A Polygon guide advises players starting out in Splatoon Raiders on which of the three "gadget tanks" — speed, power or technical — to choose after their first few treasure raids. The choice matters because each tank shapes how players can approach combat and survive against waves of enemies, though the game does allow switching later. The guide recommends the technical tank as the best starting option, since it offers safer, more flexible playstyles compared with the higher-risk power and speed tanks.

The technical tank's starting gadget, the Shot Pot, is a reusable turret that fires ink at nearby foes and recharges after a short cooldown, unlike the single-use, long-cooldown gadgets of the other tanks. By contrast, the power tank's Splatter Hatchet forces players into risky close-range charges, while the speed tank's Blast Boot has limited range against large enemy groups. This advantage persists into later gadgets too, such as the technical tank's Bombloons, which can safely detonate over wide areas. Tanks and gadgets can only be changed at the ship base between missions via the gear menu, and while skill point upgrades apply across all tanks, experience points must be earned separately for each one.