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Rust server guides
Practical guides for Rust players and server owners. Choosing a server, wipe schedules, RCON, settings and moderation, written from real server experience.
- Blueprints Reworked, Network Batching and a Big Performance PushRust's latest update reworks blueprint progression, adds a batch of performance and networking changes, and moves modded map loading to a new supported method. Here's what server owners need to know.
- Rust Item Store, 5 November 2026: 15 New Items and PricesEvery item added to the Rust store on 5 November, with prices.
- Rust unmet demand study: November 2026A few numbers from the November 2026 edition of the Rust unmet demand study.
- Rust servers got busier in week 44Rust servers averaged 63,598 players at a time in week 44 of 2026, up 5.3% on the week before.
- Where Rust players are concentrated: November 202659.5% of Rust players are on the busiest 1% of servers, and 90% are on just 765.
- Rust item store — 29 October 202628 new items in the Rust item store this week, with prices.
- Fewer players on Rust servers in week 43Rust servers averaged 60,396 players at a time in week 43 of 2026, down 4.5% on the week before.
- Rust Halloween 2026 Is Live: Candy Hunts, Monsters and RiftsThe yearly Halloween event is now live and runs until November 5th, with timed candy hunts, a pet monster system, rift portals and new spooky store items. Server owners also get a convar to control how many portals appear.
- Rust item store — 22 October 202636 new items in the Rust item store this week, with prices.
- Rust servers in week 42: 63,241 players at a timeRust servers averaged 63,241 players at a time in week 42 of 2026.
- 56% of Rust players are on the busiest 1% of servers (October 2026)56% of Rust players are on the busiest 1% of servers, and 90% are on just 864.
- Rust unmet demand study: October 2026A few numbers from the October 2026 edition of the Rust unmet demand study.
- Rust update impact study: October 2026A few numbers from the October 2026 edition of the Rust update impact study.
- Rust Livestock Update: Cows, Sheep and What Changes for Server OwnersThe Livestock update adds cows and sheep, reworks NPC navigation and power, and brings several changes that matter for anyone running a Rust server. Here is what to plan for.
- How to Choose a Rust Server: Wipes, Rates, Group Size and PopulationA practical guide to finding a Rust server that fits your schedule, team size and preferred pace, using live population, wipe and rules data instead of server-name hype.
- Rust Wipe Schedule Explained: Weekly, Monthly and Forced WipesUnderstand map wipes, blueprint wipes, forced wipes and common weekly or monthly schedules, then use live countdowns to find the right time to join.
- Vanilla vs 2x vs Modded Rust Servers: Which Should You Play?Compare vanilla, 2x and modded Rust progression, plugins, wipe pace and time commitment so you can choose a server style that fits your group.
- How to Configure Rust RCON SecurelySet up Rust RCON without exposing administrator access: strong credentials, restricted networking, encrypted clients, least privilege and practical monitoring.
- Rust Server Not Showing Up? A Discovery Troubleshooting ChecklistDiagnose why a Rust server is missing from the in-game browser or external lists by checking startup, ports, query responses, visibility and stale metadata.
- Rust Server Settings for a New CommunityPlan a stable new Rust community: identity, map size, population, group rules, wipe cadence, moderation, performance and launch-day operations.
- Detecting VPNs and Alt Accounts on a Rust ServerUse VPN, Steam-account and behavioral signals responsibly to prioritize moderation reviews without treating imperfect detection as automatic proof.