to stop teammates travelling to the far side for no reason.
• If you have a long range weapon and Stingers spawn on the left shore of the far side, it is possible to shoot from the basket side grates and splat them.
• If Drizzlers spawn on the far side and shoot torpedoes towards the basket, it may be best to splat the Drizzlers so they don’t cause problems around the basket area, if things are too busy to lure the Drizzlers.
• If Steel Eels are coming from the left shore and you stand on grates, shoot the tail while it is in the water so the eggs will land on the grates. See Pachimon's demonstration
• If you are on the far side it is possible to a lure a Scrapper on the moving platform by stunning it with a few shots. Shoot the fan on the moving platform to get to the other side and keep the fan pushed for a little longer and the Scrapper will move off the moving platform onto the basket side. See Clang's demonstration
• When Steelheads come up the slopes towards the basket and there is a Scrapper in front of it, shoot the Scrapper so it stops for a few seconds with its rear facing the Steelhead. If you then splat the Steelhead, the explosion can also splat the Scrapper, so you get a 2 for 1. You can also use this strategy for Steel Eels coming up the slopes when the tail is close to the Steelhead.
• If you get trapped on either grates you can always jump onto a moving platform to escape.

Avoid

• Do not go over to the far side to begin the wave. Adopt the same positioning as Normal Tide on the two platforms behind the basket. If a Drizzler is the first boss that spawns stay back and it will jump to the basket side. You can shoot it during it’s jump to basket for a quicker splat. If the first boss is a Stinger you can go to the far side and splat it or if it is a Flyfish you can splat it.
• Do not stay on the far side for long periods you should only go there to splat Flyfish or Stingers. Often it can be risky to pick up Stinger eggs because of lessers or more bosses spawning so you may want to ignore the eggs here. If it is too risky to spend time splatting Flyfish you can cripple them to ensure you stay alive and to allow a quick splat later on.

Low Tide

General Tips

Map Specific

• To begin the wave paint the hill area as it can become useful if you have to back up or use Stingray. Paint the basket area and the areas around it but don’t go too far until the first bosses spawn. If they are bosses that can be lured let them come to the basket.
• Smokeyard Low Tide has a mostly flat layout with only the short ramps next to the basket and the cannon platforms offering some height advantage to short weapons. The cannon platforms are quite far to be worth the wait and the basket ramps are still quite short however, which is why it is important for long range weapons to keep an eye on Steelheads.
• Don’t stay out on spawns for too long. Taking down Stingers, Flyfish or running far eggs is important but don’t spend any more time than necessary at the spawns stopping lurable bosses. Not to mention the layout is fairly large and far egg trips take their time as it is.
• Regardless of weapon range, if the basket is getting overwhelmed by Steel Eels you can use the cannon platforms to draw their attention away and allow yourself a decent amount of time to damage the tail.
• The furthest Flyfish that spawn on the far right or on the left can be crippled when they are at this position. However they will move closer to the basket on their second cycle, that’s when they can be splatted, so the eggs drop closer to the basket.
• Weapons that slay Stingers quickly should prioritise them. If the path to Stingers is crowded try and help each other clear a path but it may be best if only one player splats the Stinger as it may be risky having 2 players far away from the basket.
• If a Stinger spawns on the far grate it is possible to throw bombs from the basket area and deal damage to the Stinger if the path is crowded on either side. Long range weapons can also reach the Stinger from this position.
• If a Steel Eel is targeting you, lure it around the basket side then swim to the opposite side as it begins to move around and get to the tail quickly.

Avoid

• Avoid spending too much time at the far end of the map. If you splat Stingers here and the eggs look risky it is often best to ignore them and get back to the basket area. If you die here it takes a long time to get back.
• Steelheads can be troublesome if they are allowed to throw bombs at the basket from the middle of the map. Long range weapons should not ignore Steelheads.

Goldie Seeking

General Tips

Map Specific

Normal Tide

*Click to enlarge images

Based on Figure A always open gusher F first if it is high then open gusher G if that is low then the Goldie is in D or B.

Based on Figure B if gusher F is low and gusher G is high then the Goldie is in E or C.

Based on Figure C if gushers F and G are both low then the Goldie is in A.

High Tide

*Click to enlarge images

Based on Figure D always open gusher F first if it is high then open gusher G if that is low then the Goldie is in B.

Based on Figure E if gusher F is low and gusher G is high then the Goldie is in C.

Based on Figure F if gushers F and G are both low then the Goldie is in A.

Avoid

• Do not open gushers when the Goldie has already been found.
• If gushers around you are low that indicates the Goldie is further away so do not open more gushers in that area.
• Do not ignore lessers as it's very easy to get overwhelmed when multiple gushers are open.

Goldie Rush

General Tips

Map Specific

• The right shore platform is commonly used as it gives you more time to kill Chums and Goldies before they reach you, but can also be a death trap as the horde will zone the team from the basket and easily cause kills as soon as the Glowflies change target. So we recommend the position in Figure A.
• The left and right shore spawn directions are fairly easy to defend as they only invade the basket area from one lane at a time. The spawn from the back (beach areas) can invade from literally anywhere. Try to notice which spawn is in effect and play extra safe during a back spawn (beach areas) vs more egg running during other spawns.

*Click to enlarge images

To maximise eggs, position yourselves on the left shore grates platform as this way the lessers will attack in straight lines when coming from the right shore which is easy to manage. If the lessers switch and start coming from the left shore area the first player to see this change should press "This Way!" to make the team aware. See Figure A

A useful strategy is releasing Tenta or Splat Brella shields. This allows you to focus on egg running or splat Chums that may be coming from another direction. See Figure B

Below the left shore grates there is a wall that can be painted and used to wall cling if the Glowflies are targeting you and you either want to buy time to revive teammates or let others collect eggs. See Figure C

Avoid

• Do not go to the far side or the bottom levels of the map.
• If eggs fall to the bottom it is often best to ignore them as teammates can get overwhelmed with one less player or the Glowflies could switch to you and get you splatted.
• Wall clinging should only be used if the Glowflies are targeting you and there are many eggs which the team are struggling to run. It allows them time to run eggs safely and can buy some time to revive splatted teammates. Keep in mind that after wall clinging there is large pile up of Chums/Goldies now. Wall clinging for too long will cause Chums to jump up and splat you instantly.

Cohock Charge

General Tips

Map Specific

• Cannons on this map have difficulty reaching far bosses on the opposite spawn side. One cannon user is enough if they switch Cannons when necessary. Two cannon users is too much, but it’s fine to have one player alternating between running eggs and support with the second cannon when necessary.
• When a Flyfish spawns in the far right it will be obscured by a pole, however if you aim correctly it is possible to splat the left launcher. When the Flyfish moved closer to the basket on its second cycle, splat the second launcher.

Avoid

• If someone is already in cannons do not waste time by fighting over the cannons instead play your role as an egg runner. If you do take up a cannon do not constantly leave the cannon and let bosses and Cohocks pile up.
• As an egg runner do not guard far eggs or spend too much time far away from the basket as this slows down lures and can cause problems meeting quota.
• Cannon users should avoid splatting mobile bosses far from basket if possible.

Mothership

General Tips

Map Specific

Normal Tide

• Normal Tide Mothership has the highest density of Chinook landings on the right side of the stage, right after the ramp. Some Chinooks land on the basket platforms, others land on the low grounds below the moving platform or the far side. On the left are very few landings, so they are not worth focusing on.

High Tide

• 2 Players can stay on either side of the basket, preferably long range or slower weapons. The other 2 can make short, fast trips to the far side to collect eggs.
• When using a moving platform you can shoot coolers as you move and if you are fast enough at picking up the egg you can use that same moving platform to return to the basket side.
• The moving platform that is furthest can be brought towards the basket by shooting the propeller from the basket side by a weapon with enough range.

Low Tide

• Low tide Mothership has the highest density on the right side and behind the basket, bordering on the Normal Tide beach. A long range weapon like Chargers, Splatlings, Rapid Blasters or the Jet Squelcher can take down Chinooks that would land on the Normal Tide beach while they fly over the basket. Having 2 people on the right, 1 cheesing and 1 alternating between back and left (to clear) is ideal.
• Long range weapons should focus on the hill area and if you shoot coolers early while they are in the sky you can get the eggs to fall closer to the basket, especially easy with E-liter.
• With Low Tide it is possible to use the verticality of the hill area to splat extra coolers when the Mothership is at the basket with weapons such as Rapid Blasters, the Explosher, the Jet Squelcher, longer range Splatlings and Chargers.

Avoid

• When using Stingray aim for the top of the Mothership and not the hose/nozzle.
• If it is wave 1 or 2 it may be best to Stingray the Mothership when it comes to the basket the first time only if the quota can be easily met. So using 2 Stingrays may not be required and become useful in later waves.
• Do not ignore lessers and let them pile up.
• Do not use Stingray on the Mothership when it is far from the basket as those eggs will take a long time to run.

Grillers

General Tips

Map Specific

• Yard is the easiest stage to play Grillers in. It has several platforms that facilitate positioning. The easiest platform to use is the one behind the basket which gives you plenty of time to position and damage the tail.
• Stepping on the moving platforms will instantly switch Griller aggro onto someone else. You can use it if you’re getting overwhelmed but be careful with your teammates as they may not expect the sudden aggro change.
• If you think your team needs room to run eggs and you have aggro, lure Grillers away from the basket for a moment but be careful not to step on the moving platforms so you don’t lose aggro.
• In High Tide, due to the aggro switch mechanics, you cannot lure Grillers to the far side to relieve the basket. If anything you can cling to painted walls if your team needs room - for instance, the wall next to the basket side moving platform.

Griller Positioning

*Click to enlarge images

If a Griller spawns from the left shore the player that is targeted can stand below the platform behind the basket. The others can go to the grates area and get a good angle on the Griller tail for an easy stun. The target can also stand where the 2 Inklings are positioned and shoot the tail as the Griller comes up. See Figure A

If a Griller spawns from the right shore the player it is targeting can stay on the same platform behind basket and the others can go to the right shore platform and stun the Griller after it comes up the slope. See Figure B

If the Griller comes from behind the basket (beach areas) you can stand on the platform behind the basket and stun the Griller as it comes up the slope. See Figure C

Avoid

• Do not lure Grillers to the far side or the valley area as running those eggs will take much longer.
• Don’t be too erratic with your movement causing the Grillers to splat your teammates. It is possible to wall cling temporarily to buy some time in certain situations.
• Do not ignore Smallfry especially if you have the strongest weapon for dealing with them.
• When shooting the Grillers try to avoid body blocking each other’s shots by strafing or moving too much.

Fog

General Tips

Map Specific

• Goldie lures are fairly easy during Normal Tide. If you find a Goldie that’s managed to make it below the platforms near basket try to lure it if you have time. Alternatively splat it there if there are other bosses to worry about, that’s already close enough to help you get the quota.
• Goldie lures are easy during High Tide. Don’t splat Goldies until they reach the basket. It can take a considerable amount of time to run 10 eggs from the spawn, even with the aid of the walls, if more Salmonids spawn on top of them.
• Goldie lures can be difficult during Low Tide. The left and right areas of the map are long and wide and usually busy with Salmonids so it can be difficult to get Goldies to basket when shooting down Steelheads especially.

Avoid

• Do not splat Goldies far from the basket, lure them at all times unless there is a snowball.
• Avoid spending too much time on the far side. Only use this area to escape if the basket side is overrun or return to the basket area after splatting Stingers or Flyfish.
• If teammates are stalling bosses at the bottom and there is no opportunity to lure them help splatting the bosses and avoid being inactive or spamming “This Way!”.
• Don’t all bunch together in one area as you may miss lures or risk a snowball from the opposite side. Long range or low DPS weapons can stay near the basket.