How to Find (& Use) Drones in Rust

Rust has been providing gamers around the world with an engaging survival experience since 2018; or 2013 if you count the release of it’s early access. This Unity legend has led to the creation of countless in-world clans and alliances throughout it’s open world. And with many different factions vying for control of resources, the land can be hostile and unforgiving. Thankfully, with the introduction of drones in the February 2021 update, Rust players have access to a much safer method to procure goods for their survival.

Rust players initially assumed drones would serve as weapons and be used against enemies. However, these drones are used to help players deliver raw materials to other players. It can also be used in tandem with marketplaces where players choose the cheapest drone delivery provider and order a delivery service. 

To use the drone delivery service in Rust, players will need to first find their way to a Safe Zone. Here, players can find special drone terminals that can be used to order items from one of Rust’s vending machines. However, it is worth pointing out that players cannot use drones with vending machines in the open area. Much like real-life drones, players can use them to transport goods safely across the sky. This quality-of-life feature will help them stock up on resources without worrying about violent encounters. Here’s how players can find drone marketplaces in Rust, and how to use them.

Everything to Know About Drones in Rust

There are currently two locations that the drone marketplaces can be found, although admins can add more for testing. Both of these areas are safe zones, where players are protected by armed NPCs, allowing them to safely purchase materials. The first is in the Outpost and can be found by taking a right after leaving the recycler and then entering the first alleyway on the left. Players closer to the Bandit Camp can head there instead for drone services, which is located on the island southwest of Rust‘s food market.

Now that the drone marketplace has been found, players are ready to begin their shopping. When activating one of the control panels, it will bring up a map showing all the vending machines that the drone can access. Click on them to see what items they sell, which will be shown in the bottom right corner of the screen, then make a purchase whenever the desired product is found. In addition to their standard vending machine cost, each drone delivery will require 20 scraps. Scrap is a material in the rust world used as a component for building guns and blueprints in Rust, but here, it’s used as a currency. It can be easily found by breaking barrels and crates, or by recycling items in a recycler.

Once players make their order, the drone will emerge from the marketplace and head towards its destination. Don’t worry about aggressive players shooting it down, for it’s indestructible. Open up the in-game map to see its current progress, and make sure not to leave the area. After the drone returns with the goods, other players will have a chance to steal away the items if they aren’t gathered from the machine in time. The person who placed the order will have 300 seconds before others are able to take it, so don’t stray too far from the marketplace and keep the drone’s whereabouts in check.

Rust is available on PC.

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