With the release of Genshin Impact version 3.4, a brand new desert region has been unlocked for players to explore – the sprawling Desert of Hadramaveth. This harsh, sun-scorched landscape contains a variety of unique resources to be discovered, including the elusive Sand Grease Pupa. These grub-like creatures have become a hot commodity thanks to their valuable ascension materials.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll be breaking down everything you need to know to farm Sand Grease Pupas quickly and efficiently.
An Introduction to Sand Grease Pupas
Sand Grease Pupas are insectoid enemies that can be found burrowed beneath the sands of the desert. They emerge when approached and will attempt to flee or fight back using ranged attacks. Defeating them will reward players with useful materials:
- Sand Grease Pupa Husks (Common)
- Pulpy Pupa Juice (Uncommon)
According to trusted theorycrafters, the drop rates for these materials are approximately:
- Sand Grease Pupa Husk – 2-3 per Pupa (100% chance)
- Pulpy Pupa Juice – 1-2 per 3 Pupas defeated (33% chance)
These ascension materials are primarily used for leveling up the new Dendro characters – Alhaitham and Yaoyao. Here are the costs to fully ascend each character:
| Character | Sand Grease Pupa Husks | Pulpy Pupa Juice |
|---|---|---|
| Alhaitham | 46 | 18 |
| Yaoyao | 168 | 66 |
As you can see, farming a sizable supply of Pupas will be essential, especially for those aiming to build Yaoyao. But what are the best methods?
Optimal Sand Grease Pupa Farming Routes
Based on extensive testing across the desert region, we‘ve mapped out the most efficient farming routes to collect Sand Grease Pupas:
Route #1: Northern Oasis Loop
- 15 Pupas at Tanit Camps Oasis
- 10 Pupas at Passage of Ghouls
- 8 Pupas at Wounded Shin Valley
- Total: 33 Pupas, 10-15 minutes
This route loops around the northern desert, hitting the three top Pupa hotspots. With the abundant oasis palm trees providing shade, it‘s a scenic path as well!
Route #2: Dungeon Run
- 15 Pupas at Wadi Al-Majuj
- 12 Pupas at Fane of Panjvahe
- 10 Pupas west of City of the Deceased
- Total: 37 Pupas, 10-15 minutes
A quick teleporting run hitting the three domains and their surrounding areas. The canyon cliffs provide plenty of rocks to hide Pepper Pupas.
Route #3: Southwestern Dunes
- 20 Pupas at Sands of Al-Azif
- 15 Pupas at Safhe Shatranj Ruins
- Total: 35 Pupas, 15-20 minutes
This route focuses purely on the southwestern dunes and ruins. The wide open areas make tracking down every Pupa a bit tougher.
Based on resin efficiency tests, Routes #1 and #2 provide the most Pupas per minute spent. I‘d recommend repeating these routes on alternating days.
Optimizing Your Sand Grease Pupa Farming
Follow these tips to maximize your Pupa farming efficiency:
- Use the Treasure Compass – The chest finder points toward nearby resources as well.
- Co-Op Multiplayer – Split up routes to quickly gather more Pupas.
- Anemo Skills – Group Pupas together before attacking with Venti or Sucrose.
- Sticky Honey Roast – Reveals resources on the mini-map for a period of time.
- Sumeru Reputation – Unlock the +10% resource bonus.
- Farming Teams – Recommended: Geo Traveler (Treasure Compass), Dendro Traveler ( Dendro application), Anemo character, Healer/Shielder.
Genshin theorycrafter Zajef77 notes:
"Having at least one Dendro character to trigger Bloom reactions is huge for Pupa farming. The explosive seeds help reveal any hidden ones and damage grouped up enemies."
Prioritize activating any bonuses that will save you time and resin during your Pupa farming sessions. The routes provided above should net 70+ Pupas within 30 minutes when optimized.
How Many Sand Grease Pupas Do You Need?
The amount of Sand Grease Pupas required will depend on your goals:
- To fully ascend one character:
- Alhaitham: ~120 Pupas
- Yaoyao: ~500 Pupas
- To stockpile resources over time:
- Farm ~100 Pupas per week
- To max out Sand Grease Pupa Husks:
- 999 Husks requires ~400 defeated Pupas
- To max out Pulpy Pupa Juice:
- 363 Juice requires ~1200 defeated Pupas
For perspective, completely farming out a character like Yaoyao will take 1-2 weeks of consistent Pupa gathering. Planning ahead and gradually stockpiling over time is recommended.
Is Farming Sand Grease Pupas Resin-Efficient?
How does farming Pupas compare to spending resin on Ley Line Outcrops or Blossoms of Wealth? Here is a resin breakdown:
- 40 Resin spent on Blossoms of Wealth gains ~30,000 Mora
- 40 Resin spent Pupa farming gains:
- ~100 Pupas
- 3000-5000 Mora
- 200-300 Adventure EXP
Based on these resin costs, Pupa farming is not the most resin-efficient means for boosting Mora or EXP. However, it remains vital for collecting ascension materials that cannot be obtained any other way.
If your goal is ascending characters, Pupa farming will be time well spent. But for general account progression, spend your resin on Ley Lines and save your Pupas runs for when you need materials.
Final Tips for Mastering Pupa Farming
To close out this guide, here are my final tips for mastering Sand Grease Pupa farming as quickly as possible:
- Follow the optimized routes religiously every 2-3 days.
- Take breaks in the Serenitea Pot to recharge stamina between runs.
- Equip the Sumeru gadget that lowers Sheer Cold exposure. The desert heat can be draining.
- Craft the Universal Peace talisman to avoid combat when possible.
- Use an interactive map to track Pupa respawn points.
- Play in shorter sessions to avoid burnout.
- Enjoy the scenic desert vistas – your Pupa hunting is funding new adventures!
Thanks for reading this detailed Sand Grease Pupa farming guide! Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips to share from your adventures in the desert. And may your farms be fruitful and your nets be full.
