Frontier Developments released Planet Zoo on 5 November 2019 with 73 animals in the base game, well past the 50 originally promised. Four modes ship together: Career, Franchise, Challenge and Sandbox, with Franchise running on Conservation Credits earned by releasing well bred animals back to the wild. Career runs 12 scenarios, opening at Goodwin House and closing at the Bernie Goodwin Memorial Zoo in Upper Bay, New York.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zookeeper | S | Every habitat, with roughly one keeper covering two or three nearby enclosures | Feeds animals, cleans habitats and handles enrichment items. |
| Veterinarian | A | Disease management and unlocking higher enrichment tiers through research | Treats sick animals, handles contraception and runs species research from the Research Centre. |
| Mechanic | A | Power and water infrastructure, plus facility research at the Research Centre | Repairs generators, water pumps and rides, and researches facility improvements. |
| Caretaker | B | Guest areas, particularly around entrances and food courts | Empties bins, cleans paths and restocks vending machines. |
| Security Guard | B | Large zoos with high guest counts and habitats holding dangerous species | Deters vandals and responds to escaped animals. |
S-Tier: Zookeeper
Feeds animals, cleans habitats and handles enrichment items. Keepers are the staff you always need more of, and their work zones should be drawn tightly rather than spanning the whole zoo.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Every habitat, with roughly one keeper covering two or three nearby enclosures |
| Key Mechanic | Welfare from nutrition, social and suitability |
| Recommended Build | Africa |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Zookeeper: Pairs naturally with Africa thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Veterinarian
Treats sick animals, handles contraception and runs species research from the Research Centre. A vet or a caretaker is required before you can put any animal into a habitat at all.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Disease management and unlocking higher enrichment tiers through research |
| Key Mechanic | Conservation Credits from releasing animals |
| Recommended Build | Asia |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Veterinarian: Pairs naturally with Asia thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Mechanic
Repairs generators, water pumps and rides, and researches facility improvements. Ignore mechanics and a power failure will take out the climate control keeping tropical species alive.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Power and water infrastructure, plus facility research at the Research Centre |
| Key Mechanic | Research at the Research Centre |
| Recommended Build | North America |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Mechanic: Pairs naturally with North America thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Caretaker
Empties bins, cleans paths and restocks vending machines. Guest happiness drops quickly on a dirty path, and unhappy guests donate less at the bins you placed for income.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Guest areas, particularly around entrances and food courts |
| Key Mechanic | Barriers and terrain shaping |
| Recommended Build | South America |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Caretaker: Pairs naturally with South America thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Security Guard
Deters vandals and responds to escaped animals. Escapes are usually a barrier problem rather than a security problem, so guards are a safety net rather than a fix.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Large zoos with high guest counts and habitats holding dangerous species |
| Key Mechanic | Guest education and donation bins |
| Recommended Build | Australia |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Security Guard: Pairs naturally with Australia 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 Goodwin House
- Veterinarian → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Mechanic → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Zookeeper → 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.
- Research enrichment tiers before you buy expensive animals. A species sitting in a habitat with tier one enrichment will never reach acceptable welfare, and welfare drives everything from breeding to Conservation Credits.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Planet Zoo Guides
- Planet Zoo Planet Zoo Overview
- Planet Zoo Best Builds
- Planet Zoo Tier List
- Planet Zoo Walkthrough
- Planet Zoo Beginner's Guide
- Planet Zoo Tips & Tricks
- Planet Zoo Combat Guide
- Planet Zoo Boss Guide
- Planet Zoo Maps & Locations
- Planet Zoo Crafting Guide
- Planet Zoo Classes & Characters
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