Slime Rancher is a colorful, fun, and chill game. Set in a world filled entirely with slimes, you are free from stress, and all you have to do is develop your farm and discover new slimes. There are expansion areas to unlock on the farm, as well as upgrades like jetpacks and the Vacpack’s storage capacity waiting for you.
The game’s map is not considered small, with different biomes featuring various slimes. However, at the beginning of the game, you can only explore the Dry Reef area; to access other areas, you need to find Slime Keys. In this guide, we’ll go into detail on how to acquire Slime Keys.
Updated January 14, 2025 by Emre Pala: We have updated our article in detail. We added tables showing the locations of all Slime Gates, Vault Doors, and even the locations of all Gordo slimes and Map Data Nodes. Additionally, we included tips on how to pop the Gordos and the recommended order in which to pop them.
Where To Get Slime Keys
In Slime Rancher, Slime Keys are used to open Slime Gates. Slime Gates are essentially barriers that restrict your access to other areas; opening them allows you to explore new regions or unlock shortcuts. You’ll easily recognize Slime Gates when you see them—they’re circular stone gates, and without a key, you won’t be able to pass through to the other side.
For some Slime Gates, it’s possible to bypass them without using a Slime Key by utilizing your jetpack.
To obtain Slime Keys, your first goal should be to find Gordo Slimes.
All Slime Gate Locations
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Area |
Image |
Map Image |
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The Dry Reef |
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Location |
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Leave the area where your Ranch is located and head to the region where Rock Slimes and Pink Slimes can be found. This Map Data Node is located in the southern-facing part of this area. You’ll find it in front of a cliff overlooking the direction of the island with green trees. |
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The Moss Blanket |
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Location |
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After entering Moss Blanket from Dry Reef and jumping through the log, turn left and go up the stairs. In the wide area you reach, head straight forward. After passing the first large tree on your right, look northwest. You’ll see another large tree at the top of a cliff, and next to it, you’ll find this Data Node. |
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The Indigo Quarry |
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Location |
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After entering the Indigo Quarry, head east, and you’ll come across a tunnel. Proceed into the tunnel, and after a short walk, you’ll enter a dark cave containing a Rock Gordo. Inside this cave, you’ll find the Data Node. |
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The Ancient Ruins |
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Location |
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To find the Data Node in the Ancient Ruins: Start by reaching the transition area of the Ancient Ruins from either The Moss Blanket or The Indigo Quarry. Solve the slime statue puzzle by shooting the appropriate plorts into the statues to unlock the gate. Interact with the first sphere device you encounter and proceed through the passage on the right. This will take you to the upper level of the ruins. Continue forward until you see another sphere device. Once there, look to your right, and you’ll find the Data Node. |
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The Glass Desert |
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Location |
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This Data Node is located behind the tall tower in the center of the Glass Desert, which contains a Gordo. |
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In the table below, you can see the locations of all Slime Gates:
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Area |
Image |
Map Image |
|---|---|---|
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The Dry Reef |
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Location |
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This gate is located at the northernmost point of the Dry Reef. Enter the cave north of the area with Rock Slimes and Pink Slimes; at the end of the cave, you’ll find this gate. Opening it grants access to the Indigo Quarry region. |
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The Dry Reef |
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Location |
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This gate is located to the east of The Dry Reef and doesn’t unlock a new area, but rather provides a shortcut. If you have purchased The Overgrowth expansion at your ranch, head west from there and follow the coastline. Then turn north, and you’ll see this gate. Alternatively, you can head to the northwest of The Dry Reef, then turn south and go to the southern side of the canyon with the Pink Feral Rock Largos to reach the other side of the gate. |
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The Dry Reef |
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Location |
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This Slime Gate allows you to travel from The Dry Reef to the Moss Blanket. To locate it, head to the northwestern part of The Dry Reef, where the Tabby Slimes are found. Once there, cross the wooden bridge to the north, and continue over the other wooden bridges. You’ll find the gate at the end. It is possible to pass to the other side of this gate without using a Slime Key with the jetpack. |
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The Moss Blanket |
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Location |
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Go from The Dry Reef to The Moss Blanket, and after climbing the stairs, jump through the log-shaped hole. After falling down, move to the right and climb the wooden ramp. This will lead you to the Slime Gate. This Slime Gate will allow you to access The Ancient Ruins from The Moss Blanket. |
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The Indigo Quarry |
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Location |
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This Slime Gate allows you to access the Ancient Ruins from the Indigo Quarry. It is located in the northwest part of the Indigo Quarry. To reach it, start at the dark and large cave in the center of the Indigo Quarry, where a Rock Gordo resides. From there, head to the elevated passage with a torch on its side, located to the north of the cave. You can reach this passage by using your jetpack to jump across the stalagmites in the cave. Once through the tunnel, exit on the other side and go northwest through the rib-shaped tunnel. Turn left and follow the path. When you arrive at the wooden platform area, go through the northern tunnel, and you’ll find the gate. If you’ve already unlocked the previous gate, you can also access the other side of this gate from the Ancient Ruins transition area and open it from there. |
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The Ancient Ruins |
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Location |
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This gate is located at the northernmost point of the Ancient Ruins. Through this gate, you will teleport from the Ancient Ruins to the Glass Desert. |
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The Glass Desert |
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Location |
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This Slime Gate is located west of the tall and narrow tower in the center of the Glass Desert. By unlocking this gate, you will gain access to the northern half of the Glass Desert. |
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The Glass Desert |
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Location |
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This Slime Gate is located to the east of the tall and slender tower at the center of the Glass Desert. On the eastern side of the tower, you will see a passageway with a torch in front of it. Enter and proceed forward to find this Slime Gate with a torch in front of it. If you’ve opened the previous gate, you can reach the northern part of the Glass Desert without unlocking this gate. |
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All Vault Gates Locations
You can access Vault Gates once you finish Slime Rancher. These are similar to Slime Gates and require keys. To complete the game’s story mode, you need to read Hobson’s final message at the end of the Glass Desert, and then read Casey’s final message to see the credits and conclude the story mode. There are a total of three Vault Doors.
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Area |
Image |
Map Image |
|---|---|---|
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The Dry Reef |
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Location |
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This Vault Gate is located on The Ring Island. To reach The Ring Island, you must pop the Tabby Gordo located on the stone island by the beach on the west side of the Dry Reef. You can reach this Tabby Gordo by heading south from the northwest of the Dry Reef and opening the Slime Gate there, or you can also access it through the Overgrowth expansion at your Ranch. Once on Ring Island, head to the area with the Pink Gordo. Then, jump to the cliff to the east, which has a torch in front of it. Enter the tunnel on the right, and once you exit the tunnel, turn right and climb the rocks to reach the top of the tunnel. This will lead you to the teleporter that takes you to the Vault. |
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The Moss Blanket |
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Location |
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To find this Vault Gate, start from the area in the center of Moss Blanket, where you can find pink flowers and Honey Slimes, and head north. After passing through the log-shaped tunnel, turn left and follow the wooden bridge. Pass Hobson’s hologram note and cross the broken bridge. Continue north, passing under the rock arch ahead, and turn west. Pass through the glowing blue log. Once you reach the large mushroom, turn east and head towards the torch-lit passage. Follow the path, and you will find the teleporter that will take you to the Vault. |
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The Indigo Quarry |
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Location |
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This Vault Gate is located on Ash Island. To find it, start from the large dark cave in the center of Indigo Quarry, where the Rock Gordo is located. Exit through the eastern tunnel. Once you reach the wooden platform area, head north, pass the Puddle Slime-filled ponds, and cross to the other side of the broken bridge. Then, continue north and turn right; if you haven’t already, you’ll find a Rock Gordo here. By popping it, you’ll reach Ash Island. Once you’re on Ash Island, head to the right of the hologram with the ‘H’ symbol. Pass the lava leaf pool, continue past the cave entrance, and then turn right to climb up the slope. Jump across the cliff ahead; if you haven’t already, you’ll find the Crystal Gordo there. With your back to it, continue forward and pass through the next passage to find the vault teleporter. |
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How To Pop Gordo Slimes
To get the Slime Keys you need for opening Slime Gates, you’ll have to find Gordo Slimes. Appearance-wise, Gordo Slimes are even larger than Largo Slimes. Additionally, unlike other slime types, Gordo Slimes don’t move and remain fixed in one spot. However,
Gordo Slimes won’t just hand over the Slime Keys—you need to pop them to acquire the keys. By “pop,” we mean feeding them food using your vacpack until they burst. Like regular slimes, Gordo Slimes have specific diets. Pink Gordo Slimes will eat anything, while Rock Gordo Slimes only eat vegetables.
Additionally, Gordo Slimes have favorite foods. To make a Gordo pop, you’ll need to feed them a certain amount of food; feeding them their favorite food speeds up the process. It takes 50 food items from their diet to pop a Gordo (Pink Gordos require 30 of any), but you don’t need to bring all the food at once—you can feed them across multiple trips.
Favorite foods count as two units of food each, so if you feed a Gordo only its favorite food, you’ll need just 25. Once a Gordo is popped, it will permanently disappear from the game and will not respawn.
Not every Gordo grants a Slime Key.
While some Gordos drop Slime Keys when they pop, others do not. Additionally, popping Gordos doesn’t only reward you with Slime Keys—you might also receive extra rewards or unlock teleporters as the Gordo disappears.
After reading Casey’s final Starmail, a Slime Key will be added to the device where you purchased the upgrades. The price for this is 25,000 Newbucks.
All Gordo Slime Locations
In the table below, you’ll find the locations of all Gordo Slimes, the type of food you need to feed them, their favorite foods, and additional details:
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Dry Reef |
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Slime Type |
Pink Gordo |
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Required Food |
30 of Any Food |
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Favorite Food |
None |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Pink Slime 2 Dry Reef Crates |
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Location |
This Gordo is located on the island in the middle of the large lake at the center of The Dry Reef. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Dry Reef |
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Slime Type |
Phosphor Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Fruits |
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Favorite Food |
Cubery |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Phosphor Slime 2 Dry Reef Crates |
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Location |
To find this Gordo, leave your ranch and head to the area with Rock and Pink Slimes. Pass under the large rock arch in this area, then head west and go through the tunnel. You’ll reach an open area with petrified crystals; from here, turn south and jump off the cliff. Below, you’ll find a cave entrance where the Phosphor Gordo awaits. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Dry Reef |
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Slime Type |
Tabby Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Meat |
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Favorite Food |
Stony Hens |
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Drops |
11 Tabby Slim 2 Dry Reef Crate Static Teleporter to Overgrowth |
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Location |
This Gordo is located in the northwest of the Dry Reef. On your way to The Moss Blanket, before crossing the wooden bridge, look to your right. You’ll spot it inside a chimney-shaped rock formation. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Dry Reef |
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Slime Type |
Tabby Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Meat |
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Favorite Food |
Stony Hens |
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Drops |
7-10 Tabby Slime 2-3 Dry Reef Crate Static Teleporter to Ring Island |
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Location |
This Gordo is located on one of the rocky islands to the west of Dry Reef. To reach this area, you can purchase The Overgrowth expansion at your Ranch. Afterward, head west and pass under the rock arch. As you progress along the coastline, look to your left, and you’ll spot this Gordo on top of the rocky island. Alternatively, you can head to the northwest of Dry Reef, then head south and pass through the canyon with the Pink Feral Rock Largos to reach this spot. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Dry Reef |
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Slime Type |
Pink Gordo |
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Required Food |
30 of Any Food |
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Favorite Food |
None |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Pink Slime Two Dry Reef Crate |
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Location |
This Gordo is located on Ring Island. To reach Ring Island, you must first pop the previous Gordo, the Tabby Gordo. Afterward, use the teleporter that unlocks in the area where the Tabby Gordo was located to arrive at Ring Island. Once you’ve teleported, head west, keeping the lake on your left as you move forward. Climb the gray stone steps, then ascend the slope next to the Cuberry tree. Continue across the wooden bridges, and you’ll arrive at the Pink Gordo. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Moss Blanket |
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Slime Type |
Honey Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Fruit |
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Favorite Food |
Mint Mango |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Honey Slime Two Moss Blanket Crate |
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Location |
After entering the Moss Blanket from The Dry Reef and jumping through the log-shaped hole, turn left and head up the stairs. Continue westward across the open area until you pass under a rock arch. Ahead, you’ll see another rock arch to the west. Use your jetpack to fly under it, and you’ll find the Honey Gordo resting among pink flowers. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Moss Blanket |
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Slime Type |
Hunter Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Meat |
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Favorite Food |
Roostro |
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Drops |
Slime Key 9 Hunter Slime Three Moss Blanket Crate |
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Location |
In the northwesternmost part of the Moss Blanket, where the Feral Hunter Gordo area is located, head west and pass through the hollow wooden log. Here, you will see a large mushroom. The Hunter Gordo is sitting on top of this mushroom. Since the Hunter Gordo is invisible from a distance, you won’t be able to see it until you climb onto the mushroom. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Indigo Quarry |
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Slime Type |
Rock Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Veggies |
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Favorite Food |
Heart Beet |
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Drops |
10 Rock Slime 3 Indigo Quarry Crate Static Teleporter to Grotto |
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Location |
After entering the Indigo Quarry from The Dry Reef, head east, and you’ll spot a tunnel ahead. Proceed through the tunnel, and after going a bit further, you’ll enter a dark cave. Inside this cave, you’ll find the Rock Gordo. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Indigo Quarry |
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Slime Type |
Rock Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Veggies |
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Favorite Food |
Heart Beet |
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Drops |
10 Rock Slime 3 Indigo Quarry Crate Static Teleporter to Ash Isle |
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Location |
Start at the cave in the center of the Indigo Quarry, where the previous Rock Largo was located. Exit the cave through the tunnel extending eastward. Once you reach the area with wooden platforms, head north. Cross the pond where the Puddle Slimes reside, then make your way across the broken bridge. Head north from there and stop at the edge of the cliff. Turn right and proceed along the wooden bridge to reach the Rock Gordo. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Indigo Quarry |
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Slime Type |
Rad Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Veggies |
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Favorite Food |
Oca Ocas |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Rad Slime 2 Indigo Quarry Crate |
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Location |
Start at the cave in the center of the Indigo Quarry, where the Rock Largo is located. Head into the tunnel to the north, marked by a torch. To reach this tunnel, climb onto the stalagmites in the cave, then jump onto the rock across from the tunnel. This will allow you to access the tunnel. After exiting the tunnel, descend from the wooden platform. Keep the wooden ramp behind you and continue straight ahead until you reach the chicken nest. Turn south, and you’ll see another tunnel. This tunnel leads to a small cave where the Rad Gordo can be found. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Indigo Quarry |
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Slime Type |
Rad Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Veggies |
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Favorite Food |
Odd Onions |
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Drops |
Slime Key 9 Crystal Slime 3 Indigo Quarry Crate |
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Location |
This Gordo is located on Ash Island in Indigo Quarry. To reach it, you must burst the Rock Gordo (not in the cave) located to the north of Indigo Quarry. Afterward, you’ll be teleported to Ash Island. Once teleported, head to the right of the hologram with the letter H on it and follow the path. After passing the leaf pool resembling lava on your left and the cave entrance on your left, turn right and go up the ramp. This will lead you to the Crystal Gordo on the cliff ahead. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Ancient Ruins |
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Slime Type |
Boom Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Meat |
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Favorite Food |
Briar Hens |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Boom Slime 2 Ancient Ruins Crate |
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Location |
To reach this Gordo, pass through the gate in the Ancient Ruins transition area and interact with the nearby orb device. Then, enter the passage on the right to ascend to the upper level of the ruins. You will see another orb device ahead—use your jetpack to reach it. After that, jump down to the area on the left and head north. Look down to your left, and you’ll notice water flowing from a pipe in the wall, with the back of the Boom Gordo visible there. Descend and turn your back to the wall with the pipe, then go through the passage in front of you and turn left. Continue forward, jump to the area on the left, and you’ll arrive at the Boom Gordo. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Ancient Ruins |
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Slime Type |
Quantum Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Fruit |
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Favorite Food |
Phase Lemons |
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Drops |
Slime Key 10 Quantum Slime 2 Ancient Ruins Crate |
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Location |
To find this Gordo, start at the northernmost point of the Ancient Ruins, near the teleporter that takes you back to the Ranch. Head south down the ramp and pass through the gate on the right. Ascend the ramp to reach the upper level of the ruins. Then, turn left to reach the area near the tree with yellow leaves. Look east, and you’ll see a two-story structure with blue walls. Go through it and continue forward to reach the area with the orb device. Stand next to the orb device and face north, then descend to the sea level below. Here, you’ll find the Quantum Gordo. If the blue door is closed, interact with the orb device to open it. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Glass Desert |
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Slime Type |
Dervish Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Fruit |
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Favorite Food |
Prickle Pears |
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Drops |
Slime Key 9 Dervish Slime 3 Crate |
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Location |
To find this Gordo, after teleporting to the Glass Desert, leave the structure and descend the rocky slope to exit. Head straight north and after passing the Slime statue buried in the sand on your right, go through the passage on the right. Once you pass through, look up at the two columns, and you will see the Dervish Gordo. To reach it, climb onto the gray stone ruins next to the slime statue on the ground, then use your jetpack to fly to the Gordo’s location. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Glass Desert |
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Slime Type |
Tangle Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Meat |
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Favorite Food |
Painted Hens |
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Drops |
10 Tangle Slime 3 Crate Static Teleporter to Ranch |
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Location |
This Gordo is located inside the tall and narrow tower in the center of the Glass Desert. |
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Image |
Map Image |
Data |
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Area |
The Glass Desert |
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Slime Type |
Mosaic Gordo |
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Required Food |
50 Veggies |
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Favorite Food |
Silver Parsnips |
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Drops |
Slime Key 9 Mosaic Slime 3 Crate |
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Location |
To reach this Gordo, start from the structure located at the northernmost part of the Glass Desert and head south. Pass through the circular area and turn left. Continue through the other stone circles until you reach the end of the path, then head south to enter a tunnel. Turn left, climb over the gray rocks, and surface. Proceed southwest toward the large blue crystal and go behind it to find the H-letter hologram above. From there, look south, and you’ll see the Mosaic Gordo above. Use your jetpack to reach the crystals nearby and then fly to the Gordo. |
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Which Order Should You Pop The Gordos?
Honestly, if you plan to complete the game, you’ll want to pop all the Gordos. However, if your goal is to finish the game quickly and unlock the new areas as fast as possible, this sequence would be beneficial for you:
- Pop the Pink Gordo on the island in the middle of the large lake in the large pond in Dry Reef to get a Slime Key and unlock The Indigo Quarry door.
- You don’t need to unlock The Moss Blanket door since, with the jetpack, you can pass to the other side without using a key.
- Pop the Phosphor Slime in The Dry Reef to get a Slime Key. Then, open the door to the east of The Moss Blanket to reach The Ancient Ruins.
- Pop the Honey Slime in The Moss Blanket to get a Slime Key. Unlock the Slime Gate to the north of The Ancient Ruins to reach The Glass Desert.
- Pop the Rock Gordo in the large dark cave in The Indigo Quarry. After that, you can open the Slime Gate to the east or west of the tall, narrow tower in The Glass Desert.
These are the Slime Gates you need to open to reach the end of the game and find all the Slime types. However, you can also open the other Slime Gates to explore shortcuts, unlock additional areas, and complete the game fully.
Next