Resource Gathering Optimization
Efficient resource gathering is the foundation of success in Rust. This guide covers everything from optimal tool usage to advanced farming routes, helping you gather more resources in less time while minimizing risk.
Resource Types & Tools
Tool Efficiency Comparison
Tool Selection Matters
Using the right tool can double or even triple your gathering speed. Always prioritize upgrading your tools as soon as possible.
Mining Tools Comparison
| Tool | Gather Rate | Durability | Cost | Hits to Break Node |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock | 50% | ∞ | Free | ~60 |
| Stone Pickaxe | 75% | Low | 200 wood, 100 stone | ~40 |
| Salvaged Pickaxe | 100% | Medium | 75 metal frags | ~23 |
| Jackhammer | 150% | High | T2 bench, 3 gears | ~10 |
Woodcutting Tools Comparison
| Tool | Gather Rate | Durability | Cost | Wood per Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock | 50% | ∞ | Free | ~250 |
| Stone Hatchet | 75% | Low | 200 wood, 100 stone | ~375 |
| Salvaged Axe | 100% | Medium | 75 metal frags | ~500 |
| Chainsaw | 150% | High* | T2 bench, 3 gears | ~750 |
*Chainsaw requires low grade fuel (1 per ~30 wood)
Node Farming Optimization
Node Types & Yields
🟡 Sulfur Nodes
- • Base yield: 300 sulfur
- • With tea: 360 sulfur
- • Location: Desert/snow
- • Priority: HIGH for PvP
⚫ Metal Nodes
- • Base yield: 600 metal
- • With tea: 720 metal
- • Location: Everywhere
- • Priority: MEDIUM
⚪ Stone Nodes
- • Base yield: 1000 stone
- • With tea: 1200 stone
- • Location: Everywhere
- • Priority: LOW
🟤 Bonus Nodes
- • HQM: 30-50 per node
- • Found in snow/desert
- • Rare spawn rate
- • Priority: VERY HIGH
Node Farming Tips
- Hit the sparkle: Hitting the glowing spot gives bonus resources and fewer hits
- Use ore tea: +20% yield from Advanced Ore Tea (requires mixing table)
- Node respawn: Nodes respawn ~1 hour after being mined completely
- Desert/Snow bonus: These biomes have 50% more nodes than forest
Mining Minigame
Always try to hit the sparkle/X mark. Missing it reduces yield by 50% for that hit and takes more swings to break the node. Practice makes perfect!
Wood Gathering Strategies
Tree Farming Efficiency
🌲 Best Trees to Farm
- • Douglas Fir: 500-600 wood
- • Oak: 450-550 wood
- • Birch: 400-500 wood
- • Pine: 350-450 wood
🚫 Trees to Avoid
- • Palm: Only 200-300 wood
- • Dead trees: 100-200 wood
- • Cacti: Minimal wood
- • Driftwood: Not worth time
Pro Tip: Mark the "X" on trees for 50% bonus wood per hit. Missing reduces efficiency significantly.
Wood Tea Benefits
* Teas last 30 minutes (extended with tea buffs)
Component & Scrap Farming
Barrel Farming Routes
🥇 Road Running
- • Highest barrel density
- • Brown crates spawn
- • Easy navigation
- • High PvP risk
🥈 Ocean Farming
- • Floating barrels/crates
- • Low competition
- • Need boat/diving gear
- • Underwater crates
🥉 Monument Hopping
- • Guaranteed spawns
- • Military/elite crates
- • Higher tier components
- • Radiation required
Component Priority List
🔴 High Priority
- • Springs (weapons)
- • Gears (workbenches)
- • Rifle bodies (guns)
- • SMG bodies (guns)
- • Tech trash (T3 items)
🟡 Medium Priority
- • Pipes (weapons)
- • Road signs (armor)
- • Sewing kits (armor)
- • Rope (various)
- • Tarp (various)
Scrap Optimization
| Method | Scrap/Hour | Risk | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road barrels | 150-300 | Medium | None |
| Ocean farming | 200-400 | Low | Boat |
| Monument runs | 300-500 | High | Cards/rad |
| Safe zone recycle | 100-200 | None | Components |
Food & Cloth Collection
Food Sources Ranked
- 1Rivers: Pumpkins + corn spawn along all rivers
- 2Food crates: Supermarket/gas station spawns
- 3Animals: Deer/boar for meat + animal fat
- 4Ocean: Fish with fishing rod or spear
- 5Mushrooms: Forest floor spawns
Cloth Gathering
Hemp Plants
- • 10 cloth per plant
- • Respawn ~5-10 minutes
- • Forest/grass biomes
- • Green glow at night
- • Seeds for farming
Alternative Sources
- • Recycling (tarps, rope)
- • Cactus cutting (desert)
- • Animal harvesting
- • Underwater lab crates
- • Hemp farming base
Optimal Farming Routes
Early Game Route (0-2 hours)
Focus on basic resources near spawn. Avoid competition and establish a foothold.
- 1. Beach barrels for initial tools/cloth
- 2. Inland for stone/wood nodes
- 3. River run for food/hemp
- 4. First monument (gas station/market)
- 5. Recycle at safe zone
Mid Game Route (2-6 hours)
Expand territory and target specific resources. Balance risk vs reward.
- 1. Road running between monuments
- 2. Target sulfur nodes (desert/snow)
- 3. Green card monuments
- 4. Ocean barrel runs
- 5. Underground tunnels
Late Game Route (6+ hours)
Maximum efficiency with proper gear. Focus on high-value targets.
- 1. Elite monument runs (red card)
- 2. Chinook crate hunting
- 3. Oil rig farming
- 4. Bradley/heli takedowns
- 5. Excavator runs (diesel)
Safe Farming Strategies
Risk Mitigation
- Scout first: Check area for bases/players before farming
- Bag placement: Place bags before farming dangerous areas
- Inventory management: Bank frequently, don't be greedy
- Time awareness: Farm during off-peak hours when possible
- Escape routes: Always know your nearest safe zone/base
Night Farming Benefits
✅ Advantages
- • Harder to spot
- • Less competition
- • Hemp glows
- • Nodes easier to see
- • Animal eyes glow
❌ Disadvantages
- • Limited vision
- • Need light source
- • Bears harder to spot
- • Navigation difficult
- • Cold damage
Advanced Techniques
Tea Stacking Strategy
Combine different tea effects for maximum efficiency. Teas don't stack of same type but different types work together.
- • Ore + Max Health: Safer mining runs
- • Wood + Healing: Sustain while farming
- • Scrap + Rad: Monument farming
- • Max Health + Healing: Ultimate survival
Excavator Optimization
| Resource | Yield/Diesel | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| HQM | 100 | Highest |
| Sulfur | 5,000 | High |
| Metal Frags | 10,000 | Medium |
| Stone | 20,000 | Low |
* 1 diesel = 1 minute runtime. Always run HQM when possible.
Vehicle Farming
🚗 Cars
- • Module storage: 18 slots
- • High speed road runs
- • Mobile respawn point
- • Fuel efficient
- • Vulnerable to damage
🚁 Minicopter
- • Access anywhere
- • Node spotting
- • Monument hopping
- • High fuel cost
- • Loud/visible
Farming Efficiency Timeline
First 30 Minutes
Stone tools → 2k wood/stone → Salvaged tools → Base location
Hour 1-2
Metal tools → Road running → First recycle → Upgrade base
Hour 2-4
Jackhammer → Monument runs → Ocean farming → Tea production
Hour 4+
Vehicle acquisition → Excavator runs → Oil rig → Max efficiency
Quick Reference Sheet
🛠️ Tool Priority
- 1. Salvaged tools
- 2. Jackhammer
- 3. Chainsaw
- 4. Salvaged icepick
☕ Best Teas
- 1. Advanced ore
- 2. Pure wood
- 3. Max health
- 4. Pure healing
📍 Farm Spots
- 1. Snow (sulfur/HQM)
- 2. Desert (nodes)
- 3. Forest (wood)
- 4. Rivers (food)
Farming Tools & Resources
Upkeep Calculator
Calculate how much resources you need to farm
Furnace Calculator
Optimize your ore smelting efficiency
Tools & Equipment
Compare gathering tools and their efficiency
All Monuments Guide
Best monuments for component farming
Wipe Day Guide
Fast resource gathering for early game
Resources Database
All resources with stack sizes and uses
Calculate Your Farming Needs
Plan your base upkeep and calculate exactly how much you need to farm!