Introduction:
Hey pals! Jack Pham here. So, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been glued to your monitor with the latest Palworld summer update—yep, the Sakurajima Update! Let me tell you, it’s a massive content drop, and I’ve been diving deep into the new island, facing off with some gnarly new raid bosses, and oh, don’t even get me started on the PvP Arena (spoiler: it’s wild).
Now, if you’re scratching your head wondering where to start or what’s going on with all these new Pals and bosses, fret not. I’ve got you covered with this guide to help you navigate Sakurajima like a pro. We’ll go through how to get to the island, tame all the coolest new Pals, wreck some bosses, and maybe even crush a few players in PvP. Ready? Let’s jump right into it!
Getting to Sakurajima Island: The First Step
Alright, first things first—how do you even get to this shiny new island? Luckily, it’s not rocket science, but you’ll need some prep. Sakurajima is tucked away in the northwest corner of the map. If you’ve been grinding your fast travel points (I hope you have), the quickest route is via Ice Wind Island. From there, it’s a short flight over the ocean to the Mushroom Wetlands fast travel point on Sakurajima.
Ice Wind Island
Pro Tip: If you haven't got a flying Pal by now, what have you been doing?! Selyne, the new Dark/Normal Pal, is your go-to for flying around. Plus, she buffs your Fire and Dark-type attacks. Two-in-one, baby!
Once you’re on the island, brace yourself—it’s BIG. Like, “I-need-a-map-for-this” big. The island is packed with new biomes, dungeons, and raid bosses, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Let’s talk about some of the notable locations you’ll want to hit up first.
Must-Visit Landmarks
1. Moonflower Tower
This towering structure is smack dab in the center of the island, and trust me, you can’t miss it. It’s not just a pretty sight either—it’s crucial for those of you who are completionists. If you’re the type that loves ticking off every spot on the map, Moonflower Tower is where you’ll want to head first.
Moonflower Tower
2. Cherry Blossom Trees
Let’s be real for a sec. Who doesn’t love cherry blossoms? They’re everywhere in the middle of the island, and the aesthetic is chef’s kiss. Plus, there’s a shrine here called the Sakura Dancing Shrine, and while you can’t enter the buildings (boo!), there are some goodies around, like chests and statues. Worth a look.
Cherry Blossom Trees
3. Desert Regions
Sakurajima isn’t all flowers and pretty scenery. To the north and south, you’ve got desert regions where you can gather resources like sulfur, coal, and the new crude oil. Just be careful—this area is crawling with tougher Pals, and the world boss Menting Terror is lurking nearby.
Desert Regions
Desert Regions
New Pals: Who’s Who in Sakurajima
Okay, now for the fun part—NEW PALS! There are 15 new Pals introduced with this update, and I gotta say, I’m already obsessed with a few of them. Below is a rundown of the most interesting ones and where you can catch them.
| Pal Name | Type | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Selyne | Dark/Normal | Flying mount that buffs Fire & Dark-type attacks |
| Croajiro | Water | Leap Stance: Allows you to jump higher |
| Lullu | Leaf | Floral Boost: Increases crop growth rate at your base |
| Shroomer | Leaf | Slows SAN decay for active Pals |
| Kikit | Earth | Decreases weight of crude oil in your inventory |
| Xenogard | Dragon | Helps gather Meteorite Fragments & Pure Quartz |
| Blazamut Ryu | Fire/Dragon | Raid Boss, insane firepower (literally) |
My Top Picks:
- Selyne: Seriously, this Pal is a game-changer. You can fly around, and with Sakurajima being so expansive, it’s a must-have. Plus, the Fire/Dark buff is a sweet cherry on top.
- Lullu: If you’re into base-building (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), Lullu is your new best friend. She speeds up crop growth, which is perfect for resource farming.
- Xenogard: Another personal fave. You’re gonna need a lot of Meteorite Fragments for crafting, and this guy makes collecting them a breeze.
New Pals
How to Catch 'Em?
Capturing these new Pals works the same as usual—bring your best Pal Spheres and make sure you’ve got your level high enough to handle them. Trust me, you don’t want to roll up on any of these high-level Pals unprepared. Also, make sure to stock up on Ultra Spheres for the tougher ones like Xenogard and Blazamut Ryu. Speaking of Blazamut...
Boss Fights: Raid Bosses that Pack a Punch
One of the biggest highlights of the update is the introduction of new raid bosses, and let me tell you, they don’t mess around. The crown jewel here is none other than Blazamut Ryu, a Fire/Dragon-type boss that’ll roast you alive if you’re not careful.
Blazamut Ryu: Raid Boss Breakdown
- Location: Found near the waterfalls on the western side of the island.
- Level: 50 (Ultra variant goes up to 55—ouch).
- Attacks: Blazamut Ryu is all about fire. It’s got wide-area flame attacks that will incinerate anything in its path. Bring plenty of Water-type Pals if you want to stand a chance.
Blazamut Ryu
Pro Tip #2: Don’t even think about going solo. You’re going to need a full party with solid Water or Earth-type Pals to tank Blazamut’s hits while you chip away at its health. And don’t forget to bring healing items—this fight is a marathon, not a sprint.
Other Raid Bosses:
- Menting Terror: This is a variant of the regular Menting. It’s lurking in the northern desert region and has a nasty habit of dealing heavy Earth-type damage. Bring Air or Water-types to counter.
- Bellanoir Libero (Ultra): If you’ve already fought Bellanoir before, then you know what’s up. This Ultra variant is even worse, with boosted Dark-type abilities and a ridiculous health pool.
Other Raid Bosses
PvP Arena: Time to Flex
Alright, now let’s talk about the PvP Arena. This is probably my favorite part of the update because, who doesn’t love some good ol’ fashioned player vs. player chaos?
How to Access the Arena:
The PvP Arena is located south of the desert biome on a small island. You’ll need a flying Pal to get there, so make sure you’ve got Selyne or another flying Pal ready. Once you’re there, you can queue up for a match by interacting with the door.
PvP Arena
Match Structure:
- 4v4 Battles: You can bring three Pals to the fight, but here’s the catch—only one of them is fully under your control. The other two will fight on autopilot, which adds a bit of randomness to the mix.
- Winning Conditions: Knock out all three of your opponent’s Pals or KO the tamer themselves. Honestly, I usually go for the tamer—it’s quicker and more fun to watch them panic.
Tips for PvP Success:
- Meta Pals: Right now, Fire-type Pals are dominating the PvP meta because of their strong offensive capabilities. If you’re up against a Fire team, bring Water-types to counter.
- Weapon Loadout: Don’t forget to craft the best weapons you can. Shotguns and miniguns are great for dealing quick damage to both players and Pals alike.
- Consumables: The best part? Any ammo or consumables you use in the arena are refunded after each match. So go nuts!
Strategies for the Win: PvP and Raids
PvP Strategy:
In the PvP Arena, it’s not just about brute force; you’ve gotta think ahead. Bring a balanced team that can handle multiple scenarios. Fire-heavy teams are popular, but that also means they’re predictable. Sneak in a Water-type or two and watch the tables turn.
PvP Strategy
Pro Tip #3: Use Pals with crowd control abilities. Slowing down your opponent’s team or stunning them can open up a world of hurt. Shroomer (Leaf-type) with its SAN-slowing ability works wonders for this.
Raid Boss Strategy:
For raid bosses like Blazamut Ryu, it’s all about preparation. You need to get your Pals to at least level 50, preferably higher. Make sure your team has a good mix of Water and Earth-types, and stock up on healing items because you’re in for a long fight.
Pro Tip #4: Always keep moving. Raid bosses have huge hitboxes but even bigger attack radii. If you’re standing still, you’re toast—literally, in Blazamut’s case.
Wrap-Up: Is Sakurajima Worth the Hype?
So, after hours of running around, capturing new Pals, and narrowly dodging death in both PvP and boss fights, what’s the verdict? Is the Sakurajima Update worth it? Hell yes.
The new island is gorgeous, the new Pals add a ton of variety to the game, and the raid bosses and PvP bring much-needed endgame content. I’m especially excited to see how the PvP meta evolves and what new strategies people come up with as more players hit the new level cap (55, baby!).
But enough from me. I want to hear from you guys! Have you faced off against Blazamut yet? Got any killer PvP strategies? Drop a comment (or tweet me) and let’s chat.
Until next time, happy Pal hunting!
