Holy crap, Shifting Sands just launched with Soulmask 1.0 and the ship system is an absolute game-changer. No more slogging across endless desert dunes or hugging rivers like every other scrub. Now you claim boats and ships, slap on antigravity tech and turn your ride into a flying mobile base that lets you scout, raid, transport and build wherever the hell you want.
If you’re jumping into the new Egyptian map this is the practical no-fluff breakdown. We’re talking exact progression steps and how to stop wasting time on the ground. This is a practical Soulmask ship guide!
The Text:
Quick Context on Ships in Shifting Sands
The Shifting Sands brings fully modular vessels that operate on water, sand, land, and (once upgraded) in the air. You start with basic claimables, move to custom builds at a shipyard and unlock flight after key progression.
Everything ties into your tribe level and Technology tabs. Build limits depend on hull class: Thatch (tiny), Small Wooden (~30 parts), Falcon (~60 parts), Shark (100+ parts). You add foundations for storage and crafting stations, plus modules for flight and combat.
Power crystals are your fuel for flying. Stock up early because flight time is real. This guide is based on live 1.0 player experience right after launch. The meta is still fresh, but these steps will get you airborne and efficient fast.
How to Get Your First Ship (Step-by-Step)
Read me carefully and learn this step by step guide to get your first Soulmask Ship:
- Claim a Starter Boat: Early on, look for Tribe Boats at River Delta or coastal camps. These have decent inventory and can move on sand. You can claim up to 3 per player on most servers. They’re free and perfect for quick loot runs while you grind tech.
- Unlock Shipbuilding: Research Shipbuilding Technique in the Technology tab. This lets you build a basic Thatch Boat (super simple, 4 parts) or move toward Small Wooden hulls.
- Build Your First Custom Hull: Head to a shipyard or workbench. Start with a Small Wooden Boat. Add rudder, sails for speed and basic deck foundations. Keep it light at first.
Pro move: Don’t overcommit materials early. Use your claimed Tribe Boat for transport while you gather wood, fiber, and basic metals.
Unlocking Flight: The Sobec Breakthrough
This is where the game opens up.
- Progress far enough to summon and defeat Sobec the Crocodile (the desert croc boss at the pyramid area). You’ll need premium fresh meat or equivalent to call him.
- After the fight, loot the pyramid thoroughly. Key rewards include: marine anti-gravity skid (install underneath), wings (one on each side), small anti-gravity engine parts, power crystals (aim for at least 6 small ones) and often your next soul mask.
- Install the parts on your Small Wooden Boat: skid below, wings on sides, small anti-gravity engine in the engine slot. Load power crystals into the engine.
- Hop on the helm, activate and lift off. You can now fly over terrain and reach previously painful areas fast.
Exact Tip: Enemy airship camps (scout ships) have explosive barrels nearby. Blow them up and loot chests for extra power crystals.
Antigravity Parts Farming: What to Do When Sobec Dries Up
The classic path still works for most players: summon Sobec the Crocodile at the northeast pyramid, beat him and loot the inner pyramid chests. You’ll usually pull the marine antigravity skid (bottom), two wings (sides), small antigravity engine and 6 small power crystals for your first flights on a Small Wooden hull.
But here’s the reality in Soulmask 1.0: after your first Sobec kill, the parts stop appearing reliably in the pyramid. Many players report empty chests on repeat runs.
Don’t worry, I’m not here just for an ordinary guide, I’m gonna solve common problems and here you are:
- Clear Patroller III dungeons/airship scout camps. These drop the small anti-gravity load version of engine parts or the second wing. Redo the same Patroller III dungeon multiple times. The drop can appear on the second or third clear.
- Loot crashed or parked enemy airships found in the desert. They often have explosive red barrels nearby (blow them safely) and guarded chests with extra crystals or engine components.
Soulmask Mineral Oil
To power advanced engines and craft high-tier ship components, you need mineral oil. While it feels gated, you can reliably find it by:
- Mining Coal: This is the most consistent method early game. Check the mountainous regions of the Shifting Sands to find it.
- Holy Ruins: Looting chests in the Holy Ruins (especially near the Torch of Eternity) often yields mineral oil.
- Distiller: Once you reach the appropriate tech tier, you can craft it yourself using a Distiller.
That’s right, you don’t need this oil for basic boats or ships, but advanced ones require this and many players have challange finding it. Three ways mentioned could be really helpful.
Further Progression: Better Soulmask Ships
Once you’re flying Hit Tribe Level 3 and research Premium Shipbuilding. This unlocks the Falcon Class hull (60 parts). It’s the sweet spot for most players.
Add a medium anti gravity engine for better speed and lift. Later, in the Steel Age, unlock Advanced Shipbuilding for the Shark-Class (100 parts). This beast supports heavy modules like cannons, ballistas, energy shields and massive storage. Perfect for turning into a floating fortress or aerial raid platform.
You can attach smaller ships to a main hull so everything travels together when you fly. Multiple ships let you specialize.
Ray Class Airship
The Ray class is the large solar airship or heavy artillery carrier teased everyone loves to achieve. It’s designed for mounting a giant main cannon and turning your ship into a true battleship.
Unlock path right now:
- Reach the Steel Age.
- Unlock Advanced Shipbuilding in the Technology tab.
- The Ray class hull becomes craftable at shipyards with massive material costs.
Ship Architecture & Performance
The best soulmask ship design balances weight and utility and many players (including me) care about the appearance of what they ride. So use the tips below for the best design:
- Hull Selection: Use a Small Wooden hull for scouting and a Falcon-class for a mobile base.
- Placement: Place heavy crafting stations near the center of the deck to maintain stability.
- Aesthetics vs. Function: Use foliage and decorative statues on the upper deck, but keep the hull clear for marine antigravity skids to ensure smooth flight.
Maximizing Ship Speed
Your soulmask ship speed is determined by your engine tier and the weight of your structures.
A T5 Speed Anti-Gravity Engine can push a Falcon-class ship up to 19 m/s and that’s good in this game (You are not riding a Jet!). Another tip is to Combine Falcon Wings with Aurelion Wings. Note that placement matters (wings placed on the stern versus the bow can alter your top speed by up to 7 m/s). And also try to Keep your structure count under 60 on a Falcon hull to prevent speed drag.
Soulmask Ship Crew & Automation
This is where ships stop being just transport and become your floating civilization. Place crafting stations, bonfires, beds, and storage directly on the ship deck. Use the Work Type dropdown on each station. For that enable “crafting table autoplay” and set maintain stock levels with the cog icon.
Tribesmen can be ordered to specific roles: gather nearby while landed, craft passively while flying or defend with deck weapons.
Crew capacity scales with hull class (Small Wooden is limited; Falcon and Shark give way more room for a full production line).
Soulmask Blueprint System
Once you have secured a blueprint, managing your soulmask ship design becomes a balance of utility and aerodynamics. In the 1.0 update and Shifting Sands, the blueprint system allows you to save and share your creations or download complex structures.
Press [ESC] and navigate to the Ship Blueprints tab in the menu. There are two main ways to find blueprints:
- Official Presets: Soulmask provides some pre-designed layouts (like the Rising Sun Pavilion or House Boat) that show you exactly where to place modules for maximum efficiency.
- Steam Workshop Integration: In the Shifting Sands, you can import blueprints from the Steam Workshop. Once subscribed, these appear in your game blueprint menu for instant placement if you have the materials.
Ships in Soulmask: Take Them Serious
Ships in Shifting Sands aren’t just faster travel, they become your mobile tribe hub and raid platform. Getting that first antigravity setup after Sobec feels like the game finally breathing.
What’s your current setup looking like? Did the Sobec fight gate you, or did you cheese some early crystals from scout camps? Drop your favorite airship layout in the comments. The desert skies are wide open. Get building, captain
FAQs
What’s the best ship to aim for first after flying?
Hit Tribe Level 3, research Premium Shipbuilding, and build the Falcon-Class (60 parts). It’s the sweet spot for speed and easy upgrades. Add a medium anti-gravity engine and you’re golden.
When and how do I get the Ray-Class?
Reach Steel Age, unlock Advanced Shipbuilding, then craft the Ray-Class hull at a shipyard. It’s the endgame solar airship with giant cannon slots. They got massive material cost, but worth it for late-game raiding.
Do I need to carry extra power crystals?
Yes. Always. 6 small crystals give around 10-12 hours flight on a basic setup. Farm scout camps with explosive barrels when you run low.
Should I build a full floating base on my first flying ship?
Hell no. Keep your first Small Wooden flyer light and fast. Cluttered decks make you slow and easy to crash. Save the floating-base chaos for your Falcon or Shark.
Where can I find mineral oil?
You can get mineral oil as a secondary drop from mining Coal Ore nodes, particularly in the Shifting Sands and Plateau regions. Additionally, you can find it in chests within Holy Ruins or craft it late-game using a Distiller once you reach Awareness Level 54.
How do I unlock a new blueprints?
Most are unlocked through the Knowledge & Technology tree by progressing through the Bronze, Iron, and Steel Ages. You can also access pre-set designs and community uploads via the Ship Blueprints tab.
What is the best ship design for a mobile base?
For a mobile base, use a Falcon-class or Shark-class hull, as they have the highest structure limits (around 60+). Focus on placing heavy crafting stations and beds near the center of the deck for stability.
How can I increase my Soulmask ship speed?
Install better Anti-Gravity Engines and specialized Wings.
