How to beat DJ Octavio in Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 is here! In addition to the fight for supremacy in painting the territory with colored ink in the online multiplayer mode, the new Splatoon also brings a single-player campaign called Return of the Mammalians in which solo players can have a completely different story-driven offline experience for one player. After the first few introductory levels, the first boss drops in, as a gatekeeper to the true begging of the single-player story of Splatoon 3.

It is DJ Octavio, the leader of the Octarians, who will be known to the players of the previous sequels because he was the final boss of the single-player campaigns both Splatoon and Splatoon 2. In Splatoon 3, you will meet the famous villain much earlier than you think, and to learn how to beat him – check out the guide below.

Related: Splatoon 3: Murch’s Shop Explained

How to beat DJ Octavio in Splatoon 3?

DJ Octavio comes crashing in with his mecha-suit Octobot King L3.Gs and of course his trademark curious Xbox markings on the chest (I can’t be the only one who sees it that way!). The battle is split into a few phases.

DJ Octavio Boss Fight 1st Phase

• DJ Octavio will launch his steel fists at you, just shoot them with ink until they fly back to damage him.
• Here comes the drill punch! Dodge it by merging with the paint in your squid form or just get out of the way.
• Once the drill hand is stuck in the floor keep shooting ink at it until it flies back.
• He will send steel fists a few more times, promptly send them back by shooting ink as before.
• Eventually, after enough damage DJ Octavio will fall out from the mech, shoot him to end this phase.

DJ Octavio Boss Fight 2nd Phase

• He will start sucking the ink with a vacuum cleaner-like attachment for his mech and continue to throw drills and fists at you, keep dodging and shooting at them just like in 1st phase.
• When you can’t put any paint on them throw your Smallfry companion (R button) into the air that has been sucked in, to damage the boss.
• After returning some more fist to the boss Smallfry will fall out and you can use him again.
• Keep this up until Octavio falls out of the mech again, then shoot him to go to the next phase.

DJ Octavio Boss Fight 3rd Phase

• Now he is mad! Prepare for the last phase.
• The hands he launches now will create radiating circles of purple ink that you need to jump over to avoid.
• Keep shooting at hands to return them to damage the boss as usual until he falls out of the Mech for the 3rd time, shoot him once more to end the encounter.

After DJ Octavio falls, the real beginning of the single-player story can start. This boss is not that difficult, it is more like a test for players to check the basics of fighting bosses in this mode – but does this famous Splatoon villain appear once more before the end of the campaign? We leave that for you to find out. Have fun in Alterna!

For more Splatoon 3 guides here on PRIMA Games check out Splatoon 3: How to Use the Splatana, How to Use Tri-Stringer in Splatoon 3 and How to Transfer Your Splatoon 2 Save File to Splatoon 3.