Dave the Diver is a genre-blending indie hit combining underwater diving exploration with sushi restaurant management. By day, Dave dives into the Blue Hole to catch fish, fight sea creatures, and explore mysteries. By night, he runs a sushi restaurant using his catches as ingredients. The Blue Hole changes layout every dive, keeping exploration fresh. The game continuously surprises with new mechanics — farming, photography, racing, rhythm games, and a full RPG storyline involving an ancient sea people civilization. Despite its pixel art simplicity, Dave the Diver has more content variety than most AAA games.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hush Dart | S | Fish Collector | A tranquilizer weapon that captures fish alive without damaging their value. |
| Red Sniper Rifle | A | Weapon Specialist | A high-damage ranged weapon effective against boss creatures and dangerous fish. |
| Triple Axel | A | Deep Diver | A melee weapon for close-range combat against smaller creatures. |
| Grenade Launcher | B | Weapon Specialist | An AoE weapon dealing explosive damage to groups of enemies. |
| Shock Rifle | B | Fish Collector | An electrical weapon that stuns fish and enemies. |
S-Tier: Hush Dart
A tranquilizer weapon that captures fish alive without damaging their value. Higher quality fish sell for more when captured alive. The Hush Dart is essential for rare species that you don't want to kill with regular weapons.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Fish Collector |
| Key Mechanic | diving for ingredients |
| Recommended Build | Deep Diver |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Hush Dart: Pairs naturally with Deep Diver thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Red Sniper Rifle
A high-damage ranged weapon effective against boss creatures and dangerous fish. Slow fire rate but massive per-shot damage. Upgrades increase scope zoom and damage. Found in mid-game upgrade path.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Weapon Specialist |
| Key Mechanic | sushi restaurant management |
| Recommended Build | Sushi Chef |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Red Sniper Rifle: Pairs naturally with Sushi Chef thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Triple Axel
A melee weapon for close-range combat against smaller creatures. Fast attack speed and good damage. Effective in tight underwater caves where ranged weapons are difficult to aim.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Deep Diver |
| Key Mechanic | weapon upgrades |
| Recommended Build | Weapon Specialist |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Triple Axel: Pairs naturally with Weapon Specialist thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Grenade Launcher
An AoE weapon dealing explosive damage to groups of enemies. Ammunition is limited and expensive. Best saved for boss encounters and large hostile groups. Upgrades increase blast radius and damage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Weapon Specialist |
| Key Mechanic | fish encyclopedia |
| Recommended Build | Fish Collector |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Grenade Launcher: Pairs naturally with Fish Collector thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Shock Rifle
An electrical weapon that stuns fish and enemies. Stunned fish are easier to catch and stunned enemies stop attacking. The Shock Rifle is the most versatile weapon — it handles both combat and fishing efficiently.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Fish Collector |
| Key Mechanic | boss fights |
| Recommended Build | Story Explorer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shock Rifle: Pairs naturally with Story Explorer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Blue Hole Shallows
- Red Sniper Rifle → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Triple Axel → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Hush Dart → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Wasabi and soy sauce multiply dish selling price by 1.5-2x. Always apply condiments to expensive dishes for maximum revenue. Buy condiments in bulk.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Dave the Diver Guides
- Dave the Diver Dave the Diver Overview
- Dave the Diver Best Builds
- Dave the Diver Tier List
- Dave the Diver Walkthrough
- Dave the Diver Beginner's Guide
- Dave the Diver Tips & Tricks
- Dave the Diver Combat Guide
- Dave the Diver Boss Guide
- Dave the Diver Maps & Locations
- Dave the Diver Crafting Guide
- Dave the Diver Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Dave the Diver, check out these related guides:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Sea of Thieves Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dredge Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
