Splatoon 3 Salmon Run Guide 2026 — All Boss Salmonids, King Salmonids & How to Reach EVP 999

2026-07-26·Tips & Tricks

Salmon Run is Splatoon 3's co-op horde mode and it got a massive upgrade from Splatoon 2. New bosses, King Salmonid encounters, Big Run events, and the Egg Throw mechanic completely change how you play. I've done hundreds of shifts and hit EVP 999 in multiple rotations. Here's what actually works.

Egg Throw Changed Everything

Splatoon 3 lets you throw Golden Eggs. This is the single biggest change from Splatoon 2 and you need to use it constantly. Instead of swimming each egg to the basket, throw from where you killed the boss. A thrown egg travels in an arc — aim above the basket and you'll land it from surprising distances. This speeds up egg collection dramatically and keeps you near teammates instead of swimming back and forth alone. The throw button is the same as your sub weapon button.

Every Boss Salmonid & How to Kill It Fast

Steelhead

The Steelhead grows a bomb on its head. Shoot the bomb when it's fully inflated — it has about 500 HP. The window between inflation and detonation is tight. Chargers and Splatlings are ideal because they deliver sustained damage during the window. If you're using a Shooter or Dualie, strafe while shooting to avoid the bomb's splash if the Steelhead manages to throw it.

Steel Eel

A long chain of ink segments chasing a targeted player. The driver at the head is the only weak point. One charged Charger shot or a few Shooter shots kills the whole chain. If you're being chased, don't run in a straight line — lead the Steel Eel toward teammates or into a corner. If you're the shooter, aim for the driver's head, not the body.

Flyfish

The most dangerous boss in Salmon Run. Two missile launchers that fire homing missiles. You must throw a Splat Bomb into each launcher to destroy them. One bomb per launcher. A Flyfish left alive for 30 seconds will wipe your team. Kill it immediately. If you don't have bombs, use your special — Booyah Bomb and Killer Wail 5.1 both destroy Flyfish launchers without needing bomb aim.

Scrapper

A shielded vehicle that charges at players. Shoot the pilot through the gap behind the shield. The easiest method: let it charge, dodge to the side, and unload into the exposed back. One well-placed Splat Bomb behind the Scrapper kills it instantly. Scrappers leave ink trails, so don't let them corner you.

Maws

Swims underground toward a targeted player, then lunges up. Throw a Splat Bomb at the red circle where it will emerge for an instant one-hit kill. If you don't have a bomb, shoot it while dodging. Maws only targets the closest player, so if you see it targeting a teammate with low ink, get closer to pull aggro.

Stinger

A tower boss that fires a rapid ink beam. Destroy the pots stacked on top — 7 pots total. Each pot destroyed narrows the fire width but also speeds up the remaining fire rate. Stingers should be killed fast because their aim is accurate and the damage stacks up. Long-range weapons should prioritize Stingers whenever they spawn.

Drizzler

Fires a missile into the air that creates a rain cloud. Shoot the missile back at the Drizzler while it's still rising — it's a one-hit kill if the reflected missile hits. You can also shoot the Drizzler directly during its vulnerable phase. Don't ignore Drizzlers — their rain clouds cover large areas and make movement impossible.

Fish Stick

Creates a tall pillar covered in Smallfry. Climb the pillar by shooting ink up the side, then shoot the Smallfry at the top. One player should always clear Fish Sticks immediately because Smallfry swarms kill distracted teammates fast.

Slammin' Lid

A flying saucer that slams down when a player passes underneath. Shoot the underside when it's descending, or climb on top and shoot the pilot. You can also use the Slammin' Lid to your advantage — lure other bosses under it and the slam will kill them. One of the most satisfying tricks in the game.

Big Shot

Launches a cannonball that travels across the map and lands near the egg basket. Kill the Big Shot at the shoreline cannon — it has low HP but it's always far from the basket, sending one player away from the team. Balance killing Big Shots with staying near teammates.

Flipper-Flopper

Creates a ring of ink on the ground then dives into the ring. Shoot ink inside the ring to fill it before the Flipper-Flopper lands — if the ring is fully inked, it crashes and its weak point is exposed. If the ring isn't fully inked, it resurfaces and attacks. Easy to kill once you know the trick.

King Salmonid Encounters

When your team fills the Cohozuna meter (by defeating bosses and depositing eggs), a King Salmonid spawns in Wave 3 or an Extra Wave.

Cohozuna

The original King Salmonid. A massive, slow-moving target with 40,000 HP. Use the egg cannon (throw Golden Eggs at it with A button) for massive damage — each egg deals 800 damage. Regular weapons chip away but the egg cannon is the main damage source. Focus on dodging its belly flop attacks. The shockwave has a huge radius but a clear visual tell — jump over it or move far away.

Horrorboros

A flying King Salmonid that circles the map. It fires a Booyah Bomb from its mouth that deals massive area damage. Attack its mouth bomb while it's charging — destroying the bomb deals heavy damage to Horrorboros. Egg cannon hits the body but it moves fast. Coordinate your team to shoot the bomb together.

Megalodontia

Added in the Chill Season update. A giant Maws that creates whirlpool attacks. It submerges and resurfaces at random locations. The tell is a whirlpool forming — get away from that spot. Use egg cannon when it surfaces. Hardest of the three because the whirlpools cover egg collection zones.

Big Run Events

Big Run happens every few months — Salmonids invade a multiplayer map. The goal is the same (collect eggs) but the map layout is a Turf War stage, which changes strategy completely. The high score per player determines your Big Run trophy tier: Bronze (top 50%), Silver (top 20%), Gold (top 5%). Check the Grizzco announcement in-game for the next Big Run date.

Climbing the Ranks

  • Go-Getter / Overachiever: Learn boss kill patterns. Don't hoard your special — use it when three or more bosses are alive simultaneously. Stay near the basket so eggs get deposited.

  • Profreshional +1 to +3: Boss spawns increase dramatically. Egg Throw becomes mandatory, not optional. Lure bosses near the basket instead of killing them at the shore.
  • Eggsecutive VP: Every egg counts toward the quota. Coordinate special usage with your team. Paint walls between waves for escape routes. Know which weapon you're best with and which bosses to prioritize for that weapon.
  • EVP 999: This is the top grind. You need consistent rotations with good weapon comps. Play during Grizzco weapon rotations (all rare weapons) for the easiest path. During normal rotations, avoid rotations with three or more short-range weapons.

Weapon Roles in Salmon Run

  • Shooters (Splattershot, N-ZAP): Generalists — kill everything, collect eggs, support teammates. You're the backbone.
  • Chargers: Prioritize Steelheads, Steel Eels, and Fish Sticks. Stay on high ground and call out boss locations.
  • Rollers: Crowd control. Roll over Smallfry and Chum. Flick at bosses. The Splat Roller is top-tier in Salmon Run because rolling deals 200 damage per frame to anything you touch.
  • Splatlings: Melts Cohozuna and Horrorboros. Sustained fire controls entire lanes of approaching Salmonids.
  • Blasters: Splash damage destroys grouped enemies. Excellent during Glowfly waves — one shot clears the entire horde.

Cohock Charge & Special Waves

  • Cohock Charge: Use the cannons. One player on cannon, others lure Cohocks into cannon range. Cannon shots pierce multiple Cohocks.
  • Glowfly Rush: Everyone cluster on high ground near the basket. The targeted player stays in front, others shoot over their head. Never split up during Glowflies — that's how runs end.
  • Griller: Two Grillers spawn targeting one player each. The targeted player baits the Griller's laser while teammates shoot the glowing tail weak point. Smallfry follows Grillers — kill them first.
  • Mudmouth Eruption: Mudmouths spawn and spit out enemies. Throw Splat Bombs directly into the Mudmouth's mouth for an instant kill. Multiple Mudmouths = multiple bomb throws.

Pro Tips

  • Paint walls before each wave. Escape routes save lives.
  • Use Booyah! to celebrate or signal you're alive.
  • Use This Way! to call teammates to a boss that needs group attention.
  • Don't revive teammates by shooting at them from across the map — throw a bomb or swim to them.
  • At the start of each wave, look around to spot boss spawns. Call out Flyfish and Stingers first.
  • During Tornado rounds, throw eggs toward the basket in a chain — one player at the shore throws to a mid player who throws to the basket player.