Tevatha · Scoring Methodology
How We Grade Gear
Every item in the Provisioner catalog is scored across five objective dimensions. No sponsored placements. No affiliate relationships. No brand exceptions. A low-scoring item receives a C or D regardless of brand recognition.
Grade Thresholds
Non-negotiable. Acquire before anything else.
High value. Acquire after all Grade A items are covered.
Situational. Adequate if nothing better is available in category.
Not recommended. Better options exist in every case.
The Five Dimensions
Durability
100 →
100 = Military-spec. Survives submersion, impact, extreme heat/cold. Expected lifespan 10+ years with zero maintenance.
0 →
0 = Consumer-grade. Fails under first-use field stress. Planned obsolescence within 1–2 years.
Examples
Grid Independence
100 →
100 = Zero reliance on grid power, cell networks, or supply chains. Fully self-contained.
0 →
0 = Non-functional without grid power or continuous internet/cell connectivity.
Examples
Field Repairability
100 →
100 = Any component repairable or replaceable with hand tools, common parts, and basic mechanical knowledge.
0 →
0 = Sealed unit requiring factory service or proprietary software to repair. Unrepairable in the field.
Examples
Value Density
100 →
100 = Maximum life-saving utility per dollar. Cost is negligible relative to the scenario it prevents.
0 →
0 = High cost, marginal utility uplift. Duplicate capability already covered by higher-grade item.
Examples
Supply Chain
100 →
100 = Available globally. Multiple manufacturers. No single point of failure. Stocked at retail.
0 →
0 = Single manufacturer. Import-dependent. Frequently out of stock. No substitute available.
Examples
Safety Index — Real Estate
Real estate listings are scored on a separate four-dimension Safety Index, measuring how well a location functions as an Ark node in a high-severity scenario.
Nuclear Distance
Proximity away from likely nuclear strike zones based on NATO target analysis and FEMA nuclear planning zones. 100 = no known strategic value, no nearby military installation, southern hemisphere preferred.
Disaster Risk
Inverse natural disaster exposure. Sources: FEMA Hazus, EM-DAT global disaster database, national emergency management agencies. 100 = minimal seismic, flood, wildfire, and extreme weather risk.
Population Density
Inverse population density score. Lower density = higher score. 100 = fewer than 2 people per km². Extreme rural isolation scores maximum. Urban proximity lowers score.
Political Stability
Composite of Global Peace Index (GPI) rank and Freedom House freedom index. 100 = top 3 GPI + full democracy rating. Accounts for civil conflict risk, rule of law, and property rights security.
Editorial Independence
Tevatha is a nonprofit with zero revenue from any product listing, affiliate link, or brand relationship. All external links go directly to manufacturer or retailer sites. Scores are assigned by Tevatha analysts and are not negotiable with brands. A Grade D item will be listed as Grade D. Period.