Tuxedo Labs put Teardown into Early Access on 29 October 2020 and shipped version 1.0 on 21 April 2022. Every wall, pipe and vehicle across its 40 mission campaign is built from destructible voxels, and the heists are designed around that fact. You get unlimited time to carve a route through a site, then 60 seconds to grab the loot and reach the escape vehicle once the alarm trips.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sledgehammer | S | Opening interior walls, windows and floors during preparation, when nothing is being timed. | The starting tool and the only one with no ammunition meter. |
| Blowtorch | A | Metal gates and marina hulls, and any locked door where the frame is the weak point. | Melts through metal, which the sledgehammer simply bounces off. |
| Spray can | A | Marking the escape path, target positions and plank anchor points before the alarm starts. | Draws coloured lines on any surface and destroys nothing at all. |
| Plank | B | Crossing water at West Point Marina and reaching upper floors without using stairs. | Fires planks that stick where they land and hold your weight. |
| Pipe bomb | B | Concrete and stone walls, and pre rigged demolition contracts where the target is the building itself. | A thrown explosive with a short fuse and a blast wide enough to open concrete. |
S-Tier: Sledgehammer
The starting tool and the only one with no ammunition meter. It breaks wood, glass and plaster instantly and chews weak masonry slowly, and its upgrades raise how hard a material it can handle.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Opening interior walls, windows and floors during preparation, when nothing is being timed. |
| Key Mechanic | Unlimited preparation, 60 second escape |
| Recommended Build | Tunnel Runner |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Sledgehammer: Pairs naturally with Tunnel Runner thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Blowtorch
Melts through metal, which the sledgehammer simply bounces off. Hinges, chains, safe doors, shipping containers and boat hulls all fall to it, and its fuel recharges rather than running out permanently.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Metal gates and marina hulls, and any locked door where the frame is the weak point. |
| Key Mechanic | Destruction that persists into the timer |
| Recommended Build | Plank Bridge Router |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Blowtorch: Pairs naturally with Plank Bridge Router thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Spray can
Draws coloured lines on any surface and destroys nothing at all. It is the only tool with no upgrades, because marking a route does not scale.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Marking the escape path, target positions and plank anchor points before the alarm starts. |
| Key Mechanic | Tool upgrades bought with heist money |
| Recommended Build | Vehicle Extractor |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Spray can: Pairs naturally with Vehicle Extractor thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Plank
Fires planks that stick where they land and hold your weight. Upgrades raise both the number you carry and how long each one is, which is why it is the first upgrade worth buying.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Crossing water at West Point Marina and reaching upper floors without using stairs. |
| Key Mechanic | Vehicles as tools and as getaway |
| Recommended Build | Explosive Demolisher |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Plank: Pairs naturally with Explosive Demolisher thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Pipe bomb
A thrown explosive with a short fuse and a blast wide enough to open concrete. You carry a limited number, so it is worth saving for material that nothing else touches.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Concrete and stone walls, and pre rigged demolition contracts where the target is the building itself. |
| Key Mechanic | Level editor with Lua scripting |
| Recommended Build | Quiet Cutter |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Pipe bomb: Pairs naturally with Quiet Cutter 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 Löckelle Teardown Services
- Blowtorch → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Spray can → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Sledgehammer → 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.
- Trigger nothing until the route is finished. Preparation has no time limit whatsoever, and every hole you punch beforehand is still open when the 60 seconds begin.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Teardown Guides
- Teardown Teardown Overview
- Teardown Best Builds
- Teardown Tier List
- Teardown Walkthrough
- Teardown Beginner's Guide
- Teardown Tips & Tricks
- Teardown Combat Guide
- Teardown Boss Guide
- Teardown Maps & Locations
- Teardown Crafting Guide
- Teardown Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Teardown, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Garry's Mod Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
