Dredge is a fishing adventure game with Lovecraftian horror lurking beneath the surface. By day, you fish, sell your catch, and upgrade your boat in a picturesque island archipelago. By night, the fog rolls in, your sanity drops, and eldritch creatures appear. The fishing gameplay uses satisfying minigames for each rod type, and the inventory management (tetris-style fish arrangement) is engaging. Five distinct regions each contain a relic tied to the main mystery, and aberrant fish (mutated versions of normal catches) hint at the cosmic horror beneath the waves. The atmosphere is masterful — dread builds gradually through subtle visual and audio cues.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rod | S | Fishing Vessel | The basic fishing tool for catching coastal and near-shore fish. |
| Net | A | Cargo Hauler | Catches fish in open water while your boat is moving. |
| Pot | A | Cargo Hauler | Crab and lobster pots placed at specific underwater locations. |
| Trawl | B | Night Fisher | Deep-water fishing equipment for rare species found only in deep ocean areas. |
| Dredge Equipment | B | Explorer | Specialized equipment for pulling items from the ocean floor. |
S-Tier: Rod
The basic fishing tool for catching coastal and near-shore fish. Different rod tiers increase catch speed and reduce minigame difficulty. Rods are the most versatile equipment and catch the majority of fish species.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Fishing Vessel |
| Key Mechanic | fishing |
| Recommended Build | Speed Boat |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Rod: Pairs naturally with Speed Boat thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Net
Catches fish in open water while your boat is moving. Nets passively collect fish as you travel between locations. Upgraded nets catch rarer open-water species. They complement active rod fishing.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Cargo Hauler |
| Key Mechanic | boat upgrades |
| Recommended Build | Fishing Vessel |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Net: Pairs naturally with Fishing Vessel thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Pot
Crab and lobster pots placed at specific underwater locations. Drop a pot and return later to collect the catch. Pots provide passive income while you fish elsewhere with rods. Crustaceans sell for good prices.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Cargo Hauler |
| Key Mechanic | eldritch encounters |
| Recommended Build | Cargo Hauler |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Pot: Pairs naturally with Cargo Hauler thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Trawl
Deep-water fishing equipment for rare species found only in deep ocean areas. Trawling uses a specific minigame and catches the most valuable fish. Deep-water areas are more dangerous (further from shore, closer to eldritch zones).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Night Fisher |
| Key Mechanic | time management |
| Recommended Build | Night Fisher |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Trawl: Pairs naturally with Night Fisher thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Dredge Equipment
Specialized equipment for pulling items from the ocean floor. Dredge catches include relics, materials, and unique treasures. The Dredge mechanic is central to the story progression — key items are dredged from specific locations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Explorer |
| Key Mechanic | inventory tetris |
| Recommended Build | Explorer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Dredge Equipment: Pairs naturally with Explorer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Greater Marrow
- Net → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Pot → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Rod → 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.
- Sell aberrant fish to the Travelling Merchant (appears periodically at docks) for bonus money — the regular Fishmonger pays less for mutated catches.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Dredge Guides
- Dredge Dredge Overview
- Dredge Best Builds
- Dredge Tier List
- Dredge Walkthrough
- Dredge Beginner's Guide
- Dredge Tips & Tricks
- Dredge Combat Guide
- Dredge Boss Guide
- Dredge Maps & Locations
- Dredge Crafting Guide
- Dredge Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Dredge, 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
- Dave the Diver Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
