There are plenty of exciting things to do around town inMy Time at Sandrockthat will keep you and your builder plenty busy, but there are also a couple things you should keep in mind before diving into the game. Whether it’s the fuel in your machines or the mysterious face on the wanted posters, Sandrock has plenty to keep in mind.

In this guide, we’ve assembled our list of odd and end questions we’ve encountered while playing My Time at Sandrock. With a story spanning tens of hours and dozens of characters, we’ll help you keep things straight.

yan introducing the workshop in my time at sandrock

Updated on July 19, 2025:Now that My Time at Sandrock’s full version has been out for a full week, we wanted to come back and add a few more of the most common questions we’ve seen about the game, as well as provide helpful links to content we’ve published since launch.

How Do You Improve Your Workshop Ranking?

At the beginning of My Time at Sandrock,your workshop ranksat the bottom of the rankings - which you cancheck at the Commerce Guild, on the bulletin board right across from you when you walk in the door.

Your workshop ratingisreflective of how well and how quickly you perform workfor the people of Sandrock. This can be frombuilds related to the story, commissions,and more.

My Time At Sandrock Logan Looks At The Railroad

The more stars a commission has, the more likely it is to offer more points for your workshop!

Who Is Logan?

You’ll see plenty of wanted posters all around Sandrock plastering Logan’s face everywhere, advising the townsfolk to be on the lookout. You even help Pen hang upmorewanted posters after the sandstorm blows them away.

There’sa lot of story involvedbefore you meet Logan himself - this doesn’t happen until after you and Mi-an havefixed the stagefor Mason’s going away party - but he’s anoutlawin Sandrock, and a dangerous one at that.

burgess talking about the water level at the oasis in my time at sandrock

Logan is a bandit who’sbeen causing all kinds of trouble in Sandrockwith his friend and accomplice,Haru. Their involvement in the early story is limited, but your gameplay begins to revolve around them and their legion of bad guys before long.

However, you are able toromance Loganlater on after several main story missions that involve breaking into his home, repairing the town after his attacks, and getting to know him.

health bars as you spar with pen in my time at sandrock

Why Do My Machines Keep Stopping?

Since Sandrock is an extremely arid desert town, you’ll need to be sure that yourwater tank always has waterin it. You’llneed less in colder seasons, but in the hottest parts of the year, yourmachines overheatwithout it!

You can eithermake wateryourself atthe Worktablein exchange forten Dew, or you canbuy water from Burgessnear the Oasis forGols.

rocky giving the builder a one week pass to eufala salvage in my time at sandrock

If your water tank is full, you may want to double-check that your machines havefuelin them and that they’reclear of anysandthat may have built up.

How Do You Refill Machines?

Whether it’sfuelto keep machines churning orwaterto keep them cool and functional in such a hot climate, you’ll need tokeep an eye on the levels of your machinesat home.

When interacting with any piece of machinery, you’ll be able tocheck how much fuelis available. There are plenty of items you’re able to use for fuel, likedregs or wood, so be sure to keep your motors running and full of fuel.

builder on a horse in my time at sandrock

Should either run out completely, you’ll see a pop-up alerting you that your home machines have stopped running, no matter where you are in the world. Work is suspended until you refill the machinery.

Why Can You Fight The Townsfolk?

In Sandrock, the majority of the adult NPCs in town will have ared boxing gloveicon in their socialization options when you speak to them. This is thesparringoption, and it brings you two over to the arena to immediately start acasual, friendly fight.

Sparring is good for a few things, liketesting new weaponsor justgaining valuable combat experience. Each townsperson uses different weapons and has different fighting styles, which helps you prepare for anything out in the wilds.

the menu for the drying rack in my time at sandrock

Not only is it combat experience, but it’s also a good way tobond with your neighbors, as you’ll earnrelationship pointswith your sparring partner for participating.

You’ll gain all your experience and relationship points at the end, so stay on your toes and kick some butt for the best payouts.

Geegler President ordering other Geegler to leave and take the goods with them in The Breach in My Time At Sandrock.

How Do You Get Into The Mines After Your Trial Passes Run Out?

When you first meetRocky, the leader overat Eufaula Salvage, he’sholding Yan upat the Commerce Guild, demanding Yan finally deliver thetwo massive cranesthat Rocky ordered long ago.

There’s an entire mission in whichyou must craftone of the cranes, but in order to do so, you’ll need some of themore advanced salvaging partsthat are within the walls of Eufaula Salvage.

owen and the builder on a date by the oasis discussing his beard my time at sandrock owen romance

Since you’re helping him,Rocky gives you a free one-week passas part of the story mission to build him a crane. Past that, though,you need to buy a passif you’d like to keep going in.

The passes cost200 Golsand each gives you entry forone week, with the end date marked on your calendar. You canbuy a passby simplyapproaching the closed door to Eufaula Salvageand buying it from the menu that appears when you try to enter.

a three-star difficulty commission for qi in my time at sandrock

Eufaula Salvage is also the location of the game’s first proper mine, so you’ll need access to the salvage yard a few times before you’ve fully explored the Abandoned Ruins.

The same goes for the Gecko Station Ruins that unlock later in the game.

Can You Get Around Any Faster?

In short,yes- you have a handful of options for navigating Sandrock a bit faster, but each will come at a price.

Where you see thegreenish Yakmel symbolon your map (by the train station near your workshop, by the gardens up north, etc.), you’re able topay a few Golsto take aYakmel Cartacross town. This consumes a bit of time, but it will instantly bring you to the chosen destination.

As you expand your map into other regions of the desert, you’ll periodically be able toset up new Yakmel Cart stops. Do this as soon as you’re able and save yourself alotof walking to and from these far-out regions!

Additionally, you’ll soon be able torent or purchase mountsfrom Cooper. Elsie gets you aone-week free trialwith the animal of your choice - either a horse or a Yakmel - but you’ll need to pay her father for anything past there.

In order to buy a mount permanently, you need tobuild a Stableby going to Construction Junction. After it’s built and placed, you also need tokeep the troughs stocked with foodfor the animals you own.

Cooper charges by the week to rent animals, and the prices fluctuate based on the stats of the animals you can rent at any given time. These mounts disappear automatically on the morning your rental expires.

How Do You Replenish Stamina?

Stamina is critical in Sandrock, since it’s how youmine, break up scrap, and battle enemiesout in the wilds. As such, you’ll need as much stamina as you can get!

There are a few ways you can replenish your stamina in My Time at Sandrock:

The easiest and most consistent way to replenish stamina is withmedicine, as the cost isn’t too high on them and they’re easily available within the mines should you forget to grab them beforehand.

How Do You Unlock New Areas Of The Map?

Though you’ll notice early in the game that the map of Sandrock itself is pretty massive, you’llbegin the game with only a bit of the map uncovered.

You will progress into new areas of the map, butnew areas require main story progressto unlock. You’ll see these areas early on - like the bridge with the Geeglers that you’re not strong enough to fight at first - but you’ll struggle to access them until progressing with the story.

After major story arcs conclude, take a look in town and around the area to see what’s changed with your story progression - you may have access to new areas, resources, or characters.

How Do You Romance A Character?

Romance in My Time at Sandrockfunctionsmuch likeyour friendshipsat first - it’s the basis of a meaningful relationship, after all!

To romance one of the21 total romance optionsin Sandrock, you’ll need toprogress your friendship levelwith them by chatting,playing Critters, sparring, giving gifts, and more.

Once you’ve got your heart set on someone, grab aHeart Knotfrom By the Stairs and gift it to your intended. Beware, though, thatsome characters may confess to you first.

Check out our complete romance guide for more specific info on how to win the heart of your dearly beloved in Sandrock.

How Can You Accept More Commissions?

When you first begin playing My Time at Sandrock, you’reinitially limited toone commissionper day. The game sets this limit toget you used to commissionsas a concept, and you’ll be able to accept more as youincrease your workshop rating.

Every month, Yan weighs up all the workshops in Sandrock and assigns a ranking.The higher you rank, the more commissions you’re able to accept, as this means you’ve proven yourself as a builder.

Raise your workshop reputationby completing the commissions you’re able to accept, finishing main story missions, and going on side-quests, and you’ll be accepting more commissions in no time.

There are alsoKnowledge Point perksthat unlock additional commission slots as well. You can alsokeep track of commissions at homeby building and placing aCommission Tracker boardat your Workshop.

Why Can’t I Upgrade This Machine?

Upgrading your machinesin My Time at Sandrock requires two components to complete: you’ll need to have thenecessary upgrade partson hand and ready to go, but you’ll also need themachine blueprintbefore you can make the upgrade, too.

Blueprints can beprototypedat the Research Centerwith Qi, who researches into new machines or technological advancements for you in exchange for Data Discs.

Even if you have all the necessary items to upgrade a machine,you can’t make a machine upgrade without first having the blueprint, so stay on top of your Research Center processes!

Who Is The Mysterious Man? When Does He Show Up?

You’ll likely find the house the Mysterious Man keeps in Sandrock before you actually meet him, but the Mysterious Manvisits Sandrcok on the 20th and 21st days of each season, when he’llwander through townthroughout the day trying to buy or sell items.

If you played My Time at Portia, you’ll likely remember him, but if not, the Mysterious Man visits town occasionally to sellitems you may’t easily find elsewhere.

This includes things likeunique clothing,relationship items(like Engagement Rings or Broken Mirrors),pet supplies,rare cooking ingredients,crafting recipes, and more.

If it’s your first time bumping into the Mysterious Man, he’ll give you a unique seasoning blend he found in Seesai and task you with making aspecial recipefor him to sell throughout the Alliance of the Free Cities.

This dish isDrool For Joy Noodles, which you’re able to later sell to Owen for use at the Blue Moon Saloon or make yourself as an excellentgift for Mi-an.

NEXT:My Time At Sandrock: 10 Things Only Players Of My Time At Portia Noticed