Snatcher

Snatchers are a type of Salmonid that appear in Salmon Run in Splatoon 2 and Salmon Run Next Wave in Splatoon 3.

Description
If a Golden Egg stays on the ground for a short period of time, a Snatcher spawns. After spawning, it starts to go towards Golden Eggs and attempts to pick them up and run away with them. Each Snatcher can pick up to three Golden Eggs. Players can splat them to get them to drop the eggs, but new ones reappear unless the egg is claimed. Before they take the eggs, they let off a distinct giggle that serves as an audio warning.

A single Snatcher is assigned to each "drop" of Golden Eggs (normally, the three eggs that are dropped from one Boss Salmonid), and do not take eggs from other "drops". For example, if two bosses were splatted, and the players took two Golden Eggs of the three that each one dropped, two Snatchers will appear, and neither of the Snatchers will try to get the other Golden Egg. If a Snatcher is splatted, another spawns after a while and targets the same Golden Eggs until either the wave ends or all remaining Golden Eggs have been collected by players or by the Snatcher. If all three eggs have been collected, the Snatcher turns back and returns to the ocean without collecting any Golden Eggs.

During Mothership waves, a "drop" consists of the single egg dropped when splatting a Chinook. During Goldie Seeking waves, a "drop" is a single egg that falls off the Goldie. In these two Known Occurrences, Snatchers only ever carry a single Golden Egg.

Snatchers are the only type of Salmonid that are passive since they come in the stage empty-handed only to take Golden Eggs, which is distracting for players.

Snatchers are almost identical in appearance to Chums. The only difference is that Snatchers have a purple mohawk instead of a red one, making them easier to spot among other Salmonids.

In Splatoon 3, the Snatchers have been equipped with nets and small aircraft which appear to be Octocopter helmets, allowing them to steal Golden Eggs in locations they would not have been able to reach in Splatoon 2 and reducing the time it takes for them to escape after picking up Golden Eggs. Additionally, Snatchers can grab more eggs in Splatoon 3.

Quotes
The following text is quoted from the Salmonid Field Guide.


 * Basic Information
 * Tasked with procuring Golden Eggs, Snatchers will emerge from the sea when Golden Eggs are present, and try to seize them and return them to the depths.
 * Any snatched Golden Eggs can be retrieved by defeating this Salmonid before it returns to the water.


 * Attack Behavior
 * Not known to attack directly.


 * Elimination
 * Can be neutralised relatively easy with a direct hit of ink.


 * Supporting Information
 * New recruits usually start as Snatchers to give them a taste of the battlefield.
 * Provided they demonstrate sufficient aptitude at collecting Golden Eggs, they will be allowed to join the front lines.
 * In recent years, aircraft have also been brought in to improve their egg-collection rates.

Player optimization
A Snatcher's path after picking up Golden Eggs can sometimes result in them bringing Golden Eggs closer to the basket. Most notable of these are on Marooner's Bay during High Tide and Spawning Grounds during a Mothership wave on Low Tide.

It is also possible to splat a Snatcher after they jump back into the water, allowing eggs picked up by a Snatcher to be dropped closer to the basket, usually Low Tide or High Tide wave. Players can splat Snatchers in the water with a Drizzler's torpedo, a cannon during Cohock Charge, a Steelhead explosion near the shore, an Explosher's explosion, or a well-placed Splat Bomb in specific areas.

Snatchers splatted in the water from a Splat Bomb on the back right of Lost Outpost can have its Golden Eggs fall right next to the basket, making it easier to turn them in.

The aircraft used by Snatchers in Splatoon 3 make these techniques impossible, as they will simply try to fly away after picking up Golden Eggs.