Sandustry FAQ
Search the symptom in front of you. Start with the quick diagnosis, then open the linked guide for the complete setup and recovery steps.
25 questions
First factory & progression
Start with the smallest stable production loop, then diagnose the objective or system blocking the next tier.
01What should I automate first?
Automate the Wet Sand and Burnt Residue loops first. They fund early research and produce the Seed required for the plant chain.
Open Sandustry beginner guide02Why does my first factory keep stopping?
Mixed dry Sand, unburned Residue, and blocked output space are the most common early causes. Stop the input and trace one material state from its last moving point.
Open Sandustry beginner guide03Should I copy a large endgame factory?
No. Build a small observable chain first, prove that it recovers from a stopped input and full output, then save the working module as a Blueprint.
Open Sandustry beginner guide04How do I find the next objective?
Follow the yellow arrow on the Map or Minimap. Sandustry worlds are procedural, so another player's direction or depth is not a reliable route in your save.
Open Sandustry Map guide05What should be stable before starting Aura progression?
Complete the Stratacore objective, maintain Florinol production, and charge enough energy storage for the Synthesizer conversion before building the Aura chain.
Open Sandustry Aura guideMaterials & machines
Check physical state, input clearance, output space, and containment before rebuilding a production room.
06Why is my Pump not moving Water?
Check that Water reaches the Pump level, every Pipe segment is connected, and the destination is not already filled to the Liquid Vent. Test the line with one source and one empty outlet.
Open Sandustry water guide07Can I mix different liquids in one Pipe?
The game permits mixed Pipe contents, but a Liquid Vent cannot reliably filter the output and may prioritize nearby liquid. Separate lines are safer for repeatable production.
Open Sandustry water guide08Why is Steam not returning as Water?
Steam must rise through a clear route and reach the sky before it returns as rain. A closed roof, side opening, or misplaced collection basin can keep the Water from returning where expected.
Open Sandustry water guide09Is Water truly infinite?
Sandustry provides renewable methods, including recovered Snow and contained Lumlings, but throughput limits and layout losses still matter. Prove that storage recovers after each production cycle.
Open Sandustry renewable water guide10How do I move Lava?
Normal Pumps are not a documented transport method. Freeze Lava into Cinder, move the solid material, then apply heat inside a sealed destination chamber to restore Lava.
Open Sandustry lava guide11Why is material sitting on top of the Kinetic Press?
The input may still be unburned Residue, may lack enough drop clearance, or may be blocked by full Gold and Seed outputs. Test one clean Burnt Residue batch with empty receiving space.
Open Sandustry Kinetic Press guide12Why is Gold backing up?
The Gold basin may be full, or Seed, Amethelis, Residue, or dry Sand may be occupying the exit. Stop the source and clear each byproduct route before increasing input speed.
Open Sandustry gold guide13How is Wet Seed made?
Water must contact dry Seed. Keep the washer contained, then use Wet Seed buoyancy and filters to separate it from dry Seed before sending it to a Planter Box.
Open Sandustry Wet Seed guide14Why is my Power Brick empty?
A Copper Mold creates the Power Brick's storage capacity, but it does not generate energy. Connect a working source such as a Steam Turbine and confirm the energy route reaches the Brick.
Open Sandustry copper guideExploration & Artifacts
Use save-specific directions and read the room's material clues instead of copying fixed coordinates.
15Are Sandustry maps the same for every player?
No. The world is procedurally generated, so exact Artifact, puzzle, resource, and objective coordinates are not reliable across saves.
Open Sandustry Map guide16Why can I not enter a puzzle room?
The room may require a specific material interaction or a tool from a later research tier. Read nearby Fire, Ice, Water, Lava, and weapon icons before trying to break the boundary.
Open Sandustry puzzles guide17What do the small squares near a puzzle button mean?
In observed rooms, the squares mark places where Foundation can route released Water or Lava. Plan the full path to the receiver before pressing the button.
Open Sandustry puzzles guide18What should I do if a puzzle traps me?
Use the room's reset control first when one is present. If the character is genuinely trapped, use the unstuck option documented in the official Beginner's Guide.
Open Sandustry puzzles guide19Does the Artifact Locator show an exact location?
The basic Locator gives a general direction. The Triangulation Lens upgrade enables exact guidance; without it, scan again after detours or indestructible obstacles.
Open Sandustry Artifacts guide20How many Artifacts make one tool socket?
The current Early Access route uses five Artifacts to create one socket for improving tools. Check the current upgrade interface before committing the set.
Open Sandustry Artifacts guideBlueprints & mods
Separate verified base-game controls from Workshop requirements and protect the save before changing branches.
21Where are Blueprints saved in the game?
Open the Building page with Q and look for the Blueprints section. Automatic saves and imported Blueprint strings are managed from that interface.
Open Sandustry Blueprints guide22Can I rotate a Blueprint?
The verified tutorial proves horizontal flip with Ctrl+H, not a complete rotation workflow. Check current controls before assuming additional transforms are available.
Open Sandustry Blueprints guide23Where should I get Sandustry mods?
Use the official Sandustry Steam Workshop linked from the game page. Read the individual mod's dependencies and required game version before subscribing.
Open Sandustry Workshop compatibility guide24Which Steam branch should I select for a mod?
Use the exact branch named by that Workshop item. The documented 0.5.2 and 0.5.5 split is a dated snapshot, so recheck compatibility after every game or mod update.
Open Sandustry Workshop compatibility guide25Do I need Sandkit to install Workshop mods?
No. Sandkit is the developer API for creating mods. Ordinary players use Workshop subscription and the compatible Sandustry branch.
Open Sandustry Workshop compatibility guideNo question matches that search. Try a material, machine, or symptom.