RUST\u2019s Primitive Game Mode\u00a0is an officially supported and optional server setting. Like\u00a0hard\u00a0and\u00a0softcore modes, it strips away most modern and end-game content, leaving players in a near-permanent \u201cprimitive\u201d state.<\/p>\n
It removes or restricts advanced weapons, monuments, NPCs, and building tiers, forcing gameplay to revolve around simpler technology and siege-style raids.\u00a0RUST server owners\u00a0can further adjust how primitive (or advanced) the game experience is by selecting different \u201cEras,\u201d each unlocking slightly more gear and crafting options to the player base.<\/p>\n
This game mode was officially added to the live game in the February 2025\u2019s Primitive Update.<\/p>\n
How to Enable RUST\u2019s Primitive Game Mode
\nThe\u00a0RUST Primitive Game Mode\u00a0is enabled by server admins with access to the start-up configuration and is done by setting and ensuring the following console variable runs at server initialization:<\/p>\n
server.gamemode primitive
\nThis particular game mode also comes with various Eras, each with differing levels of development, that will help shape and enhance this desired experience. Due to the drastic changes to every aspect of the game, we cover each category impacted and touch on everything, from restricted weapons to monument removal.<\/p>\n
Command
\nValue
\nDescription
\nserver.gamemode
\nprimitive
\nEnables\/disables the primitive gamemode
\nserver.era
\nprimitive
\nAllows for era selection to alter how the game mode works.\u00a0It may be toggled through all eras by administrative command while the game is live.\u00a0 See above for the full list.
\nnpc_spawn_on_junkpile
\ntrue
\nEnables scientist NPCs to spawn on roadside junkpiles, overwritten by scientist_spawners_enabled
\nscientist_spawners_enabled
\nfalse
\nAllows for spawn locations across the entire map to spawn their respective NPC scientists
\nenforce_era_restrictions<\/p>\n
Deletes all restricted items that somehow circumvent existing restrictions
\nThis particular game convar system is still very much experimental. Everything is subject to change.<\/p>\n
Eras in Primitive Game Mode
\nThe Primitive Game Mode is simply a list of rules and restrictions implied upon a server, as formerly done by modded servers to achieve a particular style of play.\u00a0Chief amongst these rules are alterations to what weapons, building materials, and ammunition players may utilize.<\/p>\n
As game time progresses through this game mode, server owners have the option to introduce a new age of development or Era. Each Era is another tier of this game mode, with its unique lists of what is restricted (or opened up) as it is converted from the former Era. The methodology of eras shifting, beyond manual\u00a0admin commands, is currently unknown.<\/p>\n
There are technically five different Eras that are available as changeable convars, listed as follows:<\/p>\n
Era
\nConvar
\nReturns
\nNone
\nserver.era none
\n\u201cUnknown\u201d
\nPrimitive
\nserver.era primitive
\n\u201cPrimitive\u201d
\nMedieval
\nserver.era medieval
\n\u201cMedieval\u201d
\nFrontier
\nserver.era frontier
\n\u201cFrontier\u201d
\nRust
\nserver.era rust
\n\u201cModern\u201d
\nNone
\nThe None Era setting is presumably a placeholder, as invoking the command in the console will result in the output of \u201cUnknown,\u201d and all restrictions are lifted, returning the game to default vanilla play mode.<\/p>\n
Primitive
\nSetting the Era Primitive is the most restrictive of all era functions, limiting items, monuments, and NPC spawns around the map.\u00a0These changes are listed below in greater detail.<\/p>\n
Medieval
\nMedieval is equally as taxing as primitive, with two notable exceptions.\u00a0The Revolver, Blunderbuss, and Double Barrel Shotguns are enabled, allowing for the crafting and acquiring of them from crates.<\/p>\n
Frontier
\nAt the time, Frontier and Medieval were not differentiable, with both having the same restrictions and allowances.<\/p>\n
Rust
\nThe Rust Era setting defaults everything back to the base game, with no restrictions and no discernable differentiation from the most vanilla form of the game.<\/p>\n
Items Disabled
\nTo solidify this mode\u2019s concept, and by extension, each Era, quite a few items have been restricted from the loot table entirely.\u00a0These restricted items should not be accessible in any form, and while they might appear on NPC Vending Machines, they should not be accessible when attempting to make an in-person purchase or through the\u00a0Drone system.<\/p>\n
Every item restricted from Primitive mode is listed, with specific notations made on those re-enabled on Medieval or Frontier.<\/p>\n
Weapons
\n8x Zoom Scope
\nAbyss Assault Rifle
\nAssault Rifle
\nAssault Rifle \u2013 ICE
\nBlunderbuss (Allowed on Medieval & Frontier)
\nBolt Action Rifle
\nCustom SMG
\nDouble Barrel Shotgun (Allowed on Medieval & Frontier Modes)
\nDragon Rocket Launcher
\nExtended Magazine
\nF1 Grenade
\nFlame Thrower
\nFlashbang
\nGas Compression Overdrive
\nHandmade SMG
\nHigh Caliber Revolver
\nHMLMG
\nHolosight
\nHoming Missile Launcher
\nL96 Rifle
\nLR-300 Assault Rifle
\nM249
\nM39 Rifle
\nM4 Shotgun
\nM92 Pistol
\nMedieval AR
\nMilitary Flame Thrower
\nMinigun
\nMP5A4
\nMultiple Grenade Launcher
\nMuzzle Boost
\nMuzzle Brake
\nNailgun
\nPrototype 17
\nPump Shotgun
\nPython Revolver
\nRevolver (Allowed on Medieval & Frontier Modes)
\nRocket Launcher
\nSemi-Automatic Pistol
\nSemi-Automatic Rifle
\nSilencer
\nSimple Handmade Sight
\nSKS
\nSpas-12 Shotgun
\nThompson
\nVariable Zoom Scope
\nWeapon Lasersight
\nConstruction
\nArmored Door
\nArmored Double Door
\nItems
\nWorkbench Level 3
\nAttire
\nHockey Mask
\nIce Metal Chest Plate
\nIce Metal Facemask
\nMetal Chest Plate
\nMetal Facemask
\nTools
\nChainsaw (This may be obtained through default lootable boxes, but not via vendors.)
\nJackhammer (This may be obtained through default lootable boxes, but not via\u00a0vendors.)
\nTimed Explosive Charge
\nSatchel Charge (This may be found and learned to craft, but not directly researchable from the Tech Tree.)
\nAmmunition
\n12 Gauge Buckshot
\n12 Gauge Incendiary Shell
\n12 Gauge Slug
\n40mm HE Grenade
\n40mm Shotgun Round
\n40mm Smoke Grenade
\n5.56 Rifle Ammo
\nExplosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo
\nHigh Velocity Rocket
\nHoming Missile
\nHV 5.56 Rifle Ammo
\nHV Pistol Ammo
\nIncendiary 5.56 Rifle Ammo
\nIncendiary Pistol Bullet
\nIncendiary Rocket
\nMLRS Rocket
\nNailgun Nails
\nPistol Ammo (This can be found in the world and used in revolvers in Medieval or later, and even learned, but cannot be crafted by players.)
\nRocket
\nTraps
\nSAM Site
\nComponents
\nMetal Spring
\nMLRS Aiming Module
\nRifle Body
\nSemi Automatic Body
\nSMG Body<\/p>\n
Monuments Disabled
\nIn addition to the loot table being considerably restrictive, so are end-game monuments.\u00a0Early indicators point to the\u00a0Nuclear Missile Silo, both types of Oil Rig, Giant Excavator, and Underwater Labs being left off of the procedurally generated checklist if Primitive mode is initiated correctly.<\/p>\n
Servers that enable the mode after a map is generated will still see the monuments spawn. However, their scientists and loot crates will be automatically adjusted to restrict all the items listed above while maintaining the same difficulty level.<\/p>\n
Since all scientists have been removed (see below), this also means that areas such as the Underground Rail Network will be blocked off using various methods.<\/p>\n
Non-Player Characters Disabled
\nImagine a chirp-free world;\u00a0what is RUST without those blue bush wookies jumping out of nowhere along the road and stealing both our health and capacity for rational thought?\u00a0Well, that is exactly what is going to happen, with all versions of gun-wielding hostility being removed from the wild and monuments.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not all! In addition to your friendly neighborhood scientists disappearing, so will their big, mechanical brothers.\u00a0No\u00a0Cargo Ship,\u00a0Patrol Helicopter, or\u00a0Bradley APC\u00a0events will spawn while Primitive mode is enabled.<\/p>\n
Building Restrictions
\nSince all end-game raiding implements have been stripped away via item limitations, it makes sense that those taking part in this game mode are equally restricted in how defensive their bases can be built.\u00a0This being said, the most significant building changes are as follows:<\/p>\n
Upgrading to Metal is prohibited.
\nUpgrading to High Quality Metal is prohibited.
\nThe Single and Double Armored Doors are disabled and are not obtainable.
\nPlayers may use turrets, but guns are restricted to almost nothing, and ammunition will be considerably more challenging to obtain.
\nTransportation Restrictions & Revisions
\nThe Primitive Game Mode significantly impacts the available modes of transportation found in the vanilla game. While the\u00a0Horse Population has doubled, players\u00a0can not purchase\u00a0the following vehicles at the\u00a0Air Wolf Shop:<\/p>\n
Minicopters
\nScrap Transport Helicopters
\nAttack Helicopters<\/p>\n
Workbench Revisions
\nWith everything else taking a few steps back, things are not getting any cheaper.\u00a0While many items are being removed from workbenches altogether, learning the rest will surely cost more.\u00a0Tentative taxation rates for workbenches are as follows:<\/p>\n
Workbench Level 1 \u2013 Increased to 10% when using the tech tree
\nWorkbench Level 2 \u2013 Increased to 20% when using the tech tree
\nPlayers may still learn items found in the wild or through trading through a research table. Caution is advised, as learning things like Pistol Ammo is still active, yet crafting it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Other items that aren\u2019t restricted, such as the Pressure Pad, will have this component removed from the crafting requirement while in Primitive Mode, as it typically has a restricted component requirement.<\/p>\n
Depending on the Era set, specific workbenches are either disabled or have aspects they usually have integrated into other lower or higher-tier workbenches.<\/p>\n
Holiday Changes
\nAs with all other loot tables, holiday events such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas that provide loot receptacles not commonly available throughout the year will retroactively have their loot tables restricted or restructured to compensate for those items that should not be available.\u00a0 This will impact loot dropped via the holidays\u2019 unique NPC drops, airdrops, or dungeon drops.<\/p>\n
Missions
\nRestricted weapons or items that were previous\u00a0mission rewards\u00a0are modified while Primitive mode is active. These items have either been replaced with a lower-tier equivalent or changed to something new.<\/p>\n
Auto Turrets
\nBelieve it or not, despite exhaustive changes to the weapon system with restrictions out of the proverbial wazoo, auto-turrets remain! Not only are players still able to wire them up, but they can insert any bow type their heart desires, and there are currently no restrictions on arrows usable, either.<\/p>\n
Resource Reduction
\nIn addition to other forms of progression-gating, one of the chief changes players may or may not notice is a sulfur node nerf. Right off the top, 50% fewer sulfur nodes will spawn worldwide, making an acquisition considerably more tedious, particularly before people farm up Diesel Fuel to run in quarries.<\/p>\n
One significant trade-off, however, is that the new siege vehicle raiding ammunitions often substitute the traditional requirement of sulfur and gunpowder for alternate materials, like high-quality metal and metal fragments.<\/p>\n
Server Tag
\nLike all other game modes, the Primitive mode comes complete with its searchable server tag.\u00a0While this is hit or miss with community or modded servers, all Official RUST servers should be listed with Primitive as a server tag where applicable.\u00a0You can add this tag to your server by doing the following:<\/p>\n
Add this convar to your server startup configuration file, and set your server tags to the following:<\/p>\n
server.gamemode primitive
\nserver.tags vanilla,primitive<\/p>\n
Raiding
\nOne primary new feature brought in simultaneously with the Primitive Gamemode that slightly offsets some of the item restrictions is\u00a0Siege Weapons.<\/p>\n
Included in this category are the:<\/p>\n
Ballista
\nMounted Ballista
\nBattering Ram
\nCatapult
\nSiege Tower
\nOn the defensive side, a base feature called the Ballista (not to be confused with the wheeled Mounted version) was added to help combat would-be marauders.\u00a0While there won\u2019t be room enough in this guide to go into detail, be sure to check out our Siege Weapon Raiding guide.<\/p>\n
Final thoughts on the Primitive Game Mode
\nWe\u2019re very excited to see the Primitive Game Mode introduced to RUST, as it will offer yet another valuable option for official, community, and modded servers to provide an alternative experience to what will still very much be the RUST experience.\u00a0 For many, some of the best portions of wipe take place when things are very primitive, and this game mode will do a great job of extending that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RUST\u2019s Primitive Game Mode\u00a0is an officially supported and optional server setting. Like\u00a0hard\u00a0and\u00a0softcore modes, it strips away most modern and end-game content, leaving players in a near-permanent \u201cprimitive\u201d state. It removes…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[165,34,68,67,101,32,78,164,157,158,64,160,159,162,163,161],"class_list":["post-1655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-help","tag-best-server","tag-game","tag-guide","tag-help","tag-mod","tag-news","tag-noob","tag-pro","tag-rust-guide","tag-rust-hack","tag-rust-help","tag-rust-keys","tag-rust-mod","tag-rust-noob","tag-rust-noobie","tag-rust-pro"],"yoast_head":"\n