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Rust adds permanent blockers to red keycard monuments

A Steam announcement published on September 3, 2026, introduces monument blockers around Rust's red keycard puzzle rooms. The new obstacles require heavy damage to destroy, while weaker versions can be broken with melee attacks. Once removed, a blocker will not respawn, and any blocker still standing after 24 hours will begin to decay.

The change targets the first players reaching high-value monuments during a wipe. The blockers are intended to slow early access to red keycard loot without permanently changing the route after the opening day. Rust players can find the game's server directory at /rust.

Tool Cupboard tax rises with larger groups

Tool Cupboard upkeep now counts players directly authorised to the cupboard, people deauthorised within the previous 24 hours, code-lock users and recently removed code-lock users. The first four counted players add no extra tax, players five through ten add 2% each, and every player after that adds 4%.

The examples in the September 3 announcement set the scale clearly: six players produce a 4% upkeep increase, while 12 players produce a 20% increase. The tax is capped at 300%, and the active percentage appears when players hover over the upkeep cost inside the Tool Cupboard interface.

Server owners can modify or disable the group scaling through ConVars in the Decay class. That leaves community and modded servers with control over whether large bases use the default upkeep rules.

Drone deliveries depend on Power Plant charge

The Drone marketplace is now linked to the Power Plant system added the previous month. At least four active fuses are needed to raise the marketplace's built-in battery, and purchases become available once the charge reaches 50%.

Keeping at least one fuse in the Power Plant prevents the battery from falling, but the marketplace deactivates again if its charge drops below 50%. Players can check the current level on the marketplace map screen, making the Power Plant an operational requirement for drone deliveries rather than a separate monument objective.

Rare HQM and a new healing craft

High quality metal ore nodes and collectables now appear across the island, although they are described as extremely scarce. The Jungle offers better chances of finding an HQM node. Workbench Level 1 also gains the Medical Honey Bandage, which uses honey as a healing option between the regular Bandage and Medical Syringe.

Attack helicopter armour breaks in stages

Attack Helicopter cockpit armour now falls away in stages as it takes damage. The left panel fails at 80% condition after 680 damage, the right panel at 70% after 595 damage, and the front panel at 60% after 510 damage, exposing the pilot and gunner as protection is lost.

Large groups face more upkeep decisions

The update leaves solo players and small groups outside the first four-player tax tier, while larger teams must balance additional members against upkeep costs. Combined with permanent monument blockers and powered drone access, early-wipe progress now places more pressure on group size, base costs and control of infrastructure.

Heavy Fuses restart Rust's Power Plant

Facepunch's August 6, 2026 Rust announcement introduces Player Maintained Monuments, a feature set that connects existing monuments through shared infrastructure. Heavy Fuses now appear as loot and can be installed in new fuse boxes at the Power Plant. Players must supply enough fuses to activate its connected systems, rather than unlocking every function at once. Read more about the game on the Rust server directory.

Once the Power Plant is running, roadside transformers can supply electricity to circuits, and players can climb the powerlines by jumping toward them. Green recyclers outside safe zones receive a lower unpowered efficiency, sitting 10% below their powered 60% rate, while maximum plant power cuts their processing time from 5 seconds to 4.5 seconds. A new red recycler at the Power Plant reaches 75% efficiency, but it only works at maximum power.

Launch Site satellite crashes announce loot to everyone

The Launch Site now contains a Satellite Control Computer that requires tech trash and an aiming module. After activation, players select a crash location by using the satellite's thrusters, then lock in the descent. The satellite remains visible across the server before impact, and its loot crates become available after they cool down. Because the event broadcasts its location through the crash itself, looting it creates a server-wide contest rather than a private monument run.

Oil rigs can pump crude toward Dome

Powering the island also activates a new switch on the Large Oil Rig, which pumps crude oil for 20 minutes. Players need the Tanker vehicle module to drain the oil and then must transport it to a car lift for extraction. The Small Oil Rig has a matching switch that operates at half the rate, while running both rigs together produces 1.5 times the crude output.

Powered utilities add food and water routes

The Supermarket's new freezer supplies chilled food while connected to the Power Plant and occasionally produces a larger food cache. Water pipes now appear beside roads, but they begin empty until players maintain the Water Treatment Plant. Two gearboxes inside the monument require gears and an active power grid to pressurize its new water tank, after which the system clears blockages and restores water flow across the map.

Power Trip makes infrastructure a shared target

For players choosing a Rust server tonight, the update shifts valuable rewards toward locations that need cooperation, maintenance or public access. The 75% recycler, satellite crates and combined 1.5x crude production give groups reasons to contest the same powered monuments, while the server-wide satellite impact makes secrecy harder once the event begins.