Mode



Modes in Splatoon and Splatoon 2 are different types of gameplay that can be accessed by players at different levels. There are both online modes and local modes that players can access from Inkopolis Plaza (Splatoon) or Inkopolis Square (Splatoon 2), with the online modes being featured in the Battle Lobby found at the far north side of the plaza/square.

Level system
Online modes share a level system where points earned during matches add up to a new level. As the player's level gets higher, in-game characters will notice and will compliment the player on becoming more "fresh". As players level up, they unlock new weapons to purchase, new modes to play, etc. At Level 20, players can go to Spyke or Murch to add ability slots to gear or re-roll gear abilities for 30,000 Cash or one Super Sea Snail. Additionally, players can receive a new piece of gear or weapon from Judd every five levels starting at Level 25. The current maximum level is Level 50, as of version.

Regular Battle
Regular Battle modes can be accessed by players of all levels. Currently, the only mode is Turf War.

Ranked Battle
Ranked Battle becomes accessible when a player reaches level 10 by playing Regular Battle. The modes included in this category require a higher level of strategy compared to regular modes, and wins and losses will be counted toward players' ranks. Players begin with a "C-" ranking, but are able to improve and regress based on how well they perform, with Ranks ranging from C- to S+. It wasn't available until enough players worldwide reached level 10. Updates on the progress of the "Ranked Splatometer" were posted on official Nintendo social media accounts. Ranked Battle was unlocked on June 1st, 2015.



Squad Battle (Splatoon)
Squad Battle allows groups of two, three, or four friends to play together as a squad in Ranked Battles. This mode was released in Version 2.0.0 of Splatoon. Squad Battles are grouped either 4v4, 4v3, or 3v3 battles. Players can form Twin Squads (2 player), Tri-Squads (3 player), and Quad-Squads (4 player) with their Nintendo Network Friends. Twin Squads are temporarily teamed up with a second Twin Squad for a Quad-Squad. A Tri-Squad that is playing against a Quad-Squad has a quicker respawn bonus.

League Battle (Splatoon 2)
League Battle allows groups of two or four friends to play together as a squad and compete with other groups to earn as many points as possible within a particular rotation. This mode becomes accessible when a player reaches at least B- rank in any Ranked Battle mode. League Battles do not affect the players' ranks; instead, teams are given a League Power rating specific to each two-hour rotation they play in.

Splatfest Battle
Splatfest is a special recurring event that happens on an irregular basis, currently hosted by Off the Hook in Splatoon 2. Players choose between two teams, such as Cats (orange) or Dogs (blue), and battle. Inkopolis Square and all of the stages are decorated for the event. Splatfest features its own ranking system based on the player's total points earned during the event. At the end of the event, the player is awarded an amount of Super Sea Snails based on their final ranking. The final Splatfest score is based on both popularity and the amount of wins. It can be accessed by players of all levels. The only mode is Turf War.

Splatfest was previously available in Splatoon, hosted by the Squid Sisters in Inkopolis Plaza. The final Splatfest for Splatoon, Callie vs. Marie, ran from July 15-17, 2016. This mode is no longer available in the original Splatoon.

Private Battle
Private Battle mode is a special mode where the player can fight with/against their friends in customized matches. These matches can be any mode and any stage and can have any number of players, from 1v1 to 4v4. This mode was released in the version update in Splatoon, and was available at release in Splatoon 2. This mode is also available during Splatfest.

Salmon Run (Splatoon 2)
A co-op multiplayer mode where up to four players collect Power Eggs and Golden Eggs by defeating Salmonids and depositing them at an egg basket. Salmon run is only available during pre-determined times. When scheduled during Splatfest, it remains open for its scheduled time during the event.

The Shoal (Splatoon 2)
The Shoal allows players to play any battle mode or Salmon Run locally, using either wireless or LAN connections between Nintendo Switch consoles.

Octo Valley (Splatoon) / Octo Canyon (Splatoon 2)
A single player story mode with puzzle and platforming elements. It stars an Inkling in the Hero Suit fighting the Octarians in Octo Valley.

Amiibo Challenges
Amiibo Challenges are single player mission that are only accessible through tapping in a Splatoon Amiibo. The challenges have the player taking on levels in Octo Valley with a twist. Completing these challenges will net cash and exclusive rewards.

Battle Dojo (Splatoon)
A local 2-player mode, with one player using the Wii U GamePad and the other using a separate controller, such as the Wii U Pro Controller, and the TV screen. Both players must attempt to pop balloons to reach 30 points. If the timer runs out before one player has reached 30 points, whoever has the most wins. Getting splatted will subtract points, which will vary depending on what position the player splatted was in. In the last minute of the battle, every balloon popped is worth double the points.

Other
These are other miscellaneous minor modes in the game.


 * Arcade Machine: A local single player mode allowing players to play any of the retro squid mini-games they have unlocked outside of the battle lobbies. In Splatoon, only Squid Jump is unlocked by default. Squid Racer, Squidball, and Squid Beatz can be unlocked via amiibo Challenges. In Splatoon 2, only Squid Beatz 2 is available.


 * Recon: Single player exploration of a stage, accessed from the Battle Lobby by pressing . The time limit, stage layout, and features match that which the player chose from the current rotation, allowing for some scoping out of the stage without the pressure of a battle.


 * Tutorial: The tutorial can be played when the player starts Splatoon for the first time.