To refuel your Trampler, equip an energy rod from your quick wheel, walk up to the reactor slot inside the mech, and press F when the tooltip appears to load it in.
The Trampler is your giant walking battle mech, and while it packs a reactor, that reactor’s energy is not infinite. As you travel and raid across Sand: Raiders of Sophie, your fuel levels will steadily drain. You can track this on the horizontal fuel meter displayed on your HUD — when it runs low, it is time to feed the reactor some energy rods.
Stocking up on energy rods before you depart
How to refuel your Trampler in SAND: Raiders of Sophie
STEP 1/4
Take a rod from your stash
Pull an energy rod from your stash and move it into your personal inventory so it is ready to equip.
STEP 2/4
Equip the rod via the quick wheel
Open your quick wheel and select the energy rod to hold it in your hands.
STEP 3/4
Go to the reactor slot
Walk up to your Trampler’s reactor and locate the dedicated slot for inserting energy rods.
STEP 4/4
Press F to load the rod
Press F when the tooltip appears on screen to load the energy rod into the reactor and refuel your mech.
Video help
Reactor access, safety, and common mistakes
There is also community confusion over who can actually operate your reactor. Some players have proposed that only the owner — or whoever holds the mech’s black box — should be able to turn the reactor on, but this is a player suggestion, not confirmed game behavior. Treat the question of whether enemy players can start or use your reactor as an open one until the developers clarify the mechanics.
Finally, do not confuse refueling with upgrading. Adding or swapping parts onto your Trampler is a completely separate process from feeding energy rods into the reactor. Bolting on a new module will not restore a single drop of your fuel.
Pack energy rods into your inventory before departing — once you are deep in the desert with an empty reactor, it is too late to go looking for fuel.
What comes next for your Trampler
Once you have mastered the refueling loop, the next natural step is pushing your mech’s performance further. Players typically look into upgrading the reactor itself for better capacity or efficiency, and customizing the Trampler’s modules — swapping out weapons, cargo space, and living quarters to suit their playstyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you find energy rods?
Energy rods are usually found in key locations scattered around the map. They also reportedly have a high drop chance from Ironclads, making those enemies a solid target if you need to restock your fuel supply.
Can enemy players turn on or use your Trampler’s reactor?
This is currently unclear. Some players have proposed that only the owner or the holder of the black box should be able to activate the reactor, but this is a community suggestion and not a confirmed game mechanic.
What happens if your Trampler runs out of fuel mid-expedition?
Your reactor’s energy is not infinite, and once the horizontal fuel meter on your HUD drains, you will need to load more energy rods to keep the mech operational. If you did not pack rods before departing, you will be stranded until you can source more fuel out in the desert.
Is refueling the same as upgrading or customizing the Trampler?
No. Refueling means inserting energy rods into the reactor slot to restore power. Upgrading and customizing involves adding or swapping out parts and modules, which does not restore your fuel.
