Pirate Sword and Pirate Gun in Build and Defend Your Raft
New September 6 weapon set unlocked via Blueprints — sword on back, gun on hip, tiered and visible on the character model.
The September 6 Saturday patch added two new weapons to Build and Defend Your Raft: the Pirate Sword and the Pirate Gun. Both are unlocked through the Blueprints system, render visibly on the character model, and belong to a tiered weapon system that lets you collect variants without a forced sequence. This page covers what they are, how to get them, and where they sit in the meta after the same patch nerfed harpoon range.
What they are
The Pirate Sword is a runed greatsword. Community reports from the official Discord describe it as visually prominent — it rides on the back when equipped, visible to everyone on the server. The Pirate Gun is its ranged counterpart, worn on the hip. Both are craftable through the Blueprints system (see the Blueprints guide for how that unlock path works).
These are not cosmetic-only items. The sword is a close-range weapon useful in both gather defense and raids. The gun extends that toolkit into mid-range. Both benefit from the September 6 harpoon range reduction, which pushed the meta closer to the deck and made the old extreme-distance gather-and-run play weaker.
Visible weapon display
One confirmed quality-of-life addition from the September 6 patch is visible weapon display across all tiered weapons, not just the Pirate set. When you equip a weapon it now renders on your character rather than sitting invisible in the inventory. For the Pirate Sword and Pirate Gun specifically:
- Sword displays on the back — the blade and hilt are visible above the shoulder
- Gun displays on the hip — the barrel and grip sit at the character’s side
This change also introduced free weapon swapping: any owned weapon can be equipped in any order without progressing through a linear unlock sequence. Tier variants of the same weapon type can be collected alongside each other.
How to unlock
Both weapons are unlocked through the Blueprints system — a passive unlock layer added in the same September 6 patch. Blueprints unlock through continued play rather than direct Scrap spending at the Crafting Table. The exact trigger conditions are not published by Raft Pirates, but early community consensus is that time in live servers, gathering milestones, and session participation all contribute.
Until Raft Pirates publishes the exact Blueprint unlock formula, the practical advice is: keep playing after each Saturday patch and check whether new options appear on your loadout. See the Blueprints guide for how that system works.
Tier system
The weapons are tiered — the same weapon type can have multiple variants across tiers rather than a single flat unlock. The tiered system means:
- You can collect tier variants of both the sword and the gun
- No forced linear progression between tiers
- The inventory rework lets you swap between owned tiers freely
Community reports confirm tier-based variants exist but have not published the exact tier breakdown. As with all recipe information on this wiki, we do not invent tier lists. Check the live Crafting Table or Blueprints UI after Saturday patches for confirmed tier data.
Place in the meta
The September 6 patch made two changes that directly affect how these weapons are used:
Harpoon range reduced for Tiers 2–4. The gather tool is now weaker at range. The practical effect: staying close to your raft for gathering and defense is more important than it was before. The Pirate Sword, as a close-range weapon, becomes more relevant when the harpoon you might have used to stay at distance is now shorter.
Destroyed defenses now rebuild themselves. Defensive pieces restore after a fight automatically, reducing repair downtime. This means the Pirate Sword and Gun matter more during active board fights since the defensive pieces they face will be at full strength more often.
The tier list for weapons has more on kit rankings and how the Pirate set compares to harpoons, Crafting Table gear, and turtle kits.
Related pages
- Blueprints guide — how the unlock system works
- Weapon tier list — kit rankings and comparison
- September 6 patch notes — full patch details
- How to raid — how to use close-range kit on the attack
- How to defend — how to use it on the home deck
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common raft, raid, and code questions.
How do I unlock the Pirate Sword and Pirate Gun?
Through the Blueprints system added in the September 6 patch. They unlock through continued play rather than direct Crafting Table spending. Keep playing and check after Saturday patches.
Where does the Pirate Sword appear on my character?
On your back — the blade and hilt are visible above the shoulder when equipped.
Where does the Pirate Gun appear on my character?
On your hip — the barrel and grip sit at the character's side when equipped.
Are the weapons tiered?
Yes. Both the Pirate Sword and Pirate Gun have tier variants. You can collect multiple tiers without a forced linear progression, and swap between them freely.
How does the harpoon range nerf affect these weapons?
The September 6 patch reduced harpoon range for Tiers 2–4, making close-range gather and combat more important. The Pirate Sword and Gun are closer-range kit, so they benefit from this shift in the meta.