Ammo Maker

The Ammo Maker is the dedicated crafting station for all ranged ammunition in Starsand Island. It produces over 40 different items, including slingshot pellets, bow arrows, specialty ammunition like Bomb Arrows and Fire Arrows, intermediate crafting materials, and even fireworks. The Ammo Maker is tied to the Explorer profession under Zephyria, and its blueprint is one of the first things you can purchase from the Exploration Club.

How to Get the Ammo Maker

The Ammo Maker blueprint costs 50 coins from the Exploration Club shop and has no tier requirement, meaning you can buy it from the very start of the game. The station itself is built at a Worktable I using Softwood and Stone. Once built, place it on your farm and interact with it to access the crafting menu.

There is also a public Ammo Maker inside the Exploration Club building that anyone can use for free. When you walk into the shop, the Ammo Maker is the desk to the left of the register. This is useful early on if you have not built your own yet, though having one at home saves the trip.

Ammunition Types

The Ammo Maker produces ammunition in three main categories: slingshot pellets, bow arrows, and specialty items. New recipes unlock as you advance through the Explorer profession tiers.

Slingshot Pellets

Pellets are ammunition for the slingshot, the first ranged weapon you unlock. The slingshot is given to you by Zephyria when you begin the Explorer profession.

Simple Pellets are your workhorse early on. Stone is everywhere, so you can always keep a healthy stock. You can also use Fluorite directly as slingshot ammo in the Moonlit Forest, though this uses up your Fluorite supply, which is also needed for Moonweaver repairs.

Bow Arrows

Arrows are ammunition for the Plume Bow, which you unlock at the Junior Explorer tier. The bow is a significant upgrade over the slingshot and is essential for mid-to-late Moonlit Forest combat. Arrow blueprints are purchased from the Exploration Club.

Special Arrows

Special arrows are the most important ammunition for Moonlit Forest progression. Each type is unlocked through boss drops or Explorer profession milestones and serves a specific purpose:

The Water Arrow blueprint is obtained as a reward for defeating the Glintortle boss behind the Bronze Gate. Fire Arrows and Water Arrows are both needed to navigate the Harvest Yard zone, which requires burning brambles (Fire) and growing vine bridges (Water).

Intermediate Materials

Some of the most powerful ammunition requires intermediate materials that you also craft at the Ammo Maker:

Phosand is the bottleneck material for Bomb Arrows, and it requires Coal and Sunveil Shrooms. Coal comes from your Charcoal Kiln (1 Softwood + 2 Fiber), while Sunveil Shrooms are gathered in the Moonlit Forest. If you are actively exploring, build at least two Charcoal Kilns to keep up with Coal demand.

Fireworks

Beyond combat ammunition, the Ammo Maker also produces a large selection of fireworks. These are cosmetic items used for celebrations and events:

• Firecrackers in 8 colors (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Cyan, White)

• Skyrockets in 8 colors

• Fountain Fireworks in 8 colors

• Birthday Celebration Fireworks (special occasion item)

Fireworks require Firework Shells as a base material, which are also crafted at the Ammo Maker. They are fun for celebrations but have no combat use.

Explorer Profession Blueprint Progression

The Exploration Club shop sells all combat-related blueprints, gated by your Explorer profession tier:

The Crossbow is the most powerful ranged weapon in the game and is a quest reward for reaching Expert Explorer. Unlike other weapons, its blueprint cannot be purchased.

Tips for Ammo Production

• Build your own Ammo Maker early. The 50-coin blueprint is one of the best early investments. Having the station at home means you can restock before every Moonlit Forest run without traveling to the Exploration Club.

• Stockpile Coal. Bomb Arrows burn through Phosand, which needs Coal. Build 2 Charcoal Kilns and keep them running whenever you have spare Softwood and Fiber.

• Gather Sunveil Shrooms proactively. These mushrooms only grow in the Moonlit Forest. Collect them whenever you see them during exploration runs; they do not respawn quickly.

• Carry mixed ammo. For boss fights, bring a mix of Bomb Arrows (high damage during weak-point windows) and regular Arrows (for sustained DPS between vulnerability phases). Relying solely on Bomb Arrows is expensive.

• Use Simple Pellets for weak enemies. Do not waste arrows on Runebirds and Luminfrogs. Simple Pellets from the slingshot are sufficient for common enemies and cost almost nothing to produce.

• Craft in batches. Most ammo recipes produce 2 or 3 units per craft. Plan your materials to craft full batches rather than one at a time.

Other Utility Items

The Ammo Maker also produces a few non-combat utility items:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the public Ammo Maker at the Exploration Club?

Yes. The public Ammo Maker at the Exploration Club functions identically to a personal one. The only downside is needing to travel there, which wastes time.

Do I need to unlock recipes before I can craft ammo?

Yes. Each ammo type requires its corresponding blueprint to be purchased or earned. The Ammo Maker itself only unlocks the station; individual recipes are separate blueprint purchases from the Exploration Club shop.

What is the best arrow type for bosses?

Bomb Arrows deal the most damage during weak-point windows. However, they are expensive to produce because of the Phosand requirement. Most players use a mix of Bomb Arrows for burst damage and regular Arrows for sustained fire.