.png)
Swimming in Rain World is a nightmare. Honestly, if you've spent more than five minutes gasping for air while a Jetfish knocks you into the jaws of a Giant Jellyfish, you know exactly what I mean. The Shoreline is one of the most iconic, yet deeply frustrating, regions in the game. It’s vast. It’s wet. It’s filled with things that want to drown you. Navigation here isn't just about looking at a Shoreline map Rain World enthusiasts have painstakingly screenshotted; it’s about understanding the verticality of a world that’s half-submerged.
You enter from the Shaded Citadel or the Garbage Wastes, and suddenly the claustrophobic pipes are gone. Instead, you're staring at a shimmering, broken horizon. It’s beautiful. It’s also a death trap if you don't know where the next shelter is hiding.
Why the Shoreline Map is So Hard to Read
Most players pull up a map and see a mess of blue lines. That’s because Shoreline uses a layer-based layout that doesn't translate well to 2D images. You have the surface, which is mostly broken piers and crumbling towers, and then you have the sub-surface tunnels.
The scale is the first thing that gets you. It’s huge.
In other regions, you can usually see the "exit" of a screen. In Shoreline, you might be swimming across open water for three full screens with nothing but a few poles sticking out. If you’re playing as the Hunter, this is where your run goes to die. If you’re the Survivor, it’s just a test of patience. The map is divided into several sub-areas, including the Look to the Moon structure and the dark, terrifying depths leading toward the Subterranean.
One thing people get wrong is thinking the "top" of the map is the safest. It isn't. Vultures love the open sky of the Shoreline. They have clear lines of sight, and since you’re move slowly in water, you’re basically a sitting duck—or a sitting slugcat.
Survival is About More Than Just Directions
You need to master the Jetfish. Seriously.
✨ Don't miss: Michigan Lottery Daily 3 Daily 4 Midday Winning Numbers: What You Actually Need to Know
These things are annoying when they bump into you, but they are your best friend for long-distance travel. Grab one. Hold on tight. They act like organic jet skis, allowing you to bypass the stamina-drain of manual swimming. Without a Jetfish, crossing the eastern stretches of the Shoreline map Rain World provides becomes a slog that usually ends with a "Rain is Coming" warning while you're still miles from a save point.
The Look to the Moon Problem
Most people come here for one reason: to meet Big Sister Moon.
She’s located at the far east of the map. Navigationally, this is a straight shot, but the terrain is deceptive. You’ll find yourself diving into pipes that lead to dead ends or finding "shelters" that are actually just flooded rooms with no karma gate.
- The Karma Gate from Garbage Wastes: This is the most common entry point. It drops you into the western side of the region.
- The Citadel Connection: This entry is higher up and drops you into a more vertical section of the ruins. It’s arguably harder because of the spiders that occasionally follow you to the mouth of the gate.
When you finally reach the Look to the Moon sub-region, the map changes. It becomes a series of crumbling internal chambers. It’s quieter here, but the platforming is precise. If you fall into the water at the wrong spot, the currents make it incredibly difficult to climb back up without a specific pipe route.
The Threat Profile
You can't talk about a Shoreline map without talking about the Leviathans.
These are the massive, mechanical-looking sea monsters that can swallow you whole. They don't care about your spears. They don't care about your movement tech. They are forces of nature. On the map, they usually patrol the deep open-water tiles between the central ruins and the Moon’s facility. If you see a large shadow moving beneath the waves, stop. Wait.
💡 You might also like: Why Life Is Strange Episode 5 Polarized an Entire Generation of Players
Then there are the Salamanders. Think of them as crocodiles. They can follow you onto land and they are much faster in the water than you are. A good map won't show you where they are—because they move—but it will show you where the "safe" poles are. Use them.
Deep Navigation Tips for Modern Versions
Since the Downpour DLC, Shoreline has become even more complex. If you’re playing as Spearmaster or Saint, the "Shoreline" you know might look completely different due to the timeline shifts.
For Spearmaster, the region is more "functional" and arguably more dangerous because of the increased presence of Winged Longlegs in certain iterations. For Saint, well, let's just say the "Shoreline" isn't very watery anymore. It’s a frozen wasteland. The map remains topologically similar, but your movement options change entirely. You aren't swimming; you're swinging.
If you are using an interactive map (like the ones found on the Rain World Wiki or the community-driven Map Project), pay attention to the room IDs. Shoreline rooms often start with "SL_".
Key Locations to Memorize:
- SL_S01: The shelter near the Garbage Wastes gate. This is your primary "home base" for the region.
- The Communication Array: High above the water. Hard to get to, but offers one of the best views in the game.
- The Jellyfish Clusters: These aren't just hazards; they are food. If you're starving and can't find a batfly, a dead jellyfish (flipped over) is a viable meal, though risky to harvest.
Don't Get Lost in the Submerged Superstructure
Technically, this is a different region in the DLC, but it’s physically attached to the Shoreline. Many players get confused and wander into the Submerged Superstructure thinking they are just exploring a "deep part" of the Shoreline map.
Don't do this unless you have a high lung capacity or the right equipment. It is a labyrinth of drowning. If the pipes start looking more "metallic" and less "crumbled stone," you've gone too far. Turn back toward the surface.
Shoreline is a test of your ability to manage oxygen and momentum. It’s the first time the game really takes away your ability to jump and run freely, forcing you into a buoyant, floaty physics system that feels alien.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Run
To master the Shoreline, stop trying to swim everywhere.
🔗 Read more: Magnamalo: What Most People Get Wrong About This Monster Hunter Rise Monster
First, head to the western-most islands and look for a Jetfish. Practice the "boost" mechanic. Once you can reliably steer one of these creatures, the entire map shrinks. You can cross three or four rooms in the time it would take to swim half of one.
Second, map out your "air pockets." In the longer underwater tunnels, there are often small gaps at the ceiling where you can grab a breath. You won't see these on a standard 2D map unless it's a high-detail render. You have to find them by hugging the ceiling as you swim.
Finally, keep a spear on you at all times—not for fighting, but for pinning into walls to create makeshift ladders. The Shoreline has a lot of "near misses" where a platform is just out of reach. A well-placed spear turns a deadly fall into a simple climb.
Navigate with intention. The water is your enemy until you learn how to ride it. Check the overhead clouds frequently; the rain comes down hard here, and being caught in open water when the cycle ends is an instant death sentence, as the rising tide will crush you against the geometry before the rain even hits you.
Get to a shelter. Save your progress. Then, and only then, explore the beauty of the remains of the Old World.