To unlock new Motor-Reactors in SAND: Raiders of Sophie, return to the lobby or Orbital Hangar, open the Tech Tree, follow Godlewski’s Expedition, buy the Motor-Reactor nodes with the required Crowns and materials, then equip the unlocked reactor from your Trampler blueprints or parts menu.
Motor-Reactors are Trampler parts tied to research progression, so do not treat them like random raid loot or a vendor stock refresh. The unlock path starts in the hub menu, then runs through the Tech Tree before the part appears in your build screen.
The branch name is worth calling out because early references do not spell it consistently: the safer in-game path to look for is Godlewski’s Expedition, the Trampler-focused line that includes structural and propulsion upgrades. Once a reactor is researched, you still need to return to your Blueprint or parts menu and edit the Trampler to use it.
Where Motor-Reactor research is found
New Motor-Reactor designs live in the Tech Tree, reached from the main lobby or Orbital Hangar after you are back out of a raid. Look under Godlewski’s Expedition, not the combat-focused branches, because these nodes are part of Trampler progression rather than weapons or armor research.
How to unlock new Motor-Reactors in SAND: Raiders of Sophie
STEP 1/8
Return to the lobby
Head back to the main lobby or Orbital Hangar so you can access the progression menus.
STEP 2/8
Open the Tech Tree
Use the Tech Tree interface, since Motor-Reactor parts are researched there instead of found as random loot.
STEP 3/8
Check Godlewski’s Expedition
Most Motor-Reactor upgrades are in Godlewski’s Expedition, though some early captions may render the branch name differently.
STEP 4/8
Pick an available Motor-Reactor node
One early Tier I Motor-Reactor is reported at 1,000 Crowns, while a listed Tier I variant costs 1,750 Crowns plus materials.
STEP 5/8
Clear earlier nodes first
Higher-tier reactors require progress through earlier nodes in the branch before they become available.
STEP 6/8
Pay the Crowns and materials
STEP 7/8
Return to Blueprint
After research, open the Blueprint menu and edit your Trampler design.
STEP 8/8
Equip the researched reactor
The new Motor-Reactor should now appear in the parts list for your Trampler build.
Video help
Motor-Reactor tier costs
| Unlock | Tier | Cost | Materials | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor-Reactor | I | 1,000 Crowns | None listed | Early basic Tier I unlock; not necessarily a direct upgrade. |
| Motor-Reactor variant | I | 1,750 Crowns | 200 Mixtures, 15 Weird Coral | Reported separately from the 1,000-Crowns Tier I entry. |
| Motor-Reactor | II | 3,250 Crowns | 4 Raw Aurogen Crystal, 375 Mixtures, 15 Alloy Steel | Requires branch progress toward higher tiers. |
| Motor-Reactor variant | II | 4,000 Crowns | 475 Mixtures, 4 Raw Aurogen Crystal, 270 Coral Dust, 15 Alloy Steel | More expensive Tier II design. |
| Motor-Reactor | III | 6,500 Crowns | 750 Mixtures, 6 Raw Aurogen Crystal, 30 Alloy Steel, 360 Coral Dust | Advanced reactor node with heavier material demand. |
| Motor-Reactor variant | III | 7,600 Crowns | 30 Alloy Steel, 410 Coral Dust, 185 Coral Chunk, 6 Raw Aurogen Crystal | Known high-end variant cost. |
The known costs make the progression clear: the first basic Tier I Motor-Reactor is listed in one place at 1,000 Crowns, while another Tier I Motor-Reactor entry or variant is listed at 1,750 Crowns with materials. Treat those as separate reported entries rather than forcing one number onto every Tier I reactor.
The exact stat changes, speed values, fuel efficiency gains, and slot requirements are not confirmed well enough to quote as numbers. What is safe to say is that higher tiers cost more, and the parts can affect the Trampler stats shown on the build screen once installed.
Check the exact node cost before farming, because the basic Tier I Motor-Reactor and the Tier I variant are reported with different Crowns and material requirements.
What changes after research
Researching a Motor-Reactor does not automatically rebuild your Trampler. It adds the part to the available reactor list in your Blueprint, loadout, or customization menu, where you can edit the Trampler and choose the new design.
Once installed, the reactor can influence the stats visible on the right side of the build screen. The available information confirms performance differences in general terms, but not exact numerical multipliers, so compare the build screen directly before committing to a layout.
Progression mistakes to avoid
The most common error is searching the wrong part of the Tech Tree. Motor-Reactors belong under Godlewski’s Expedition, while other branches focus on different upgrade families. If you are staring at weapons or armor research, you are in the wrong place.
Another easy mix-up is treating Motor-Reactor nodes like Small Engine or Medium Engine upgrades. They sit in the same broad Trampler progression space, but they are separate nodes with separate costs, so check the node name before spending Crowns or rare materials.
For higher tiers, plan around prerequisites and farming. Earlier nodes in the branch must be cleared before later reactors appear, and materials such as Mixtures, Raw Aurogen Crystal, Alloy Steel, Coral Dust, Coral Chunk, and Weird Coral become part of the cost curve. Weird Coral routes are not consistently documented yet, so treat it as a material to watch for while running loot and salvage-focused raids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get Motor-Reactors as raid loot or vendor items?
Based on the current unlock path, Motor-Reactors are researched through the Tech Tree. You may farm raids for Crowns and materials, but the reactor itself becomes available by buying its node, not by waiting for a vendor or random drop.
Which Tech Tree branch has Motor-Reactor upgrades?
Look under Godlewski’s Expedition. The name has appeared inconsistently in early references, but the Trampler-focused branch is the one tied to structural and propulsion upgrades, including Motor-Reactor nodes.
Why is my unlocked Motor-Reactor not showing in the build menu?
First, make sure you actually confirmed the research purchase and had the required Crowns and materials. Then return to Blueprint and edit your Trampler; the researched reactor should appear in the parts list there rather than applying automatically.
Are Motor-Reactor variants direct upgrades or different designs?
Not always. Early players report that some improved-looking reactors are mainly different designs or have unclear stat gains, so compare the Trampler stats on the build screen before assuming a variant is strictly better.
What materials should I farm for higher-tier Motor-Reactors?
For higher tiers, watch for Mixtures, Raw Aurogen Crystal, Alloy Steel, Coral Dust, Coral Chunk, and Weird Coral. The exact best Weird Coral route is not confirmed, so focus on loot and salvage runs while checking each node’s listed requirement before you farm.
