SAND: Raiders of Sophie - Getting Started
SAND: Raiders of Sophie Getting Started explains the first expedition loop for a dieselpunk PvPvE extraction shooter built around Tramplers — giant walking bases you customize, deploy, and extract back to orbit. This guide uses mechanics confirmed for the current live build.
Quick answer: how to start SAND
- Prepare your Trampler in the orbital hangar — fuel rods, ammo, and cannon kits in cargo.
- Launch a Voyage expedition with one nearby POI and a planned extraction zone.
- Loot, avoid unnecessary fights, and return before the run turns loud.
- Extract at an Evacuation Zone: stop the Trampler, climb the tower, and hold the 90-second radio timer.
What is SAND: Raiders of Sophie?
In an alternate-history 1910, colonists from the Austro-Hungarian Empire settled planet Sophie before a catastrophic ecological disaster turned its oceans into desert. Survivors now raid the dunes in Tramplers — modular walking mechs that serve as transport, storage, crew respawn, and fire support.
Each SAND: Raiders of Sophie expedition is a risk chain: prepare in orbit, drop onto Sophie, fight or avoid other players and AI threats such as Upiors (ruin creatures) and Ironclads (patrol walkers), then extract before you lose the Trampler and its cargo. Use our Wiki, Database, and Guides to plan your first runs in the current live build.
Your first expedition loop
Four decisions that define whether a beginner raid teaches you the game or ends in a total loss.
Learn the Trampler loop
Your Trampler is your mobile base, storage, respawn point, and primary weapon platform. Before Sophie, load energy rods, ammunition, and any cannon kits into cargo — mounted weapons do not spawn armed by default.
Related referenceStart in Voyage mode
Voyage is the slower, open expedition mode with no shrinking boundary. Use it to learn controls, map reading, and extraction timing before moving to Storm Dive.
Related referencePick one modest objective
Choose a single POI — a wreck, small ruin, or nearby fort — and set a time limit. Early raids should teach rhythm, not maximize profit.
Related referenceExtract with discipline
Stop the Trampler, climb the evacuation tower, and call extraction. The 90-second timer and green smoke alert nearby crews — leave when you already have useful value aboard.
Related referenceTrampler preparation checklist
The Trampler editor lets you place engines, reactors, steering rooms, storage, crew spawns, and weapon mounts. Heavier builds move slower but survive longer. Before your first drop, verify the items below — these are the most common beginner failures reported in current guides and community wiki notes.
- Reactor fuel
- Pack NZ Mk2 Energy Rods in cargo before launch. Power is temporary and the reactor is a high-value PvP target.
- Mounted weapons
- Load cannon kits and matching shells in the hangar, then install and load them on Sophie.
- Personal loadout
- Carry a sidearm, spare ammo, and at least one consumable such as canned food or a medkit when available.
- Route plan
- Mark one extraction zone on the map before you move. In Voyage, all evacuation zones are visible from the start.
- Crew roles
- Assign driver, gunner, and scavenger before departure. Solo players must handle all roles — consider solo-only servers.
For mounted cannons, see 40mm Autocannon, 70mm Shotgun Cannon, and 80mm Naval Cannon. Match shells on the Ammunition Wiki.
Voyage vs Storm Dive — which mode first?
The current game ships two expedition modes. Beginners should treat them as different risk profiles, not difficulty sliders.
Voyage
No hard time limit; lower-tier loot; best for learning Trampler handling and extraction.
Read Voyage route planning notesStorm Dive
Higher-tier rewards; the storm pushes crews together; expect frequent player contact.
Read Storm Dive route planning notesHow extraction works
Extraction is the highest-attention moment in SAND. Other crews watch for green smoke and orbital pickup windows. Follow the steps below, then read the Extraction strategy guides and Map & Locations notes for route planning.
- Reach an Evacuation ZoneLook for the white door icon on your map. Your Trampler must be in the zone before you can call extraction.
- Shut down the TramplerStop the walker and turn off main power so the chimney stops venting smoke.
- Climb the towerUse the central tower and interact with the radio to start a 90-second extraction timer.
- Hold the positionGreen smoke signals your attempt. Enemy fire or moving the Trampler can cancel extraction.
In Voyage, all possible Evacuation Zones are visible from the start, so you can loot and leave on your own schedule. In Storm Dive, shrinking map pressure makes late extraction more dangerous.
Recommended for beginners
Two to four players with assigned roles: pilot, deck gunner, on-foot looter, and rear guard during extraction.
Solo learning path
Use solo servers, keep routes short in Voyage, turn off the engine when parked to reduce smoke signature, and extract after your first meaningful cargo — not your first firefight win.
What to read next
SAND first raid survival guide · SAND extraction strategy guides · SAND map and locations guide
Common beginner mistakes
- Deploying an unarmed Trampler
Cannons and ammo must be packed in cargo and installed after landing — they are not pre-mounted.
- Chasing every signal
Engine smoke, gunfire, and extraction green smoke draw attention. Noise is information for other raiders.
- Greedy inventory
Loot only matters after extraction. A successful raid ends at the orbital pickup, not in the ruin.
- Solo without a plan
The game supports solo play, but one player must pilot, fight, loot, and extract. Use solo servers and short routes early on.
For weapon and ammo basics, start with the Weapons Wiki and Ammunition Wiki. For loot priorities, see Resources.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers for search and onboarding. Mechanics may change across live patches.
What is SAND: Raiders of Sophie?
SAND: Raiders of Sophie is a dieselpunk PvPvE extraction shooter developed by Hologryph and TowerHaus, published by tinyBuild. Players build customizable walking mechs called Tramplers, scavenge a desert planet, fight rival crews and AI threats, and extract loot to an orbital station.
What should beginners do first in SAND?
Learn Trampler preparation in the hangar, run Voyage mode with a single loot target, practice shutting down the reactor and calling extraction at an Evacuation Zone, and review the Weapons Wiki, Resources Wiki, and Database before investing in expensive tech tree unlocks.
What is the difference between Voyage and Storm Dive?
Voyage is a persistent, open expedition without a shrinking play area — suited to learning routes and Trampler builds. Storm Dive adds an encroaching sandstorm, higher-tier loot, and stronger pressure for PvP as crews are forced toward the center of the map.
How does extraction work in SAND?
Travel to an Evacuation Zone, stop and power down your Trampler, climb the zone tower, and activate the radio to begin a 90-second countdown. Your Trampler emits green smoke during the timer. When the countdown finishes, an orbital ship recovers the Trampler and crew.
Is SAND: Raiders of Sophie good for solo players?
Solo play is supported and solo-only servers exist, but the experience is demanding: one player must operate the Trampler, manage combat, and loot. Most reviewers recommend a regular squad for the live game. Treat solo as a learning mode, not the optimal profit path.
Where should I read more on this site?
Use the Wiki for weapons, ammunition, and resources; the Database for Trampler module planning; Map and Locations for route selection; and the Guides section for raid and extraction strategy.
About this guide
Independent reference
SAND Guide is a player-made field manual, not an official site. Pages are updated as live-game mechanics change through in-game testing and wiki research on this hub.
Patch disclaimer
SAND is in active development. Balance, server stability, and tutorials may change between patches. Confirm critical values in-game when a run depends on them.
Keep exploring
Continue with the Wiki, Database, Map & Locations, and Guides for deeper systems coverage.