Rust’s latest update brings significant gameplay changes.

It’s the first Thursday of September, which means it’s a big day for Rust players — force wipe time! This month’s wipe, dubbed “Breach and Clear,” focuses on smashing through barriers and demolishing lootable structures. The update brings over a hundred minor tweaks to enhance gameplay, along with several major changes aimed at balancing the experience for solo players who often find themselves up against large clans.

During the initial days of the wipe, many players find themselves prim-locked as clans dominate monuments and snatch up all the available blueprints. This forces them to wait until these clans sell blueprints in their shops before they can finally craft a Tier 2 workbench and start making better weapons. To slow down clan progression, Facepunch has introduced monument blockers in red keycard puzzle rooms. Some of these blockers are weaker and can be taken down with melee weapons, while others require multiple jackhammers to break. They last for 24 hours before starting to decay, adding a bit of challenge to the early game without completely stalling progress.

Another new mechanic to consider is the increased upkeep for Tool Cupboards (TC) based on the number of players in a base. Bases with four players incur no tax, but with six players, upkeep rises by 2%, and it increases by 4% for each additional player, capping at a maximum of 300%. The TC calculates this tax by counting all players authorized on the TC and code locks, including guest codes, as well as those who have been deauthorized in the last 24 hours to prevent teams from sidestepping the fee. On a positive note, clan ore farmers will find it easier to manage upkeep, as high-quality metal ore nodes and harvestables are now available for gathering HQM ore.

The Power Trip update from August required players to power up the Power Plant to supply electricity across the island. This feature has become even more crucial, as Outpost drones now need electricity to collect items from players’ shops.

These are the key highlights from September’s update, but there are also several minor changes worth mentioning. Players can check out the full patch notes in the latest devblog. Here are a few notable changes:

Lastly, Rust’s weekly store has received a fresh batch of items. Among them is the much-anticipated Crystal Assault Rifle DLC, featuring a stunning translucent design available in five colors (diamond, ruby, pink diamond, emerald, and sapphire), which can be snagged on Steam for $6.99.

And the Battle Pass system has been removed.