Raft is Redbeet Interactive's oceanic survival game where you start on a tiny wooden raft in an endless ocean, collecting floating debris to expand and improve your floating home. The game features a story-driven progression through island stops, each revealing more about why the world is flooded. With a persistent shark enemy that attacks your raft, research-based crafting progression, and both survival and creative modes, Raft offers a unique take on the survival genre.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Radio Tower
Key resources: Story progression, 4-digit code for Vasagatan, basic loot Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Machete upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Balboa Island
Key resources: Machete blueprint, Biofuel Refiner, story documents, bear loot Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Machete upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Caravan Town
Key resources: Battery Charger, Electric components, trading post access, story progression Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Machete upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Tangaroa
Key resources: Electric Purifier, Sprinkler, advanced blueprints, major story revelations Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Metal Spear max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Temperance
Key resources: Advanced tech blueprints, story climax content, cold-weather gear Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Metal Spear max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Radio Tower — Balboa Island)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Machete once accessible
Mid Game (Caravan Town)
- Push Machete to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Metal Spear
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Tangaroa — Temperance)
- Max out Metal Spear — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Caravan Town farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Build collection nets on all edges of your raft early. Nets automatically catch floating debris (planks, plastic, leaves, barrels) so you gather resources passively.
- Farm Caravan Town during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Raft Guides
- Raft Raft Overview
- Raft Best Builds
- Raft Tier List
- Raft Walkthrough
- Raft Beginner's Guide
- Raft Tips & Tricks
- Raft Weapons Guide
- Raft Combat Guide
- Raft Boss Guide
- Raft Maps & Locations
- Raft Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Raft, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
