# How to Change Decay & Upkeep on Your Rust Server (/docs/rust/decay-settings)



Rust bases lose health over time (**decay**) unless supplied with resources through a **Tool Cupboard (upkeep)**. Server owners commonly slow decay for casual/PvE servers or disable it entirely for build/creative servers. These are vanilla convars — no plugin required.

The Core Convars [#the-core-convars]

Add these to `server.cfg`, or run them live in the console:

| Convar         | Default | Description                                                                                 |
| -------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `decay.scale`  | `1`     | Global decay speed multiplier. `1` = normal, `0.5` = half speed, `0` = **no decay at all**. |
| `decay.upkeep` | `true`  | Whether Tool Cupboards consume upkeep resources. `false` = TCs never drain.                 |

Disable decay completely [#disable-decay-completely]

Bases never lose health — popular for creative/build servers:

```
decay.scale 0
```

Half-speed decay (casual/PvE) [#half-speed-decay-casualpve]

```
decay.scale 0.5
```

No upkeep cost, but structures still decay if unprotected [#no-upkeep-cost-but-structures-still-decay-if-unprotected]

```
decay.upkeep false
```

How Decay & Upkeep Actually Work [#how-decay--upkeep-actually-work]

* A structure inside the radius of a **stocked** Tool Cupboard does not decay — upkeep resources are consumed from the TC instead.
* If the TC runs empty, upkeep can't be paid and the base begins to decay.
* Bigger/higher-tier bases cost more upkeep per hour. Stone, metal, and armored tiers each decay at different base rates when unprotected.
* `decay.scale` multiplies **only the decay rate**, not upkeep cost. To make bases cheaper to maintain, players just need to keep the TC stocked; to remove maintenance entirely, use `decay.scale 0`.

> Setting `decay.scale 0` is the cleanest way to run a "no-decay" server — it doesn't disable Tool Cupboards (which still protect build privilege), it just stops health loss.

Applying Changes [#applying-changes]

* **Live:** type the convar in the **Console** — it takes effect immediately.
* **Permanent:** add the line to `server.cfg` so it survives restarts and wipes. See the [server.cfg reference](/docs/rust/server-config).

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Configuration (server.cfg)](/docs/rust/server-config)
* [Gather Rates](/docs/rust/gather-rates)
* [Wipe Guide](/docs/rust/wipe-guide)