Slime Rancher 2 is a vast open-world farming and exploration game. Beatrix LaBeau has journeyed to a new land called Rainbow Island, and there are new slimes, resources, and treasures to discover once players jump into the gameplay. Moving around the world on foot takes time since it is such an expansive island, but having a Map makes it more manageable.

However, much of the Map is obscured by smoke or clouds, so it's not much help at first. First, players must locate and activate all the Map Data Nodes to reveal the Map areas. Map Nodes are placed around the island - some easier to get to than others. They can be identified by their green holograph of a smiling slime. Once activated, a new part of the Map becomes visible. Finding all of them makes traveling the twists and turns of Rainbow Island less confusing, so players will be able to navigate the land without issue.

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Rainbow Fields

Rainbow Fields is the first area players spawn in Slime Rancher 2, and it is home to the Conservatory, AKA Beatrix's ranch. There are 2 Map Nodes, which are reasonably easy to locate and get to. The first players will encounter West of the Conservatory. When exiting the Conservatory, an arch separates it from Rainbow Fields. Ranchers should keep going past the arch along the small path until they come across an open field with Cotton and Pink slimes. There will be a giant sculpture of a slime in the middle of it. To the sculpture's left is another arch leading to a smaller open field. At the back of that field, between two boulders on the edge of the cliff, is the first Map Node.

The second Map Node in Rainbow Fields is further West on the island. Players will most likely spot this one before reaching it because it is up on the edge of a ridge. From the first Node, players should backtrack the way they came, but instead of entering the big arch up the hill, go to the left and follow the path to the statue of three slimes stacked on top of it. There is also a green Refiner Link sitting in from of the slimes. From there, to the right, players can see the holograph at the top of a cliff. Again, follow the path, and near a stone arch will be a ramp that leads up to the Map Node.

Starlight Strand

Starlight Strand is an unlockable location on Rainbow Island. Players can see it from some regions of Rainbow Fields but cannot travel to it without a portal. Finding the Cotton Gordo slime is the key to accessing the portal. Gordo slimes result from multiple slimes of the same species merging. They are large and don't appear to be able to move but are usually sitting on or in front of something important or valuable. Ranchers need to feed it 30+ of its preferred diet to get rid of it. In the case of the Cotton slime - any vegetable will do. When full, it will explode and reveal a cave entrance that leads to the portal activation switch. There are three Map Nodes in Starlight Strand.

The first one is close to the portal after making it to Starlight Strand. The easiest way to get to it is with the Jetpack upgrade. Players can get the upgrade in the Lab at the Conservatory once they have the required materials. Directly from the portal, turn around until facing the cliff wall behind it. Jump over the wall and head down towards the beach. The Map Node will be sitting on the edge of a cliff a short distance away, and ranchers can use the Jetpack to float to it.

Players should return to the portal to get to the next Map Node. Walk past it, and there will be pink and blue sides. If ranchers go along the pink path, they will come across a short wall. Use the Jetpack to jump over it and follow the sand path through the corral until there is a waterfall area with a pond near it. There will also be Honey slimes in the area. The Map Node is on top of a rock next to a Pink tree looking over the pond.

The last Map Node in Starlight Strand is the furthest South. Ranchers should make their way down along the blue and pink border. Once at the lower section of the Map, move East deep into a ruin area, and there will be a stone bridge leading to the Map Node. There's a giant statue of a slime and the Node is tucked away near the wall behind the statue.

Ember Valley

Ember Valley is similar to Starlight Strand, except players must find the Pink Gordo slime to get the portal. The Pink Gordo eats any food item so getting it to explode is easy if ranchers load up on Meat, Veggies, and Fruit. It sits on a geyser that leads to the portal activation switch. Ember Valley, compared to Starlight Strand, is less coastal and has a volcano at the center of it. There are three Map Nodes there.

Immediately from the portal in Ember Valley, players should make their way down and move West along the paths. To the left, a two-level ramp takes players to the Southern center of the island. The ramp leads to a small clearing with a geyser on the left, or players can continue to the right up another small ramp. From there, they can see the Map Node on a cliff's edge in front of a seashell sculpture. Use the geysers and Jetpack to get up to it quickly.

Ranchers can get to the next Map Node quickly from there. To the right of the cliff is another geyser that leads players to two different entrances - one on the right and one on the left. Take the right one to find a cave entrance embedded in the cliff wall. The cave leads to a small circular area with lots of Crystal and Rock slimes and a geyser. Ranchers should ride the geyser out of the cave area, and the Map Node is on the edge of the rock in front of three waterfalls.

The final Map Node on the island is found near the volcano on the furthest West side of Ember Valley. Ranchers should be careful as they make their way towards the erupting mountain since there are many dangerous slimes and the ground is covered in lava deposits. Staying above ground along the cliff edges is the easiest way to traverse the area. The Map Node sits on top of a stone pillar beside the volcano.

Slime Rancher 2 is available in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X/S.

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