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Snail Pump
April 25, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Initial version (2026-04-25). Created article for the Snail Pump, the new pump variant added in patch 0.4.9467 alongside the Affection Discount system.
The Snail Pump is a decorative variant of the Hand Pump added to Starsand Island in patch 0.4.9467 on April 23, 2026. It performs the same refill function as the standard Hand Pump, letting you top off your watering can at a fixed point on your property, but uses a snail-themed visual model with a curled shell forming the spout housing. The Snail Pump shipped together with a dedicated entry in the in-game Codex so players can review its description and unlock condition from the menu.
Like the standard Hand Pump, the Snail Pump does not change watering speed, capacity, or stamina cost. The choice between the two is purely cosmetic: anyone who already enjoys the rural-farmyard aesthetic of the standard pump can swap it out for a more whimsical snail-shell silhouette without losing any function.
The Snail Pump was added in the following Early Access patch:
Version | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
0.4.9467 | April 23, 2026 | Added the Snail Pump item along with its Codex entry display. |
This patch shipped alongside the new Affection Discount system, painting-system improvements with new controller guidance, UI refinements for the Worktable, Campfire cooking interface, and Furnace interface, plus a long list of bug fixes for robots, the Houseboat, and Build Mode. See the Update History article for the full 0.4.9467 changelog.
The Snail Pump serves the same purpose as any other water refill point on the island. Approach it with a partially full or empty watering can equipped, hold the use button, and the can refills to its current capacity ceiling. The base mechanics are identical to a Hand Pump, a natural pond, a river edge, a well, or the ocean shoreline.
Refill speed: Same as the standard Hand Pump. The fill rate is determined by your watering can tier, not by the water source.
Stamina cost: Refilling consumes stamina, the same small drain as any other water source. Watering tilled soil after refilling does not cost stamina.
Placement: Place anywhere on a buildable plot using Build Mode. Like the Hand Pump, the Snail Pump occupies a single floor tile and is freely rotatable.
Codex entry: Has its own entry in the in-game Codex / Islandpedia. Reading the entry counts toward Islandpedia completion.
As of patch 0.4.9467, the Snail Pump's exact source list is still being mapped by the community. Decorative variants of placeable utilities in Starsand Island typically arrive through one of three channels, and the Snail Pump appears to follow this same model: a blueprint reward from a quest or shop, a Codex unlock tied to a specific in-game event, or a recipe sold at one of the major vendors. Check the in-game Codex entry on the Snail Pump page for the live unlock condition; the Codex always reflects the latest source after each patch.
If you have already located the Snail Pump in your save, the in-game Crafting menu will list its recipe directly. Players who have not yet encountered it will see the Snail Pump appear under the appropriate item category once the unlock requirement is met.
Both pumps are interchangeable in function. The differences are entirely cosmetic and Codex-related.
Feature | Hand Pump | Snail Pump |
|---|---|---|
Function | Refill watering can | Refill watering can |
Visual style | Traditional iron handle pump on stone base | Snail-themed model with curled shell housing |
Patch added | Available since launch (February 11, 2026) | Patch 0.4.9467 (April 23, 2026) |
Blueprint source | Treasure chest south of Hopeland | Added with Codex entry in patch 0.4.9467 |
Stamina cost | Standard refill drain | Standard refill drain |
Codex entry | Yes | Yes (added with the item in 0.4.9467) |
Both pumps can coexist. Nothing prevents you from using a Hand Pump in one corner of your farm and a Snail Pump in another. Build Mode treats them as separate decoration items.
Pair with a themed garden. The Snail Pump fits naturally into garden corners that already use spiral or shell motifs (rounded flower beds, a Round Floral Tea Table, curving stone paths). A snail-shell pump beside a moss-and-mushroom garden corner reads as a cohesive scene.
Read the Codex entry. Each Codex entry in the Islandpedia carries small flavor descriptions and unlock-condition notes. Reading entries also contributes to certain StarNote achievements.
Mobility on the Houseboat. Decorative pumps can be placed on the Houseboat deck the same way as on land. A Snail Pump on a houseboat deck refills your can while you fish from the side, no shore trip required.
