Kelp Dome

Kelp Dome is a multiplayer stage in Splatoon and Splatoon 2.

Kelp Dome is shaped like a large square with rounded edges. It includes a variety of paths and ramps divided by uninkable glass containers, which are growing various plants. A network of grated walkways are also found above the central area and its connecting paths, allowing players to ink turf from above. On the ceiling there is a glass dome that covers the entire round-shaped garden.

Layout
Unlike conventional maps like Urchin Underpass and Walleye Warehouse, which has both team's bases at far ends of the map and players clashing at the midpoint, Kelp Dome is shaped more like a donut. Either team's bases are situated on the outer rim of the map, enveloping the central area. The spawn point is located on a very high pillar with a large grate extending out from it, and there's a large raised area that players can only reach by dropping down from the spawn point. There are two paths leading away from the spawn point, left and right, while in Ranked modes there is also a third, direct path leading to the central area through the newly-added metal box. The area behind spawn has a ramp that leads out into the left path.

Going down the left route is a small square area, with a narrow opening leading into the neutral combat area and a ramp going over the wall and on to the map's grate network. On the right is an enclosed area with two ramps leading out of it. One connects to the grate passages, while the other is a one way drop into the corner regions. These two corner regions are where players of both team's leaving their base without using the grates meet. It is a simple square area with simple cover and an inkable wall for squids to swim on to the grate network. There is a wide path leading into the middle region. The grate runs above this path, branching off into either team's inner base.

At the center is a wide open area that is broken into halves by a tall cylinder in the middle, with two arms extending out from it. The entire structure can be inked so that players can get on to the platform from below. It is also where the grates on either side of the map ends. Two inflatable barriers are placed in either corner of the area for cover.

Ranked Battle terrain
In Ranked Battle, specifications for the terrain or placement of objects are different between the modes; these changes create new paths or new objects to take cover behind.

Splat Zones
The zone is located at the center of the map, surrounding the tall cylinder, and is in the shape of a square. In order to capture the zone, both the part on the tall cylinder and the part below it have to be inked. Ink-able block have been added from left of spawn point to get over the uninkable glass containers for a shortcut into the center area. In Splatoon 2, ink-able block have been added to the left of spawn near the grate network to get over the uninkable glass containers towards the corner of the dome.

Tower Control
In Tower Control, the tower starts on top of the tall cylinder at the center of the map. It moves down and to the right of the tall cylinder, towards the corner of the dome. It then goes straight towards the opposing team's spawn point and finishes right below the inaccessible area of the opposing team. Ink-able block have been added from left of spawn point to get over the uninkable glass containers for a shortcut into the center area. Many small objects in the corners of the dome got removed to make way for the path of the tower. In Splatoon 2, new object has been created to the left of the center area to get cover behind.

Rainmaker
The Rainmaker starts on top of the tall cylinder at the center of the map. The goal is located in front of the spawn point of the opposing team next to the wall. Barriers have been added onto the raised walkways so that players cannot take that walkway right after obtaining the Rainmaker, or attack the opposing team before getting the weapon. ink-able block have been added to the left of spawn near the grate network to get over the uninkable glass containers towards the corner of the dome. Barriers have also been added near the spawn point for cover and got removed in Splatoon 2.

Clam Blitz
The Basket is located on the left side of spawn near the ramp while the bump of the goal is infront of the spawn point. Ink-able blocks have been added to the left and right routes from spawn to create a raised walkway above the uninkable glass containers, ink-able blocks have been added in the corners of the dome to get cover behind. This mode is only playable in Splatoon 2.

Splatoon
Kelp Dome was released on June 11, 2015 at, Modified Kelp Dome takes place on Octoling Invasion, an Octo Valley mission.


 * Adjusted stage layout in Splat Zones and Tower Control.


 * Small adjustments were made for Rainmaker mode.


 * Fixed an issue in all game modes that allowed players to move inside the raised starting platforms.

Splatoon 2
Kelp Dome was released on September 16, 2017 at. returning from the first game, featuring extra grates and turf.


 * Fixed an issue on Kelp Dome making it possible to ink the ground beneath the un-inkable structures on the stage, and include these areas in the final score.
 * Fixed an issue on Kelp Dome causing s to disappear rather than explode when hitting the underside of certain grates.


 * Fixed an issue in which the camera would abruptly move if the player did a near some fences in places like Kelp Dome.
 * Unified the direction of the top-down camera and turf map on Kelp Dome.

Trivia

 * A sunset variant of this map exists in Octo Valley in the mission Octoling Invasion.
 * This was the only way to play on Kelp Dome before the map was added on June 11, 2015.
 * Regarding the sisters' conversation where Callie states ink is good for plants, Marie responds with "seems legit", an Internet meme used sarcastically by people who don't believe a claim to be true. In reality, cephalopod ink does not contain any compounds that significantly affect plants one way or the other. However, coated leaves may be unable to photosynthesize, making ink potentially bad for plants.
 * When Super Jumping, the glass dome disappears for a brief period.
 * Right before a match ends or Overtime begins, wind chimes can be heard.
 * Kelp Dome, Walleye Warehouse, Ancho-V Games, Musselforge Fitness, Humpback Pump Track, MakoMart and Shellendorf Institute are the only stages that are not located outdoors.
 * This is the third map from Splatoon to return as a stage for Splatoon 2, with the first two being Moray Towers, and Port Mackerel.

Etymology
Kelp Dome is derived from the noun Kelp and Dome, Kelp are large brown algae seaweeds and Dome is an architectural element that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere.

モズク農園 Mozuku Nōen is derived from Mozuku and Plantation, Mozuku is a type of edible seaweed and Plantation is a field to grow crops.

Names in other languages
Serre Goémon