The Riftbreaker is a base-building survival game where you play as Captain Ashley Nowak in a powerful mech suit, establishing a base on the alien planet Galatea 37 to build a rift portal back to Earth. The game uniquely blends hack-and-slash ARPG combat (you personally fight alien hordes in your mech) with tower defense and base management. Your mech swaps between weapons in real-time while your base's automated defenses handle waves of alien attackers. Research new technologies across multiple alien biomes, manage power grids and resource chains, and hack through thousands of aliens. It's Factorio meets Diablo.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma Sword | S | Combat Build for close-range AoE against alien hordes | A melee mech weapon with wide swings that hit multiple enemies. |
| Minigun | A | Combat Build for sustained single-target damage against boss enemies | A rapid-fire weapon with sustained DPS. |
| Flamethrower | A | Combat Build for swarm clearing during wave defense events | Short-range AoE fire damage that applies burn DoT. |
| Railgun | B | Combat Build for piercing lines of enemies and heavy targets | A charged single-shot weapon dealing massive piercing damage. |
| Nuclear Launcher | B | Emergency use against overwhelming alien waves threatening base destruction | The most powerful weapon in the game — launches a nuclear warhead that devastates a huge area. |
S-Tier: Plasma Sword
A melee mech weapon with wide swings that hit multiple enemies. The Plasma Sword deals AoE damage in a cone, clearing hordes of small aliens efficiently. Best against swarm waves where enemies cluster.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Combat Build for close-range AoE against alien hordes |
| Key Mechanic | base defense |
| Recommended Build | Combat Build |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Plasma Sword: Pairs naturally with Combat Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Minigun
A rapid-fire weapon with sustained DPS. The Minigun excels against single tough targets (boss aliens, massive creatures) where sustained damage output matters more than AoE. Ammunition consumption is high.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Combat Build for sustained single-target damage against boss enemies |
| Key Mechanic | mech suit |
| Recommended Build | Mining Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Minigun: Pairs naturally with Mining Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Flamethrower
Short-range AoE fire damage that applies burn DoT. The Flamethrower clears swarms instantly and the burn damage finishes off wounded enemies. The best weapon for wave defense when surrounded.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Combat Build for swarm clearing during wave defense events |
| Key Mechanic | resource extraction |
| Recommended Build | Research Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Flamethrower: Pairs naturally with Research Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Railgun
A charged single-shot weapon dealing massive piercing damage. The Railgun hits multiple enemies in a line, killing or severely damaging everything it passes through. Slow fire rate but devastating impact.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Combat Build for piercing lines of enemies and heavy targets |
| Key Mechanic | biome research |
| Recommended Build | Defense Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Railgun: Pairs naturally with Defense Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Nuclear Launcher
The most powerful weapon in the game — launches a nuclear warhead that devastates a huge area. Extremely limited ammunition and friendly fire danger (damages your own base). Reserved for the most desperate situations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Emergency use against overwhelming alien waves threatening base destruction |
| Key Mechanic | portal building |
| Recommended Build | Balanced |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Nuclear Launcher: Pairs naturally with Balanced thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Jungle
- Minigun → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Flamethrower → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Plasma Sword → 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.
- Walls and towers need overlapping fields of fire — place towers behind walls so they shoot over them, creating layered defense that enemies must pass through.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More The Riftbreaker Guides
- The Riftbreaker The Riftbreaker Overview
- The Riftbreaker Best Builds
- The Riftbreaker Tier List
- The Riftbreaker Walkthrough
- The Riftbreaker Beginner's Guide
- The Riftbreaker Tips & Tricks
- The Riftbreaker Combat Guide
- The Riftbreaker Boss Guide
- The Riftbreaker Maps & Locations
- The Riftbreaker Crafting Guide
- The Riftbreaker Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy The Riftbreaker, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
