Arowana Mall

"Callie: The town's been booming since they built this mall! Marie: Are you sure it's not the other way around?"

Arowana Mall is a multiplayer stage in Splatoon.



Layout
Arowana Mall is long and relatively narrow with multiple large, central areas and hidden side passages.

The only way for one team to get to the other side of the map is by going through the center.

Hazards
Arowana Mall features many waterways around the center, sometimes under grated platforms. Because of this, becoming a squid while standing on a grate is often risky.

It is also possible to fall out-of-bounds by going through the fencing on the outside of the Side Alleys.

Notable Locations

 * Central Area: In the center of Arowana Mall is an area connected by two ramps, with relatively large areas at the bottom of the ramps on each side. This location is the site of many skirmishes, but getting around it is simple, as both teams' territories are connected by narrow side passages.
 * Side Alleys: On both sides of Arowana Mall, two side passages connect each team's Spawn Point to the central area. However, a team's base cannot be directly accessed through these passages if a player is entering from the central area. In order to access these passages, players must swim up small walls located in the Central Area.
 * Bases: Each team's base is an open area with access to their side passage and and a lower area that leads an area connected to the central area. It also connects to two platforms near the central area that provide a fast way to ambush the opposing team there, and snipe players from a safe distance.

Ranked Battle


Many platforms and boxes have been added around the Central Area in both Splat Zones and Rainmaker to aid in attacking the center.

Splat Zones
The Splat Zone for Arowana Mall exists in the very center of the stage where all paths meet, and is overlooked by multiple hallways or platforms. In this mode, the side alleys are now linked to the other side of the map via an added grated walkway over the pools of water.

Tower Control
The tower in Arowana Mall in located at the center of the map, replacing the information tower. The goals are located at the base of each teams' ramp in the lower area of their Base. When ridden, the tower proceeds to the riding team's right, placing itself over water. It then goes to the center of the pathway to the opposing team's base and continues on to the goal.

Rainmaker
The Rainmaker begins in the center of the stage, in place of the the informational tower that appears in Turf War and the tower from Tower Control. The Rainmaker must be taken to the platform found inside the lower, rectangular areas below each team's spawn point. A stack of boxes have also been added to one exit of the side alleys to aide the defending team in flanking the opposing team.

Tips

 * Elevated platforms running along either side of the central area make chargers very useful here for splatting foes.
 * Constricted space in the Side Alleys make Ink Mines and Splash Walls a viable option for controlling enemy movement.
 * Point Sensors are particularly useful to throw up and into the Central Area before climbing the hill to avoid a potential ambush. Disruptors can serve this purpose, as well, thanks to the unique sound they make when they hit an enemy.
 * The potted plant in each of the Side Alleys makes an ideal hiding spot to avoid enemy fire and catch foes off-guard.
 * The palm trees on both sides of the map can provide protection against Inkzookas and shots from the Rainmaker.

Development
Arowana Mall underwent a series of changes between its development period and release. The pre-release version included many differences, such as:
 * There was much less verticality.
 * The current side alleys were not present.
 * The ramps were very small.
 * There was much less water, as well as fewer grates.
 * There was a raised, U-shaped Glass platform in the center of the stage.
 * The buildings that formed the stage's walls were much different.

There were a few changes made to the map after the August Update (ver. 2.0.0). These include:
 * Two palm trees were added to the lone planters of both sides just left before entering the center of the map, this protects the player from Inkzookas.
 * Two signs were added at the exits from the side areas to prevent sniping from the side they belong to.

Trivia

 * It is possible to jump out of bounds into the beach area beside the map, on the corridors on the far sides. If the player does this, they will instantly die and respawn. That said, it's possible to stand on the palm tree closest to the center of the map and stay on top of it for a bit.
 * The map's name is based on the real life arowana. The fish is known for its long slender body and ability to jump great heights. The arowana reference is therefore particularly well-suited as the map has several areas with large ramps and steep cutoffs and is long and rectangular in shape.
 * Before Version 2.1.0, a glitch existed which allowed players to jump from a Side Alley, through a ledge, into the opposite team's base. It has since been patched out of the game, but was once a nasty trick for players to do while battling.
 * When there's only one minute left in a game, a closing tune for the mall can be heard.
 * This stage, and Walleye Warehouse are the only 2 stages in the game from initial release, which are not featured in Octo Valley.