Splatoon 3 Salmon Run Guide: How to Beat Cohozuna

Along with Turf War and Anarchy Battles, one of the main attractions in turn 3 is Salmon Run, a cooperative mode that pits you and three teammates against three waves of insane Salmonid enemies. While the mode plays largely the same as it did in Splatoon 2, Nintendo has added a few new folds to it for this outing, including a recurring super boss named Cohozuna.

Unlike other bosses in Salmon Run, you cannot defeat Cohozuna simply by blasting it with your weapons. Here are some tips to help you defeat this colossal salmonid.

When will Cohozuna appear?

While each Salmon Run shift typically consists of three waves, you’ll regularly be thrown into a fourth “extra wave” featuring Cohozuna. The game provides an indication of when the Super Boss will spawn with the Cohozuna-shaped Salmometer appearing while you wait in the lobby. This meter will gradually increase as you play Salmon Run, and once it fills up, you’ll encounter the King Salmonid the next time you successfully complete all three main waves.

How to defeat Cohozuna

Once Cohozuna spawns, it will slowly stalk the map, occasionally jumping and creating shockwaves when it lands. While you can deal some damage to the boss by hitting him with your weapon and special, the best way to defeat him is with Golden Eggs.

Cohozuna will take the most damage when hit by Golden Eggs, so you’ll have to defeat the other bosses that spawn next to him and throw the Golden Eggs they drop. To throw a golden egg, simply aim at Cohozuna and press the A button. However, you can only throw the egg if you have enough ink in your tank. When you run out, dip in the ink for a few moments until you refill it.

Since Cohozuna has way more health than a regular boss, you and your teammates will all need to work together and hurl as many golden eggs at it as possible if you want to drive it back. Repeat this process until you’ve successfully fended off the giant salmon.

What do you get for beating Cohozuna?

While other Salmon Run bosses drop golden eggs, Cohozuna drops something far more valuable: fish scales.

These scales come in three variants – bronze, silver and gold – and act as a form of currency. You can exchange them in the Grizzco Lobby for exclusive cosmetic items, including Grizzco splashtag backgrounds, stickers, and locker decorations.

Even if you don’t defeat Cohozuna, you can still get some scales just for taking on him. However, you’ll take home a lot more when you drive back to Cohozuna, so keep the above tips in mind when you face it.

Splatoon 3 is exclusive to Nintendo Switch. Returning players can transfer some data from Splatoon 2, but you can only do this the first time you launch the game. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can also grab a fancy free splash tag for the game.