You’ve finally pushed past the Great Wall in Core Keeper. You’ve survived the mold and the sea. Now, you’re standing in the middle of the Desert of Beginnings, looking at a massive, empty arena, and wondering why on earth you just spent a small fortune in scarlet and galaxite bars to craft a giant Thumper.
Then you place it. The ground starts shaking. A massive, bioluminescent beetle-thing burrows out of the sand, and suddenly, you’re being chased by blue triangles that just won't go away. Honestly, Ra-Akar the Sand Titan is a massive difficulty spike. It’s the kind of fight that makes you want to quit the game if you aren’t prepared, but it’s actually pretty simple once you stop trying to "out-tank" everything.
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The Problem With Ra-Akar the Sand Titan
Most people approach Ra-Akar like it's just another "hit it until it dies" encounter. That’s a mistake. Ra-Akar is a mechanical check. If you don't know how to handle the homing projectiles—those glowing blue triangles—you’re basically dead meat. They move faster over time. They don't disappear on their own. If you just run in circles, they’ll eventually catch you and delete your health bar.
The "secret" is actually right in the arena, though the boss tends to smash it. Those pillars? They aren't just for decoration. You’re supposed to kite the projectiles into walls or pillars to make them detonate. If Ra-Akar has already smashed all the natural pillars (which he usually does within the first thirty seconds), you’ve gotta get creative.
Why Your Armor Probably Isn't Enough
You might be rocking a full set of Octarine or even Galaxite gear, thinking you’re invincible. You aren't. On Hard Mode, Ra-Akar’s enrage phase at 50% health is a nightmare. He starts spawning Bomb Scarabs—those red, suicidal bugs—in massive groups. If one of those hits you while you're distracted by the triangles, it's game over.
I’ve seen players try to face-tank him with shields. It works, sorta. But unless you’re perfect-blocking, you’re just delaying the inevitable. The real trick isn't having more health; it's having more movement speed. If you aren't using hearty bombpepper meals or a Dash Feather, you're making life way harder than it needs to be.
How to Actually Beat the Sand Titan
If you’re stuck, stop trying the same thing over and over. Here is the reality of the fight: you need to control the arena.
- Bring your own walls. Seriously. Carry a stack of dirt or stone walls. When the triangles come out, plop a wall down. The projectile hits the wall, disappears, and you keep shooting. It feels like cheating, but it’s just smart.
- The "Thorn" Build. Some players swear by the Scarab set that Ra-Akar actually drops. It’s ironic, but if you can beat him once, the thorns damage from his own gear makes the rematch much easier.
- Prioritize the bugs. When he hits the enrage phase, the boss isn't your biggest threat. The Bomb Scarabs are. Use a Galaxite Chakram or something with high attack speed to clear the field before you go back to DPS-ing the Titan.
Ra-Akar the Sand Titan doesn't have a lot of health compared to later bosses like Omoroth, but he’s frantic. The visual clutter is what kills most people. You get blinded by the sandstorms and the glowing orbs and forget to watch your feet.
The Best Gear for the Job
You’ve got options here, but don't overcomplicate it.
- Melee: Use a Solarite Sword for the lifesteal, but only if you’re confident in your dodging.
- Ranged: A Galaxite Bow or the Arcane Staff is generally better. It lets you keep your distance from the explosions.
- Off-hand: The Rift Lens is a godsend here. Being able to blink through a projectile or a swarm of bugs is worth more than any shield.
What Happens After Ra-Akar?
Defeating Ra-Akar the Sand Titan gives you his Soul, which is a massive permanent buff. It gives you a 5% chance to spawn your own ancient orbs on hit. It’s basically free extra damage for the rest of the game. Plus, you get the Soul of Ra-Akar, which is one of the six key items needed to actually "finish" the main story and talk to the Core.
Don't forget to loot the chest he drops. Sometimes it spawns in a weird spot if he was burrowing when he died. It contains some of the best mid-to-late game armor in Core Keeper, especially if you like the "thorns" playstyle where enemies take damage just for touching you.
Next Steps for Your Build
- Craft a Scanner: If you haven't found him yet, talk to the Spirit Merchant (spawned via the Ancient Hologram Pod) and get a Ra-Akar Scanner to pinpoint his arena in the desert.
- Cook for Speed: Combine a Bombpepper with a Cave Guppy or a Meat-based ingredient to get a movement speed and dodge buff.
- Prepare the Arena: Clear out any extra debris and place a few "safe" pillars of stone walls at the edges of the square arena before you start the Thumper. This gives you a place to hide when the blue triangles get too fast to outrun.