Sinking Sands Zone Review

The Sinking Sands, reached with the carpets that can be found in Qeynos Harbour, East Freeport and at the docks in Butcherblock Mountains is a Middle Eastern style desert zone. Desert sounds boring? Well, there's definitely more life than in the Sahara. At the docks where you arrive you will notice an Npc that's standing there in a position where he can't be missed, he will explain you what's going on with the three different Courts in Maj'dul, a City Zone you can even move your house which is connected to the Sinking Sands with a magic carpet. But, let's stay in Sinking Sands for now.

There is a quest line you shouldn't miss, the one from Ghassan the Trader right there at the docks. In the tents at the docks you can also find quest givers for faction quests with the 3 Courts in Maj'dul, those quests can't get your faction maxed, but make a solid starting point.

If you head to the right, you will find a small encampment of some npcs. There, you will find some more quests, including the Carpet Quest. Yes, you can get a flying carpet for free; you just have to do the quests.

If you decide however to head to the left, you will come past Alyah the Embalmer, who starts another quest line, similar to Ghassan from the docks. Past her you can either head along the beach, where the pirates are up to some shady business, or, head straight upwards through the Sandslide Passage into the desert. There you will find orcs, spiders, ghouls and cobras. The orcs are especially worth a visit as killing them yields faction with the Maj'dul Residents. Along the wall and the road where the orcs are is also an excellent opportunity to get some metal nodes harvested since there are plenty of them.

In between those orcs you will find a zone line that leads to the Clefts of Rujark, a dungeon intended for those in the lower 50's. Further up along the dusty road with the orcs you will eventually come to the Undercity Arena, a area filled mostly with creatures intended for groups.

Towards the left is the big open desert, if you follow the path between some shady thieves and towards the scorpions and gnolls, then you are either on the way now towards Pillars of Flames, a major tier 6 zone, or, on the right hand side the Twin Tears. The Twin Tears are two rather smallish lakes in the desert; both of them have enough water to allow for bushes, roots and wood nodes. However, it might not be the safest area especially at lower levels since the gnolls there don't really like intruders. By one of them is also the zone line to Living Tombs, a big heroic dungeon for tier 6 and Gates of Akhet Aken, a big raid zone that is also intended for tier 6.

Further on towards the coast line you will come to the Bay of Anuk. If you feel hot from all the sun and want to wash the sand off of your skin then the Bay of Anuk is the perfect location for some cliff diving. In a cave down there in the water is a hidden door that serves as a back door entrance and exit for the Silent City, a solo/heroic/raid dungeon for tier 6.

If you prefer the sun then stay on land and pay a visit to the spiders, they make for an excellent grinding in the mid 40's. Just watch out that Terrorantula doesn't pay you a visit, because otherwise it will be you who's being sent to the next revive spot.

In Short: The Sinking Sands are a beautiful zone that's easily reachable and provides plenty of content for both those who prefer going alone or in groups. There are also several quests that are worth doing for the AA experience and there are also plenty of shinies everywhere and harvest nodes are there, one just needs to know a bit better where.