Decay Timeline

Material Decay Rates

Material Decay Start Full Decay Time Upkeep Cost (per hour) Max Health
Wood Wood 8 hours 48 hours 2 wood 250 HP
Stone Stone 12 hours 72 hours 4 stone 500 HP
Metal Metal 24 hours 96 hours 3 metal frags 1000 HP
HQM High Quality Metal 48 hours 144 hours 1 HQM 2000 HP
Armored Armored 72 hours 168 hours 2 HQM 3000 HP

Tool Cupboard Upkeep Calculator

Understanding Rust Decay System

Decay Timers

Each building material has specific decay start times and complete decay durations. Wood decays fastest, armored decays slowest.

Tool Cupboard

The Tool Cupboard (TC) prevents decay by consuming resources. Keep it stocked with appropriate materials for your base.

Upkeep Costs

Upkeep costs depend on building size, materials used, and number of building pieces. Larger bases cost more to maintain.

Decay Prevention

Regularly check your TC resources. Once decay starts, buildings lose health until they're destroyed.

Server Wipes

Decay rates may vary based on server settings and time since last wipe. Official servers have standardized decay rates.

Base Planning

Use this calculator to plan your base size and material choices based on your available resources and playtime.

How Decay Works in Rust

1. Decay Start: After the initial grace period (varies by material), decay begins if TC has insufficient resources.

2. Health Reduction: Buildings lose health over time until destroyed. Rate depends on material.

3. Tool Cupboard: TC must contain appropriate resources matching your building materials to prevent decay.

4. Upkeep: Resources are consumed from TC every hour. Consumption rate depends on base size and materials.

5. Repair: Damaged buildings can be repaired with appropriate resources before complete decay.