Workbench Tiers Explained
Rust has three workbench tiers, each unlocking access to increasingly powerful items:
Workbench Level 1 (75 scrap, 50 metal fragments, 500 wood): - Basic weapons: Revolver, Waterpipe Shotgun, Bow upgrades - Basic armor: Coffee Can Helmet, Road Sign armor - Utility: Furnace, Research Table, Repair Bench - Explosives: Satchel Charge, Beancan Grenade
Workbench Level 2 (500 scrap, 20 HQM, 500 metal fragments, 1000 wood): - Mid-tier weapons: Thompson, Custom SMG, Semi-Auto Rifle, Pump Shotgun, Python - Better armor: Metal Facemask, Metal Chestplate - Utility: Large Furnace, Auto Turret, Garage Door - Explosives: Rockets (if researched at WB3 first)
Workbench Level 3 (1250 scrap, 100 HQM, 1000 metal fragments, 2000 wood): - End-game weapons: Assault Rifle, LR-300, Bolt Action, L96, M249 - End-game: C4, Rockets, Armored Door - Vehicles: Modular car parts
Tech Tree vs Direct Research
You have two ways to learn blueprints:
Direct Research: Place the item in a Research Table and pay scrap. Costs vary from 75 scrap (common items) to 500 scrap (rare items). Requires finding the item first.
Tech Tree: Spend scrap at the workbench to unlock items in a branching tree. You do not need the item -- just scrap. Items further down the tree cost more total scrap but do not require luck.
When to use each: - Direct research when you find a high-value item (like an AK or Bolt) since it is often cheaper than teching all the way to it - Tech tree when you need specific items that are hard to find (like Garage Doors or specific weapons) - Tech tree for the optimal path to explosives, since you can plan the exact route
The most efficient strategy: Use direct research for rare drops and the tech tree for common progression items.
Optimal Tech Tree Paths
WB1 priority path: Building Plan -> Hammer -> Code Lock -> Satchel Charge. This gives you base security and early raiding capability. Total cost: approximately 175 scrap through the tree.
WB2 priority path: The two most common goals are Thompson (for roaming) and Garage Door (for base security). The Thompson path costs approximately 300 scrap. The Garage Door path costs approximately 250 scrap. Do Garage Door first for security.
WB3 priority path: Most players rush Assault Rifle or Rocket Launcher. The AK path costs approximately 750 scrap through the tree. Rocket Launcher costs approximately 625 scrap. If you find an AK from a crate, research it directly (500 scrap) and save the tree for rockets.
Blueprint Wipe Strategy
On a fresh blueprint wipe, the race to high-tier items determines who dominates the server. Here is the optimal first-day progression:
Hour 1-2: Build a starter base near a road and Tier 1 monument. Farm scrap from barrels and road crates. Craft Workbench Level 1.
Hour 2-4: Run monument puzzles for components and keycards. Recycle everything for scrap. Research essential WB1 items: Code Lock, Satchel Charge.
Hour 4-6: Push to Workbench Level 2. Research Garage Door and Thompson (or direct-research if found). Start running Tier 2 monuments.
Hour 6-10: Accumulate scrap for Workbench Level 3. Run Launch Site or Military Tunnels for Elite Crates. If you find an AK, research it immediately.
Hour 10+: Craft WB3 and begin researching explosives. At this point you can participate in raids and are competitive in PvP with AK or LR-300.