Challenge - Raft Guide

A guide to completing the Solo Challenge - Raft.

Introduction

A guide to completing the Solo Challenge - Raft. WARNING: YOU CANNOT SAVE DURING THE CHALLENGE, IT MUST BE COMPLETED IN ONE SITTING.

This challenge seems daunting at first but I have found a sure fire way to complete it, which will be described in the coming sections.

My first completion of the challenge with this strategy had me finish at 04:18 on Day 2. I then did the challenge again to take screenshots and completed it by 23:51 on Day 1!

First attempt with what is described in the guide.

The Raft

Now for the step by step. You will spawn at around 50'West 22/23'South. The raft location is at 50'West 17'South. SO GET WALKING NORTH.

1. - Immediately facing North from when you spawn there is a brazil tree. Grab its rope vines and the bluemushrooms. Then keep heading North collecting sticks, mushrooms and rope as you go. You will come to a river at 50'West 21'South, here you will find plenty of rocks to harvest and a cave behind the waterfall which will get you a piece of obsidian. Follow the river to the raft location collecting any coconuts you find.











2. - Once at the raft location, your first duty is to make a Rope Rack beside the raft. Once complete deposit your rope and get cutting. You will need 4 logs to begin with for the raft. Work efficiently, take 3 logs at a time, so remember to cut down a 3rd tree (you will likely need these logs later). I recommend cutting down the trees cover in ivy as you will also get rope from them. Deposit rope.




















3. - Now you will be required to get 27 long sticks. Start scouring the area above the raft, there are plenty of tall trees and regular trees to get sticks from. Again always collect 5 before heading to the raft. I even recommend dropping 5 sticks over the edge at times and going back for more so you dont lose them. Remember to keep collecting rope as you go.











4. Once the long sticks part is complete, you need 16 sticks, no problem, you have just been hacking everything down. Then 16 rope (remember i said make a rope stand, now you know why)











5. - Now the challenge. You need 24 coconuts. This hurt my head to think about at first but its actually rather straight forward. Make yourself a spear (1 long stick). Now up and down the beach and in the forest above the raft is loads of coconut trees. Simply hold middle mouse, wait for the crosshair to go small and launch your spear at the coconuts hanging in the trees. Each tree will have anywhere from 2 - 3 each. Fill your inventory and deposit. Repeat.











At 24 coconuts the challenge is won.

Resources, Shelter and Food

Now the trick to this is to act fast and collect as you go.

Shelter - I didn't build any except a rope stand.

Resources - You will find everything you need for the raft above it in the near jungle. Do not bother swimming to the other shore, Bamboo CANNOT be used. There is the odd Molineria plant around for bandages should you need them, as well as the odd herb for various treatments.

Food - I finished the challenge fast enough that food or water was never an issue. However mushrooms are key, they give you energy. The blue ones give you +10 and one of the yellow ones gives you +2. Keep stuffing your face with them as energy gets lower and this will avoid the need for sleep. As for water your beside it anyways, so just use brown mushrooms to deal with any parasites.

Tribesmen and Dangers

Tribesmen

You will not get any tribesmen on Day 1. So make the most of the freedom of movement and get chopping! I spotted my first tribesman at 02:30 on Day 2 and it kept its distance and was gone when i came back. Should you take till Day 3, they will be everywhere and very problematic. Speed is key.

Snakes

Be careful as you collect wood, I encountered 3 snakes in one attempt and only 1 in my next attempt. So watch your feet, listen for the hiss. Getting bitten will set you back massively.

Spiders

Didn't encounter any.

Fish

Piranhas in the water beside the raft, so don't go swimming. I didn't meet a stingray when following the river but that doesn't mean you wont.

[Lord Pipsqueak]

@WhimsicalAgony glad it helped, the spear at the docks is random, but if people feel they have the time its worth visiting there, even for to off chance of a machete or tins of food.

[WhimsicalAgony]

Honestly this is one of the better guides to this challenge. I completed it for the first time following your tips in 27 hours so in well under the 72 hour mark for success. I would recommend that you FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS on getting the wood needed for the raft during that first 24 hours. Grab the blue shrooms and any quick foods but I didn't focus at all on the regular survival stuff other than sleeping for 4 hours. I used the spear from the docks, and crafted several stone axes and hunted about 17 coconuts from the trees to complete it. I saw only 2 tribes men but was able to avoid them staying on the shore while they were in the small clearing above the raft area. Honestly the best guide for this challenge. Thank you!