In Rust you can’t craft most gear until you’ve unlocked its blueprint. There are two ways to do that — the Research Table (turn a found item into a permanent blueprint with scrap) and the Tech Tree (spend scrap to unlock items along a path without owning them). This guide covers default vs learned blueprints, the exact scrap costs at every tier, blueprint wipes, and the fastest path to the gear that actually wins fights.
Default vs learned blueprints
Basic items — stone tools, twig and wood building, a bow, torches and basic clothing — are craftable by default the moment you spawn. Everything better must be learned as a blueprint first. Crucially, blueprints reset on a blueprint wipe (typically alongside the monthly force wipe on the first Thursday), so on a fresh wipe everyone starts from scratch — check the wipe schedule before you plan a grind.
You need a workbench first
Both research methods are gated behind a workbench. Higher-tier items require a higher-level bench to both research and craft, so building and upgrading your workbench is the backbone of progression.
| Workbench | Scrap cost | Unlocks (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 50 scrap | Revolver, crossbow, hide/roadsign armour, basic electrics |
| Level 2 | 500 scrap (+ WB1) | Thompson, SAR, semi pistol, satchel charges, metal armour |
| Level 3 | 1,250 scrap (+ WB2) | AK-47 (Assault Rifle), Bolt Action, C4, rockets, explosives |
The Research Table
Place an item you’ve found plus the required scrap into a Research Table to permanently learn its blueprint. This is the go-to when you loot something specific — a gun, a tool — and want to craft more of it. The scrap cost scales with the item’s tier, not the exact item.
| Item tier | Research cost | Typical items |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 20 scrap | Cloth clothing, wooden furniture, basic gear |
| Low | 50–75 scrap | Metal tools, roadsign armour, revolver, electrics, meds |
| Mid | 75–125 scrap | Metal/armoured doors, simple explosives, gun parts, ammo, hazmat |
| High | 500 scrap | AK-47, Bolt Action, rockets, C4, metal armour, armoured doors |
The Tech Tree
Each workbench has a tech tree: spend scrap to unlock items along a branching path without needing the item itself. You unlock one node to reach the next, so you can beeline a target gun. It’s usually the most scrap-efficient route to a planned loadout because you’re never reliant on looting the right drop.
| Tech tree | Cost to clear the whole tier | Key targets |
|---|---|---|
| Workbench 1 | ~1,070 scrap | Revolver, nailgun, building blocks, roadsign armour |
| Workbench 2 | ~3,680 scrap | Thompson, SAR, satchels, metal armour |
| Workbench 3 | ~5,250 scrap | AK-47, Bolt Action, C4, rockets |
Research Table vs Tech Tree — which to use
- Use the Research Table when you loot something good early — a Thompson, a SAR, a great tool. Researching one found item is far cheaper than tech-treeing to it, and it skips the path entirely.
- Use the Tech Tree when you have scrap but not the drop — to guarantee a specific gun (e.g. beeline the AK) without praying for a lucky barrel. It’s the reliable route for a planned loadout.
- Combine them: research the lucky drops you find, tech-tree the gaps. That’s the cheapest overall path to a full kit.
The fastest path on a fresh wipe
- Workbench 1 immediately (50 scrap) — unlocks roadsign/hide armour and the revolver path.
- Tech-tree the essentials — a primary weapon, then the explosive path for raiding.
- Research lucky drops — if you loot a strong gun early, research it instead of grinding the tree to it.
- Split unlocks across a tribe — each member unlocks different items, so you cover far more gear for the same total scrap.
Farm the scrap fast with our scrap farming guide, and see the tech tree & workbench guide for the full node maps.
Frequently asked questions
How much scrap does it cost to research an AK in Rust?
Researching the Assault Rifle (AK-47) at a Research Table costs 500 scrap, and you need a found AK plus a Workbench Level 3. Tech-treeing to it instead costs more total scrap but doesn’t require looting the gun first.
Do blueprints wipe in Rust?
Yes, on a blueprint wipe, which usually lands with the monthly force wipe on the first Thursday. Some servers run BP-wipe weekly or never (no-BP servers); check your server’s settings, because it changes how much early scrap you’ll spend re-learning gear.
Is the tech tree or research table cheaper?
The Research Table is cheaper for a single item you’ve already found — you pay one flat scrap fee. The Tech Tree is better when you don’t have the drop and need to guarantee a specific item. Most players use both: research lucky loot, tech-tree the gaps.
What does Workbench Level 1 cost in Rust?
50 scrap. Level 2 is a 500-scrap upgrade and Level 3 is 1,250 scrap on top of that, so a full WB3 represents 1,800 scrap in bench costs alone — before any research.
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