Sunkenland is a post-apocalyptic survival game set in a waterworld where civilization has been submerged beneath the ocean. You build floating bases on the water's surface, dive into sunken cities for resources, defend against raider attacks, and trade with other survivors. The game distinguishes itself from other survival titles with its dual-layer gameplay — surface base building with deep underwater scavenging. Early Access since 2023, the game has received consistent updates adding new biomes, building pieces, and the trading system that gives purpose to excess resources.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder | S | Gather materials for building, design efficient and defensible base layouts, upgrade structures progressively. | Hammer, Building Materials stockpile, Turret Blueprints |
| Diver | S | Plan dive routes through sunken buildings, manage oxygen carefully, prioritize high-value salvage. | Advanced Diving Gear, Oxygen Tanks, Underwater Light, Harpoon |
| Raider | A | Assault raider outposts for loot, use combat gear to overwhelm defenders, return with salvage. | Rifle, Machete, Boat with mounted gun, First Aid kits |
| Trader | B | Build trading posts, track merchant schedules, stockpile resources when cheap and sell when expensive. | Multiple Trading Posts, Storage Containers, Resource stockpiles |
| Farmer | B | Build farm plots and water purifiers for food independence, trade surplus for crafting materials. | Farm Plots, Water Purifier, Fishing Rod, Crop Seeds |
S-Tier: Builder
Focuses on base expansion and defense infrastructure. Builders create efficient layouts that maximize space while maintaining defensive coverage. The building system rewards planning — a well-designed base repels raids with minimal player intervention.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Speargun | The primary underwater weapon, effective against sharks and hostile divers. |
| Core Gear | Hammer, Building Materials stockpile, Turret Blueprints | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Resource gathering, structural planning, turret placement | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | underwater exploration | Diving into submerged buildings and streets is the primary method of gathering advanced resources. |
How to Play Builder
Gather materials for building, design efficient and defensible base layouts, upgrade structures progressively.
Focuses on base expansion and defense infrastructure. Builders create efficient layouts that maximize space while maintaining defensive coverage. The building system rewards planning — a well-designed base repels raids with minimal player intervention.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Speargun and underwater exploration creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Hammer, Building Materials stockpile, Turret Blueprints amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Resource gathering, structural planning, turret placement) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Diver
Specializes in underwater exploration with maximum dive time and efficiency. Divers bring back the rare components that drive progression. Without skilled diving, your base stagnates at basic technology levels.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Crossbow | Silent ranged weapon effective for stealth approaches to raider outposts. |
| Core Gear | Advanced Diving Gear, Oxygen Tanks, Underwater Light, Harpoon | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Oxygen capacity, swim speed, underwater combat | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | base building on water | All structures are built on water using foundations that snap to a grid. |
How to Play Diver
Plan dive routes through sunken buildings, manage oxygen carefully, prioritize high-value salvage.
Specializes in underwater exploration with maximum dive time and efficiency. Divers bring back the rare components that drive progression. Without skilled diving, your base stagnates at basic technology levels.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Crossbow and base building on water creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Advanced Diving Gear, Oxygen Tanks, Underwater Light, Harpoon amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Oxygen capacity, swim speed, underwater combat) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Raider
Offensive playstyle that attacks NPC raider outposts for resources instead of diving. Raider outposts contain pre-built loot including weapons, armor, and crafting materials. Higher-tier outposts yield better loot but have more defenders.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Pistol | The first firearm available, crafted from scavenged parts. |
| Core Gear | Rifle, Machete, Boat with mounted gun, First Aid kits | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Combat skills, weapon upgrades, boat armament | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | raider defense | NPC raider groups periodically attack your base with boats and divers. |
How to Play Raider
Assault raider outposts for loot, use combat gear to overwhelm defenders, return with salvage.
Offensive playstyle that attacks NPC raider outposts for resources instead of diving. Raider outposts contain pre-built loot including weapons, armor, and crafting materials. Higher-tier outposts yield better loot but have more defenders.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Pistol and raider defense creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Rifle, Machete, Boat with mounted gun, First Aid kits amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Combat skills, weapon upgrades, boat armament) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Trader
Economic focus using multiple trading posts to generate income through buy-low-sell-high resource arbitrage. Requires initial investment in trading infrastructure but provides steady passive income once established.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Rifle | The strongest ranged weapon with high per-shot damage and decent range. |
| Core Gear | Multiple Trading Posts, Storage Containers, Resource stockpiles | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Trading post placement, resource knowledge, inventory management | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | diving mechanics | Beyond basic oxygen management, diving involves water currents that push you off course, depth pressure that increases stamina drain, and underwater darkness requiring light sources. |
How to Play Trader
Build trading posts, track merchant schedules, stockpile resources when cheap and sell when expensive.
Economic focus using multiple trading posts to generate income through buy-low-sell-high resource arbitrage. Requires initial investment in trading infrastructure but provides steady passive income once established.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Rifle and diving mechanics creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Multiple Trading Posts, Storage Containers, Resource stockpiles amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Trading post placement, resource knowledge, inventory management) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Farmer
Self-sufficiency through crop growing and fishing. Farms provide food independence and surplus for trading. Less exciting than diving or raiding but eliminates the constant pressure of food scarcity that plagues other playstyles.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Machete | Primary melee weapon with fast swings and low stamina cost. |
| Core Gear | Farm Plots, Water Purifier, Fishing Rod, Crop Seeds | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Food production, water purification, crop variety | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | trading | Trading posts attract NPC merchants who exchange resources on set schedules. |
How to Play Farmer
Build farm plots and water purifiers for food independence, trade surplus for crafting materials.
Self-sufficiency through crop growing and fishing. Farms provide food independence and surplus for trading. Less exciting than diving or raiding but eliminates the constant pressure of food scarcity that plagues other playstyles.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Machete and trading creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Farm Plots, Water Purifier, Fishing Rod, Crop Seeds amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Food production, water purification, crop variety) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Diver — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Builder once you understand core mechanics and have access to Speargun
- Keep a Raider setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Farmer for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Build your first permanent foundation on shallow reef areas where the water floor is visible. Deep water foundations require more expensive materials.
- Craft a basic speargun before your first serious dive. Sharks will find you, and without a weapon, diving into the sunken city is suicidal.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
