Welcome back to the open sea, survivors! With Raft nearing its final chapter and more new players setting sail, it’s time to talk about mistakes—specifically, the most common ones that can set your journey adrift before it really begins. Whether you’re a newcomer or returning after years, avoiding these early blunders can smooth your experience and save you a lot of time, resources, and sanity. Here are ten common Raft mistakes and how to fix them.

1. Delaying Your First Weapon

One of the biggest early missteps is not crafting a Wooden Spear right away. It costs only 3 rope and 8 planks but can save you tons in repairs and lost materials. The shark—affectionately named Jeremiah—attacks every five minutes. Three quick jabs will drive him off in Easy or Normal mode. Without a spear, you’ll be losing raft pieces, placed items, and momentum. Pair the spear with a spare hook and a building hammer to round out your essential early tools.

2. Ignoring Early Sustainability

Hunger and thirst can spiral fast. Instead of eating your first potato, plant it. Build a Small Crop Plot, tuck it under the Research Table to avoid seagull interference, and start growing your food supply. Shortly after, craft a Fishing Rod and alternate between fishing and crop cycling. Replant everything you harvest, and save Herring and Pomfrets—they’re better used for Shark Bait than eating. As for thirst, make two plastic cups to keep one filled and one on standby. This rhythm will keep you fed and hydrated reliably.

3. Overlooking Simple Mechanics

There are quality-of-life features many players miss:

• Right-click to cancel a hook throw if it misses
• Use the green + icon in crafting menus to instantly create sub-components
• Craft a Research Table early—essential for unlocking recipes
• In multiplayer, build a Bed ASAP. It allows teammates to revive you, preventing item loss

Knowing these basics prevents wasted time and unnecessary stress.

4. Not Prioritizing Collection Nets

Collection Nets are passive and powerful. After researching Planks, Rope, and Nails, you can build nets to catch debris without lifting a finger. The sooner you place them, the more value they generate. Always protect nets with a foundation buffer—nets are far more expensive to replace than a standard foundation.

5. Building Everything in the Center

Many players clump their important items in the middle of their raft thinking they’re safe. However, Jeremiah only attacks the outer edge—especially the corners, which have a 30% chance of being targeted. Smart raft design means using the space, and protecting high-value pieces. Build sacrificial foundations: two tiles extending off the side with the outer one baiting attacks. This cheap setup preserves the rest of your raft while saving precious materials.

6. Undervaluing Islands

Islands hold critical resources—especially underwater. Don’t make the mistake of skipping proper island harvesting. Use Shark Bait (crafted with two Herrings or Pomfrets) to distract the shark and get around 100 seconds of safety. Focus on collecting:

• Metal Ore and Copper – for advanced crafting
• Clay and Sand – 14 of each gets you a Smelter
• Seaweed – only collect a little (you won’t need much)

Skip scrap and stone if short on time—you’ll get plenty from barrels. Don’t waste energy collecting flowers or excessive planks from trees either; nets will provide more over time.

7. Not Upgrading Your Equipment

Once you’ve smelted your first ingots, upgrade your tools. A Scrap Hook drastically speeds up resource gathering. A Metal Fishing Rod, Advanced Grill, and other upgraded gear dramatically improve efficiency and let you focus on progression. Clinging to your basic tools longer than necessary is a major slow-down.

8. Hoarding Blueprints

Found a blueprint in a barrel? Good. Now toss it overboard. The moment you pick up a blueprint, its recipe is automatically saved in the Research Table. Keeping it wastes inventory space. Just remember to research the required materials and scroll to the top of the table if something seems missing.

9. Misplacing Antennas and Receiver

The game is vague about this, but Antennas and the Receiver must be placed at least one full wall height above your raft. You also need three antennas, each at least two foundations apart from each other and the receiver. At minimum, plan for a 6×3 space. Face your receiver toward the front of the raft—dot markers on the screen are directional. Green dots = Large Islands, Blue dots = Story Locations.

10. Rushing Through Story Islands

Each story location in Raft is packed with environmental storytelling and lore revealed through scattered notes. Don’t just breeze through; explore every corner to collect them. They explain what happened to the world, the rise of water, and the fates of its survivors. Missing these notes means missing the heart of the game. If you’re still confused even after collecting them, there are guides available that break the story down step-by-step.

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By avoiding these mistakes, your journey through Raft will be smoother, more efficient, and a lot more fun. Keep building smart, stay sustainable, and explore every shadow of this waterlogged world. There’s more than just survival out there—there’s a story, and it’s yours to discover.

Until next time, good luck and happy sailing!