What Is a Wipe in Rust?
A "wipe" in Rust is when a server resets some or all of its data. This can include the map (all player-built structures), player inventories, and sometimes blueprints. Wipes are the heartbeat of Rust — they create a cyclical rhythm of progression, competition, and renewal that keeps the game fresh even after thousands of hours.
Understanding how wipes work is essential for planning your play sessions and choosing the right server. This guide breaks down every type of wipe, explains the force wipe schedule, and helps you find servers that match your preferred cadence.
The Three Types of Rust Wipes
1. Map Wipe (Server Wipe)
A map wipe resets the entire game world. Every base, every stash, every deployed item is removed. The map may also be regenerated with a new seed, meaning the terrain itself changes. However, your learned blueprints are preserved.
This is the most common type of wipe and happens on every server according to its schedule. Most community servers wipe weekly or biweekly, while official servers wipe monthly.
What resets: Bases, deployables, inventories, vehicles, map layout (if seed changes)
What stays: Blueprints, team data (on some servers)
2. Blueprint (BP) Wipe
A blueprint wipe resets all learned blueprints in addition to the map. This means every player starts completely fresh — no crafting knowledge, no shortcuts. BP wipes create the most competitive and exciting early-game because everyone is on equal footing.
BP wipes typically happen less frequently. Many servers do a BP wipe on the first Thursday of the month (force wipe) and keep BPs intact for subsequent map wipes during the month.
What resets: Everything — map, items, AND blueprints
What stays: Nothing (complete fresh start)
3. Force Wipe
Force wipe is a mandatory, developer-enforced wipe that happens on the first Thursday of every month. When Facepunch Studios releases their monthly Rust update, every server in the world is forced to wipe its map. Some servers also BP wipe on force day, but this is optional.
Force wipe is the biggest event in the Rust calendar. Server populations peak, content creators go live, and the entire community buzzes with excitement. It's the best time to play Rust, period.
Check when the next force wipe is →
Force Wipe Schedule for 2026
Force wipe is always the first Thursday of the month. Here are the exact dates for 2026:
| Month | Force Wipe Date |
|---|---|
| January | Thursday, January 1 |
| February | Thursday, February 5 |
| March | Thursday, March 5 |
| April | Thursday, April 2 |
| May | Thursday, May 7 |
| June | Thursday, June 4 |
| July | Thursday, July 2 |
| August | Thursday, August 6 |
| September | Thursday, September 3 |
| October | Thursday, October 1 |
| November | Thursday, November 5 |
| December | Thursday, December 3 |
Force wipes typically go live between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM EST (7:00–9:00 PM GMT), depending on when Facepunch pushes the update. Follow our wipe calendar for real-time tracking.
Wipe Schedules: Weekly vs Biweekly vs Monthly
Weekly Wipe Servers
Weekly servers wipe every 7 days, usually on Thursday. They're the most popular choice for competitive players because:
- Fresh starts every week keeps things exciting
- Shorter commitment per cycle (3–5 hour sessions are enough)
- Less time for mega-clans to snowball
- Great for learning — more wipes = more practice with early game
Browse all weekly wipe servers →
Biweekly Wipe Servers
Biweekly servers wipe every 14 days. They offer a middle ground — enough time to progress to end-game content without feeling rushed, but not so long that the server dies mid-wipe.
- More time to build complex bases and learn electricity
- Less pressure to no-life the first 24 hours
- Better for players with limited weekly gaming time
Browse all biweekly wipe servers →
Monthly Wipe Servers
Monthly servers only wipe on force wipe day. These are the longest wipe cycles and are preferred by builders, roleplayers, and players who hate losing progress.
- Maximum time to enjoy your builds and progress
- Population tends to decline significantly after week 2
- End-game raids and fights in weeks 3–4 can be epic
- Best for groups/clans who play regularly
Browse all monthly wipe servers →
Which Wipe Schedule Is Right for You?
| Player Type | Recommended Schedule |
|---|---|
| Casual (5–10 hrs/week) | Biweekly or monthly on a 2x server |
| Competitive PvP player | Weekly on vanilla or 2x |
| Solo player | Weekly on solo-only servers |
| Builder/roleplayer | Monthly on PvE servers |
| PvP practice | Doesn't matter — join 100x or 1000x anytime |
| Small group (2–3 friends) | Weekly or biweekly on solo/duo/trio servers |
How to Find Recently Wiped Servers
The most valuable real estate in Rust is a freshly wiped server. Here's how to find one:
- RustList Just Wiped page — Our just wiped page shows servers that reset in the last few hours, sorted by population.
- Wiped Today filter — The wiped today page shows all servers that wiped in the last 24 hours.
- Wipe Calendar — Plan ahead with the wipe calendar to know exactly when your favorite servers will wipe.
- Server browser filters — Use our server browser to filter by wipe date, population, and region.
Wipe Day Strategy: Maximizing Your First 24 Hours
Wipe day is the most competitive time in Rust. Here's how to maximize your progression:
Pre-Wipe Preparation
- Have your base design planned in advance
- Know which monuments to hit and in what order
- Decide on a base location strategy (near a monument, in the snow, near the coast)
- If playing with a group, assign roles (farmer, builder, monument runner)
First Hour Priorities
- Stone tools and hemp collection
- Find a safe base location inland
- Build a 2x1 with airlock, upgrade to stone
- Start running road barrels for scrap
Hours 2–4
- Accumulate 200+ scrap for Workbench Level 1
- Research key items: crossbow, metal tools, ladders
- Farm sulfur for your first weapons research
- Run green card monuments for guns and components
Hours 4–8
- Expand your base, add honeycomb
- Work toward Workbench Level 2
- Research semi-auto rifle and metal armor
- Begin roaming and engaging in PvP
Understanding Server Wipe Times
Servers typically wipe at set times. Here's what to know:
- US servers usually wipe between 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
- EU servers usually wipe between 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM CET
- Force wipe goes live when Facepunch pushes the update (usually ~2 PM EST)
- Some servers wipe at midnight to give overnight players an advantage — avoid these if you play during normal hours
Pro Tips for Wipe Cycles
- Join at the right time — Don't join a weekly server on day 5. You'll be massively behind. Check our just wiped page.
- Track your favorites — Use our server browser to bookmark servers and track their wipe dates.
- Population peaks on wipe day — Use our analytics tools to see historical population data and predict when a server will be active.
- BP wipes bring the most players — If you want maximum competition, join servers that BP wipe monthly.
- Mid-wipe joining is viable on high-pop — On servers with 200+ players, there's always action regardless of wipe day. Browse high pop servers.
Conclusion
Wipe cycles are what make Rust unique among survival games. They prevent stagnation, create regular bursts of intense competition, and ensure that every player — new or veteran — gets a fair shot at winning the wipe. Whether you prefer the sprint of weekly wipes or the marathon of monthly wipes, understanding the schedule is key to maximizing your enjoyment.
Check the RustList Wipe Calendar for real-time wipe data, and find your next server on our server browser.