SAND Guide

Field guide

SAND: Raiders of Sophie Beginner Guide

Short Summary

  • Learn core controls before you enter a contested area.
  • Bring only what you can afford to lose while learning.
  • Keep a visible extraction plan as soon as you start looting.
  • Use the Beginner Checklist to repeat the same safe routine.

Steps

  1. Read the Controls guide and confirm movement, interaction, inventory, and Trampler inputs.
  2. Choose a beginner route with simple landmarks and an early extraction option.
  3. Power and manage your Trampler before taking fights or long detours.
  4. Loot by priority: essentials first, high-risk items only when the exit path is clear.
  5. Extract before greed turns a useful run into a lost run.
  6. After the run, reset your checklist and read the next guide based on what went wrong.

Common Mistakes

  • Learning controls during a fight instead of before the run.
  • Chasing every container without checking the way out.
  • Treating the Trampler like a decoration instead of your base of movement and survival.
  • Ignoring mode differences when switching between Voyage and Storm Dive.

Troubleshooting

  • If you keep losing loot, read How to Extract before running higher-risk POIs.
  • If movement feels confusing, read Controls and Keybinds before changing routes.
  • If fights feel chaotic, read the Trampler Guide and focus on crew roles and repairs.

FAQ

What should I do first in SAND?

Learn controls, prepare a simple route, understand your Trampler, loot conservatively, and extract early enough to keep progress.

Should beginners focus on loot or combat?

Beginners should focus on surviving and extracting. Combat knowledge matters, but keeping early runs simple builds better habits.

Do I need an account for the checklist?

No. The Beginner Checklist stores progress in your browser only.

Last updated: July 5, 2026. This page is maintained from public game information, patch notes, community observations, and hands-on guide review. Early Access mechanics can change, so check the Updates page when a guide feels out of date.