Rust Breach and Clear Update (September 2026): Monument Blockers, Heli Armor and Upkeep Changes

2026-10-09

An attack helicopter flying over a Rust monument

Rust's September update, Breach and Clear, came out on September 3. It changes how you get into monuments, how you fight the attack heli, and how big groups pay for their bases.

Monument Blockers

Red keycard rooms now have blockers in front of them. You have to break through with enough damage, and once a blocker is gone it does not come back. A few weaker ones can be broken with melee.

If nobody breaks a blocker in the first 24 hours, it starts to decay on its own. The goal is to slow down early-wipe monument runs.

Attack heli armor

The attack helicopter's cockpit armor now breaks off in stages as it takes damage:

At 80% health, the left panel goes
At 70%, the right panel goes
At 60%, the front panel goes

That leaves the pilot and gunner open. Armored hot air balloons work the same way, with four panels.

HQM nodes

High Quality Metal nodes and pickups can now spawn around the map. They are very rare. Your best luck is in the Jungle.

Upkeep for big groups

Tool Cupboards now charge more upkeep as more people are tied to a base:

The first 4 players: no extra cost
The next 6 players: 2% each
Every player after that: 4% each
The most it can reach is 300%

Solos and small teams are not affected. Big clans pay more.

Balance changes

Semi-auto pistol: damage drops off more over distance and it costs more to craft
Heavy plate helmet: costs more to craft
Heavy plate armor: now makes noise when you move
Grenades: stacks are smaller (3 for most, 4 for beancans)
Homing launcher: locks on faster
SAM sites: much better at hitting drones
Radwater in sprinklers is much stronger against armored players
Large medkits now remove radiation
Swamp trees give a lot more wood
Pies last longer and have new recipes

New and improved things

Medical Honey Bandage: a new Workbench Level 1 healing item made with honey
Drone Marketplace now needs the Power Plant running
Water Treatment Plant: simpler gearboxes. Each one gives 3 hours of water, up to 6 hours
Modular cars steer better and have a handbrake (CTRL)
Flashlight has a new model, new animations and right-click toggle
Paint brush preview so you see it before you paint

Speed

Server occlusion building went from 44 seconds to 22 seconds
Pooled vehicles remove 20 to 30 ms stutters
Over 0.5 GB of memory saved

Source: Facepunch's official Breach and Clear update notes at rust.facepunch.com.