In many survival games, crafting is a vital mechanic that allows players to create the tools and other things needed to stay alive in an often harsh and unforgiving digital world. Each title in this overflowing genre possesses varying mechanics that go along with the crafting, but there are always staple components that stand out as being especially essential for a greater number of recipes and blueprints.
Those making a living in the indie game Rust can craft a huge variety of items as well as repair them and research more advanced pieces of technology. Many of such pursuits will require Scrap, a resource that represents minor metallic components like tiny gears, bolts, and more. There are a few ways to acquire Scrap, and these methods can often be used in conjunction to maximize the amount of Scrap gained.
Updated August 16, 2022 By Daniel Dilena: It's no surprise that the survival genre isn't among the most popular genre in the gaming community, and that's because there are dozens of brutal survival games that are against holding a player's hand. And one survival game that gamers know to be unforgiving is Rust, especially since it's an open-world multiplayer game. Once a player "dies" in Rust, they are forced to start over, meaning that anything they previously obtained or built is lost (unless they recover it from the player that killed them).
And whether a player is just starting or already diving into the vast ocean, Scrap remains one of the most critical resources in Rust that players can't get enough of. And while we covered specific actions players can perform to earn more Scrap, there are certain locations in the wilderness that are the best way to get Scrap.
Loot Scrap From Barrels & Crates
In every lootable container, there is a randomized variety and quantity of goods to be found, so solely relying on barrels, crates, and military crates for Scrap can potentially yield very little if the player is unlucky, however, the average amount of Scrap in each still makes them worth seeking out for players with great research, repair, and crafting needs.
Use Recyclers To Turn Spare Items Into Scrap
If one has a bunch of unneeded items and components lying around, they should head to the nearest Monument and seek out a Recycler to convert that junk into precious Scrap! Every Monument has at least 1 Recycler, and they get locked when someone is using them, so there's very little risk of theft. The amount of Scrap that players get per item inserted into a Recycler depends on the type of item as well as the durability remaining, with pristine items yielding the maximum return.
List Of Items That Give Scrap When Recycled (At Full Durability)
- Empty Propane Tank - 1 Scrap
- Metal Blade - 2 Scrap
- Road Sign - 5 Scrap
- Metal Pipe - 5 Scrap
- Sheet Metal - 8 Scrap
- Metal Spring - 10 Scrap
- Gears - 10 Scrap
- Semi-Automatic Gun Body - 15 Scrap
- SMG Gun Body - 15 Scrap
- Electric Fuse - 20 Scrap
- Tech Trash - 20 Scrap
- Rifle Gun Body - 25 Scrap
Explore Outposts To Find Crates & Recyclers
Players looking to hit up both of these Scrap-seeking methods at once should adventure to an Outpost, as they usually possess a decent number of barrels and crates as well as a Recycler. They also replenish the goods every once in a while, so they can be farmed for Scrap regularly. Gamers can go to an Outpost, clear it out, trade-in unwanted items at a Recycler, and then head home with a hefty haul of Scrap.
Keep An Eye Out For Tech Trash
Tech Trash, as one of the items that yield the most Scrap after being recycled, is definitely something players should keep an eye out for as they persist in this desolate world. There are a few items that give the player Tech Trash when recycled, which are usually cameras or other vision-related items.
List Of Items That Give Tech Trash When Recycled
- Targeting Computers
- CCTV Cameras
- C4
- Holo Sights (50% chance)
- Laser Sights (50% chance)
Best Areas to Find Scrap
On the Road
Dirt roads are one of the best areas for players to find Scrap in Rust. Players should look for Barrels (Standard Barrel, Biohazard Barrel, Oil Barrel, and Trash Can) and Food Crates scattered alongside the road as they usually have a decent amount of Scrap. Aside from Scrap, Barrels and Food Crates also have some of the best things to recycle for Scrap in Rust (especially after the Train Yard update), so even if players don't find Scrap, they can still recycle the items inside the Barrels.
Of course, players should avoid roaming the open road for too long as there's very little cover. And if a player wants to make their looting worthwhile, they can destroy Road Signs as they can be sold or used to make armor.
In the Ocean
There are two ways of farming Scrap from the ocean. But, before heading off to the ocean, players will need to find a Fishing Village to buy a sea-faring vehicle like a boat or kayak and diving equipment (Diving Tank, Diving Mask, and Diving Fins). Once obtained, players can set sail and look for floating "junk" and wrecked ships. Players can also find Underwater Labs containing some of the best items to recycle in Rust.
But, venturing into an Underwater Lab can be dangerous since it's often dark and hard to see. So, players should only explore this Monument if they have the proper equipment to navigate the area. On top of that, sometimes rival players place traps around the complex waiting for an unsuspecting victim to active them.
Near Monuments
In Rust, Monuments are any world-generated buildings that players cannot destroy and contain valuable items/materials, especially Scrap. As a result, rival players will often be found looting the area, meaning players will need to be cautious while searching inside a Monument. Moreover, some Monuments have hazardous items, so players must ensure they have their best armor equipped.
By far, the Train Yard is the best Monument to loot Scrap as there are dozens of Barrels, Food Crates, Military Crates, and Large Wooden Crates scattered around the yard. Players can also find a Repair Bench and Recycler within the area, which will allow them to recycle unwanted loot for Scrap. Power Plants are also a good source of Scrap and have less traffic than other Monuments but require a Hazmat Suit due to the Radiation in the area
Rust is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.