The Splatoon Raiders Bottomless Buffet is the game’s ultimate post-game challenge: a deep, increasingly difficult dungeon designed to test your weapons, gadgets, Tanks, and ability to survive increasingly dangerous Salmonid encounters.
Unlike ordinary raids, the Bottomless Buffet is built around repeated three-floor runs. The Salmonid Level rises as you progress, the difficulty is locked to Survivalist, and you cannot use the normal Call for Help feature.
The biggest milestone is Floor 100, where you’ll face the secret boss Lord Saltimatum. Defeating this boss completes the true-ending route, although the Buffet can continue beyond Floor 100 as an optional endurance challenge.
This guide explains how to unlock the Bottomless Buffet, what to expect on each run, how to prepare your build, and how to beat Lord Saltimatum.
What Is the Bottomless Buffet in Splatoon Raiders?
The Bottomless Buffet is a post-game dungeon located beneath the Great Salmon Mess Hall, near the area associated with the game’s final encounter.
Instead of following a fixed campaign route, you’ll fight through increasingly difficult randomized challenges. The dungeon is divided into three-floor groups, with the Salmonid Level increasing after each group. It begins at approximately Level 50.
The mode has three important characteristics:
- It starts at Salmonid Level 50.
- Progress is handled in groups of three floors.
- Difficulty is locked to Survivalist.
- Call for Help is unavailable.
- Online multiplayer is still supported.
- Floor 100 contains the secret boss and true-ending objective.
- Additional challenge floors can be played after the story milestone. (Raiders Atlas)
So, despite the name, you shouldn’t think of the Bottomless Buffet as simply another story dungeon. It’s essentially Splatoon Raiders’ endgame endurance mode.
How to Unlock the Bottomless Buffet
You can’t access the Bottomless Buffet immediately.
You’ll first need to complete the main story and then work through the post-game progression.
- First, defeat the main-story final boss, Salmonarch, and roll the credits.
- This unlocks the game’s post-game content, including Super Spicy challenges and the Hidden Ruins.
- If you haven’t already done so, upgrade the Hideout Ship to Level 3.
- This gives you access to useful late-game systems, including Weapon Power Swapping and Part Upgrading, which can make the more difficult post-game challenges considerably easier.
- The crucial unlock requirement is clearing the three post-game Hidden Ruins:
- Fischflak Hidden Ruins
- Smoksam Hidden Ruins
- Myunyere Hidden Ruins
Each ruin contains challenges associated with the game’s three Tanks. You need to develop all three rather than relying entirely on your favorite Tank.
The recommended progression is:
| Hidden Ruin | Salmonid Level |
|---|---|
| Fischflak | 42 |
| Smoksam | 44 |
| Myunyere | 46 |
| Bottomless Buffet | 50 |
Clearing the three ruins with the required Tank challenges gives you the Relic parts needed to open the Bottomless Buffet.
Once you’ve assembled the required Relic pieces, head to the area beneath the Throne Room/Great Salmon Mess Hall.
The previously inaccessible route opens, allowing you to begin the Bottomless Buffet.
How to Prepare for the Bottomless Buffet
Preparation is arguably more important here than in ordinary campaign raids.
You don’t want to reach the middle of a long run and discover that your weapon damage or survivability can’t keep up.
Upgrade Your Weapons
Use your strongest weapons and upgrade them before committing to a deep run.
Late-game challenges reward builds that can maintain reliable damage over time rather than setups that depend entirely on a short burst of power.
If one weapon is significantly more comfortable for you, it’s often better to master and upgrade it than constantly switch to unfamiliar equipment.
Upgrade Your Gadget Parts
Your gadgets can make a significant difference in difficult encounters.
Prioritize upgrades that improve the aspects of your build you actually depend on:
- Damage
- Survivability
- Cooldowns
- Mobility
- Resource management
The Level 3 Hideout facilities become especially useful here.
Develop All Three Tanks
Don’t neglect the Tanks you rarely use.
The Hidden Ruins require you to use the different Tank types, and being comfortable with all three makes post-game progression much easier.
A good approach is to build at least one reliable setup for each Tank instead of putting everything into one favorite.
Prioritise Reliable Builds
The Bottomless Buffet is not the place to use a fragile build simply because it produces impressive damage numbers.
You’re going to face repeated encounters.
A slightly lower-damage setup that keeps you alive and lets you consistently deal damage can be much more valuable during a long run.
What Happens After Floor 100?
The Bottomless Buffet doesn’t simply disappear after you defeat the secret boss.
Additional randomized challenges can continue beyond the Floor 100 story objective. Some recent player reports have documented extremely deep runs, but there is disagreement over whether a currently documented deepest floor represents a confirmed hard cap.
For completion purposes, however, Floor 100 is the important target.
How to Survive Long Bottomless Buffet Runs
Keep an Escape Route Inked
Mobility becomes increasingly important when enemies begin filling the arena.
Try to maintain usable inked paths rather than allowing the entire area around you to become dangerous.
This is especially important against Lord Saltimatum, whose attacks can punish players who have nowhere to escape.
Don’t Chase Every Enemy
You don’t always need to eliminate everything immediately.
Focus on the threats that can actually kill or trap you.
If a weaker enemy isn’t preventing you from completing the objective, maintaining a safe position can be more valuable than chasing it into a dangerous area.
Use Your Abilities Strategically
Don’t automatically use your strongest abilities the moment they’re available.
Long runs reward resource management.
Save major attacks for:
- Large enemy groups
- Dangerous encounters
- Boss vulnerability windows
- Situations where you’re surrounded
- Moments when your escape options are limited
Use the Three-Floor Breaks Wisely
After completing a three-floor group, evaluate your current setup.
Ask:
- Is my damage still sufficient?
- Am I taking too much damage?
- Are my gadgets providing enough value?
- Is my weapon still comfortable?
- Do I need to change my approach?
Making adjustments early is much better than waiting until the build becomes completely ineffective.
Lord Saltimatum: How to Beat the Floor 100 Boss
Major spoiler warning: This section explains the secret boss encounter.
After completing the Floor 100 route, you’ll face Lord Saltimatum, the secret boss tied to the true ending.
This is a long fight, so don’t expect to win simply by attacking constantly.
General Lord Saltimatum Strategy
The most important rule is:
Survive first, attack second.
Lord Saltimatum hits hard, so keep an ink path available for quick movement and escape. Nintendo Life’s guide similarly recommends maintaining an escape route and not being afraid to use your Showstopper during the lengthy battle.
Phase 1
The opening attack pattern includes:
- Three tornadoes
- A charged beam
- Projectile attacks
Keep moving and avoid committing to damage when the attack pattern leaves you exposed.
Wait for openings rather than standing still trying to maximize DPS.
Defense Intervals
During certain portions of the battle, supporting Salmonids appear.
Your priority is to deal with the situation safely, collect Power Eggs, and trigger the opportunity that exposes Lord Saltimatum.
These vulnerability windows are where you should concentrate your major damage.
Phase 2
The attack patterns become more demanding.
The number of certain projectiles and tornado attacks increases, so you’ll need to preserve your movement space.
Don’t panic if the fight feels slow.
It’s designed to be an endurance encounter.
Final Phase
The final phase introduces a large dome-style attack.
When the dome appears, move toward the arena edge and prepare for the additional attack patterns that follow.
Maintaining distance and having a clear escape route can make the difference between surviving the final section and losing after a long fight.
Bottomless Buffet Rewards
The Buffet provides rewards throughout the descent.
According to current guides, rewards are issued after three-floor groups and can include weaponry and gadget-related equipment.
The major Floor 100 rewards include:
- The secret Lord Saltimatum encounter
- The true ending
- A special relic reward
- Additional post-game progression/rewards
Some guides also report a special outfit and other unique rewards associated with clearing the Floor 100 objective.
The exact value of continuing beyond Floor 100 is primarily tied to the challenge itself and additional randomized progression.
How do you unlock the Bottomless Buffet in Splatoon Raiders?
Finish the main story, then complete the Fischflak, Smoksam, and Myunyere Hidden Ruins using the required Tank challenges. Assemble the resulting Relic parts and access the entrance beneath the Throne Room/Great Salmon Mess Hall.
What level does the Bottomless Buffet start at?
The Bottomless Buffet starts at approximately Salmonid Level 50. Its displayed level increases as you progress through three-floor groups.
How many floors are in the Bottomless Buffet?
Floor 100 is the main story target, where you fight Lord Saltimatum. The dungeon can continue beyond Floor 100 with additional randomized challenges. No universally confirmed final floor has been established in the available reporting.
Can you use Call for Help in the Bottomless Buffet?
No. Call for Help is disabled in the Bottomless Buffet. However, online multiplayer is still available, allowing you to play with friends.
Who is the Floor 100 boss in Splatoon Raiders?
The secret Floor 100 boss is Lord Saltimatum. Defeating him completes the true-ending route.
Is the Bottomless Buffet required for the true ending?
Yes. You need to progress through the Bottomless Buffet to its Floor 100 objective and defeat Lord Saltimatum to complete the true-ending route.
The Splatoon Raiders Bottomless Buffet is the ultimate test for players who have finished the main story and want a serious post-game challenge.
To unlock it, defeat Salmonarch, complete the three Hidden Ruins with the required Tanks, assemble the Relic pieces, and enter the dungeon beneath the Great Salmon Mess Hall.
Once inside, prepare for Survivalist difficulty, increasingly powerful Salmonids, three-floor progression groups, and the restriction that prevents you from using Call for Help.
If your goal is the true ending, focus on reaching Floor 100 and defeating Lord Saltimatum. If you enjoy endurance challenges, you can continue deeper afterward and see how far your build can take you.
