Stormworks: Build and Rescue is a vehicle engineering sandbox where you design and pilot ships, helicopters, planes, and trucks for search-and-rescue missions. The game's depth lies in its vehicle editor — you build vehicles block by block, then wire up engines, fuel systems, sensors, and control logic using a visual programming interface. Realistic buoyancy, aerodynamics, and weather simulation mean your designs must actually work physically. The community Workshop has thousands of pre-built vehicles for players who prefer piloting over engineering.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Extinguisher | S | Boat Builder — fire boats with water cannons handle fire missions efficiently | Handheld firefighting equipment essential for oil rig fires and ship engine room blazes. |
| Rescue Basket | A | Helicopter Pilot — primary method for extracting survivors from dangerous positions | A hoistable basket lowered from helicopters or cranes to retrieve survivors from water or cliffs. |
| Winch System | A | Helicopter Pilot and Boat Builder — enables vertical rescue operations | Motorized cable system used to lower and raise rescue baskets, cargo, and tow lines. |
| Radar | B | All vehicle types — mandatory for bad-weather navigation | Detects vessels, land masses, and obstacles at range, displaying contacts on a PPI (Plan Position Indicator) screen. |
| Sonar | B | Submarine Designer and Boat Builder for underwater awareness | Underwater detection system that shows ocean floor depth and submerged objects. |
S-Tier: Fire Extinguisher
Handheld firefighting equipment essential for oil rig fires and ship engine room blazes. Fire missions are common and lucrative. Your vehicle should have both handheld extinguishers and mounted fire monitors (water cannons) for large fires.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Boat Builder — fire boats with water cannons handle fire missions efficiently |
| Key Mechanic | vehicle building |
| Recommended Build | Boat Builder |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Fire Extinguisher: Pairs naturally with Boat Builder thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Rescue Basket
A hoistable basket lowered from helicopters or cranes to retrieve survivors from water or cliffs. It connects to winch systems and can carry one person per basket. Essential equipment for any helicopter rescue build.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Helicopter Pilot — primary method for extracting survivors from dangerous positions |
| Key Mechanic | logic systems |
| Recommended Build | Helicopter Pilot |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Rescue Basket: Pairs naturally with Helicopter Pilot thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Winch System
Motorized cable system used to lower and raise rescue baskets, cargo, and tow lines. Winches mount on vehicles and require logic connections for control (extend/retract speed, cable tension). The most important utility system for rescue helicopters and crane boats.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Helicopter Pilot and Boat Builder — enables vertical rescue operations |
| Key Mechanic | rescue missions |
| Recommended Build | Truck Engineer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Winch System: Pairs naturally with Truck Engineer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Radar
Detects vessels, land masses, and obstacles at range, displaying contacts on a PPI (Plan Position Indicator) screen. Essential for navigation in fog and at night. Radar requires power and a clear mounting position (mast-top for boats, nose for helicopters). Without radar, fog missions are nearly impossible.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | All vehicle types — mandatory for bad-weather navigation |
| Key Mechanic | weather simulation |
| Recommended Build | Submarine Designer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Radar: Pairs naturally with Submarine Designer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sonar
Underwater detection system that shows ocean floor depth and submerged objects. Essential for submarine operations and avoiding underwater obstacles. Active sonar pings reveal objects at range, while depth sonar prevents running aground in shallow water.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Submarine Designer and Boat Builder for underwater awareness |
| Key Mechanic | multiplayer operations |
| Recommended Build | SAR Operator |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sonar: Pairs naturally with SAR Operator thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear North Sea
- Rescue Basket → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Winch System → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Fire Extinguisher → 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.
- Start with Workshop tutorial boats before building custom vehicles — understanding how a working boat's systems connect teaches you more than building from scratch.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Stormworks: Build and Rescue Guides
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Stormworks: Build and Rescue Overview
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Best Builds
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Tier List
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Walkthrough
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Beginner's Guide
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Tips & Tricks
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Combat Guide
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Boss Guide
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Maps & Locations
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Crafting Guide
- Stormworks: Build and Rescue Classes & Characters
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- The Sims 4 Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
