The Howling Sands is the sprawling desert zone in Hytale, sitting south of the Emerald Grove on the world of Orbis. Officially designated as Zone 2, it trades lush forests and rivers for arid sand dunes, rocky canyons, sandstone caves, and scattered oases. It's a significant step up in difficulty from the starting zone, and it holds some of the most important mid-game resources — particularly thorium ore — that you'll need to keep progressing.
Quick answer: The Howling Sands is located to the south of the Emerald Grove. You should arrive with at least iron armor and weapons. The primary resource to farm here is thorium ore, which is required to upgrade your furnace and crafting benches.
Howling Sands Location and How to Get There
The Howling Sands sits south of the Emerald Grove on the world map. There's no in-game compass marker or quest that explicitly points you toward it, which has tripped up more than a few players. If you've been searching for thorium in the starting zone, you won't find it — thorium spawns exclusively in Zone 2 and beyond. Head south from the Emerald Grove until the grass gives way to sand and the terrain flattens into golden desert.
Because the Howling Sands is a long trek from your starting base, setting up a teleporter at a small outpost in the desert is a smart move. Bring the supplies to craft one before you leave, and you'll save yourself repeated cross-map runs.
Recommended Gear Before Entering
The Howling Sands is noticeably more dangerous than the Emerald Grove. Enemies here hit harder and appear more frequently, so showing up in starter gear is a recipe for a quick death. A full set of iron armor and an iron weapon will let you handle most threats comfortably. Copper gear can work in a pinch, but you'll feel the difference against tougher mobs like Sabertooth Tigers and Scarak Warriors.
Howling Sands Biomes
Zone 2 contains three distinct biomes, though they share many of the same resources and can be difficult to tell apart at a glance. The visual differences are subtle compared to the biome variety in the Emerald Grove.
| Biome | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Badlands | Hilly terrain riddled with caves and quicksand. Bones litter the ground, and underground exploration here often yields solid resource hauls — or dangerous encounters. |
| Desolate Basin | A mix of sand and patches of grass, frequently dotted with tar pits. Scarak spawners are common here, making it one of the more hostile sub-regions. |
| Golden Steppes | Wide, flat golden desert with fewer enemies than the other biomes. It's the area you'll likely encounter first when arriving from the Emerald Grove, and it's relatively peaceful by Howling Sands standards — though resources are sparser. |
Earlier documentation of the zone also references oasis, savanna, and shaded grove sub-biomes, along with lakes and ravines scattered throughout the terrain. Rivers cut through the landscape, often separating cliff faces from flat ground.
Key Resources in the Howling Sands
The desert isn't as resource-rich as the forested starting zone, but what it does offer is critical for mid-game progression. Thorium ore is the headline find — you need it to upgrade your furnace and several crafting benches. Iron ore also spawns here, giving you a secondary farming location if you didn't stock up in the Emerald Grove.
| Resource | Use |
|---|---|
| Thorium Ore | Crafting stronger tools, armor, and upgrading crafting stations |
| Iron Ore | Tools and armor crafting |
| Dry Logs | Fuel and drywood building material |
| Gumboab Logs | Fuel and lightwood building material |
| Stormcap Mushrooms | Stamina potions |
| Blood Leaf | Health potions |
| Tomatoes | Cooking ingredient |
Enemies and Wildlife
The Howling Sands is home to a mix of docile animals and genuinely threatening hostile mobs. On the peaceful side, you'll encounter Armadillos, Antelopes, Camels, Warthogs, Vultures, Moray Eels, Sand Lizards, Tortoises, Horses, Meerkats, and the friendly Ferans — small fox-like NPCs unique to this zone.
The hostile side is dominated by the Scaraks, insectoid creatures that build elaborate underground nests. The Scarak faction includes several variants — Larvae, Workers, Warriors, Tanks, Locusts, and the Scarak Broodmother boss. Their hives extend deep underground and are packed with resources, making them dangerous but rewarding to clear. Beyond the Scaraks, watch for Sabertooth Tigers, Sandswept Skeletons, Rattlesnakes, Scorpions, Cactees, and Void Spawns.
Underground Temples and Dungeons
One of the most rewarding discoveries in the Howling Sands is the massive underground temple system. These aren't small caves — they're sprawling multi-room dungeons built from sandstone bricks, decorated with gold blocks, and filled with loot chests. Players have reported walking away from a single temple run with over 150 thorium ore and a variety of other resources.
The temples typically culminate in a boss room. The boss encountered in these structures is a golem, which is manageable with iron-tier gear. After defeating it, you'll find a treasure room loaded with gold and additional loot. If you spot sandstone bricks while mining underground, follow them — there's a good chance they lead into one of these dungeon complexes.
The Howling Sands also features above-ground structures, most notably the Ziggurats — large stepped temples inhabited by Scaraks. These function as surface-level dungeons with their own loot and enemy encounters. Portal dungeons, ruins, and Scarak nests round out the structure variety.
Howling Sands Soundtrack
Hytale's soundtrack plays a significant role in setting the mood for each zone. The Howling Sands has several dedicated tracks that shift based on context and time of day. The known compositions for Zone 2 include Night on the Dunes, Gaia's Lament, Canyon of the Many Suns, and Ancient Tombs. A fifth track was featured in an art time-lapse video for the zone.
Where the Howling Sands Fits in Hytale's Progression
The Howling Sands occupies the second tier in Hytale's zone progression. After gearing up in the Emerald Grove with copper and iron equipment, you head south to the desert to farm thorium. That thorium unlocks furnace upgrades and stronger crafting benches, which in turn prepare you for the Whisperfrost Frontiers (Zone 3) and eventually the Devastated Lands (Zone 4). Skipping the Howling Sands isn't practical — thorium is a gating resource for mid-to-late game crafting.
The zone rewards thorough exploration. Between the Scarak hives, underground temples, and scattered surface structures, there's a substantial amount of loot and ore to collect before moving on to the frozen north. Take the time to set up a teleporter, clear a few dungeons, and stock up on thorium and potions — you'll need all of it for what comes next.