Modular Cars: Chassis, Modules, and Engine Parts
Modular cars are customizable vehicles found at roads and junkpiles. They consist of a chassis with attachable modules that determine the car's capabilities.
Chassis types: - 2-Module Chassis: Small car, fits 2 modules. Fast and maneuverable. Good for solo players. - 3-Module Chassis: Medium car, fits 3 modules. Balanced speed and capacity. Best for duos/trios. - 4-Module Chassis: Large car, fits 4 modules. Slow but high capacity. Good for group transport.
Module types: - Engine Module: Required for the car to run. Contains the engine, which needs engine parts (Crankshaft, Pistons, Spark Plugs, Valves) to function. - Cockpit Module: Contains the driver seat and passenger seat. Required for driving. Has a small storage box. - Passenger Module: Additional seating for 2-4 passengers. Useful for group transport. - Flatbed Module: Large storage capacity. No seating. Used for hauling resources. - Armored Cockpit Module: Provides bullet-resistant protection for the driver and passenger.
Engine parts: Found in crates, barrels, and at monuments. Each engine requires a Crankshaft, Pistons, Spark Plugs, and Valves. Part quality (low, medium, high) affects engine performance. High-quality parts make the car faster and more fuel-efficient. Install parts at a Vehicle Lift (found at gas stations or craftable).
Car maintenance: Cars take damage from collisions, gunfire, and environmental hazards. Repair them with a Hammer and metal fragments. Cars also require fuel -- fill the engine module fuel tank with Low Grade Fuel. A full tank lasts approximately 15-30 minutes of driving depending on distance and terrain.
Boats and Submarines
Watercraft are essential for reaching offshore monuments like Oil Rig and Cargo Ship, and for fast coastal transportation.
Motorized Rowboat: The basic water vehicle. Spawns at harbors, fishing villages, and along coastlines. Costs 125 scrap at the Fishing Village boat vendor. Holds 4 players (400 HP) and has a small storage box. Speed is moderate and fuel consumption is low. The rowboat is your go-to for basic water travel and reaching Oil Rig.
RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat): A faster, larger boat that holds 4-6 players. Spawns rarely at large harbors. Significantly faster than the motorboat and more durable. The RHIB is ideal for group Oil Rig runs and Cargo Ship boarding. Its higher speed makes intercepting the moving Cargo Ship easier.
Kayak: A small, silent paddle boat that requires no fuel. Found at fishing villages. Extremely slow but completely silent, making it useful for stealthy approaches to offshore monuments. Not practical for long-distance travel.
Solo Submarine: A one-person submersible found at Fishing Villages for 200 scrap. Can dive below the surface to avoid detection and access underwater content. Has a torpedo launcher for self-defense. Features a sonar display for locating underwater structures. The sub is essential for Underwater Lab runs.
Duo Submarine: A two-person version with slightly more storage and dual torpedo tubes. Found at large Fishing Villages for 300 scrap.
Boat parking and security: Boats left unattended on the shore or at docks will eventually despawn or be stolen. Lock your boat with a Code Lock (craftable, 100 metal fragments) to prevent theft. Park boats in sheltered areas behind rocks or in your compound if it has water access. Building a boat garage with a floor opening to the water protects boats from both theft and decay.
Fuel management for watercraft: Always carry extra Low Grade Fuel when traveling by boat. Running out of fuel in the open ocean leaves you stranded and vulnerable. A safe practice is to carry twice the fuel you estimate needing for the round trip.
Minicopter Flying Guide
The Minicopter is the fastest and most versatile vehicle in Rust, providing rapid air travel across the entire map. Mastering minicopter flight is a significant skill advantage.
Acquiring a Minicopter: Purchase at Bandit Camp for 750 scrap. Alternatively, find them spawned at random locations on roads (rare). The high scrap cost makes losing a mini painful, so practice flying before taking your expensive helicopter into dangerous situations.
Flight controls: - W: Throttle up (increase rotor speed, gain altitude). - S: Throttle down (decrease rotor speed, descend). - A/D: Yaw left/right (rotate the helicopter horizontally). - Mouse movement: Pitch and roll. Moving the mouse forward tilts the mini forward (increases forward speed). Moving the mouse left/right tilts the mini laterally (strafe). - Sprint key: Boost thrust temporarily.
Basic flight technique: Take off by holding W until the mini lifts off the ground. Gently push the mouse forward to begin moving. The mini naturally wants to move forward when tilted, so use gentle mouse movements. To hover, keep the mini level (center your mouse) and maintain steady throttle.
Landing technique: Approach your landing zone at moderate altitude. Gradually reduce throttle (tap S) while keeping the mini level. The goal is to descend slowly and touch down gently. Hard landings damage the mini. Practice landing on flat surfaces before attempting rooftop or monument landings.
Advanced maneuvers: - Quick stop: Pull the mouse back sharply to tilt the mini backward. This kills your forward momentum and allows near-instant stops. - Low-altitude flying: Flying at treetop level makes you harder to shoot and gives less warning to ground players. Practice terrain following in a safe area. - Evasive flight: When being shot at, vary your altitude and direction rapidly. Zigzag patterns at high speed make you nearly impossible to hit with small arms.
Fuel consumption: Minicopters burn about 30 Low Grade Fuel per MINUTE while the rotor is running. A full 500 tank lasts roughly 16-17 minutes of flight, so always carry extra Low Grade Fuel for longer trips.
Scrap Helicopter and Train System
The Scrap Transport Helicopter (Scrap Heli) and the underground train system offer unique transportation options for groups and resourceful players.
Scrap Transport Helicopter: - Purchase at Bandit Camp for 1,250 scrap. Significantly more expensive than the minicopter. - Holds 2 in the front seats PLUS a large open cargo bay that can carry a full squad (around 12 players). It has NO mounted weapons -- it's pure transport (the armed chopper is the separate Attack Helicopter). - Larger and slower than the minicopter but more durable. Can survive more small-arms fire. - Its cargo capacity makes it the team mover: ferry a whole group or a big loot haul, support raids, and reposition defenders. - Fuel consumption is the same ~30 Low Grade Fuel per minute as the minicopter (it carries the same 500 tank, so similar flight time). - Flight controls are identical to the minicopter but the Scrap Heli responds more sluggishly due to its larger size.
When to use Scrap Heli vs Minicopter: - Use the minicopter for solo travel, speed runs, and quick loot extractions. - Use the Scrap Heli when you need a gunner for combat situations, group transport, or base defense from the air.
Train system: - Above-ground trains and work carts travel on rail networks that connect various monuments. - Work carts spawn at train stations and rail junctions. Mount one and drive along the rails. - Underground train tunnels contain loot spawns (barrels, crates) and scientist guards at junction stations. - Trains are one of the safest scrap farming methods because few players bother with the underground network. - The tunnel system connects to Underwater Labs in some map configurations, providing alternative access routes. - Train stations have recyclers, making the underground network a self-contained farming loop: loot crates, recycle at stations, continue riding.
Train combat: Scientists at underground junctions are standard blue scientists (150 HP) with basic weapons. Bring a Thompson or SAR and 100 rounds. Clear junctions, loot the crates and barrels, and continue to the next station. A full underground circuit yields approximately 150-300 scrap in 20-30 minutes with minimal PvP exposure.
Fuel Management and Vehicle Repair
Efficient fuel management and maintenance practices extend the life of your vehicles and prevent costly losses.
Low Grade Fuel production: - Small Oil Refinery: Processes Crude Oil into Low Grade Fuel. Crude Oil is found at oil-related monuments and underwater. Each Crude Oil unit produces 3 Low Grade Fuel. - Crafting: 3 Animal Fat + 1 Cloth = 1 Low Grade Fuel. This is the most common early-game method. - Purchasing: Outpost sells Low Grade Fuel at vending machines. Expensive in scrap but convenient. - Crude Oil barrels: Found at harbors and fishing villages. Each barrel contains 5-15 Crude Oil.
Fuel budgeting by vehicle: - Motorboat: 2 Low Grade Fuel per minute. Budget 60 fuel for a short Oil Rig run, 120 for extended ocean trips. - Minicopter: 3 Low Grade Fuel per minute. Budget 100 fuel for a cross-map flight, 200 for extended operations. - Scrap Helicopter: 5 Low Grade Fuel per minute. Budget 150 fuel for a combat sortie. - Modular Car: 1-3 Low Grade Fuel per minute depending on engine quality and speed. - Submarine: 2 Low Grade Fuel per minute. Budget 80 fuel for an Underwater Lab dive.
Vehicle repair: - All vehicles can be repaired with a Hammer and metal fragments while damaged. - Severely damaged vehicles may catch fire. Extinguish fires by repairing the vehicle to above the fire threshold (approximately 30 percent health). - Vehicles left at low health will eventually explode and be destroyed. Always repair after combat or rough landings. - Vehicle Lifts at gas stations allow full repairs and module swaps for modular cars. Drive onto the lift and use the interface to repair, add parts, or swap modules.
Vehicle security: - Always lock vehicles with a Code Lock when parking them. Unlocked vehicles are stolen within minutes on active servers. - Build enclosed garages for cars and helicopters. A 2x2 or 3x3 base with a garage door accommodates most vehicles. - For helicopters, build a rooftop landing pad with walls around the edges. The mini fits on a single square foundation. - Submarines can be stored in underwater bases or in enclosed water pens near your coastline.
Vehicle Combat and Strategic Usage
Vehicles are not just for transportation -- they are tactical assets that provide strategic advantages in combat, raiding, and resource management.
Minicopter combat applications: - Scout enemy bases from the air before raiding. Note turret positions, wall materials, and base layout from above. - Extract loot from Oil Rig, Cargo Ship, and other dangerous monuments. Land on the monument, loot quickly, and fly away before enemies can react. - Deploy teammates behind enemy lines during PvP fights. Drop a player on a cliff overlooking the enemy position for a flanking attack. - Emergency base defense: fly home rapidly when your smart alarm triggers, arriving in 1-2 minutes instead of 10-15 minutes on foot.
Boat combat applications: - Approach Oil Rig silently by cutting the engine and drifting the final 50 meters. - Ram enemy boats to damage them. A full-speed motorboat collision can destroy or critically damage another boat. - Use boats as mobile spawn points by placing sleeping bags inside. If you die in a water fight, respawn in the boat and continue fighting.
Car combat applications: - Armored cars provide mobile cover during field fights. Park the car sideways and use it as a barrier. - Drive-by shootings: a passenger fires from the car window while the driver speeds past enemy positions. - Use flatbed modules to transport large quantities of raid supplies (sulfur, explosives, building materials) directly to the raid site.
Train tactical usage: - Move large quantities of loot through the underground tunnel network, avoiding surface PvP entirely. - Set up ambush positions at train stations and wait for other players using the rail system. - In emergency situations, ride a train through the tunnel system to relocate to a different part of the map quickly.
Vehicle denial: If you cannot use a vehicle, deny it to the enemy. Destroy abandoned boats near Oil Rig so counter-players cannot approach. Shoot enemy minicopters on sight to prevent air superiority. Lock and hide vehicles in your compound to keep them out of enemy hands.