Build a Boat for Treasure Tier List (2026) — Best Blocks Ranked

Build a Boat for Treasure by Chillz Studios on Roblox has been running since November 2016 and has crossed 4.9 billion visits. With over 196 blocks to choose from and roughly 21,000 players online at any given time, picking the right materials for your boat matters more than most people realize.

This tier list ranks every major building block by durability (HP), weight, accessibility, and overall usefulness for surviving the river. We've tested dozens of boat designs across hundreds of runs to figure out which blocks actually help you reach the treasure — and which ones fall apart before you hit the first obstacle. If you're looking for active Build a Boat codes to grab free gold and blocks, we keep a separate list updated daily.

S Tier — Best Blocks in Build a Boat

These are the blocks you want forming the core of every boat you build. They offer the highest durability in the game, and any serious builder should be stockpiling them whenever possible. If your boat's hull isn't made from at least one of these materials, you're leaving runs on the table.

Gold Block (9 HP)

Gold Block sits at the very top with 9 HP per block — the highest durability of any standard building material in the game. Nothing else comes close for raw tankiness. A boat with a gold core can absorb hits that would shred through lesser materials, and that extra survivability often means the difference between reaching the treasure and watching your boat disintegrate halfway through the course.

The catch is availability. You can't buy Gold Blocks from the shop. The only way to get them is by reaching the treasure chest at the end of a successful run. That creates a frustrating loop for newer players: you need Gold Blocks to build strong boats, but you need strong boats to earn Gold Blocks. Once you start stockpiling them, though, they're worth every run it takes to collect them.

For the best results, don't build your entire boat from gold. Place Gold Blocks in the center and along the base where impacts hit hardest. Fill the interior and upper sections with cheaper materials to conserve your supply. This layered approach gets you 80% of the protection at maybe 30% of the gold cost.

Obsidian Block (8 HP)

Obsidian is the block that experienced builders swear by. At 8 HP it's only 1 point behind Gold, but it has two massive advantages: it's incredibly lightweight at just 0.5 balloons to lift, and you can actually buy it. The shop sells 50 Obsidian Blocks for 425 gold, which makes stockpiling realistic even for mid-level players.

That weight-to-strength ratio is what really sets Obsidian apart. Heavy boats sink faster, handle worse in rapids, and struggle with jumps. Obsidian lets you build a tank that still moves like it weighs nothing. You can load up on durability without your float rating creeping into the risky range above 60, and that freedom changes how you design boats entirely.

If you forced us to pick just one block to recommend, it'd be Obsidian. The combination of near-top-tier HP, low weight, and shop accessibility makes it the most practical S-tier material in the game. Gold edges it out on raw durability, but Obsidian wins on everything else. For more strategies on earning the gold to buy Obsidian in bulk, check our Build a Boat free Robux guide.

Titanium Block (7 HP)

Titanium rounds out the S tier at 7 HP with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It's lighter than Metal and only 1 HP behind Obsidian, which makes it a strong pick for builders who want fast boats without sacrificing too much protection.

Where Titanium really shines is in speed-focused designs. If you're building a boat with Thrusters or Rockets, every bit of weight reduction matters. Titanium lets you build a durable frame that doesn't fight against your propulsion. The result is boats that reach the treasure faster because they're not dragging unnecessary mass through the water.

Titanium is available through Legendary Chests and occasionally through special events. It's harder to get than Obsidian but easier than Gold, putting it in a comfortable middle ground for accessibility. If you have access to it, use it generously — especially on boats where speed is the priority.

A Tier — Excellent Blocks

A-tier blocks are strong, reliable picks that perform well in almost every situation. They won't match S-tier durability numbers, but they're easier to obtain and still hold up against most obstacles you'll encounter on a run. These are the blocks that fill out a solid boat after you've placed your S-tier materials.

Metal Block (6 HP)

Metal Block is the workhorse of Build a Boat. At 6 HP it's sturdy enough to handle serious impacts, and it's one of the most commonly available materials in the game. You'll find Metal in chests regularly, and the shop prices are reasonable enough to stock up without grinding endlessly.

The main downside is weight. Metal is noticeably heavier than Titanium and Obsidian, so boats built primarily from Metal tend to sit lower in the water and handle sluggishly. Keep an eye on your float rating when using a lot of Metal — anything above 60 starts getting risky, and boats over 100 are dangerously heavy. Use Metal for the bottom hull where weight matters less and the water resistance actually helps with stability.

Marble Block (5–6 HP)

Marble offers solid HP in the 5 to 6 range, making it a reliable choice for structural reinforcement. It's heavier than Metal, which limits how much you can use before weight becomes a problem. But for targeted placement on the sides and bottom of a boat, Marble provides good protection at a reasonable cost.

Marble works particularly well as an outer shell when you're running low on S-tier materials. It won't crumble on the first hit like cheaper blocks, and the extra mass on the lower hull can actually improve stability in choppy sections. Think of Marble as the block you use when you need something tougher than Concrete but can't afford to burn through your Obsidian supply.

Portal Block

Portal Block is a rare find that can transform how your boat performs. The teleportation properties let you create shortcuts and repositioning mechanics that aren't possible with any other material. In the hands of a creative builder, Portal Blocks can save a run that would otherwise end in destruction by warping sections of your boat past obstacles.

The rarity is the limiting factor. You won't find Portal Blocks often, and when you do, you'll want to place them strategically rather than using them as bulk material. They're a specialized tool that earns A tier for the sheer impact they can have on a run when used correctly.

Huge Wheel (40 HP)

Here's where things get interesting. The Huge Wheel technically has the highest HP of any single block in the game at a staggering 40 HP. That's more than four times the durability of a Gold Block. So why isn't it S tier? Because it's a specialized block designed for wheeled vehicles, not traditional boats.

If you're building a land vehicle or a hybrid boat-car design, Huge Wheels are incredible. They absorb an absurd amount of damage and keep rolling. For standard boat construction, though, their shape and function make them impractical as general building material. They earn A tier because the players who know how to use them get massive value, but they're not something you'll slot into every build. For more creative build ideas, visit our Build a Boat hub page.

B Tier — Good Blocks

B-tier blocks fill important roles without standing out as stars. They're solid choices for specific situations — filler material, specialty applications, or budget builds when you're low on higher-tier resources. You won't regret using them, but they shouldn't be the foundation of your design.

Concrete Block (5 HP)

Concrete is the easiest material to get from chests, period. You'll accumulate stacks of it just by playing normally, which makes it the default building block for most players. At 5 HP it's not fragile — Concrete can take a few hits before breaking — but it can't compete with the durability of anything in A or S tier.

The sweet spot for Concrete is as inner filler. Layer your S-tier and A-tier materials on the outside where impacts happen, then fill the interior with Concrete. It adds structural mass without wasting precious materials on sections that rarely take direct hits. This approach stretches your valuable blocks further and keeps your boat's overall HP respectable.

Brick Block

Brick has the highest friction of any material in the game, which sounds niche until you realize what that enables. Custom wheels, tank treads, walker legs — any build that needs grip benefits enormously from Brick surfaces. Without high-friction materials, your mechanical creations just slide around uselessly.

For standard boats, Brick is less useful. The extra friction creates drag in water, and the durability doesn't justify the weight. But if you're the type of builder who experiments with non-traditional designs (and some of the most successful runs come from creative engineering), Brick is a tool you'll want in your inventory.

Stone Block

Stone is surprisingly rare for a basic-sounding material. It only drops from Common Chests in small amounts, making it harder to stockpile than you'd expect. The durability is decent — comparable to Concrete — but the scarcity means most players end up using their Stone sparingly.

There's no strong reason to prioritize Stone over Concrete or Brick unless you've got surplus from chest openings. It's a perfectly functional building block that just happens to be less accessible than alternatives at the same tier level.

Crystal Block

Crystal Block pairs reasonable durability with visual appeal. If you care about how your boat looks (and plenty of builders do), Crystal gives your design a polished, translucent aesthetic that stands out in lobbies. The HP is decent enough that using Crystal won't compromise your run.

Crystal is a B-tier pick because it does its job without excelling at anything in particular. It's tougher than C-tier materials and looks better than most blocks at this level, but it doesn't bring anything unique beyond aesthetics and solid-enough performance.

C Tier — Basic Blocks

C-tier blocks are the budget options. They're cheap, they're easy to get, and they'll fall apart fast when things get rough. Use them as filler, as lightweight top layers, or as sacrificial outer shells you expect to lose. They have their place in boat design, but that place is never the hull.

Wood Block (1 HP)

Wood is where everyone starts, and for good reason — it's the most basic, cheapest, and most abundant material in the game. At just 1 HP per block, a single hit from any obstacle will destroy it. That sounds terrible, and for hull construction it is. But Wood has a critical role as lightweight filler.

The float rating system makes weight management essential, and Wood is one of the lightest structural blocks available. By filling the upper sections and interior of your boat with Wood, you keep the total weight down while the stronger outer layers handle the impacts. A metal-and-gold hull with a wood interior floats better, moves faster, and reaches the treasure more reliably than a solid metal brick that can barely stay above water.

Plastic Block

Plastic is the lightest block in the entire game at just 0.001 balloons of weight. That's not a typo — it weighs almost nothing. Introduced during the Easter 2018 event, Plastic is the go-to material when you need to add structure without adding mass. If your boat is teetering at a float rating of 62 and you need to shave weight, swapping heavier filler blocks for Plastic can bring you back into the safe zone.

Durability is minimal. Plastic won't survive contact with obstacles, so keep it on the interior where it won't see combat. Think of it as structural air — it fills space and maintains your boat's shape without contributing meaningful weight or protection.

Cardboard

Cardboard is about as durable as it sounds. It's extremely cheap and extremely fragile, making it useful only as disposable filler or for testing boat designs before committing real materials. Some players build prototype boats entirely from Cardboard to test shapes and layouts, then rebuild the final version with proper blocks once they've confirmed the design works.

Outside of prototyping, Cardboard doesn't have much going for it. Even as filler, Wood and Plastic do the job better. But if you're brand new to the game and don't have resources yet, Cardboard lets you get on the water and start learning the course without waiting to accumulate better materials.

Glass

Glass is fragile but pretty. If you want windows, viewports, or transparent sections on your boat, Glass is the only option. It shatters quickly on impact, so keep it away from any surface that might contact obstacles. Interior decoration and protected upper sections are where Glass belongs.

Some builders use Glass to create cockpit canopies or observation domes that look impressive in the lobby. These rarely survive a full run, but Build a Boat is as much about creative expression as it is about reaching the treasure. If aesthetics matter to you, Glass earns its spot in your inventory — just don't expect it to protect anything.

Honorable Mentions — Utility Blocks

These blocks don't fit neatly into the tier list because they're not structural materials — they're functional components that make your boat actually work. No tier list of Build a Boat blocks would be complete without mentioning them.

Thruster — The bread and butter of boat propulsion. Thrusters provide forward force and are the most common way to move your boat through the course. Every build needs at least a few, and placement matters: rear-mounted Thrusters give the cleanest forward push, while angled Thrusters can help with steering.

Balloon — Adds buoyancy to counteract your boat's weight. If your float rating is climbing into risky territory (above 60), Balloons bring it back down. They're essential for heavy builds that rely on Metal and Marble for durability. Just protect them from impacts because a popped Balloon can sink a heavy boat fast.

Rocket — High-speed propulsion for players who want to blaze through the course. Rockets are powerful but hard to control. They're best used in short bursts or on streamlined boat designs that can handle the speed without flipping. Pair them with a Titanium frame for the best weight-to-thrust ratio.

Hinge & Servo — Mechanical parts for advanced builds. Hinges allow rotation and Servos provide motorized movement. They're the building blocks of walkers, transforming vehicles, and other engineering-heavy designs. If you're into the creative building side of the game, these are what separate simple rafts from engineering marvels.

Spring — Bounce utility for obstacle avoidance. Springs can launch your boat over hazards or provide suspension for wheeled vehicles. Situational but powerful when used correctly.

Magnet — Attracts nearby blocks, which is useful for collecting loose materials during a run or holding modular boat sections together. A creative tool that rewards experimentation.

Flex Tape — The repair block. Flex Tape binds damaged sections and can save a run when your boat takes a hit that would otherwise break it apart. Having a few Flex Tape strips on board is cheap insurance against catastrophic failure.

Tier List Summary Table

Block	Tier	HP	Key Trait
Gold Block	S	9	Strongest material; earned from treasure runs
Obsidian Block	S	8	Best overall; lightweight (0.5 balloons), buyable (425g/50)
Titanium Block	S	7	Excellent strength-to-weight for speed builds
Metal Block	A	6	Common, strong, heavier than alternatives
Marble Block	A	5–6	Solid HP, heavy; good outer shell
Portal Block	A	—	Rare; teleportation mechanics
Huge Wheel	A	40	Highest HP; specialized for wheeled vehicles
Concrete Block	B	5	Easiest to get from chests; decent filler
Brick Block	B	—	Highest friction; great for treads & custom wheels
Stone Block	B	—	Rare from Common Chests only
Crystal Block	B	—	Durability + visual appeal
Wood Block	C	1	Cheapest; lightweight filler
Plastic Block	C	—	Lightest block (0.001 balloons weight)
Cardboard	C	—	Very cheap, very fragile; prototyping only
Glass	C	—	Fragile; aesthetic/decorative use

How We Ranked These Blocks

This tier list isn't based on guesswork. We evaluated every block across four criteria to produce rankings that reflect actual in-game performance as of April 2026:

Durability (HP): The most straightforward metric. Higher HP means your block survives more hits before breaking. Gold at 9 HP and Obsidian at 8 HP dominate this category, while Wood at 1 HP barely registers. We weighted durability most heavily because surviving obstacles is the core challenge of every run.

Weight and float rating: A block that's strong but sinks your boat isn't practical. We factored in how each material affects your boat's float rating. Safe builds stay at 60 or below, risky builds sit between 61 and 100, and anything above 100 is dangerously heavy. Obsidian's 0.5-balloon weight is why it edges out many competitors despite having slightly lower HP.

Accessibility: How easy is it to actually get this block? Gold requires completing runs. Obsidian costs 425 gold for 50 blocks. Concrete drops from nearly every chest. We penalized blocks that are strong but nearly impossible to stockpile, and rewarded blocks that you can reliably build with match after match.

Versatility: Some blocks serve one purpose well. Others work in multiple contexts. Obsidian works in every boat design. Brick only matters for friction-based builds. Huge Wheel is incredible for vehicles but useless for boats. Versatile blocks scored higher because they provide value regardless of your build style.

We also tested each material in actual runs rather than relying solely on stat sheets. A block's listed HP only tells part of the story — real-world performance on the course, interaction with water physics, and behavior during collisions all factor into how useful a material actually is. Our Build a Boat vs Fish It comparison covers how these mechanics compare to similar Roblox building games.

Frequently Asked Questions