Regardless of whether you’re a farmer or a wanderer, wearing armor in Rust is an absolute must when leaving your base. Without it, you’re exposed to pretty much any kind of attack, even bareback ones with rocks can deal some damage.
Of course, without armor, others might think you’re just a rookie and probably won’t waste their ammo attacking you. I can assure you that that is very rare anyway.
Solo players have it extremely difficult. Obtaining the necessary materials, scrap needed for research, and the workbench to craft higher tier armor can be a hassle.
Fortunately, there are some decent and inexpensive alternatives. I will review the best armor in Rust – no matter if you play alone or in a group, this list will help you!
10. Burlap
workbench level: None
Required Components: Cloth
After spawning and running, collecting resources from the floor, you need to aim to get some pieces of burlap going.
You’ll immediately be able to visit rad cities, as well as have a decent amount of stab/cold protection.
9. Hide
workbench level: None
Required Components: Leather
Leather gear has slightly higher bite protection than burlap, but lower resistance to cold. However the hide poncho it can be used on top of burlap, which is a huge boost to its survivability capabilities.
However, leather costs can be quite high, just use it for hunting animals or for the poncho!
8. Hoodie
workbench level: 1
Required Components: Cloth & Sewing kit
Providing a good amount of protection overall, the hoodie can be commonly found in tool boxes.
You should look into it as soon as possible, such a small cost is unbelievable for the protection provided.
7. Jacket
workbench level: 1
Required Components: Fabrics and sewing kits
Rarely found, best looted from another player as it has a 1% chance to spawn from sunken crates. Tons of cold and bite protection, as well as decent protection in other areas.
The jacket can be worn over shirts, making it a great option for outerwear.
6. Wood
workbench level: 1
Required Components: Wood & Rope
Early game, no other armor will serve you as well as wood. Lacking any kind of protection against the cold but with decent radiation resistance, you’ll want to wear it whenever you’re going to tour cities with radiation.
Bows/Crossbows have significantly reduced damage against wooden armor, but the low bullet resistances mean you have to drop them as your loot gets stronger.
5. Heavy plate
workbench level: two
Required Components: metal sheet, High quality metal. & Rope
No other armor provides the vast amount of protection against explosives, bows/melee, guns, or animals that heavy plate does.
However, with some serious drawbacks…
Cold protection is literally reduced while wearing. Depending on what parts you have, you may lose the ability to ADS with weapons, lose movement speed, and some visibility when wearing the helmet.
Mainly used for base defense, it can take a large amount of damage while using heavy plates.
4. bone
workbench level: None
Required Components: Cloth & Bone Fragments
Bone fragments have little use, except for bone knives. This makes bone armor extremely common to both craft and crossbreed.
There are only 2 pieces and you can’t wear other clothes while you have it equipped. It also does not provide protection against the cold.
For battling other players, Bone Armor can offer a very cheap early game alternative to help you break through on your first few adventures.
3. Hazardous materials
workbench level: two
Required Components: canvashigh quality metal and sewing kit
Many players consider it too strong for how easy it is to get. Hazmat suits give you exceptional radiation protection as well as very good stab/projectile protection.
With a 4% chance of being found under normal conditions. loot boxesyou can get a small box full of hazmat in just a few hours of playtime.
2. traffic sign
workbench level: two
Required Components: Leather, traffic signs and sewing kits
military boxes they are your best bet for finding road sign armor, even if they have a 1% chance of spawning. Either that or go roaming, players tend to be covered in traffic signal armor a few days after the cleanup.
Requiring a level 2 workbench means this will likely be your final armor if you’re a casual and/or solo player.
Like metal plate armor, protection against cold is reduced while you wear it. However, the stab/bullet protection is high.
1. metallic
workbench level: 3
Required Components: Leather, High Quality Metal and Sewing Kits
Found only by looting locked crates, supply drops, elite crates, or helicopter crates, you’re unlikely to get a metal armor set if you’re a solo player.
The easiest way is to trade with clans, for sulfur ore or low-quality fuel.
Even then, use this armor sparingly. While it does give some pretty incredible protection, the research/craft costs mean you have to be careful when roaming. Don’t look for silly fights!