Lifesaver
The lifesaver is a mechanic in Salmon Run in Splatoon 2 and Salmon Run Next Wave in Splatoon 3, serving as a reference point to shoot ink and resuscitate fallen players.
Appearance
Lifesavers are translucent rings with white bands, normally attached to the players' backs, serving as their ink tanks during Salmon Run. When full, the translucent parts appear in the player's ink color. A small light on the rightmost ring of the lifesaver (when viewed from behind) indicates if the player has enough ink for a Splat Bomb in the same way that ink tanks have a light on the top. On the left of the ring is a radio antenna with a signal tip that glows upon giving a signal and an orange Grizzco Industries flag wrapped around it, which unfurls when the lifesaver floats after the wearer is splatted.
In Salmon Run Next Wave, the lifesavers get a redesign. There are now three segment lines, with the rightmost line (with the Splat Bomb indicator light) presumably located at 70% of the ink tank.
Description
When a player is splatted during Salmon Run, they reappear shortly as a controllable lifesaver with the antenna and Grizzco flag waving, and an Inkling or Octoling ghost jumping around inside it. They appear at the point where they were splatted, or, if splatted in midair, on a moving platform, or by falling in the water, on the last piece of solid ground the player stood on. If a lifesaver moves or falls into the water, it falls apart and reappears back on solid ground after another short time.
In this form, the player moves very slowly, cannot attack or swim in ink, and their jumping height is severely decreased. However, they are also invulnerable, can pass through all types of Salmonids and are unaffected by enemy ink. The player's "This Way!" signal is replaced with a "Help!" signal.
If the player had a Golden Egg when splatted, it stays with them in lifesaver form and cannot be lost (except by waiting until the wave ends). If an empty lifesaver approaches a Golden Egg, it is still picked up. However, it is impossible to deposit a Golden Egg while in lifesaver form.
A lifesaver can be revived by spraying ink on it, such as shooting at it with any main weapon or special weapon, or causing a Steelhead's bomb or Drizzler's projectile to explode in close vicinity to the lifesaver. The revived player gains approximately four seconds of mercy invincibility, during which the player flashes and is invulnerable. Some weaker main weapons may require more than one hit to revive the player. A Splat Bomb exploding next to a lifesaver revives it, and if one hits a lifesaver directly, it explodes immediately, similar to hitting the Rainmaker barrier or the canopy of an enemy brella.
Gallery
Splatoon 2
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An Inkling with a lifesaver on her back.
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3D artwork.
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A downed Inkling in a lifesaver.
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A Golden Egg inside a lifesaver.
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A lifesaver on the back of an Inkling.
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Lifesavers on the back of Inklings, with Golden Eggs in the middle of each.
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A downed Inkling in a lifesaver during Rush.
Splatoon 3
Trivia
- The signal tip of the lifesaver's antenna resembles a chemical light stick commonly used in night salmon-fishing in Japan. The light stick is used in conjunction with bait (typically squid) to lure the salmon.
- The small squid or octopus ghost that normally appears flying away when players are splatted and landing on a spawn point flails around in the lifesaver until the player is revived.
- It is possible to use a ride rail while in a lifesaver in Ruins of Ark Polaris.
