Top Tips For Getting Started In Soulmask 1.0: Shifting Sands

Soul Mask, a survival crafting game, has officially launched its 1.0 version, including a major DLC called Soul Mask: Shifting Sands. This expansion takes players to Ancient Egypt and is available for free to existing base game owners for the first month after the 1.0 update. The DLC introduces new systems like airship building, additional bosses, and new soul masks. The game's 1.0 release, combined with the DLC, offers a great opportunity for new players to immerse themselves in a sandbox world where they can spend hundreds of hours building tribes and exploring. For newcomers, there are six key tips to get started with Soul Mask: Shifting Sands. First, soul masks are a central mechanic, allowing players to transform into powerful deities with mystical abilities. The Shifting Sands DLC automatically provides the new Horus soul mask, which grants the ability to fly and perform ground slams. This system allows for significant playstyle changes, as each ability can be customized. Masks also enable control over tribe members, offering extensive customization for tribe building. While starting with one mask, players should actively seek more by fighting ancient pyramid bosses to expand their ability pool. Second, the Shifting Sands DLC features a truly massive open world. The new Egyptian-inspired map doubles the size of the base game's already large map. To navigate this vast area effectively, players need to understand enemy levels, points of interest, and where to go. This information is revealed by traveling to scout camps and deterring the scouts found there. When an enemy scout's health drops below 30%, their health bar turns white, indicating they "can be deterred" by pressing the E key. Deterring a scout immobilizes them and populates the map with crucial information, such as average enemy levels per region, enemy tribe camps, resource grinding locations like mines, and ancient pyramids with powerful bosses. It's advisable to get your bearings quickly by finding scout camps in each region. If a scout is accidentally killed, they will respawn later. Third, Soul Mask is best played in a group, but not necessarily online, thanks to its extensive tribe NPC system. Players can recruit enemies to fight alongside them and perform various tasks, from crafting supplies and fixing boats to combat deployment. Building a sizable tribe is essential for managing crafting tasks on boats or other structures, as specific production tasks can be assigned to individual members. A crew of NPCs is also vital for early battles in Shifting Sands, as enemy factions can easily overwhelm solo players. Tribe members can be outfitted with assigned gear and behave dynamically based on player preferences, such as having archers to complement a melee character. Fourth, to fully explore the new Shifting Sands map, players need solid gear and experience levels. The best way to acquire these early on is by assaulting barbarian barracks. These barracks house numerous enemies, so players should prepare with healing items, decent armor, and several tribesmen ready for a prolonged fight. Upon entering a barrack, destroy its signal fire to reveal hidden item chests. Inside, players will find valuable crafting resources, healing items, and useful gear. Each barrack culminates in an elite boss who drops excellent armor and weapons, suitable for the player or their tribesmen. Barbarian barracks are also a good source for recruiting tough, high-level enemies for the tribe. Fifth, while hostile wildlife like boars, wild dogs, and hippos exist, the crocodiles and alligators are particularly fierce. The Sobeek Crocodile, a boss raid in an ancient pyramid northeast of the Baron Sandland, is the most vicious and an essential part of unlocking the rest of the map. This fierce opponent requires a team of experienced tribesmen. A key strategy is to focus on its tail, which can be severed, creating a critical damage spot. Defeating the Sobeek Crocodile yields valuable crafting and cooking materials, such as prime cuts of meat and beast teeth. More importantly, it grants access to the ancient pyramid it resides in, where players can acquire a new soul mask and materials needed to craft an airship. Finally, airships are a notable addition in the Shifting Sands DLC, allowing players to fly over the landscape instead of relying on water travel. Building an airship opens up the map, offering a new sense of freedom and exploration. The ship design system is intuitive, and players can also use blueprints to download and craft community-shared designs. Airships can serve as highly mobile bases, equipped with crafting benches, livestock pens, and campfires for farming items. Early in the game, it's advisable to farm lumber, or assign a tribesman to do so, to ensure that once the Sobeek Crocodile is defeated and airship materials are acquired, players can immediately build a personalized airship fully equipped for their tribe's needs. Building an airship is a great first major goal in Shifting Sands. These six tips should set players up for success in Soul Mask: Shifting Sands, available on PC via Steam and the Epic Game Store.