Drive Beyond Horizons entered Early Access on 24 March 2025, published by Tacty Studio and Santor Games, and it asks whether you can keep a rusted car alive on an endless procedurally generated road. You start at Home with a barely running Dada, scavenge parts from 24 documented points of interest, and manage fuel, oil, radiator water, hunger and thirst at the same time. Up to four players can share the road in online co-op.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I4 Petrol Engine | S | First restorations and any chassis where weight matters more than pace. | The Dada's stock four cylinder: 3L of oil, 110 kg, and a 105 km/h ceiling. |
| V8 Petrol Engine | A | Heavy builds chasing the highest boosted top speed. | The Musgoat unit: 5L of oil, 200 kg, 140 km/h stock, and the only engine in the game that takes two turbochargers at once. |
| Flat 6 Engine | A | Touring builds where trunk space for fluids is not a problem. | TriClops power at 250 kg and 180 km/h stock, with room for a single turbo. |
| Turbocharger | B | Any finished car, fitted the moment you find one. | A 5 kg part that adds 20 km/h flat. |
| Radiator | B | Long stretches between points of interest where water refills are not guaranteed. | Capacities run 6L to 24L at 5 kg to 13 kg. |
S-Tier: I4 Petrol Engine
The Dada's stock four cylinder: 3L of oil, 110 kg, and a 105 km/h ceiling. It is the slowest common engine but also one of the lightest, and a turbo lifts it to 125 km/h.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | First restorations and any chassis where weight matters more than pace. |
| Key Mechanic | Part by part vehicle assembly |
| Recommended Build | Dada |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using I4 Petrol Engine: Pairs naturally with Dada thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: V8 Petrol Engine
The Musgoat unit: 5L of oil, 200 kg, 140 km/h stock, and the only engine in the game that takes two turbochargers at once. The Bonphiac V8 variant runs 6L of oil for 190 km/h.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Heavy builds chasing the highest boosted top speed. |
| Key Mechanic | Fuel and fluid upkeep |
| Recommended Build | Musgoat |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using V8 Petrol Engine: Pairs naturally with Musgoat thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Flat 6 Engine
TriClops power at 250 kg and 180 km/h stock, with room for a single turbo. Its 10L oil requirement is the catch and it forces you to carry spare oil on long runs.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Touring builds where trunk space for fluids is not a problem. |
| Key Mechanic | Procedural road and points of interest |
| Recommended Build | Poyopa |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Flat 6 Engine: Pairs naturally with Poyopa thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Turbocharger
A 5 kg part that adds 20 km/h flat. One fits an I4 or a flat 6, two fit a V8, which makes it the cheapest speed per kilogram available anywhere in the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Any finished car, fitted the moment you find one. |
| Key Mechanic | Hunger and thirst meters |
| Recommended Build | TriClops |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Turbocharger: Pairs naturally with TriClops thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Radiator
Capacities run 6L to 24L at 5 kg to 13 kg. It cools the engine and stops it losing oil at an accelerated rate, so a dry radiator quietly destroys an otherwise finished build.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Long stretches between points of interest where water refills are not guaranteed. |
| Key Mechanic | Road hazards and enemies |
| Recommended Build | Bonphiac |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Radiator: Pairs naturally with Bonphiac thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Home
- V8 Petrol Engine → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Flat 6 Engine → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- I4 Petrol Engine → 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.
- Run the full checklist at Home before your first drive: petrol in the tank, oil in the engine, water in the radiator from the tank behind the house, handbrake released. Missing any one of those four is the most common reason a new save never leaves the driveway.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Drive Beyond Horizons Guides
- Drive Beyond Horizons Drive Beyond Horizons Overview
- Drive Beyond Horizons Best Builds
- Drive Beyond Horizons Tier List
- Drive Beyond Horizons Walkthrough
- Drive Beyond Horizons Beginner's Guide
- Drive Beyond Horizons Tips & Tricks
- Drive Beyond Horizons Combat Guide
- Drive Beyond Horizons Boss Guide
- Drive Beyond Horizons Maps & Locations
- Drive Beyond Horizons Crafting Guide
- Drive Beyond Horizons Classes & Characters
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- VRChat Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Garry's Mod Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
