Sand and Ashes Slot Review: Scarab Multipliers and Storms

Sand and Ashes gives its respin feature a spatial twist. A Wild Scarab lands with a multiplier of up to 200x and starts a chain that continues while new Scarabs arrive. Its multiplier applies to paylines the Scarab belongs to during the sequence. Before symbols land, a Sandstorm may shift every symbol one reel left, while a Firestorm can increase all Wild Scarab values on the grid. The result is a feature where position matters as much as the multiplier number: a nudge can rearrange line connections, and a storm can change the value of several active Scarabs at once.

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Sand and Ashes at a glance

Provider	Hacksaw Gaming
Genre / theme	Ancient Egypt
Game type	Video slot
Volatility	3 / 5
Payout mechanic	Paylines; count not stated
Maximum win	10 000x the bet
Release date	14 May 2026
Main features	Wild Scarabs start respins and multiply paylines; Sandstorms shift all symbols left, while Firestorms increase active Scarab multipliers.

RTP and stake limits can vary by version and market. Check the information screen in the game you open. Maximum win is a ceiling, not an expected result.

Wild Scarabs create the respin chain

When a Wild Scarab lands, it triggers a respin and carries a multiplier value up to 200x. The sequence continues until no new Wild Scarab symbols land. During that sequence, the multiplier applies to every payline win that includes the Scarab. This is a more specific rule than a screen-wide boost: the Scarab must be part of the line for its multiplier to apply. Multiple Scarabs can therefore make their positions relevant to more than one winning path, although the source does not provide a detailed stacking formula beyond saying each Wild Scarab’s value applies to paylines it is part of.

The repeated respins give new Scarabs a dual role. They can extend the feature, and each has a multiplier value that may affect line wins. That creates a clear tension between continuing the chain and arranging symbols in useful positions. The published material does not specify a fixed spin count; the stopping condition is simply the absence of a new Wild Scarab. This keeps the feature’s duration tied to its trigger symbols rather than a set bonus counter.

One storm moves symbols; another raises values

During respins, a Firestorm or Sandstorm may activate before new symbols land. Sandstorms nudge all symbols one reel to the left. Because the shift affects every symbol, it can change which line paths connect, including whether a Wild Scarab remains part of a winning payline. Firestorms instead increase the multiplier values of all Wild Scarabs currently on the grid. The two effects are complementary but not interchangeable: one alters placement, the other boosts the values already attached to the feature.

Their timing matters because both effects occur before new symbols arrive. A Sandstorm changes the arrangement that the next landing will join; a Firestorm increases active Scarabs before the line results are evaluated. The official wording allows either storm to activate, but does not promise that one will occur on every respin or explain the exact chance. That means the feature has a strong mechanical identity while retaining uncertainty in how often its modifiers intervene. The player is watching the board change under two different rules, rather than choosing a storm or directing its effect.

Two bonus games preserve different kinds of momentum

Three Free Spin symbols award eight spins in Desert Fury, where Wild Scarabs have a higher chance of landing. Four symbols award ten spins in Storming Sphinx, where Wild Scarab multipliers persist. The first bonus increases access to the symbol that starts the respin chain; the second preserves multiplier values through the free spins. One route emphasizes generating more feature entries, while the other focuses on carrying value forward. The source does not say that Desert Fury also persists multipliers, so the two rules should remain distinct.

The provider lists volatility 3/5 and a maximum win of 10,000x. Four RTP settings are shown, from 96.27% down to 86.19%, so the casino’s selected configuration is the relevant one for a player. The release date is May 14, 2026. Reel dimensions and the number of paylines are not stated, but the rules do establish that a Scarab multiplies the paylines it joins.

Strengths and weak points

Strengths

The storms have distinct jobs that are easy to understand: Sandstorms reposition the entire board and Firestorms raise active Scarab values. Both interact directly with the same respin and payline system.

Weaknesses

Storm activations are described as possible, not guaranteed, and the sequence only continues when new Wild Scarabs land. The source leaves the modifier frequency and exact multiplier combination behavior unspecified.

Our Editor’s View

Sand and Ashes offers a coherent modifier-driven feature: Wild Scarabs start respins and affect paylines, Sandstorms shift the board, and Firestorms strengthen the multipliers already present. Those different jobs give each event a visible consequence. The two bonuses also split their emphasis between more Scarabs and persistent multipliers. The main tradeoff is that storms are chances, not scheduled events, and the feature stops when new Scarabs cease to land. With several RTP configurations, the selected casino version should be checked before relying on a single figure. The game’s best appeal is its interaction between changing positions and growing values. The Book of Ra Magic review offers an Egyptian free-game contrast to these persistent Scarab multipliers.