Building your perfect walker in Sand: Raiders of Sophie is a giant mechanical fashion show, except the runway is full of enemies trying to blow you up. With a huge tech tree packed with upgrades, it can be a little overwhelming figuring out where to spend your hard-earned resources without accidentally investing in something that looks cute but does absolutely nothing for your survival.
The right upgrades can turn your ship from a fragile metal pancake into a proper desert menace. This guide breaks down the tech tree and helps you understand which upgrades are worth chasing first, so you can spend less time staring at menus and more time causing mess across the sands.
Best Tech Tree Nodes To Unlock First
Below, we detail what to unlock first in your Tech Tree and why.
|
Tech Tree Upgrade |
Why Unlock It First |
|---|---|
|
Motor Reactor / Engine Upgrades |
Your reactor is the most important part of your ship. If it gets destroyed, your entire walker is lost for that raid. The upgraded reactor increases your engine health, which you more time to survive enemy attacks. |
|
Chassis Upgrades |
A better chassis gives your ship more weight capacity, which allows you to add more compartments, increase protection, and create stronger builds. The mid-engine chassis is especially useful for protecting your reactor with wider layouts. |
|
Captain’s Cabin |
The captain’s cabin adds another bit of defense because it is often positioned toward the front of your ship. More health means enemies have to break through extra protection before reaching your important systems. |
|
Crew Room |
You need this upgrade to reach the captain’s cabin. While it is not the strongest upgrade on its own, it is an important stepping stone toward one of the better defensive options. |
|
Cargo Holds and Cargo Bays |
Storage upgrades are some of the best defensive investments. These compartments add lots of HP and can act as armor around your reactor, which helps keep your ship alive during fights. |
|
Wooden Decks and Cargo Deck |
Wooden decks give you more customization options and make moving around your ship easier. Cargo decks also help you reach stronger storage upgrades. |
|
Framed Artillery Deck |
Before investing heavily in cannons, improve your weapon protection. The framed artillery deck gives your weapons more health, meaning they can survive longer during combat. |
|
Cannons |
Cannons are useful, but they should come after your ship has enough protection. Basic weapons are usually good enough early on, so save expensive resources for stronger upgrades first. |
|
Battering Ram |
This is a great defensive upgrade later in your progression. It provides around 8,000 HP, absorbs collision damage, and is relatively easy to repair. |
|
Improved Reactor |
Once you have the materials, this should become your next major engine upgrade. The extra HP gives your ship even more protection and improves your chances of surviving raids. |
Sand: Raiders Of Sophie – Achievement Guide
Looking to unlock every Sand: Raiders of Sophie achievement? Here’s how.
