Dead Rails Building Guide, All & What You Can Find Here!

Dead Rails offers a wide variety of buildings across its map, each with unique features, loot, and potential hazards. Whether you’re looking for quick loot, valuable items, or just a safe place to rest, understanding the best buildings to target can greatly improve your experience. In this guide, we’ll explore all the key buildings in Dead Rails, rate them by tier, and provide tips on which ones are worth your time.

All Common Building in Dead Rails

1. Houses

Tier: C
Houses are the most basic building type in Dead Rails. They offer random loot like bandages, coal, and occasionally valuable items such as gold or silver. However, these buildings rarely provide anything essential after the early stages of the game. Unless you’re desperate for basic supplies like fuel, it’s best to avoid spending too much time here as the loot is often disappointing.

2. Head Frames (Mineshaft Entrances)

Tier: B
These buildings are similar to houses but feature a little extra detail, including minecarts and the potential for better loot. You’ll find items like melee weapons, barbed wire, and sometimes defensive equipment. While these are fairly rare, they’re worth stopping by early in the game for some useful items. However, once you’re past the early stages, these may not offer much of value.

3. Furniture Stores

Tier: A
Furniture stores are a great stop, especially if you’re in need of fuel. You can usually find chairs, coal, and sometimes more valuable items like wood or scrap. These buildings aren’t game-changers but offer a good amount of useful items that can help you survive longer. They’re always worth a visit when you’re nearby, making them one of the more reliable locations to loot.

4. General Stores

Tier: A
General stores are a must-visit due to their wide variety of items. From fuel and armor to healing items and weapons, these stores usually have something to help you survive. The items here are useful in nearly every situation, so make sure to stop by whenever you spot one. The variety they offer makes them a solid A-tier building.

5. Abandoned Gunsmith Buildings

Tier: S
Abandoned gunsmiths are one of the most valuable buildings in Dead Rails. They have a wide range of guns, ammo, and sometimes even more specialized equipment. These buildings are always worth stopping at, as you can never have enough weapons or ammo. If you come across one, don’t hesitate to loot it — it’s one of the best ways to gear up for the next phase of the game.

6. Sheriff’s Office

Tier: S
The sheriff’s office is another must-visit location in Dead Rails, especially in the desert. It has all the same items as a gunsmith but often includes additional valuable loot, such as golden items, armor, and special tools. The potential for high-quality loot makes this building one of the best places to stop, and it’s worth visiting no matter where it’s located.

7. Doctor’s Office / Clinic

Tier: S
Doctor’s offices are always worth stopping at due to their guaranteed healing items, which are crucial for survival. These buildings also contain other useful random items that may come in handy. If you find yourself in need of medical supplies or just want to stock up, these are perfect locations to loot.

8. Churches

Tier: A
Churches are special because they don’t spawn with zombies, making them a safe retreat when you’re overwhelmed. They typically contain a few valuable items, such as crucifixes and holy water, which can be used as weapons or sold for a good price. These buildings are not overly abundant but always provide useful loot, especially when you’re in a town.

9. Banks

Tier: S
Banks are one of the best buildings to loot in Dead Rails. They contain large amounts of gold and silver, and after defeating the banker zombie, you can open the vault for even more valuable items, including bonds (the premium currency). If you come across a bank, make sure to loot it immediately as it offers high rewards for minimal effort.

10. Bandit Camps (Outlaws)

Tier: S
Bandit camps are great for early-game progression. These locations spawn with bandits, which drop valuable loot like guns, ammo, armor, and even bonds. They’re perfect for quickly gearing up, and the bandits themselves sell for a good amount of money. Given the high rewards and relatively low risk, bandit camps are always worth stopping at.

11. Farms / Barns

Tier: B
Farms are fairly rare and usually located far from the tracks, making them hard to spot. While they may contain some decent items, the loot here is generally underwhelming compared to other buildings. The one exception is that farms are guaranteed to have a horse spawn, so if you or a friend need one, it’s worth checking out. However, overall, these buildings are not as valuable as others.

Special Locations

1. Tesla Lab

Tier: S
The Tesla Lab is a one-time special building that guarantees high-value loot, including gold and silver, as well as an item called the “brain in jar,” which sells for $250. Additionally, completing the Easter egg in the lab unlocks a powerful weapon and extra bonds. This location is hands down one of the best to loot for free loot without any major risk.

2. Castle

Tier: A
The castle is a high-risk, high-reward location. It’s filled with tough enemies, but if you manage to clear it, you’ll be rewarded with a ton of loot, including gold, weapons, ammo, and the famous vampire knife. This building is difficult to navigate, so it’s best for experienced players who are ready for a challenge.

3. Military Base / Fort Constitution

Tier: A
Similar to the castle, the military base is another high-risk location, but it’s less difficult to clear. The main rewards here are cannonballs, bonds, and a variety of guns and ammo. If you’re looking for heavy weaponry and premium currency, the military base is worth the risk.

Understanding the value of each building in Dead Rails is crucial to success. Whether you’re looking for weapons, healing supplies, or high-value loot, there are certain buildings that stand out as the best options to target. S-tier locations like the Gunsmith, Sheriff’s Office, and Bank are always worth your time, while others like the Farm and House might be better skipped once you’ve progressed in the game. Keep an eye out for these key buildings, and make sure to loot them whenever you can for the best rewards.