The Over the Straits event in Survivor.io is one of the recurring limited-time bridge-building events that rewards players with rare relics, selectors, and chests. While it may look simple, proper planning is key if you want to get the event chest for free without wasting resources or spending gems.
This guide breaks down exactly how many hammers you can earn for free, how to use them efficiently, and whether you can realistically claim the main rewards as a free-to-play player.
1. Event Overview
In the Over the Straits event, your goal is to build bridges across a chain of islands using Hammers.
Each bridge you build brings you closer to major milestone rewards such as:
- Relic Chests
- Gear Selectors
- Event-exclusive Materials
Hammers are the core event currency. You’ll spend them to progress through the map, and the total number you earn determines how far you can go without spending gems.
2. Free Hammer Sources
From the event mission list, you can earn up to 368 Hammers for free.
However, there’s a catch — getting the full amount requires you to open around 600 chests during the event.
Here’s how hammers are typically earned:
- Daily Missions (login, complete stages, open chests)
- Event Challenges (defeat bosses, level up gear)
- Milestone Tasks (open cumulative number of chests)
Important:
You don’t need to open all 600 chests to make good progress. The upper limit of 368 Hammers assumes full participation, but you can still earn enough for key rewards at around 200–300 chests opened.
3. Hammer Efficiency & Bridge Costs
To progress across each island, you’ll need to build bridges using Hammers.
The average hammer cost per bridge is about 5 to 6 Hammers.
So with 368 free Hammers, you can build approximately:
368 ÷ 5.5 ≈ 66 bridges
That’s more than enough to reach the event relic chest, assuming your progress path is efficient and you don’t waste hammers on random bridges.
4. Can You Get the Relic or Chest for Free?
Yes — it’s possible to get the main relic or event chest for free if you use your hammers smartly.
The key is to avoid opening too many event chests early. The drop rate and task efficiency improve over time, and new daily missions might appear as the event continues.
Recommended Strategy:
- Don’t rush early. Save all your event keys and hammers.
- Wait until the final day to open your chests and calculate exactly how many hammers you have.
- Spend hammers only when you can complete a bridge efficiently.
By following this, you’ll avoid running short on hammers mid-event and ensure you use every one towards progress that actually counts.
5. Optional Gem Spending
If you fall short near the end:
- You can spend a small number of gems to buy extra keys or hammers.
- However, this is optional — the event’s free progression is already balanced enough for active daily players.
Don’t spend gems early. Wait until you see how close you are to the final chest or relic reward before deciding if it’s worth it.
6. Bonus Reward: Selector from the Map
Apart from the relic chest, you’ll also get a Selector reward directly from the map as you progress.
This lets you choose a specific item or gear piece, making it a valuable addition for upgrading your build during or after the event.
7. Quick Tips Summary
- Max Free Hammers: 368 (requires ~600 chests)
- Average Hammer Cost per Bridge: 5–6
- Free Relic/Chest Possible: Yes, with careful play
- When to Spend: Final day of event
- Avoid: Opening all 300–600 chests early
- Optional Spend: Use gems only for last-minute keys if close to reward
The Over the Straits event in Survivor.io is more about timing and resource management than luck.
If you plan correctly, log in daily, and save your openings until the last day, you can absolutely grab the event relic and selector rewards without spending a single gem.
Take it slow, build your bridges efficiently, and make sure every hammer counts — that’s the real key to conquering Over the Straits.
