Whether you’re a struggling loner or a wealthy 10-man gang generating naked kills, junk is a constant problem. It feels like an uphill battle at times, spending all of the clearing researching items to make the next month that little bit easier.
I’ve seen countless players complain about junk, saying it’s too hard to acquire. However, they always seem to overlook the key methods as well as tips to make your junk problems much easier.
I’ll show you the top 10 ways to earn Scrap, they should be your primary method of getting the precious resource. Any other method is simply a waste of time, you could be earning a lot more scrap with a lot less effort!
Of course, some methods are impossible during the early stages of joining a new server. I have included methods that should be used as a guide, going down from 10 to 1.
10. Primitive boxes
With 3 scraps inside each one, Primitive Crates are the ideal choice for players who have just spawned on the Rust map.
Most equipped players don’t even bother to go out of their way to loot them. Competing with other players is an easy task if you even have a bow.
To find primitive crates, it’s best to search the Mining Outposts.
However, try to get away from them as soon as possible. These crates can be useful for researching those 20 cost blueprints and getting a T1 workbench, but after that, you need a better source.
9. barrels
Each barrel contains 2 scrap, with barrels having a health pool of 35 or 50. Depending on the tool/weapon you’re using, it can take between 1-5 hits to destroy one.
Farming barrels with stone tools is not a good idea early in the game. It just takes too long, instead use a bone knife or even a crossbow.
If you’re lucky, using a Salvaged Blade or Salvaged Sword is a quick way to farm barrels. Otherwise, a machete can be crafted with 100 Wood / 40 Metal Fragments without the need for a workbench.
You will rarely see high level players racing barrels. They are usually solo or duo player only.
8. Boxes
Commonly found in scrap heaps and monuments, regular boxes contain 5 scrap each. Because of this, and how easy they are to loot, you’ll find a lot of players looting them quickly.
However, the sheer abundance of these boxes makes them a worthwhile addition to this list. Simply going out looking for these crates specifically will net you a lot of junk.
7. Tool boxes
Contains 5 standard scrap and is rarer than its normal crate counterpart. The reason it is ranked higher is due to the elements it contains.
You can often find tools, weapons, and armor to continue your scrap search.
6. Itinerant scientists
Rarely found near scrap heaps, but contains between 8 and 22 scrap. As well as other items like valuable hazmat suits and even grenades.
Just be careful. These scientists wield powerful pistols that can easily take you down if you underestimate them.
A few crossbow bolts to the head are your best bet.
Approaching with your weapon drawn will make them aggressive. Keep a safe distance and take cover.
5. Looting at sea
Sunken crates, sunken chests, barrels, crates, and toolboxes can be looted from sea voyages. Not only is it great for scrap, looting in general is lucrative.
Scuba gear is pretty much mandatory to maximize loot intake. That can be daunting, as each individual piece can be difficult to obtain, but the rewards are incredible.
A great way to get scuba gear is to set up a vending machine. Offer coveted materials like brimstone, gunpowder, or weapons in exchange for the parts you need.
4. PvP
Sometimes it can be tempting to be friendly with other players. Rust is a wild game, being peaceful might seem like the best option.
However, I implore you, kill as many as you can. You never know what a random nude might contain.
As brutal as it sounds, sticking around to catch low speed enemies looting primitive crates is a great method of getting scrap. They don’t have much anyway, so it won’t be a big setback for them.
3. Monuments
The monuments contain all the aforementioned boxes and barrels. In addition, you will also find military and elite boxes (depending on the monument), which contain larger amounts of scrap.
Military tunnels produce the most scrap per run. Although you have to take down a lot of scientists, you require tons of medicine and ammunition in the meantime.
2. Recycling
This list is intended as a “guide” to progress through each entry until you have reached a high level state. However, recycling should be done at all stages of your playtime.
Regardless of how prepared you are or not, you should be hitting the recycler constantly.
A lot of new players stay near the mining outposts, but I’ve found that they are too open to enemy players. High spots, windows, and 2 entrances mean you can be attacked from any direction.
Ports are the safest option for new players.
The best items to recycle are:
- rifle body
- tech junk
- electrical fuse
- submachine gun body
- metal sheet
- traffic signs
Other items can also give a decent scrap, like Gears, but tend to be much more valuable for crafting.
1. Bandit Camp
Specifically for farming, Bandit Camp offers 10 scrap for 10 corn or 50 cloth. It also offers small amounts of scrap for fertilizer Y trout.
If you have a semi-decent base, you should be getting at least 3 of those items on a regular basis. Storing them and visiting Bandit Camp at night can be a huge boon to your scrap stockpile.
Towards the later levels of the game, you’ll be getting a lot of your scrap from monuments, but this method is simply the most efficient in terms of time and cost!