Primitive is a Rust game mode that keeps the early game going: Facepunch limits the weapons to basic ones, takes out rockets, C4 and the metal building grades, and removes several high-tech monuments. Facepunch added it in its Primitive update. On a PlayYourWay Rust server you turn it on with one launch argument and a fresh map.
Checked against Rust server build 2635 and Facepunch's Primitive update post, October 2026.
What primitive changes
Facepunch describes the mode as a world where knowledge of high-tech items has been lost, so players can only make basic items. Its Primitive update post lists, among other things:
- Weapons limited to melee, bows and crossbows, the speargun, the Eoka, beancan grenades and molotovs, plus shields.
- No rockets or C4, and no MLRS.
- No metal or armoured building grades, and no armoured doors.
- Oil Rig, Missile Silo, Excavator and the underwater labs removed from the world.
- Fewer sulfur nodes, and a higher tech tree cost.
Facepunch's server wiki sums it up as a restricted-items game mode focused on the primitive era. Mode details can change with a Rust update, so read Facepunch's latest notes at rust.facepunch.com/news before you advertise exact rules to your players.
Facepunch warns not to switch game modes in the middle of a wipe, because it resets every player and their inventory with no way to undo it. Start primitive on a wipe day.
Turn it on
- Take a backup in the Backups tab.
- Open the Startup tab and find Additional Arguments.
- Enter
+server.gamemode primitiveand press Save on that row. - Wipe the map at the same time, so everyone starts on the primitive rules together. Change World Seed to a new number and press Save. Rust server setup: connect, admin and wipes walks through a manual map wipe, and the Wipes tab can schedule one.
- Press Restart now in the Restart to apply notice, or restart with the power controls.
- Wait for
Server startup completein the Console. A fresh map takes a few minutes the first time.
The mode name is the only part that matters. Leave out the quotes and keep the leading +.
Name it in your server listing
Set Server Name and Server Description on the Startup tab to say "Primitive", and add a tag in server/rust/cfg/server.cfg if you want it to show in the browser filters. A new server has no server.cfg yet, so Rust server.cfg and admin commands shows how to create one and how server.tags works.
Turn it off again
Clear the Additional Arguments text, press Save and restart. Wipe at the same time, because Facepunch's warning about switching mid-wipe applies in both directions.
Common problems
- Players still see modern items. The line did not apply. Check Additional Arguments holds
+server.gamemode primitive, that you pressed Save, and that the server has restarted since.
For the other modes, see Change the game mode on your Rust server.
Related guides
Change the Game Mode on Your Rust Server
Set Rust's softcore, hardcore or primitive mode with one launch argument on the Startup tab, then restart. Includes the mid-wipe warning.
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Run a Rust Server With No Monuments
Make a Rust map without monuments using a world config file and a prefab blacklist, or a custom map, then wipe to regenerate it.
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Increase Item Stack Sizes on Rust
Raise Rust item stack limits with the Stack Size Controller plugin: set a global, category or per-item multiplier from the Console.
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