The Sakurajima update was Palworld’s first major content expansion, launching on June 27, 2024 with patch v0.3.1. It added a sprawling Japanese-themed island, raised the level cap to 55, and introduced the game’s first proper offshore stronghold raid. If you have wrapped up the original map and want a meaningful endgame, Sakurajima is where the difficulty steps up sharply. This guide covers how to reach it, the new Pals and bosses, the Oil Rig, and the level range you should expect.
What the Sakurajima update added
According to the official patch notes, Sakurajima is a new island controlled by a faction called The Moonflowers. The update raised the player level cap from 50 to 55, unlocking new technologies, weapons, and armor along the way. It also raised the Pal capture bonus from a maximum of 10 to 12, so a clean catch chain now rewards an extra Pal.
Beyond the island itself, the update folded in a stack of systems: crude oil extraction and Plasteel crafting, a lockpicking mini-game for treasure chests, a Pal Skins cosmetic system, a PvP Arena, meteorite events, junkyard locations, and Monster Nest egg-stealing events. Each existing Tower Boss also gained an ultimate hard-mode variant. For more on the underlying systems Sakurajima leans on, see our Palworld Electricity & Power Guide (crude oil feeds into power and refining).
How to reach Sakurajima Island
Sakurajima sits off the north-west portion of the Palpagos map, separated from the mainland by open ocean. There is no land bridge, so you reach it the same way you reach any offshore region: a flying mount or a fast aquatic mount. Equip a flier such as Jetragon or a swimmer such as Jormuntide, then strike out across the water toward the island. Once you arrive, activate the local fast travel point so you can teleport back without the swim or flight each time.
Because the island’s content begins around level 40, do not attempt the crossing with an early-game roster. Mid-level gliders, grappling gear, and a strong saddle pal make traversal far smoother. If you need a refresher on getting around, our Movement Guide covers gliders and the grappling gun, and the Pal Gear & Saddles Guide covers riding and harnesses.
Level range and what to expect
Sakurajima’s Pals and enemies span roughly level 40 up to level 55, which is the new cap. The island is a clear endgame zone: dungeons here are notably harder than mainland caves, and the strongest content (the raid and the Oil Rig) is balanced around a level-55 player with high-quality gear. Treat it as a progression wall rather than a side trip.
| Content | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | June 27, 2024 (patch v0.3.1) |
| Controlling faction | The Moonflowers |
| Island level range | Approx. level 40-55 |
| New level cap | 55 (raised from 50) |
| New Pals | 24 total (mix of variants and brand-new species) |
| Capture bonus | Raised from 10 to 12 |
| New raid boss | Blazamut Ryu |
| New stronghold | Oil Rig (Rayne Syndicate) |
The new Pals
The update added 24 new Pals to catch around Sakurajima. The roster is a mix: some are fresh designs unique to the island, while others are regional variants of Pals you already know, giving familiar creatures new typings and looks. Because the island runs from level 40 to 55, many of these Pals make strong late-game additions to your team. For help slotting them by type, our Best Pals by Element Guide ranks the top picks for each element.
Blazamut Ryu: the new raid boss
The headline boss is Blazamut Ryu, a Dark-type variant of Blazamut and Palworld’s second raid boss after Bellanoir (which arrived in an earlier update). You summon it on a Summoning Altar using a Blazamut Ryu Slab, crafted from Slab Fragments that drop only from Sakurajima’s dungeons, including the level 52 Cherry Blossom Cave.
The standard fight is a Level 30 Alpha with 512,680 HP, while the Ultra version is a Level 55 Alpha with double that, 1,025,360 HP, on the same 10-minute timer. The fight has a second phase: at a health threshold it regains roughly a third of its health and shifts to an Electric type, so you need answers for two damage profiles. If you have not tackled a raid altar before, our Bellanoir Raid Guide walks through the summoning and altar mechanics that Blazamut Ryu reuses.
The Oil Rig stronghold
The Oil Rig is a massive offshore platform controlled by the Rayne Syndicate, sitting out in the ocean. It functions as a stronghold raid: you fight your way through turrets, armed human enemies, and high-level Pals, with the area balanced around level 55. Clearing it yields crude oil and other valuable resources, which feed the new Plasteel crafting line. It is a cooperative challenge by design, and bringing a friend or two makes the turret gauntlet far more survivable.
The crude oil you pull from the rig connects directly into the power and automation systems, so an established base with good electricity infrastructure turns those drops into a steady Plasteel supply. The Sakurajima Tower also adds an endgame boss encounter against the Moonflower leadership with a very large health pool, plus the new ultimate variants on the original towers.
How Sakurajima compares to later content
Sakurajima was the first big expansion, but it was not the last. The later Feybreak update added another island with its own progression and an anti-air zone that bans flying mounts. If you have finished Sakurajima and want the next step up, our Feybreak Island Guide covers how to get there and what changed. You may also want the Predator Pals Guide for roaming endgame threats and the Pal Spheres Guide for crafting the high-tier spheres you will need to catch level-50-plus Pals.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Sakurajima Island in Palworld?
Sakurajima is an offshore island in the north-west of the map with no land route. Equip a flying mount such as Jetragon or a fast aquatic mount such as Jormuntide and travel across the ocean to reach it, then activate the island’s fast travel point so future trips are instant.
What level should I be for Sakurajima?
Enemies and Pals on the island range from about level 40 to 55, which is the cap raised by the update. Arrive around the high 40s at minimum, and aim for level 55 with strong gear before attempting the Oil Rig or the Blazamut Ryu raid.
Was Bellanoir part of the Sakurajima update?
No. Bellanoir was Palworld’s first raid boss and arrived in an earlier update. The raid boss introduced by Sakurajima is Blazamut Ryu, summoned with a slab crafted from fragments found in Sakurajima’s dungeons.
The Oil Rig and Blazamut Ryu are built for co-op, so they are far easier with a couple of friends. If you want a persistent world that stays online for your group, you can run a dedicated Palworld server to play with friends around the clock, and our Palworld server setup docs walk through configuration step by step.
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