Rustis one of the bestsurvival games on the marketin 2021. Withmore concurrent players than ever, there is a large portion of the community with little to no experience playing the game. In order to survive, players will need to protect themselves from animals and other survivors. In total, there are 40 different weapons inRust. However, players are only able to craft a portion of those weapons.
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When deciding which weapons to craft, players need to first assess their gameplay style. Raiders will need weapons that can dominate at point-blank ranges. Passive and casual players will need more adaptable weapons that can be used in a wide range of scenarios. What are the best weapons players are able to craft, and the exact materials needed to create them?
Updated on July 29, 2025 by Daniel Dilena:One aspect that makesRuststand out from other survival games is that players must learn to adapt if they want to survive a day in the wilderness, from dangerous radiation to psychotic outlaws. But, the real danger comes from rival players hunting for fresh blood. And while there are different ways players can protect themselves,like defensive buildingsand traps, weapons remain the most effective method of fending off rival players or outlaws.
And while there’s no definitive answer to the question, “what is the best gun in Rust?” there are still weapons that can be dubbed “best weapon in Rust.” That’s why we have expanded this list to include several other weapons all Rust players should have in their arsenal.
17Waterpipe Shotgun
Even though the Waterpipe Shotgun is a simple-looking weapon, it can pack a punch with the right ammo type. But, even if a player doesn’t have access to Gauge Slug or Buckshot ammuntion, the Waterpipe Shotgun can dish out massive damage to other rival players.
Its Head Damage is 210 and Chest Damage 180, making it a deadlier close-range weapon. The biggest issue with the Waterpipe Shotgun is its loud blast which means it’s not the ideal weapon to use during a stealthy base raid. Additionally, it has strong recoil meaning it’s not one of the best guns inRustfor console players.
16Crossbow
At the start of aRustplaythrough, gathering enough material to craft certain weapons can take a long time, especially when most of the good loot is hidden within Monuments. That’s why the Crossbow is a good early weapon to craft and use since thematerials needed to craftit are easy to find. Moreover, crafting arrows is more accessible than bullets since it only requires 25 Wood and 10 Stones.
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Aside from being silent when used, the Crossbow also deals Bleed Damage (24 DPS for headshots or 12 DPS for chest shots) to rival players. The only downside of this weapon is that it has a slow reload speed, so players should have a secondary weapon ready.
15M249
Players that want to dominate the PvP playing field will want to use the M249 weapon. This weapon is among thebest guns inRustsince it can quicklydemolish any player-made wall. On top of that, its magazine can hold 100 bullets, so players won’t need to reload often.
And while players can’t craft this weapon (players can find it at an Attack Helicopter crash site), they can craft mods for it to increase its firing capabilities. Players should consider using the Holosight and Muzzle Brake mods as they are the best for this weapon.
14Eoka Pistol
One of the strangest weapons inRustis the Eoka Pistol since it’s essentially a stick with a barrel on it. But, instead of firing normal bullets, the Eoka Pistol uses Shotgun ammunition like Handmade Shells, Gauge Buckshot, or Gauge Slugs. The Eoka Pistol can one-shot an armored player if it’s a direct headshot.
The biggest flaw of this weapon is it sometimes doesn’t fire and requires numerous attempts before it fires. Players can use this weapon to surprise unsuspecting rival players since it’s small and quick to pull out.
13Nail Gun
It may not be the most powerful or efficient gun inRust, but the Nail Gun will be viable in early wipe PVP scenarios. The gun can kill enemies with one clip, as long as survivors hit the majority of their shots.
The primary reason the weapon made the cut for this article is the ratio of damage to cost. The Nail Gun does 18 damage to the chest and 36 to the head, and it can be crafted with just metal fragments and scrap. Recoil and hip fire are the main downsides to wielding the gun. Here are the items needed to craft this weapon:
12Revolver
MostRustplayers will craft the Revolver as their first real weapon. The gun’s low damage is offset by modest recoil, but it still does not down enemies quick enough. The revolver is a reliable gun early in the game, but nothing more.
Rustplayers can craft the gun with the following materials:
11Rocket Launcher
The Rocket Launcher is a key asset in early game raids and PVP. The base rocket will take down a standard wooden wall with just two shots. Doors and hatches can be destroyed with just one rocket. It will also kill any player with a direct impact, while close-range splash damage will usually take out armored enemies without the need to load another rocket into the weapon.
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Players will not have to gather very many materials to craft the base destroyer, making it one of the most cost-effective weapons in the game. The Rocket Launcher can be crafted using the upcoming items:
10Double Barrel Shotgun
Despite being two water pipes tied together, the Double Barrel Shotgun is not the worst gun players can craft. With 180 damage and two shells, gamers can deal a lot of damage at point-blank range.
Beginners can have a lot of fun and success with the gun, but its lack of range and slow reload time make it borderline viable. Players will need to collect the following items to craft the shotgun:
9Semi-Auto Pistol
The P2 or Semi-Auto Pistol is an upgraded version of the revolver. It has slightly better stats in all categories but still has a low damage profile. To be viable, players need to hit almost every shot with the weapon.
The P2 is a cheap secondary for players that do not have the materials for better weapons. Players need to collect these materials to craft the Semi-Auto Pistol:
8Bolt Action Rifle
The Bolty deals 80 damage and has decent bullet velocity for aRustweapon. It will likely be the first sniper rifle people get to use inRust. At longer ranges, the gun will have noticeable bullet drop, so getting a feel for how to use the rifle at range is a must.
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The L96 is better, but the Bolt Action Rifle is certainly good enough to be viable in long-range gunfights. Crafting the rifle requires the following items:
