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.
Pellet Type | Key Ingredient | Explorer Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Simple Pellet (x2) | Stone | Starting | Basic ammo; cheap and easy to mass-produce |
Fine Pellets | Refined materials | Junior | Improved damage over Simple Pellets |
Blast Rounds | Phosand | Junior | Explosive pellets for higher burst damage |
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.
Arrow Type | Key Ingredient | Explorer Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Arrow (x3) | Softwood, Stone | Junior | Standard arrows; basic but reliable |
Wood Arrow (x3) | Senior | Lightweight arrows with different properties | |
Gale Arrow (x3) | Special materials | Senior | Wind-infused arrows |
Time Arrow (x3) | Special materials | Expert | Advanced arrows with temporal effects |
Sharp Arrow | Iron materials | Intermediate+ | Higher-damage standard arrow variant |
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:
Arrow Type | Crafted From | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Bomb Arrow (x3) | Phosand + Arrow materials | Highest damage; essential for boss fights (Crystalith, Glintortle, Ruin Guard) |
Fire Arrow (x3) | Embersand + Arrow materials | Burns brambles and tree roots blocking paths in Harvest Yard and beyond |
Water Arrow (x3) | Special materials | Causes vine bridges to grow from stumps; used in Harvest Yard navigation |
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:
Material | Recipe | Used For |
|---|---|---|
Phosand | Coal + Sunveil Shrooms | Bomb Arrows and Blast Rounds |
Embersand | Crafted at Ammo Maker | Fire Arrows |
Iridescent Sand | Crafted at Ammo Maker | Advanced specialty ammunition |
Sleep Sand | Crafted at Ammo Maker | Stink Bomb and crowd-control ammunition |
Firework Shell | Crafted at Ammo Maker | All firework types |
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:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
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:
Tier | Available Blueprints | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
Starting | Ammo Maker, Simple Pellet | 50 coins |
Junior | Plume Bow, Arrow, Blast Pellet, Stink Bomb | 50-500 coins |
Intermediate | Bomb Arrow, Fire Arrow, Water Arrow (via boss drops) | Quest rewards |
Senior | Gale Arrow, Wood Arrow | 500-2,000 coins |
Expert | Time Arrow, Crossbow (quest reward) | Up to 4,500 coins |
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
Type | Details |
|---|---|
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:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Stink Bomb | Area denial tool; useful for controlling groups of enemies |
Pristine Orb | Crafting component for advanced recipes (blueprint from Glintortle chest) |
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.