Explorer Profession

The Explorer profession in Starsand Island is mentored by Zephyria, the founder and president of the Exploration Club, located in the Green Meadow area north of Green Pasture Ranch. Zephyria came to Starsand Island two years ago to continue his mentor's work exploring the ancient ruins beneath the island. The Explorer profession focuses on combat, Moonlit Forest progression, and defeating increasingly powerful bosses. It is generally recommended as the fourth profession to pursue, since deeper forest zones require decent gear and food from prior professions.

Tier Overview

Weapon Progression

The Explorer profession progressively unlocks stronger ranged weapons and special ammunition types as you advance through the tiers.

Arrow Types

Apprentice Explorer

The Apprentice Explorer certification introduces combat in the Moonlit Forest. Zephyria gives you a Slingshot blueprint and sends you into the forest to prove yourself by defeating a Runebird.

Quest Steps

1. Visit Zephyria at the Exploration Club to receive the Slingshot blueprint.

2. Craft the Slingshot at the Worktable. Equip it and load Stones or Pellets as ammo.

3. Head to the Moonlit Forest entrance. Shoot the yellow weak points on the rubble blocking the entrance to clear it.

4. Enter the forest. You start in the Evernight Forest zone.

5. Locate a Runebird near the Evernight Forest area. Charge your slingshot attacks for extra damage.

6. Defeat the Runebird and collect the Runebird Fragment.

7. Return the fragment to Zephyria to receive your Apprentice Explorer certificate.

Rewards

• Apprentice Explorer Certificate and title

• Exploration skill tree unlocked in the Workpedia

• Access to Regular Bait and Bait Holder blueprints

• Lamb Skewers cooking recipe unlocked

Junior Explorer

The Junior Explorer certification takes you deeper into the Moonlit Forest. You need to catch Luminwing Butterflies in the Dreamfall Garden zone, use them to activate a Luminpath bridge, and then defeat the Crystalith boss in the Crystalith Hideout. This is the first real boss fight in the game.

Quest Steps

1. Accept the Junior Explorer Trial from the bulletin board.

2. Craft a Bug Net using 2 Softwood and 2 Fiber at the Worktable.

3. Navigate to the Dreamfall Garden in the Moonlit Forest.

4. Catch 5 Luminwing Butterflies. They only appear between 6 AM and 6 PM on Sunny or Snowy days.

5. Submit the butterflies at the Luminpath console to create a glowing bridge to the Crystalith Hideout.

6. Cross the Luminpath and enter the Crystalith Hideout.

7. Defeat the Crystalith boss. This golem hurls rocks and slams the ground. Target the bright yellow abdomen for double damage, and jump over its shockwaves. The boss takes approximately 50 to 60 rounds to defeat.

8. Return to Zephyria to complete the certification.

Rewards

• Junior Explorer Certificate and title

• Plume Bow blueprint (650 Coins) and Arrow blueprint (550 Coins) at the Exploration Club

• Blast Pellet, Stink Bomb, Bomb Arrow (4,000 Coins), and Stinky Arrow blueprints

• Golden Slingshot recipe (1 Slingshot + 3 Gold Ore)

• Moonflower Tea cooking recipe

Intermediate Explorer

The Intermediate Explorer certification combines puzzle-solving with a marksmanship challenge. You need to reach the Bronze Gate in the Moonlit Forest, which requires finding two key pieces. The trial also introduces Bruce's Sharpshooter Stall, a timed balloon-shooting minigame.

Quest Steps

1. Speak to Zephyria to start the Intermediate Trial.

2. Zephyria tells you to visit Bruce, a child in a yellow tracksuit who roams the island (find him on the map).

3. Bruce asks you to prepare materials for his Sharpshooter Stall: 3 Alloy (Gold + Iron + Copper + Coal at Furnace II) and 3 Starflare Cores (Primorite + Coal at Furnace II).

4. Deliver the materials to Bruce.

5. You are transported to the Sharpshooter Stall, where you must shoot 35 balloons before the timer runs out.

6. After completing the challenge, obtain the two key pieces for the Bronze Gate. One key is held by Delphin; the other is given by Zephyria.

7. Open the Bronze Gate to access the Harvest Yard area of the Moonlit Forest.

8. Return to Zephyria to complete the certification.

Rewards

• Intermediate Explorer Certificate and title

• Fire Arrow blueprint (burns brambles blocking paths)

• Water Arrow blueprint (grows roots and branches to create bridges)

• Access to the Harvest Yard zone in the Moonlit Forest

• Camp upgrades in the Moonlit Forest

Senior Explorer

The Senior Explorer certification sends you to the temple at Cloudrest Lake to help Youfang, a healer who needs rare medicinal plants from deep within the Moonlit Forest. This tier also introduces the Waterwheel elevator mechanism and unlocks Sentry Bots, autonomous combat companions.

Quest Steps

1. Speak to Zephyria to receive the Senior Explorer Trial.

2. Travel to the temple near Cloudrest Lake to visit Youfang.

3. Youfang asks you to collect two types of medicinal plants for a healing formula:

1. Repair the Waterwheel elevator mechanism to reach Grain Haven and the deeper areas.

2. Collect both Eldergrain and Echobean and deliver them to Youfang.

3. Return to Zephyria to complete the certification.

Rewards

• Senior Explorer Certificate and title

• Sentry Bot blueprints (autonomous combat companions)

• Advanced combat gear blueprints

• Access to final boss zones in the Moonlit Forest

Expert Explorer

The Expert Explorer certification is the final and most difficult trial in the entire game. You must defeat the Ruin Guard, the final boss of the Moonlit Forest. The Ruin Guard is a massive golem with devastating attacks, and it will punish unprepared players. Completing this certification unlocks the Crossbow, the strongest ranged weapon in Starsand Island, as well as the legendary Luna Deer mount.

Preparation

Do not challenge the Ruin Guard without proper preparation. You should bring:

• 20 to 30 Bomb Arrows (your primary damage source)

• 50+ Standard Arrows (for sustained fire between Bomb Arrow shots)

• A Plume Bow or better (Crossbow is ideal if you have one from a crafting recipe)

• HP-restoring food (cook high-healing recipes beforehand)

• Sentry Bots for passive chip damage during the fight

Ruin Guard Boss Fight

The Ruin Guard has four main attack patterns: ore throws, spinning attacks, laser fire, and green energy pulses. The key to victory is patience and targeting its weak spots.

1. Stay mobile throughout the fight. You can ride a Skateboard inside the forest for faster dodging.

2. Wait for the glowing weak spot on top of its head to be exposed. Shooting its body wastes ammo.

3. Deploy Sentry Bots to deal passive chip damage while you focus on dodging.

4. When you deal enough damage, the Ruin Guard temporarily immobilizes itself and its head drops to the center of the arena.

5. Stop dodging and dump your strongest charged Bomb Arrows directly into its skull during this window.

6. Repeat the cycle until the Ruin Guard is defeated.

Post-Boss: Luna Deer Mount

After defeating the Ruin Guard, an altar appears. To summon the Luna Deer mount:

1. Place 3 Moonstone, 3 Spirit Berry, and 1 Prayer on the altar.

2. The Prayer item is obtained from Zephyria after you return to report your victory.

3. The Luna Deer is a permanent mount, unique to the Explorer profession quest line.

Rewards

• Expert Explorer Certificate and title

• Crossbow blueprint (most powerful ranged weapon; quest reward only, not purchasable)

• Time Arrow blueprint

• Luna Deer mount (permanent unique mount)

• Mystic Egg and Spirit Salad cooking recipes

• Full Moonlit Forest access and post-boss content

Tips and Strategy

• Do not rush the Explorer profession. You need solid food supplies from Farming and good gear from the Crafter profession before diving deep into the Moonlit Forest.

• Always bring more ammo than you think you need. Running out of arrows mid-boss-fight can be fatal.

• Fire Arrows and Water Arrows are not just combat tools; they are puzzle-solving items. Burn brambles and grow bridges to access new areas and shortcuts.

• The Luminwing Butterflies for the Junior trial only appear between 6 AM and 6 PM on Sunny or Snowy days. Check the weather before heading to Dreamfall Garden.

• For the Intermediate trial's balloon challenge, aim for clusters and use the splash damage from Blast Pellets if you are struggling to hit 35 balloons in time.

• Sentry Bots are your best friends in boss fights. Deploy them before engaging and let them deal damage while you focus on dodging.

• The Crossbow is only available as an Expert Explorer reward. It cannot be bought from any shop, so completing the full Explorer questline is the only way to get it.

• Completing the full Explorer profession quest chain also unlocks the Luna Deer, one of the best mounts in the game.