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.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option — what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Builder | S | Gather materials for building, design efficient and defensible base layouts, upgrade structures progressively. | Speargun | Moderate |
| Diver | S | Plan dive routes through sunken buildings, manage oxygen carefully, prioritize high-value salvage. | Crossbow | Moderate |
| Raider | A | Assault raider outposts for loot, use combat gear to overwhelm defenders, return with salvage. | Pistol | Yes |
| Trader | B | Build trading posts, track merchant schedules, stockpile resources when cheap and sell when expensive. | Rifle | No |
| Farmer | B | Build farm plots and water purifiers for food independence, trade surplus for crafting materials. | Machete | No |
New player? Start with Diver — see our beginner's guide for why.
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Gather materials for building, design efficient and defensible base layouts, upgrade structures progressively. |
| Best Equipment | Speargun |
| Stat Priority | Resource gathering, structural planning, turret placement |
| Core Gear | Hammer, Building Materials stockpile, Turret Blueprints |
| Key Mechanic | underwater exploration |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Gather materials for building, design efficient and defensible base layouts, upgrade structures progressively.
- Pairs well with Speargun
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Starting Raft to learn Builder-specific mechanics
- Focus on underwater exploration — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Speargun as your first major upgrade
- See our full Builder build guide for the optimal gear progression
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Plan dive routes through sunken buildings, manage oxygen carefully, prioritize high-value salvage. |
| Best Equipment | Crossbow |
| Stat Priority | Oxygen capacity, swim speed, underwater combat |
| Core Gear | Advanced Diving Gear, Oxygen Tanks, Underwater Light, Harpoon |
| Key Mechanic | base building on water |
Strengths
- Most versatile — adapts to any situation
- Plan dive routes through sunken buildings, manage oxygen carefully, prioritize high-value salvage.
- Pairs well with Crossbow
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Starting Raft to learn Diver-specific mechanics
- Focus on base building on water — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Crossbow as your first major upgrade
- See our full Diver build guide for the optimal gear progression
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Assault raider outposts for loot, use combat gear to overwhelm defenders, return with salvage. |
| Best Equipment | Pistol |
| Stat Priority | Combat skills, weapon upgrades, boat armament |
| Core Gear | Rifle, Machete, Boat with mounted gun, First Aid kits |
| Key Mechanic | raider defense |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Assault raider outposts for loot, use combat gear to overwhelm defenders, return with salvage.
- Pairs well with Pistol
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Starting Raft to learn Raider-specific mechanics
- Focus on raider defense — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Pistol as your first major upgrade
- See our full Raider build guide for the optimal gear progression
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Playstyle | Build trading posts, track merchant schedules, stockpile resources when cheap and sell when expensive. |
| Best Equipment | Rifle |
| Stat Priority | Trading post placement, resource knowledge, inventory management |
| Core Gear | Multiple Trading Posts, Storage Containers, Resource stockpiles |
| Key Mechanic | diving mechanics |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Build trading posts, track merchant schedules, stockpile resources when cheap and sell when expensive.
- Pairs well with Rifle
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Starting Raft to learn Trader-specific mechanics
- Focus on diving mechanics — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Rifle as your first major upgrade
- See our full Trader build guide for the optimal gear progression
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Playstyle | Build farm plots and water purifiers for food independence, trade surplus for crafting materials. |
| Best Equipment | Machete |
| Stat Priority | Food production, water purification, crop variety |
| Core Gear | Farm Plots, Water Purifier, Fishing Rod, Crop Seeds |
| Key Mechanic | trading |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Build farm plots and water purifiers for food independence, trade surplus for crafting materials.
- Pairs well with Machete
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Starting Raft to learn Farmer-specific mechanics
- Focus on trading — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Machete as your first major upgrade
- See our full Farmer build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Diver is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Builder is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Speargun for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Farmer offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Trader shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Sunkenland Guides
- Sunkenland Sunkenland Overview
- Sunkenland Best Builds
- Sunkenland Tier List
- Sunkenland Walkthrough
- Sunkenland Beginner's Guide
- Sunkenland Tips & Tricks
- Sunkenland Weapons Guide
- Sunkenland Combat Guide
- Sunkenland Boss Guide
- Sunkenland Maps & Locations
- Sunkenland Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sunkenland, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Classes Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Classes Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Classes Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
