SS6 | Isle of Gold Ahead! Inside SS6's Grand Blue Mode
Release time: 2026-02-04
Chapter 1: What Is Grand Blue?
Grand Blue is the main hook of SS6: Wavebreak, a brand-new ocean map that introduces a lightweight Loot & Extract gameplay loop. Grand Blue unlocks when your character reaches Level 45. Once unlocked, its entry button will appear in the top-right corner.
In this mode, players set sail to explore distant islands, encounter random events, and gather Core Resources and rare material (called "Materia" in-game). After each voyage, these rewards are used to upgrade your base, ship, and gear, allowing you to travel farther, take on tougher challenges, and ultimately reach and defeat the Maledict.
The gameplay loop is simple and repeatable: Set sail → Explore islands & events → Gather resources → Return to base → Upgrade → Set sail again.
Chapter 2: Resources & Attributes
In Grand Blue, every voyage is governed by a few key attributes and resources. Managing them well is the difference between a smooth return and a shipwreck.
2.1 Fuel & Vitality
Fuel is the foundation of all sailing activities. Moving across the sea, entering islands, and triggering certain events all consume fuel. Fuel is produced by converting Ardorite, which is automatically generated over time by the Ardorite Refinery in your base.
Running out of fuel mid-voyage is dangerous. If your fuel is depleted at sea, your ship will sink. When this happens, some of the Core Resources and Materia stored in the ship's hold will be lost, while the rest will remain at the wreck site as ship debris. On a future voyage, you can return to that location to recover what's left.
Another important stat during voyages is Travel Vitality. Certain actions, such as combat encounters or sailing through storms, can reduce your Vitality. As it drops, your character suffers penalties to maximum HP, damage output, and mana regen, making prolonged expeditions increasingly risky.
Without enough fuel, you won't be able to set sail at all.
2.2 Core Resources & Materia
Throughout your journeys, you'll collect two major categories of materials that are the backbone of Grand Blue's progression: Core Resources and Materia. Core Resources are basically building materials for base and outpost constructions, while Materia are mostly consumed when augmenting your gear.
2.3 Arcane Scrolls
Finally, there are Arcane Scrolls. These are rewards earned from increasing an island's Survey Progress. Each scroll comes with random affixes, and by consuming specific Materia, you can transfer those affixes onto your equipment. Arcane Scrolls play a key role in long-term build customization, which we'll cover in more detail in a later chapter.
Chapter 3: Setting Sail
3.1 Sea Areas & Difficulties
The Grand Blue is divided into four Sea Areas, each representing a different difficulty. Sea Areas 1 to 3 correspond directly to difficulty levels 1 to 3. Sea Area 4, however, works a little differently. Its difficulty can be manually adjusted between Levels 4 to 6, but only after you’ve defeated the Maledict for the first time. As always, greater difficulty means better rewards.
3.2 Islands
Once at sea, you'll encounter several types of islands, each serving a different purpose.
Resource Isles
These islands are rich in Core Resources and Materia, but gathering them isn't risk-free as local monsters will interfere with your work. Every successful harvest increases the island's Survey Progress, unlocking rewards along the way. Once exploration is complete, you can invest Core Resources to establish an Outpost.
Why Would I Need an Outpost?
- Safe harbor: You can store cargo there to protect it from shipwrecks, and the surrounding waters become safe zones where major threats no longer appear.
- Materia Spinner: Over time, outposts will automatically produce Materia, which can be collected back at your base.
Fair Enough... Then How to Run An Outpost?
- They require a currency named Mariner's Doubloons to maintain. If funding runs dry, production stops.
- When switching difficulty levels in Sea Area 4, outposts must also be upgraded manually to match the new challenge level. Higher-level outposts allow you to store more Materia and generate greater returns.
Monster Isles
Monster Isles focus purely on combat. Defeating the powerful creatures that inhabit these islands rewards Materia, and each hunt also contributes to Survey Progress and milestone rewards.
Maledict Isles
At the end of every (or many) long voyage lies Maledict Island. This is the ultimate destination in Grand Blue, where the Maledict awaits.
Accessing it requires collecting special entry items from designated islands in Sea Area 4.
3.3 Random Events
Of course, danger isn't limited to the islands. The sea itself is alive with threats and opportunities.
Massive Leviathans may give chase if you sail too close.
Not every encounter spells disaster. You may stumble upon a supply location where you can take a few breathers before heading back to the constant worry of your ship tanking.
Chapter 4: The Base
Your base is the heart of all Grand Blue progression. Every successful voyage feeds back into it and every upgrade you make determines how far you'll be able to sail next.
4.1 Base
The base is made up of several core facilities, including the Command Center, Shipyard, Workshop, Warehouse, and Ardorite Refinery. Each building serves a distinct role and can be upgraded to unlock stronger bonuses and greater efficiency.
4.2 Ship
Your ship is just as important as the base itself. Beyond basic upgrades like fuel/cargo storage, you can also construct ships with special abilities. To build these ships, you'll first need to unlock their Schematics.
4.3 Curios
Finally, there are Curios. These collectibles are obtained through island exploration, sea encounters, and various rewards during Grand Blue runs. Back at base, Curios can either be salvaged into Mariner's Doubloons or kept as part of your collection.
Chapter 5: Arcane Scrolls
Arcane Scrolls are where exploration rewards turn into real power. They are earned from isle Survey Progress in Grand Blue. Each scroll carries a set of random affixes, and by consuming specific Materia, those affixes can be enchanted onto your equipment.
Arcane Scrolls come in multiple qualities, from Common to Insane, and are divided into different equipment categories: Weapon, Armor, Accessory, and Core. Within each category, there are further specializations tied to specific themes, such as elemental damage types. Additionally, only one scroll of the same type can be used on a single piece of equipment.
Enchanting is accessed through the Forge menu → Arcane Scroll tab.
Each scroll contains 5–6 possible affixes. Every time you perform an enchantment, one affix is randomly selected from that pool and applied to the corresponding affix slot. The quality of the affix is influenced by the scroll's quality, and each affix comes with a range of possible values.
Depending on an item's tier and quality, equipment can hold 1 to 3 Arcane Scroll affixes. Some rare affixes also grant unique Arcane Effects, which provide passive bonuses beyond simple stat increases.
Insane Prime gear is able to unlock the full three slots.