Starfish Mainstage

Starfish Mainstage is a multiplayer stage in Splatoon 2. It is based on a concert stage with a set of higher platforms surrounding it.

Layout


The stage contains a concert stage located at the center with mosh pits in front and behind it. The main focal point is the raised concert stage at the center of the map which is fairly open, barring a few blocks for coverage. The mainstage has tall inkable vantage points located on each team's right which towers above the center stage. Narrow paths or grates and jumpable gaps line the outer wall of the stage, which allows flanking. The spawn points are located at opposing ends on two levels of raised platforms, dropping from here gives access to three paths, right and up to a high ground over the right side of the map, left down a corridor giving access to the left, or straight down into a lowest plaza straight into accessible area. A large block only inkable from the player's team's side is located in front of spawn, to give a not easily accessible vantage point for the team.

Ranked Battle terrain
In Ranked Battles, 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 Splat Zone is located at the very center of the map on top of the stage, where the blocks at the center have been removed. The map otherwise has received very minimal changes, the only notable change being the removal of a wall giving another high vantage point close to the base.

Tower Control
The Tower is located at the center of the map's center stage. The Tower travels towards the enemy base, traveling towards the ramps leading into the mainstage, descending and traveling around the sponge block then right through the mosh pit before going forwards again through the narrow hallway, into the enemy plaza where it reaches its goal. The ramp in front of each team's spawn has been replaced with an inkable block and the sponges have been moved to in front of the mainstage.

Checkpoints:
 * The first checkpoint is located on top of the ramps at the ends of the mainstage.
 * The second checkpoint is located where the Tower finishes its lap around the newly added sponge block.
 * The third checkpoint is located at the right end of the mosh pit before it changes directions into the enemy base.

Rainmaker
The Rainmaker is located at the center of the mainstage. The goal is located on the layer right above the lower plaza by each team's base. A ramp has been added in the plaza to make it accessible, as well as a tall inkable block that allows access from the high road. Additional obstacles have been added to make getting into the enemy base a bit less direct.

Clam Blitz
The baskets are located in the low plazas by each team's base. The map is relatively unchanged from Splat Zones other than the re-inclusion of blocks at the center of the map.

Splatoon 2
Starfish Mainstage was released with launch of Splatoon 2.

Release 2017 version (until Version 3.2.2)
In this version, the area toward each team's base was significantly smaller, the lowest point of the map was only confined to a small portion with two lower paths interrupted by the block on each side. The path to each team's right compacted the area much more and had more walls. The area in front of the Spawn Point inaccessible by the opposing team was also much smaller, Near the middle to the right, there was a sponge block.

September 2018 updated version (from Version 4.0.0)


On 2018-08-29, the official Splatoon Tumblr announced that Starfish Mainstage would be undergoing maintenance on 2018-09-01, getting a similar treatment as Urchin Underpass did in. They released an image showing the original map scribbled on, allowing fans to see what about the stage would be changed. Many features were altered, including:


 * An expansion to the area around the spawn point.
 * Addition of new terrain on each team's side.

On 2018-09-14, Starfish Mainstage returned after had been closed for reconstruction.

Octo Expansion


In the Octo Expansion, Sweet Ride Station takes place on this stage, where the player has to push the Tower from their side all the way to the enemy side against a team of sanitized Octolings. The player has five minutes to complete the objective. The layout for this mission is the release 2017 layout.

Trivia

 * The stage name is a reference to starfish.
 * The stage is featured in the Octo Expansion, but uses the release 2017 version, instead of the September 2018 reconstructed version.
 * Using the sponges near each spawn point, it is possible to reach the opponent's spawn point area by having an opponent fire at their respective sponge whilst the player stands on top of it. This will expand the sponge, letting the player onto the opponent's spawn area. There is also a way to get there if the sponge is at a certain height already, by the player jumping onto the sponge and then onto the spawn area.
 * The internal code name for this stage in the game files is "Venue".
 * It said by Marina that Starfish Mainstage is just a short train ride away from Inkopolis Square.
 * The early name of this stage was "Starfish Soundstage".