Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is finally out on PlayStation 5. One of the most highly anticipated releases of the year, it is the continuation of one of PlayStation’s most beloved franchises.
With its history, there are many aspects of the game that have been well established. But whether you’re a long-time fan or playing for the first time, this Rift Apart tips and tricks guide covers the basic methodology for combat, exploration, and collectibles.
From how to use your wrench effectively to understanding expert movement and picking up all of the game’s shinies, the tips and tricks below will help you make the most of your time in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.
Your Wrench is Your Friend and Great for Crowd Control
The first thing anyone should know about playing a Ratchet and Clank game is that the wrench is an absolutely vital part of gameplay. Your wrench is your first and best weapon within every Ratchet and Clank game, and you should aim to be familiar with it. In Rift Apart, Rivet’s hammer works in the exact same way, so everything bout the wrench below follows for Rivet’s hammer, as well.
It is excellent for crowd control, as you’ll often find yourself surrounded by multiple enemies. The ground slam is an exceptionally strong attack that will do away with enemies at any point in the game. This doesn’t mean you should use your wrench all the time, though that is a strategy that shouldn’t be overlooked.
You’ll also want to use your wrench as a way to save ammo, since the ammo crates you find might not always have the ammo type you need. It’s worth mentioning as well that in arena challenges, which require you only use one weapon, you can still use your wrench without being penalized for it.
Strafe and Use the Phantom Dash
More important than which weapons you use, how you move across the different battle areas is vital to your survival. You’ll strafe far more often then you’ll walk, moving side to side with a jump here or there to avoid oncoming fire. Like in previous Ratchet titles, don’t be afraid to move and jump liberally in battle.
This is where Rift Apart also introduces a new mechanic, the Phantom Dash. It’s a dash move that lets you move through enemy attacks without taking damage, though it does take about half a second for the landing animation to finish. That can leave you open to attacks from time to time, so be careful with your timing. When in doubt, jumping immediately as you land can help you avoid an attack that would have otherwise hit you when landing after a dash.
Don’t Forget to Zoom Around with the Hoverboots
Rift Apart also re-introduces a fan favorite from the series, the Hoverboots. These now let you speed across the map, something extremely usefeul for quick getaways in combat and for exploration.
You’ll find that until you get your Hoverboots and the Phantom Dash, many areas are blocked off. Ratchet & Clank has a history of making players utilize their gadgets to find every nook and cranny, so make sure to backtrack through planets you’ve already visited once you get your Hoverboots.
Look Up for Collectibles
When I say look up, I mean that looking around each room before you leave is always worth it. Rift Apart has more than a few collectibles that are simply hiding away on platforms above, only accessible with your Rift Tether.
If you’ve looked around an area and are still having trouble locating a collectible, look at your map. Collectibles will appear on your map after you’ve been near them, and you can even place a pin on them, which helps lead you directly to whatever you’re looking for.
That Shiny Stuff is Helpful
There are six different types of collectible items in Rift Apart:
- Bolts
- Raritanium
- Armor
- Spybots
- Gold bolts
- Lorbs
Each of them serve their own purposes, and they’re all important, though some are more important than others.
Bolts
Bolts are the main currency in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart with which you’ll buy weapons and ammo, so they are important to pick up and farm any chance you get. Enemies drop bolts like crazy after defeating them, but make sure to go and grab them, since they don’t float to you automatically.
Raritarium
Raritanium is what you use to upgrade weapons, which makes it just as vital as Bolts. You’ll find Raritarium scattered across each map, so keep an eye out. It has a distinct blue glow and crystal design. Sometimes it is attached to the side of a structure, sometimes it’s on the ground. Just keep an eye out.
Armor
Armor can be found on regular maps, but it’s mostly found within pocket dimensions, which are short platforming puzzles on each planet. Each piece of armor comes with a passive upgrade that increases when you find the rest of the set. Find all three armor pieces and gain the maximum bonus. For example, the Galactic Ranger armor gives you a 20% increase to melee damage.
The best part is that because the bonuses are passive, you’ll always have the bonuses because you collected the armor, so no need to wear it if you don’t like the style.
Spybots
Spybots aren’t exactly necessary to find in the way Bolts and Raritanium are, but you’ll want to find all 10 for several reasons. Along with some backstory on each planet in Rift Apart, each spybot gets you another piece of the blueprints for the Ryno 8, an ultra-powerful weapon and Easter-egg machine. You’ll also get the Aim to Misbehave trophy in the process.
Gold Bolts
Gold bolts and lorbs are the two collectibles that would be categorized as the least necessary to collect, though I do recommend it. Gold bolts provide cheats like infinite ammo, and fun skins, game modifiers, and additional stickers/frames for photo mode. Getting 5 Gold Bolts gets you the Nooks and Crannies trophy, too.
Lorbs
Lorbs are Lombax Orbs, they are only found on Savali. Collecting them all will give you an armor set. They also provide some more information regarding the lore around the Dimensionator. The armour set you acquire is the Wasteland armour set, which gives you a decrease in damage taken from the local fauna of each planet.
Weapon Wheels Are Like Orges, They Both Have Layers
The last aspect you’ll need to understand about Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is, of course, your weapons. The franchise is infamous for its wacky, fun, and over-the-top arsenals, with Rift Apart continuing that legacy.
You’ll quickly find your favorites as you go, picking up some over others depending on your play style. But what’s important to understand about combat in Ratchet & Clank is that you need to utilize the entire weapon wheel.
Layering on different attacks and effects is key to wiping out large groups of enemies and doing heavy damage to tougher enemies and bosses. Mr. Fungi, the Topiary Sprinkler, the Glove of Doom, and the Bombardier are all weapons made exactly for high damage and crowd control.
While you let one of your weapons do the shooting or stunning for you, all you have to focus on is layering that damage with your more traditional weapon of choice. This helps keep the pressure on while you make a quick dodge or regroup and recover health.
If you don’t layer on multiple effects at once, fights will simply take a lot longer, and you’ll find yourself constantly low on ammunition for the weapons you do use. It’s ultimately a recipe for making things more difficult on yourself, which no one wants to do.
—
So there you have it! Whether you’ve played a Ratchet & Clank game before or not, I hope this guide helped you understand how best to succeed in the new PS5 exclusive. If you’re looking for more information on Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, check out our guides on how to acquire get all of the Zurpstones for Trudi as well as the weapons you should upgrade first.
