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 and Splatoon 2.

It was available at launch in Splatoon, and returned in Splatoon 2 on February 2nd, 2018.

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.

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.

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.
 * In Tower Control & Rainmaker, standing on the tower by the spawn point can be effective, particularly with a roller, shooter or charger, one player can easily splat the other team from afar before taking 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 (Version ). These include:
 * Two palm trees were added to the lone planters of both sides just left before entering the center of the map, protecting the player from Inkzookas and Rainmaker shots.
 * Two signs were added at the exits from the side areas to prevent sniping from the side they belong to.

As of Version, Arowana Mall uses the Splat Zones version for Turf War which includes grates and more platforms around the Central Area letting players attack the center more easily and a stack of boxes to one exit of the side alleys. The grated walkways that connected the side alleys are removed however.

Trivia

 * It is possible to jump out of bounds into the beach area outside the map via the side alley. The player is instantly splatted if they fall completely out of bounds, but it is possible to stand on the palm tree just outside the map. There is no way to get back, though; from there, they must jump off and be splatted.
 * The map's name is based on the real life arowana, known for its long, slender body and ability to jump great heights. The reference is therefore particularly well-suited, as the map has many large ramps and and steep cutoffs and is long and narrow in shape.
 * Prior to Version, a glitch existed in which players could jump through an unclimbable ledge in a side alley into the opposite team's base. It has since been patched out of the game, and unpatched in Version 2.4.0 and patched in Version 2.5.0.
 * The mall's closing tune can be heard when there is one minute left in a battle.
 * Arowana Mall and Walleye Warehouse are the only stages available from the game's initial release not to be featured in Octo Valley missions.
 * From March 1st until March 16th of 2018, Arowana Mall was not available in Splatoon 2 due to a bug relating to Dualie-type weapons.