The latest Rust update introduces a new obstacle for players looking to access high-tier loot: Monument Blockers.

These new structures have been added in front of Red Keycard rooms at monuments, making it more difficult for players to reach some of the most valuable loot areas early in a wipe.

What Are Monument Blockers?

Monument Blockers are destructible structures placed directly in front of certain Red Keycard rooms. They effectively create an additional layer of protection around these high-value areas.

Players can no longer simply reach the Red Keycard room and enter it as soon as they obtain the required keycard. The new blockers must first be dealt with before the room can be accessed.

How Do You Destroy Them?

The blockers are destructible using explosives. This means players need to spend additional resources if they want to gain early access to the protected area.

The change adds another strategic decision to monument runs. Players must now consider whether the potential loot inside the Red Keycard room is worth the additional explosive cost.

What Does This Change for Rust Players?

Monument Blockers are particularly important during the early stages of a wipe.

Red Keycard rooms can contain valuable loot, making them highly contested areas. Previously, obtaining the required keycard was the main barrier to accessing these locations. With Monument Blockers, players now need additional resources and preparation.

This can make early monument runs more dangerous and expensive, while also giving groups another reason to fight over resources and explosives.

A New Layer of Progression

The addition of Monument Blockers gives high-tier monument loot another layer of progression. Players need to obtain the necessary keycard, reach the monument, and then use explosives to clear the final obstacle.

For solo players and smaller groups, the additional explosive cost could make early access significantly harder. Larger groups, however, may have an easier time overcoming the new barrier thanks to their greater resource availability.

Conclusion

Monument Blockers are a relatively small addition to Rust, but they can have a noticeable impact on monument progression and early-wipe gameplay.

By requiring explosives to access Red Keycard rooms, Facepunch has made high-tier loot areas more expensive and potentially more contested. Players will now need to plan their monument runs more carefully and decide when it is worth spending valuable explosives for access to better loot.