Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is more than a visually jaw-dropping ride through a multi-dimensional universe—it’s also dense with secrets, smart systems, and combat nuances that the game doesn’t always highlight. Whether you’re brand new to the franchise or a seasoned veteran, these 12 starter tips will help you master the chaos, level your weapons smartly, and hunt down every collectible like a true Lombax hero.
1. Experiment With Every Weapon—Seriously
Each weapon in Rift Apart is more than just another gadget with a silly name. They offer unique functionality, and while some overlap in role (like crowd control or precision damage), they all perform a little differently in combat. It’s tempting to rely on two or three favorites—but resist that urge. Weapon diversity isn’t just fun, it’s strategic.
Weapons level up the more you use them, maxing out at level 5 during your first playthrough. This not only makes them more powerful but often unlocks a unique perk that changes how they function. Take the Negatron Collider, for example. Early on, it might feel underwhelming. But at level 5, it triggers an explosion at the end of its beam—a game-changer in crowded fights. The Lightning Rod, meanwhile, becomes a potent alternative to the Blast Pistol with its chain-lightning shock trails.
Mix things up—you’ll become more versatile, and you’ll probably end up finding a new favorite.
2. Support Weapons Should Open Every Fight
When a swarm of enemies appears, your instinct might be to jump into the fray guns blazing. But veterans of the franchise know the better move is to set the stage. Support weapons like Mr. Fungi, Glove of Doom, Bombardier, Cold Snap, and Topiary Sprinkler can help you take control before you even fire your first shot.
Start by lobbing in your assist tools. Mr. Fungi and the Glove of Doom can flood the battlefield with autonomous allies, drawing fire and chipping away at enemies. Cold Snap and Topiary Sprinkler are fantastic for freezing or immobilizing enemies en masse. (The sprinkler is a set-it-and-forget-it star, while Cold Snap lets you target specific enemies quickly.)
And yes—you can stack multiples of Mr. Fungi or the Glove of Doom, but Bombardier unfortunately doesn’t allow this.
3. Spend Raritanium Wisely—Not Widely
Raritanium is rare (shocking, we know). And unlike bolts, it’s a limited resource per playthrough. So don’t waste it on scattered upgrades across every weapon. Instead, pick your favorites and focus on leveling them until you unlock the golden upgrade nodes on their skill trees. These bonus perks can significantly improve a weapon’s effectiveness and are often worth far more than minor stat boosts.
Planning ahead with raritanium investments will help you build a weapon loadout that dominates faster and ensures you’re not left with half-upgraded, underwhelming gear.
4. Use D-Pad Mapping to Streamline Combat
The weapon wheel is efficient, but real-time combat can get hectic fast. Thankfully, you can assign your four favorite weapons to the D-pad for instant access. Open the weapon wheel, highlight your gun of choice, and press a D-pad direction to assign it.
This is perfect for creating a rapid-loadout—like quick access to a support weapon, a heavy hitter, a crowd control tool, and your go-to blaster.
5. Don’t Hoard Bolts—Spend Them
You’ll earn bolts constantly, and Ms. Zurkon always has something new to sell. There’s little benefit in hoarding them. While it’s smart to prioritize weapons you actually want, don’t stress about buying everything eventually—bolts flow freely.
Keep in mind that Ms. Zurkon often teases upcoming weapons before they’re actually available. If you’re nearing the end of a planet and loaded with bolts, consider waiting until the next planet to see what becomes available.
6. Use Rifts to Stay Mobile During Fights
It’s easy to lock into one corner of the battlefield, circle-strafing and ducking behind cover. But that’s a quick route to getting flanked or overwhelmed. Most battle arenas are littered with Rift Tethers—iconic purple portals that let you instantly warp across space.
Use them! Not just to dodge danger, but to reposition, flank, or escape when you’re getting overrun. A teleporting Lombax is a hard target to hit.
7. Skip Puzzles If You Need To
Clank’s rift-based puzzle sequences return, and while they’re clever, they’re not for everyone. If you’re stuck—or just not in the mood—pause the game and select the “Skip Puzzle” option. There’s no penalty, and you’ll still get all the rewards you would’ve earned otherwise.
8. Explore Every Fork in the Road
Rift Apart might look linear, but every planet is full of hidden nooks, side paths, and secret chambers. Often, these contain raritanium caches or collectibles like Spybots, which are required to unlock one of the game’s most powerful weapons.
Keep your curiosity sharp. If the main path is straight ahead, check the left tunnel. Look for grapple points, wall runs, or out-of-place ledges. Exploration always pays off.
9. Use the Map Religiously for Collectibles
The in-game map in Rift Apart is more useful than you might expect. As you explore, any nearby collectible—visible or not—will be automatically marked on your map once you’ve been close to it. This includes raritanium, gold bolts, armor pieces, and more.
Check the map screen often as you explore, especially when backtracking or wrapping up a planet. Many levels also contain areas that can’t be accessed on your first visit, so don’t stress if something feels out of reach. Return with new tools later and it’ll all make sense.
10. Armor Buffs Are Passive—Wear What You Want
As you collect armor pieces, you’ll unlock set bonuses like increased melee damage or reduced damage from pirates. But here’s the secret: you don’t need to wear the armor to benefit from its buffs. The bonuses are applied globally once you collect the pieces, so feel free to wear whatever looks cool.
And yes—you can recolor armor too. Press square while highlighting a piece to swap color palettes.
11. The Treasure Map Is Worth the Effort
If you complete the optional treasure hunt quest on Ardolis, you’ll earn an item that marks nearly every remaining collectible on your map. It’s a massive time-saver if you’re hunting 100% completion.
Note, however, that this item won’t mark CraggerBears—a hidden collectible required for certain trophies.
12. Don’t Overachieve the Trudy Quest Early
After Zerky’s multiple calls, you’ll unlock a new side quest back on Sargasso involving Trudy the alien pterodactyl. Initially, you’ll collect 10 Zerpstones by foot. Don’t try to grab more early, because some are unreachable until you progress.
Once you return the 10, Mort will reward you and give you a new goal: 30 Zerpstones for a Ranger Helmet, and eventually all 60 for a Spybot. After collecting enough, Trudy gains the ability to fly and later breathe fire. Her fire breath is the only way to get certain final Zerpstones.
So again—don’t overachieve early. Follow the quest structure and it’ll all unlock properly.
With these tips, your journey through Rift Apart’s dazzling worlds will be smoother, smarter, and more rewarding. From weapon mastery to collectible hunting, now you’ve got the inside scoop that even the in-game tutorials won’t tell you.
Lock and load, dimensional hero. Your adventure is just beginning.
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