Pacific Drive is a first-person driving survival game set in a supernaturally transformed Pacific Northwest. Your station wagon is both your vehicle and your survival system — you'll customize, repair, and upgrade it to venture deeper into the Olympic Exclusion Zone. Each run into the Zone is a roguelite expedition where you gather resources, dodge anomalies like gravity wells and sentient mannequins, and race to extract before the Zone collapses. The garage serves as your persistent hub where you craft upgrades and plan routes between expeditions.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrapper Tool | S | Salvager, Explorer | Your primary salvaging tool that breaks down objects into crafting components. |
| Repair Putty | A | All builds | Consumable that patches damaged car panels in the field. |
| LEM Device | A | Anomaly Hunter | Experimental tool that disrupts anomalies in a small radius. |
| Flare Gun | B | Explorer, Anomaly Hunter | Illuminates dark areas and temporarily repels shadow anomalies. |
| Anchor | B | Salvager, Explorer | Deployable device that prevents your car from being moved by gravity anomalies. |
S-Tier: Scrapper Tool
Your primary salvaging tool that breaks down objects into crafting components. Upgraded versions work faster and can dismantle larger objects like wrecked vehicles. Always keep it repaired — a broken Scrapper means wasted expedition time.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Salvager, Explorer |
| Key Mechanic | vehicle survival |
| Recommended Build | Speed Runner |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Scrapper Tool: Pairs naturally with Speed Runner thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Repair Putty
Consumable that patches damaged car panels in the field. Each application restores one panel to 75% integrity. Carry at least 8 putty on any Deep Zone run. Crafted from Adhesive and Metal Scraps at the garage workbench.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | All builds |
| Key Mechanic | anomaly navigation |
| Recommended Build | Tank Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Repair Putty: Pairs naturally with Tank Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: LEM Device
Experimental tool that disrupts anomalies in a small radius. Charges deplete with use and must be recharged at the garage. Can temporarily neutralize gravity wells and electrical storms, creating safe passages through dense anomaly clusters.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Anomaly Hunter |
| Key Mechanic | station wagon customization |
| Recommended Build | Salvager |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using LEM Device: Pairs naturally with Salvager thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Flare Gun
Illuminates dark areas and temporarily repels shadow anomalies. Each flare burns for 30 seconds. Limited ammo makes it a strategic tool rather than a constant light source. Essential for night runs in the Deep Zone.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Explorer, Anomaly Hunter |
| Key Mechanic | zone routing |
| Recommended Build | Explorer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Flare Gun: Pairs naturally with Explorer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Anchor
Deployable device that prevents your car from being moved by gravity anomalies. Activates automatically when parked and anchored. Without it, you might return from salvaging to find your car flung across the zone.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Salvager, Explorer |
| Key Mechanic | resource salvaging |
| Recommended Build | Anomaly Hunter |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Anchor: Pairs naturally with Anomaly Hunter thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Olympic Exclusion Zone
- Repair Putty → Your first real upgrade, available early
- LEM Device → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Scrapper Tool → 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.
- Repair individual panels instead of using the full-car repair option — it uses 60% less Repair Putty for the same total restoration.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Pacific Drive Guides
- Pacific Drive Pacific Drive Overview
- Pacific Drive Best Builds
- Pacific Drive Tier List
- Pacific Drive Walkthrough
- Pacific Drive Beginner's Guide
- Pacific Drive Tips & Tricks
- Pacific Drive Combat Guide
- Pacific Drive Boss Guide
- Pacific Drive Maps & Locations
- Pacific Drive Crafting Guide
- Pacific Drive Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Pacific Drive, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
