Oil Rig is one of Rust’s best loot runs — and one of its most contested. This guide covers Large vs Small Oil Rig, the scientists and patrol heli, the locked crate event, the loot you get, and how to take and hold a rig. The compare table shows which rig suits a solo and which needs a team.
Small vs Large Oil Rig
| Small Oil Rig | Large Oil Rig | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientists | Fewer | More, plus reinforcements |
| Keycard | Blue | Blue |
| Patrol heli | No | Can be summoned |
| Crates & loot | Good | Best offshore loot |
| Best for | Solo / duo | Team |
| Access | Boat (rowboat/RHIB) | Boat (rowboat/RHIB) |
Both are water monuments defended by NPC scientists and require a blue keycard to fully clear. You’ll need a boat to reach either, plus proper gear and meds to fight the scientists.
The locked crate event
The big prize is the locked crate. Activating it starts a timer and summons reinforcement scientists (and on Large, the heli may arrive). You have to hold the rig until the crate unlocks — at which point it gives elite-tier loot: top weapons, components and high-tier blueprints. It’s a defend-the-point event as much as a loot run.
How to run it
- Gear up — bring a solid gun, armour, meds and ammo; scientists hit hard.
- Clear methodically — work up the levels, using cover against the scientists’ crossfire.
- Watch for other players — rigs are PvP magnets, and people will push your boat or third-party the event.
- Use the recyclers — both rigs have recyclers for instant scrap from the components you find.
Is it worth it?
The loot is excellent — among the best non-raid loot in the game — but expect to fight for it. Go geared, bring a friend for Large Rig, and have an exit plan for your boat. For the bigger roaming event, see our Cargo Ship guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you solo Oil Rig in Rust?
Small Oil Rig is solo-friendly with decent gear — fewer scientists and no patrol heli. Large Oil Rig is much harder solo because of the extra scientists, reinforcements on the locked crate, and the heli; most players run it as a duo or small team.
What keycard do you need for Oil Rig?
A blue keycard for both Small and Large Rig to open the card-locked room. You start the locked-crate event separately by activating it, which triggers the timer and the reinforcement scientists you have to fight off until it opens.
How do you get to Oil Rig?
By boat — a rowboat works, a RHIB is faster and tankier. Tie it off or leave someone with it, because other players will steal or sink it to strand you. There’s no land route; both rigs sit offshore.
Rust server hosting from $7/month on Ryzen 9 hardware — 30% off with code XGAMEON.
Free Rust Tools
Speed up your server with our free Rust tools:
Ready to play?
Run your own Rust server with XGamingServer
Spin up an always-on Rust server your friends can join in minutes — no port-forwarding, no tech headaches.
