In this article I will be going over the best armor sets in Rust depending on what you are trying to get done. I give details on what it takes to craft each piece of armor. Of course, it Rust and you can find any of these items in barrels, chests or crates.
7. Early Game Set (Best Early Game Projectile Protection)
When starting out you will only have a rock in your hands. You against the world. So you will have to progress through the different stages of the game.
This is the best armor set that you can obtain without a workbench. It provides the highest amount of projectile protection and that is mainly what you want in Rust at least for PvP.
Set Details
Wolf Headdress:
+6% Cold Protection
+4% Radiation Protection
+13% Explosion Protection
+60% Stab Protection
+30% Bullet Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires 10 cloth and 1 wolf skull to craft.
Hide Vest:
+5% Cold Protection
+2% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+8% Bite Protection
Requires 50 leather to craft.
Hide Poncho:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+5% Bite Protection
Requires 50 leather to craft.
Bandana:
+5% Cold Protection
+3% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+5% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires 5 cloth to craft.
Burlap Trousers:
+7% Cold Protection
+2% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires 20 cloth to craft.
Burlap Shoes:
+3% Cold Protection
+2% Radiation Protection
+5% Melee Protection
+5% Projectile Protection
+2% Bite Protection
Requires 10 cloth to craft.
Wood Armor Pants:
+5% Radiation Protection
+40% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+5% Bite Protection
+5% Explosion Protection
Requires 1 ft of rope and 200 wood to craft.
6. Early Game Bone Armor Set (Good Projectile Protection for Cheap)
This kit is a perfect kit if you are just starting out and have some spare bones laying around, which most people end up having an abundance of bones. It provides good projectile protection. However, if you’re roaming monuments and need radiation protection, or going into the cold, the set above will still be your go to. You also can’t wear anything else underneath, so when you’re running this set it can only be the 2 bone pieces.
Set Details
Bone Armor:
+4% Radiation Protection
+40% Melee Protection
+25% Projectile Protection
+13% Bite Protection
+7% Explosion Protection
Requires 15 cloth and 70 bones to craft.
Bone Helmet:
+4% Radiation Protection
+40% Melee Protection
+25% Projectile Protection
+13% Bite Protection
+7% Explosion Protection
Requires 15 cloth and 30 bones to craft.
5. Tier 1 Workbench Set (Best Projectile Protection)
This set is the best set you can get for protection at the Tier 1 workbench stage. It protects you against all of the elements and provides the best protection against projectile damage. Best all around set for the Tier 1 workbench sets.
Set Details
Wolf Headdress:
+6% Cold Protection
+4% Radiation Protection
+13% Explosion Protection
+60% Stab Protection
+30% Bullet Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires 10 cloth and 1 wolf skull to craft.
Bandana:
+5% Cold Protection
+3% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+5% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires 5 cloth to craft.
Wood Armor Pants:
+5% Radiation Protection
+40% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+5% Bite Protection
+5% Explosion Protection
Requires 1 ft of rope and 200 wood to craft.
Jacket:
+10% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+20% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+7% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 1 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 1 bench or higher with 20 cloth and 3 ft of rope.
Long Sleeve T-Shirt:
+10% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+6% Bite Protection
Requires 30 cloth to craft. Need to be next to a Tier 1 bench or higher.
Pants:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 1 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 1 bench or higher with 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Leather Gloves:
+5% Cold Protection
+4% Radiation Protection
+5% Melee Protection
+5% Projectile Protection
+2% Bite Protection
Requires a sewing kit and 20 leather to craft.
4. Tier 2 Workbench Set (Best Tier 2 Projectile Protection)
This set is the next best in the Rust progression that offers the highest amount of projectile protection for PvP. This isn’t ideal for living in the snow as road sign armor gives you negative cold protection. This also isn’t great for high radiation monuments as it only gives 18% radiation protection. Once you get a Tier 2 bench down you will be able to start crafting this set.
Set Details
Coffee Can Helmet:
+8% Explosion Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+50% Melee Protection
+5% Projectile Protection
+8% Bite Protection
Requires blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 15 cloth, 60 metal fragments and 1 sewing kit.
Road Sign Jacket:
-8% Cold Protection
+25% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 20 leather, 2 road signs and 2 sewing kits.
Road Sign Kilt:
-8% Cold Protection
+25% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 10 leather, 1 road sign and 2 sewing kits.
Roadsign Gloves:
-8% Cold Protection
+25% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 20 leather, 1 road sign and 2 sewing kits.
Pants:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 1 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 1 bench or higher with 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Hoodie:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+6% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 2 workbench or higher using 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Boots:
+8% Cold Protection
+3% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the boots blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 2 bench or higher with 20 leather, 15 metal fragments and 1 sewing kit.
3. Tier 2 Hazmat Suit (Best for Radiation Projection)
As you might expect, this is the best armor for radiation in the game. It is quite easy to craft and only takes up one inventory slot. It also provides decent projectile protection. This is a great option if you need to throw something on quickly for PvP or if you’re going into high radiation zones. It is also waterproof if you’re going to be going for a swim.
Set Details
Hazmat Suit:
+8% Cold Protection
+50% Radiation Protection
+30% Melee Protection
+30% Projectile Protection
+8% Bite Protection
+5% Explosion Protection
Waterproof
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned you can craft it using 5 tarp, 2 sewing kits and 8 high quality metal.
2. Tier 3 Workbench Set (Max Projectile Protection within the game)
This is the best gear set that you can make through the Tier 3 workbench and the set of armor that will provide you with the most armor when it comes to PvP. This is your “end-game” armor set. This set is not ideal for PvP in the cold though.
Set Details
Metal Facemask:
-4% Cold Protection
+70% Melee Protection
+50% Projectile Protection
+8% Bite Protection
+8% Explosion Protection
Requires the Metal Facemask blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 3 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 3 workbench for 50 leather, 15 high quality metal and 6 sewing kits.
Metal Chest Plate:
-8% Cold Protection
+20% Melee Protection
+25% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the Metal Chest Plate blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 3 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 3 workbench for 50 leather, 25 high quality metal and 8 sewing kits.
Hoodie:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+6% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 2 workbench or higher using 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Pants:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 1 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 1 bench or higher with 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Road Sign Kilt:
-8% Cold Protection
+25% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 10 leather, 1 road sign and 2 sewing kits.
Roadsign Gloves:
-8% Cold Protection
+25% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 20 leather, 1 road sign and 2 sewing kits.
Boots:
+8% Cold Protection
+3% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the boots blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 2 bench or higher with 20 leather, 15 metal fragments and 1 sewing kit.
1. Tier 3 Workbench Set (PvP Set for Snow)
This set is very similar to the one max projectile armor one posted above. However, this offers you much more cold protection. You will still be slightly cold during the nighttime, but during the day you will be fully covered and overall only lose -5% projectile protection. So this is another great set if you’re living in the snow.
Set Details
Metal Facemask:
-4% Cold Protection
+70% Melee Protection
+50% Projectile Protection
+8% Bite Protection
+8% Explosion Protection
Requires the Metal Facemask blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 3 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 3 workbench for 50 leather, 15 high quality metal and 6 sewing kits.
Hoodie:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+6% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 2 workbench or higher using 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Jacket:
+10% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+20% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+7% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 1 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 1 bench or higher with 20 cloth and 3 ft of rope.
Road Sign Kilt:
-8% Cold Protection
+25% Melee Protection
+20% Projectile Protection
+10% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at the Tier 2 bench for 10 leather, 1 road sign and 2 sewing kits.
Pants:
+8% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+15% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 1 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 1 bench or higher with 40 cloth and 1 sewing kit.
Boots:
+8% Cold Protection
+3% Radiation Protection
+10% Melee Protection
+15% Projectile Protection
+3% Bite Protection
Requires the boots blueprint which can be learned through the Tier 2 Workbench tree. Once learned can be crafted at a Tier 2 bench or higher with 20 leather, 15 metal fragments and 1 sewing kit.
Tactical Gloves:
+7% Cold Protection
+5% Radiation Protection
+5% Melee Protection
+10% Projectile Protection
+2% Bite Protection
-80% Aim Sway
Can be purchased at the Outpost for 40 scrap.
