Saltspray Rig

Saltspray Rig is a multiplayer stage in Splatoon.

Layout
Saltspray Rig appears to be an ocean-based oil rig, with pipes, crates, and suspended platforms resting over a large body of water. It is shaped somewhat like a squid, with two Respawn Points leading into a series of pathways and drop-offs. There are two elevators located in the middle of the map to quickly move from the Bottom Area to the Top Area. Pathways stemming from each Respawn Point cannot be accessed by the other team, and branch off into smaller trails that lead to the Top Area and Bottom Area.

Saltspray Rig's total area is 1900p.

Notable Locations

 * Top Area – Top Area is located opposite from the teams' Respawn Points. It is normally the last area to be claimed, due to its distance from the spawnpoints. It features a tall structure in the middle, which is heavily contested in the later parts of the game, in order to claim the surrounding turf. There is also a moving platform that a player can use to claim turf quickly, but in turn, exposes the player, as the player will fall through the platform if they turn into a squid.
 * Bottom Area – The Bottom Area is located between the team's Respawn Points. It is often the first area that is claimed, but is typically forgotten towards the end of the game, due to the battle shifting towards the Top Area. In the last minute, it is easily claimable.
 * Starting Areas – The Starting Areas in Saltspray Rig cannot be reached on foot by the opposing team, so there's a lot of turf that can be easily claimed during the game. A team with a charger or Inkzooka, though, may be able to claim some turf if the opposing team is not paying attention. Both areas contain paths leading to the 'Bottom Area and Top Area. If a team is not careful, the opposing team may launch an Inkstrike in the area near the end of a battle, claiming some turf which the players cannot claim after leaving their Starting Area. The only way a player can get back up their team's Starting Area is to Super Jump to their team's respective spawn or to one of their teammates.

Splat Zones
The Splat Zone for Saltspray Rig sits just below the top area, just inside the "entrance" and before the ramp. It can be easily taken by players shooting ink on ledges on the opposing sides, but if the front of the zone is not protected, the opposing team can easily take control of the zone.

Tower Control
The tower starts in the middle of the pathway leading from the teams' starting areas, right above the elevators. When taken, the tower briefly travels down that pathway towards the enemy base before turning and going down the side of the map. It travels past the elevators, and then begins traveling on the lower pathways that lead to the bottom area. Each team's goal-zone is directly to the left/right of the elevator on their side. This means that the action on this map is condensed to a small area, making the top and bottom areas go almost completely unused.

Hazards

 * Chasms – Saltspray Rig's high and low areas are separated by large chasms. Falling into a chasm will kill Inklings.

Development
Saltspray Rig underwent a series of changes between its development period and release. The pre-release version included many differences, such as:
 * There were much fewer vertical pipes to swim up.
 * The Spawn Points were closer together.
 * Four small areas were located near teams' bases, accessed by thin, curved walkways.
 * The Bottom Area was not present.
 * The routes that currently allow players to access the Top Area from either side were much less detailed.
 * Most edges were secured by presumably grated fences.

Tips

 * It is impossible to reach the spawn point of the opposing team, and the only way to ink those areas is to spray up at the tips of the walkways, throw bombs, use a charger or Inkzooka, or call in an Inkstrike. That means wasting time claiming that turf at the beginning is not as important as other contested area. Wait until the action heats and claim it after a respawn.
 * Since the top area is so contested, getting into it can be difficult once a team has control. However, on the far left and right sides outside the area are inkable walls that can can climbed for sniping or for easy entry into the area.
 * At the top of the aforementioned walls, there are also small inkable walkways that are often overlooked. Hiding in these walkways on the opposing team's side can prove to be a strategic move, allowing players to attack approaching enemies.
 * Towards the back of the map, there is a platform attached to a crane. If a player climbs the tallest stack of boxes in this area, it is possible for them to get on said platform. This is a useful sniping spot for chargers, and it can also be a good location to put a sprinkler. However, this platform is a grate and players who turn into a squid will fall through.

Trivia

 * Saltspray Rig was one of the two playable maps during the Splatoon Global Testfire, alongside Walleye Warehouse.
 * Unlike every other stage, Saltspray Rig does not feature both X and Y symmetry; for this reason, teams have different views of the map from their Spawn Points. Because of this layout, the Wii U GamePad's map does not look the same for both teams, like it does in other stages.
 * An evening variant of this map exists in Hero Mode in the mission Octoling Onslaught.

Squid Sisters quotes

 * Callie: “Blech, the salt spray here really gets in my eyes!”
 * Marie: “You know, salted squid is a delicacy in some places.”


 * Callie: “"Just grab the high ground and it'll be an easy win!" ...Is what amateurs say. Then they get splatted.”
 * Marie: “But don't just stick to the low ground, either!”


 * Callie: “So, Marie, how would you plan your attack here?”
 * Marie: “Uhhhh...shoot lots of ink?”


 * Callie: “I hope those poor seagulls don't get all inked up!”
 * Marie: “Well, seagulls are natural predators of squid, so...”


 * Callie: “Uhh... This is, like, an oil field, right? Should we really be tossing explosives around?”
 * Marie: “They're ink bombs! Not TNT! It's totally safe.”


 * Callie: “Where does Judd go while the battle's going on?”
 * Marie: “Dunno... Probably eating fish. Doing cat stuff.”


 * Callie: “I love riding the elevators here! SO MUCH FUN!”
 * Marie: “Sure. If by "fun" you mean ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING!”