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Moonlight Meadow
March 16, 2026 at 03:33 AM
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Moonlight Meadow is the final zone in the Moonlit Forest and the site of the Ruin Guard boss fight, the toughest combat encounter in Starsand Island. After defeating the Ruin Guard, players can repair an altar to summon the Luna Deer mount, a permanent rideable deer that costs nothing to maintain. Moonlight Meadow is reached from Serenity's Rest by solving the torch-lighting puzzle that raises the bridge.
From Serenity's Rest, solve the torch puzzle by equipping your Bow with Fire Arrows and shooting the six floating lights above the pillar torches in the nearby ruins. Once all six are lit, a bridge or pathway raises, opening the route forward into Moonlight Meadow. See the Serenity's Rest article for details on the puzzle.
Moonlight Meadow contains the final campsite in the Moonlit Forest, with the standard tent, campfire, worktable, and Moonweaver crystal (5 Fluorite to repair). This is the last opportunity to craft ammunition, cook food, and prepare before the Ruin Guard. Repair the Moonweaver immediately so you can teleport back here if you die during the boss fight.
Moonlight Meadow and the wooden paths descending to the lower level contain high-tier materials:
Resource | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Moonstone | Ore | Critical: 3 needed to repair the Luna Deer altar after defeating the Ruin Guard |
Aurorite | Ore | High-tier ore for Expert-level crafting; also Aurelis's favorite gift |
Flamecore | Ore | Found along the wooden path descending to the lower level |
Echo Bean | Plant | A crop-like plant that grows in Moonlight Meadow; used in cooking and crafting |
Spirit Fruit | Plant | Found near the boss arena; Spirit Berries needed for the altar |
Collect 3 Moonstone and 3 Spirit Berries before or after the Ruin Guard fight. These are required to repair the altar and summon the Luna Deer. If you gathered Moonstone from Serenity's Rest earlier, check your inventory before mining more.
The Ruin Guard is the final and toughest boss in the Moonlit Forest, tied to the Expert Explorer trial in the Explorer profession. It is a large mechanical guardian with five distinct attack patterns. The fight requires a Bow with Bomb Arrows; the Slingshot is not effective against this boss.
The Ruin Guard's weak point is its head. The head only becomes targetable during specific attacks when it glows brightly. Shooting the body wastes ammunition. Wait for punishable attack windows and aim for the head with charged Bomb Arrow shots for maximum damage.
The Ruin Guard uses five attacks divided into two categories: non-punishable attacks where the weak point is hidden, and punishable attacks where the head glows and can be targeted.
Non-punishable attacks (no weak point exposed):
Attack | Tell | Counter |
|---|---|---|
Green Charge Slice | Pulls green energy into one hand, then fires a slicing projectile straight at you | Strafe laterally to dodge the projectile; do not try to shoot during this animation |
Spin Slice | Body twists before spinning across the arena like a blender; minimal warning | Put away your weapon, equip skates or sprint, and create as much distance as possible; this is the most dangerous attack |
Punishable attacks (head glows, shoot it):
Attack | Tell | Counter |
|---|---|---|
Flying Ore | Hits the ground and floats a rock above its head; head glows for several seconds before launching the rock | Shoot the glowing head during the wind-up, then dodge the incoming rock |
Green Charge Vines | Pulls green energy into both hands with a long charge time; after charging, damaging vines spawn under your feet | Longest punish window; fire continuously at the glowing head during the charge-up, then keep moving when vines appear |
Flame Beam | Red charge appears over its head, then fires a sustained laser beam while slowly rotating toward the player | Strafe to stay ahead of the beam rotation while shooting the head during the charge-up phase |
The Green Charge Vines attack offers the longest damage window. When you see the Ruin Guard pulling energy into both hands, unload as many charged Bomb Arrow shots into its head as possible before the vines appear.
Landing enough Bomb Arrow hits on the Ruin Guard's head during a punishable window causes a stun-lock effect. The boss temporarily freezes, visible as cracks appearing on its health bar. During this window, dump every charged Bomb Arrow you have into its skull for massive damage. This stun-lock is the key to finishing the fight efficiently.
Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
1 | Primary weapon; slingshot is ineffective against this boss | |
Bomb Arrows | 20-30 | Primary damage source; aim for the head during punishable attacks |
Standard Arrows | 50+ | Backup ammunition for sustained damage |
HP-restoring food | 10-15 pieces | Grilled Chicken Wings or Lamb Skewers for healing between attacks |
1 | Mobility for dodging Spin Slice; faster than sprinting on foot |
Do not leave the arena during the fight. If you exit the boss area, the Ruin Guard resets to full health. Stay inside the arena boundary at all times, even when retreating from the Spin Slice.
After defeating the Ruin Guard, a broken altar appears in the center of the arena. Repairing it summons the Luna Deer, a permanent mount.
Material | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
Moonstone | 3 | Mined from deposits in Serenity's Rest and Moonlight Meadow |
Spirit Berry | 3 | Found in the deeper Moonlit Forest zones near the boss arena |
Prayer | 1 | Obtained from Zephyria at the Exploration Club after reporting your victory |
The Prayer item requires returning to the surface and speaking with Zephyria at the Exploration Club after defeating the Ruin Guard. She gives you the Prayer as part of the Expert Explorer trial completion. Teleport back to the Moonlight Meadow campsite with the Prayer and place all three items on the altar.
Once the altar is repaired with all materials, a Spirit Deer appears in the meadow. Approach it and interact to coax the deer into becoming your mount. The Luna Deer is described as a gentle deer native to the Moonlit Forest. Once claimed, it becomes a permanent mount that can be summoned from your Garage (press R) anywhere on the island. The Luna Deer can also be housed in a Deer Barn on your ranch, where it produces Deer Antler and Manure.
Two treasure chests are located in Moonlight Meadow:
Chest | Location |
|---|---|
Chest #44 | At the Moonlight Meadow campsite |
Chest #45 | East of the campsite, accessible after solving the bridge puzzle |
The Ruin Guard also drops a recurring chest after defeat, which can be collected on subsequent visits, unlike the 48 regular one-time chests scattered throughout the Moonlit Forest.
Moonlight Meadow is the final zone in the Moonlit Forest:
Moonlight Meadow (Ruin Guard boss, Luna Deer altar)
Repair the campsite Moonweaver immediately. If you die to the Ruin Guard, you respawn here instead of backtracking from Serenity's Rest.
Gather 3 Moonstone and 3 Spirit Berries before or after the boss fight. Having them ready saves a trip back to the surface.
The Spin Slice is the Ruin Guard's most dangerous attack. When you see the body twist, stop shooting and focus entirely on creating distance.
The Green Charge Vines attack is your biggest damage window. Recognize the two-handed energy pull animation and unload charged Bomb Arrows into the head.
Bring your Skateboard or Rollerblades for dodging. They work inside the Moonlit Forest and are faster than sprinting, which matters against Spin Slice.
After getting the Luna Deer, return to Zephyria to complete the Expert Explorer trial and unlock the final Explorer profession perks.
The Ruin Guard's recurring chest makes Moonlight Meadow worth revisiting. Teleport back to farm the boss for additional rewards.
