Game Guide Hub
Start SAND Raiders with extraction, solo routes, Trampler repair, shovel loot, box with radio beacon, Voyage vs Storm Dive, and beginner route tips.
Recommended Order
Use these guides in order if you are starting a new casino.
spoke
Extract in SAND Raiders with radio tower steps, 90-second countdown, green smoke warning, escape lines, loot storage, Storm Dive tower rules, and camper checks.
spoke
Protect your Trampler in SAND Raiders: repair legs and walls, use the multitool and repair kits, power the reactor, fix reachability errors, and stop hijacks.
spoke
A practical SAND Raiders solo guide covering best solo build, tech tree factions, Grumpy Walker, Dune Runner, Energy Rods, stealth routes, Upior PvE, and extraction timing.
spoke
Pick the right Trampler cannon in SAND: 40mm vs 80mm, shells, manual loading, overheating, target priority, smoke checks, and boarding follow-up.
Guide Cluster
Extract in SAND Raiders with radio tower steps, 90-second countdown, green smoke warning, escape lines, loot storage, Storm Dive tower rules, and camper checks.
Read Guide →Protect your Trampler in SAND Raiders: repair legs and walls, use the multitool and repair kits, power the reactor, fix reachability errors, and stop hijacks.
Read Guide →A practical SAND Raiders solo guide covering best solo build, tech tree factions, Grumpy Walker, Dune Runner, Energy Rods, stealth routes, Upior PvE, and extraction timing.
Read Guide →Pick the right Trampler cannon in SAND: 40mm vs 80mm, shells, manual loading, overheating, target priority, smoke checks, and boarding follow-up.
Read Guide →Compare Storm Dive and Voyage in SAND Raiders: shrinking storm, Voyage exits, Storm Dive extraction types, loot risk, Dreadnought, Sandworm Pit, and when to switch back.
Read Guide →A practical SAND Raiders Radio Beacon Box guide explaining where to deliver it, what the green box icon means, how to extract it normally, how the 2-hour limit works, how to sell it for 2,000 Crowns, and when to skip or chase one.
Read Guide →For my first SAND Raiders runs, I start in Voyage, use a manageable Trampler, load and start the reactor, bring food, shells, repair supplies, and a basic weapon, store loot before extraction, and leave after one useful haul. If I am stuck on extraction, solo routing, repair kits, reachability, shovel loot, Storm Dive exits, cannon choice, or the box with radio beacon, I use this hub to jump to the matching guide.
This is the guide hub for SAND: Raiders of Sophie.
SAND is not just an extraction shooter where I bring a gun and leave with loot. The Trampler is the base, the vehicle, the respawn point, the storage room, the weapon platform, and the thing every bad decision eventually breaks.
A good beginner run is not the richest run. It is the run that teaches the loop and still brings something home.
Use this table first. Many SAND problems look like “I died,” but the real cause is often extraction timing, messy storage, a blocked Trampler layout, repair confusion, or choosing Storm Dive too early.
| If this is your problem… | Read this | Hub answer |
|---|---|---|
| I do not know how to extract | How to Extract in SAND Raiders | Use the radio tower, defend the countdown, then climb the escape lines |
| I found a box with radio beacon | How to Extract in SAND Raiders | Loot nearby first, pick it up last, then commit to the route |
| I want to play solo | SAND Solo Guide | Keep the route small, protect the reactor, and leave after one good haul |
| I need a solo build | SAND Solo Guide | Use a manageable Trampler before chasing expensive layouts |
| I need solo tech tree advice | SAND Solo Guide | Upgrade for survival and recovery before heavy PvP plans |
| I need to repair legs or walls | SAND Trampler Guide | Use the right repair tool and fix run-ending damage first |
| I got a reachability error | SAND Trampler Guide | Check ladders, hatches, doors, reactor access, and blocked paths |
| I found a shovel or buried treasure spot | SAND Solo Guide | Dig only if the area is quiet, then treat a good haul as a reason to leave |
| I do not know Voyage or Storm Dive | SAND Voyage vs Storm Dive Guide | Start in Voyage; try Storm Dive after clean extractions |
| I do not know which cannon to use | SAND Raiders Cannon Guide | Start 40mm, then compare 70mm and 80mm once you understand spacing |
| I keep losing profitable runs | My first-run decision loop | Stop after the run has already solved a problem |
This hub gives short answers. The linked guides handle the deeper mechanics.
For a first run, I choose Voyage.
Voyage gives me room to learn the basic loop: drive the Trampler, loot a small target, store valuables, call extraction, climb the rope or escape lines, and bring something back. Storm Dive adds shrinking storm pressure, route compression, contested extraction choices, stronger PvP concentration, and higher-value endgame targets before I have learned how to leave cleanly.
| Mode | When I use it | Beginner risk |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage | First runs, solo routes, rebuild runs, extraction practice | Still has PvP, but the pacing is easier to manage |
| Storm Dive | Later runs with a real goal, enough supplies, and an exit plan | The storm can damage the Trampler, compress routes, and force contested exits |
For the full mode decision, use:
SAND Voyage vs Storm Dive Guide
Before I leave, I want the basics handled.
| Check | What I want | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Trampler | Small or manageable layout | I need to drive, repair, store loot, and defend without confusion |
| Reactor | Energy Rod loaded and system started | Fuel alone is not enough if the Trampler is not powered |
| Energy Rods | Spare rods stored if I can bring them | A good haul is useless if I cannot reach extraction |
| Shells | Matching shells for my cannon | An installed cannon with no ammo is false confidence |
| Food | Stored for respawn value | Faster recovery can save bad extraction fights |
| Weapon | Basic weapon with matching ammo | Boarders and PvE pressure need an answer |
| Repair tool | Multitool access and repair kit if I can spare one | Small damage and major damage need different answers |
| Shovel | Bring one if I have it | Buried treasure can turn a small route into a good route |
| Storage | Clear shelves or racks | Loose loot creates extraction chaos |
| Route | One or two small targets, then extract | Early progress matters more than map greed |
| Exit | Know where I can leave | Loot only counts if I bring it home |
If I fail several of these checks, I fix the setup before leaving. A bad deployment creates a bad extraction later.
Extraction is the first thing I want to understand because loot is only real after I leave.
My hub-level extraction rule is simple: store first, call second, defend third, climb out last. I do not call extraction while loot is scattered on the floor, and I do not treat the pickup arrival as the end of the run. When the rope or escape lines appear, I still need to leave the Trampler and climb out myself.
If I find a box with radio beacon, I do not pick it up like ordinary quiet loot. I clear the immediate danger, loot nearby first if it is safe, then pick up the beacon box only when I am ready to commit to the route.
For the full extraction route, use:
How to Extract in SAND Raiders
The Trampler is not just transport. It is the run.
My hub-level rule is: power, movement, control, storage. If a problem affects the reactor, legs, steering, captain quarters, reachability, or loot storage, I treat it as a real run threat. If the damage is only cosmetic, I do not let it steal my last repair resources.
The deeper repair guide covers the exact mechanics: multitool vs repair kit, repair-kit charges, wall repair from the outside hull, reachability errors, captain-quarter hijacks, and what to fix first.
For the full Trampler breakdown, use:
Solo is playable, but it is not forgiving.
A solo death spiral usually starts before the death: deploying the last Trampler, last shells, and last materials into a risky route is already the mistake. When I play solo, I keep the route small, watch smoke and sound, store rebuild materials first, and leave after one good haul.
The solo guide covers the specific build details, Trampler presets, tech tree order, weapon pairing, Energy Rod timing, and rebuild route.
For the full solo route, use:
My first run should not be a tour of the whole map.
I want one or two targets I can loot, store, and leave from. Smaller town routes, ship routes, minor POIs, and shovel opportunities are better learning targets than huge objectives where I park too long and invite PvP.
| Route idea | Why I use it early |
|---|---|
| Small town loot | Good for basic supplies and mixed materials |
| Minor POI | Lower commitment and easier to abandon |
| Small ship route | Useful if the area is quiet and I can leave quickly |
| One PvE box | Good only if I can take it and return to the Trampler fast |
| Buried treasure with shovel | Worth checking if I brought a shovel and the route stays safe |
| Large fortress or hot objective | Later, when I have supplies, a cannon plan, and an exit route |
If I already stored mechanical parts, raw materials, shells, Energy Rods, repair kits, or one valuable box, the run may already be successful. The next stop has to justify the risk.
Early loot should help future runs survive.
Loot color is a quick risk signal: white crates are common, green crates are uncommon, and red boxes or red crates are rare. I do not risk the Trampler for every common crate, but I pay more attention when a green or red container is realistic to extract.
| Loot | Why I care |
|---|---|
| Mechanical parts | Keeps Trampler rebuilding possible |
| Raw materials / weapon parts | Supports crafting and recovery |
| Energy Rods | Keeps future routes and extraction possible |
| Shells and ammo | Makes the next run defendable |
| Food | Helps respawns and bad extraction fights |
| Repair kits | Can save legs, walls, reactor cover, or captain defense |
| Shovel | Opens buried treasure without requiring a huge fight |
| Black boxes | Useful for value and tech tree progress |
| Box with radio beacon | Timed delivery value if I can finish the route |
| Valuable boxes | Worth taking if extraction is realistic |
| Rare weapons | Good, but not worth losing the rebuild economy |
I do not chase a flashy item if the Trampler is weak, the route is contested, or I have no clean extraction plan.
For early runs, I start with 40mm because it is forgiving enough for a player who is still learning driving, repairs, storage, and extraction.
The 70mm shotgun-style cannon is more specialized for close crew pressure and spread damage. The 80mm can hit harder later, but it needs manual loading, enough shells, cleaner spacing, and better positioning.
| Cannon | Hub-level use |
|---|---|
| 40mm Autocannon | Safest first cannon for pressure and recovery |
| 70mm shotgun-style cannon | Close-range crew pressure and spread damage |
| 80mm Naval Cannon | Stronger later when loading, shells, and spacing are under control |
For the full cannon comparison, use:
I try Storm Dive after Voyage becomes consistent.
That means I can extract reliably, store loot quickly, repair under pressure, bring enough shells and Energy Rods, read smoke, and leave without greed.
Storm Dive is where Dreadnought, Sandworm Pit, red boxes, artifacts, contested extraction types, and higher-value routes start to matter. It is also where the sandstorm can damage the Trampler, close exits, compress players into the same routes, and punish every slow decision.
For the full mode comparison, use:
SAND Raiders Voyage vs Storm Dive Guide
The checklist above tells me what to bring. This loop tells me when to stop.
| Moment | Decision |
|---|---|
| After the first small target | If I have rebuild materials, shells, food, Energy Rods, or one valuable box stored, the run may already be profitable |
| Before driving to a second target | I check smoke, sound, ammo, Trampler damage, and extraction distance |
| If I find a shovel pile | I dig only if the area is quiet and storage is ready |
| If I capture a beacon box | I stop side-looting and commit to the delivery route |
| If the run is already profitable | I extract now instead of trying to make the run perfect |
| If the run is not profitable yet | I hit one more small target, store quickly, then reassess |
| If the next target is a hot POI | I skip it unless I have a real reason, supplies, and an exit plan |
That loop is boring. That is why it works.
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Better habit |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Storm Dive too early | Storm pressure punishes slow decisions | Learn extraction in Voyage first |
| Loading Energy Rods but not starting the reactor | The Trampler can still sit dead | Load fuel, then start the reactor system |
| Treating the Trampler like a car | It is also storage, respawn, weapons, and extraction safety | Build and defend it like the run depends on it |
| Ignoring repair legs or walls | Small damage can become a failed exit | Repair movement and critical cover first |
| Ignoring reachability errors | The build may not save or may fail during a real route | Check ladders, hatches, doors, and blocked modules |
| Chasing big POIs first | Parking risk and PvP pressure rise fast | Start with one or two smaller targets |
| Calling extraction before storing loot | The timer becomes chaos | Store first, call second |
| Treating the beacon box like normal loot | The delivery route changes the run | Loot nearby first, pick it up last, then commit |
| Using the wrong cannon for the job | A heavy or specialized gun can punish bad spacing | Start forgiving, then specialize later |
| Staying after the run is profitable | Greed turns progress into loss | Leave after one good haul |
Most beginner losses come from scope, not aim. I asked too much from one run, one Trampler, or one timer.
Start in Voyage, use a manageable Trampler, load and start the reactor, bring food, shells, a basic weapon, repair supplies, and a shovel if you have one, loot one or two smaller targets, store valuables, then extract before greed turns the run into a loss.
Find the doorway-style evacuation icon, drive to the extraction point, climb to the radio tower call point, activate extraction, defend the countdown, then leave the Trampler and climb the rope or escape lines.
The box with radio beacon is a delivery-style objective that can change the route. I loot nearby first, pick it up only when I am ready to move, then commit to the delivery or extraction plan.
SAND Raiders is playable solo, but it is not forgiving solo. I use a manageable Trampler, protect the reactor, keep routes small, avoid unnecessary PvP, and leave after one useful haul.
I repair what keeps the run alive: reactor cover, movement-critical legs, steering or flywheel problems, walls exposing captain quarters, and access paths that stop boarders.
Reachability usually means the crew cannot access part of the Trampler layout. Check ladders, hatches, doors, captain access, reactor access, isolated modules, and blocked internal paths.
I start with Voyage. It gives more room to learn driving, storage, extraction, food respawns, repairs, and rebuild planning before Storm Dive adds shrinking storm pressure and contested exits.
I start with 40mm because it is forgiving. The 70mm shotgun-style cannon is more specialized for close crew pressure, while the 80mm can hit harder later but needs cleaner loading, shells, and spacing.