Trading & Economics Guide

Vending machines are the primary player-to-player trading mechanism in Rust. They allow you to sell items from your base while you are away, creating a passive income stream.

Obtaining vending machines: Vending machines are craftable at Workbench Level 1 (20 HQM, 3 Gears). They can also be found in monuments and at abandoned bases. Purchasing from the Outpost is another option when available.

Placement strategy: - Place vending machines in the outer wall of your base, facing outward so customers can access them without entering your compound. - Build a dedicated shop room with the vending machine accessible from outside but the storage/restocking accessible from inside. - Place near a road or high-traffic area for maximum visibility. Vending machines that are off the beaten path receive fewer customers. - Add clear signs (using the Sign system) advertising your prices and available goods.

Setting up listings: 1. Access the vending machine from the admin side (inside your base). 2. Add items to sell in the sell slots. 3. Set the buy price (what currency you accept -- scrap, sulfur, HQM, etc.). 4. Configure the listing name for clarity. 5. Enable the vending machine.

Broadcasting: Vending machines with active listings appear on the map for all players. This broadcasts your shop location to the entire server, attracting customers but also potential raiders. Weigh the trade-off between visibility and security based on your base strength.

Shop protection: Place auto turrets near your vending machines to protect customers and deter raiders who might be attracted by your shop's inventory. A well-defended shop builds trust and repeat customers. Unprotected shops attract players who loot nearby items and cause trouble.

Outpost and Bandit Camp are NPC-controlled safe zones where players cannot attack each other. These locations serve as the commercial hubs of every Rust server.

Outpost: - Located in a temperate biome, Outpost is the primary safe zone for trading and purchasing essential items. - NPC vending machines sell: scrap, components, weapons, tools, building materials, and vehicles. - Key purchases: Minicopter (750 scrap), Boat (250 scrap), Diving Equipment, Medical Supplies. - Recycler available: Process components into scrap safely without PvP risk. - Workbench Level 1 available for public use. - 30-second hostile timer: If you attack someone near Outpost, NPC turrets kill you instantly. Wait 30 seconds after any hostile action before entering.

Bandit Camp: - Located in the swamp biome, Bandit Camp caters to a rougher crowd. - Features the Gambling Wheel (bet scrap on random outcomes) and the Bandit Guard NPCs. - NPC vending machines sell similar items to Outpost with some unique offerings. - Workbench Level 2 available for public use -- this is critical for early-game players who cannot afford their own WB2. - Gambling: The Wheel of Fortune lets you bet 10, 20, or 50 scrap on multipliers (1x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 20x). The 1x bet has approximately a 48% chance of winning (slight house edge). Gambling is high-risk but can multiply your scrap quickly.

Safe zone trading etiquette: - Do not hover near the safe zone exit waiting to ambush players who just traded. This is legal but universally hated and paints a target on your base. - Most player-to-player trades happen by meeting at a safe zone. One player places items in a drop box or trades face-to-face inside the protected area. - If trading high-value items, use the safe zone environment. Never accept trade offers outside safe zones unless you trust the other party.

Safe zone farming: Simply recycling components at the Outpost recycler is a safe, reliable scrap income method. Gather components from road runs, then recycle them at Outpost without PvP risk. This is the safest scrap farming method in the game.

Rust has an emergent player economy with prices that fluctuate based on wipe timing, server population, and supply/demand. Understanding typical trade rates helps you price your shop competitively.

Common trade rates (approximate, varies by server): - Sulfur: 1 scrap per 3-5 sulfur (early wipe) to 1 scrap per 10 sulfur (late wipe) - HQM: 2-4 scrap per HQM - Metal Fragments: 1 scrap per 50-100 metal fragments - AK-47: 200-400 scrap - Thompson: 50-100 scrap - C4: 150-250 scrap - Rocket: 100-150 scrap - Pure Ore Tea: 25-50 scrap - Garage Door: 30-50 scrap - Explosive Ammo (stack of 128): 200-350 scrap

Price dynamics through the wipe: - Early wipe (day 1-2): Resources are scarce, prices are high. Selling basic items (Code Locks, Syringes, ammo) generates premium scrap. - Mid wipe (day 3-5): Prices stabilize. Weapons and explosives are in high demand. Sulfur prices increase as groups prepare to raid. - Late wipe (day 6+): Resources are abundant, prices drop. Only rare items (M249, L96, high-tier blueprints) command premium prices.

Profit strategies: 1. Buy low, sell high: Purchase cheap components from new players at low rates, recycle or craft them into higher-value items, and resell at profit. 2. Value-added crafting: Buy raw sulfur, craft it into explosives (if you have the BPs), and sell the explosives at a premium. 3. Monopoly control: If you are the only shop selling a specific item (like Garage Doors or Auto Turrets), you can set higher prices. 4. Timing arbitrage: Stock up on cheap sulfur during off-peak hours (when miners are selling) and sell explosives during prime time (when raid groups are buying).

The Drone Marketplace is a feature that allows players to purchase items from remote vending machines and have them delivered by drone. This system transforms how trading works on a server.

How it works: 1. Craft or find a Computer Station and place it in your base. 2. Access the Drone Marketplace interface through the Computer Station. 3. Browse all active vending machine listings on the server. 4. Purchase items by paying the listed scrap price plus a delivery fee. 5. A drone flies from the vending machine to a Drone Delivery terminal near your base. 6. Collect your purchased items from the terminal.

Delivery terminal placement: Build a Drone Delivery Terminal (available at Outpost or craftable) on your roof or compound. The terminal must have clear sky access for drones to land. Place it in a secure location within your compound to prevent enemies from stealing your deliveries.

Delivery fees: Each drone delivery costs a flat fee plus a distance-based surcharge. Short deliveries (within 3-4 grid squares) cost approximately 20-30 scrap. Cross-map deliveries cost 50-100 scrap. Factor delivery fees into your purchasing decisions -- sometimes it is cheaper to run to the shop yourself.

Selling via drone marketplace: - Your vending machine listings automatically appear in the drone marketplace for all players with Computer Stations. - This dramatically increases your customer base. Instead of only serving walk-in customers, you serve the entire server. - Drone-accessible shops generate 3-5 times more revenue than walk-in-only shops. - Ensure your vending machine is always stocked. Running out of inventory when a drone order comes in wastes the customer's scrap and damages your reputation.

Strategic drone usage: - Use drones to purchase raid supplies from across the map without exposing yourself to road PvP. - Buy medical supplies mid-wipe when you run low without leaving your base. - Monitor the marketplace for underpriced items that you can buy and resell at higher prices. - During online raids, order additional explosives or medical supplies delivered to your raid base if a delivery terminal is nearby.

Scrap is the universal currency of Rust. Maximizing your scrap income through multiple channels gives you a sustainable economic advantage over players who rely on a single method.

Passive income sources: 1. Vending machine shop: Sell crafted items, excess resources, and teas for scrap while offline. 2. Drone marketplace sales: Expanded reach for your shop through drone delivery. 3. Recycling during downtimes: Keep a box of recyclables and process them whenever you are in base with nothing to do.

Active income sources: 1. Monument runs: The highest scrap-per-hour activity. Chain Tier 2 monuments for 200-400 scrap per hour. 2. Road barrel farming: Low risk, consistent returns. 100-200 scrap per hour with a horse or vehicle. 3. Fishing: Sell catches at Fishing Village for scrap. 100-150 scrap per hour, zero PvP risk. 4. Underwater diving: Loot sunken crates along coastlines. 150-250 scrap per hour with diving gear. 5. Train tunnels: Underground loot runs with minimal PvP exposure. 150-300 scrap per hour.

Income optimization tips: - Use Pure Scrap Tea before barrel farming for a 50% scrap yield boost. - Recycle everything. Even low-value components like Rope (1 scrap) and Tarp (5 scrap) add up over a full farming session. - Prioritize recycling Rifle Bodies (25 scrap + HQM), Tech Trash (20 scrap + HQM), and CCTV Cameras (15 scrap + HQM + Tech Trash). - Sell items you do not need rather than stockpiling them. A Thompson sitting in your box earning nothing could be 100 scrap in your pocket. - Diversify your income. Do not rely solely on monument runs. If a geared group controls your local monuments, pivot to fishing, trading, or underground farming.

Scrap spending discipline: Every scrap spent should have a clear return on investment. Research items that make you more efficient (better weapons for safer monument runs, better tools for faster farming). Avoid spending scrap on cosmetic items or gambling unless you have a surplus beyond your progression needs.