Wipes are fundamental to Rust. They reset some or all progress on a server, giving everyone a fresh start. Understanding wipe types and planning your schedule is essential for keeping your player base engaged.
Types of wipes
Forced wipe (map wipe)
Facepunch forces a map wipe on the first Thursday of every month with their monthly update. Every server in the world wipes its map on this day, no exceptions. Buildings, deployables, inventories and map data are all reset. The save file is incompatible with the new version, so the wipe is mandatory.
Server-owner map wipe
Many servers wipe more frequently than monthly. Weekly (every Thursday) and biweekly wipes are common. These are voluntary and set by the server admin. A fresh wipe draws players: "wipe day" is the busiest day for any Rust server.
Blueprint wipe (BP wipe)
Blueprints let players craft items they have learned. A BP wipe resets all learned blueprints, forcing everyone to research items again from scratch. BP wipes happen less frequently than map wipes, typically monthly or quarterly. Facepunch occasionally forces a BP wipe alongside the monthly update, but not every month.
Common wipe schedules
| Schedule | Map wipe | BP wipe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Every Thursday | Monthly (forced) | High-pop servers, competitive play |
| Biweekly | Every other Thursday | Monthly | Balance of fresh starts and progression |
| Monthly | First Thursday only | First Thursday | Casual players, builders, smaller communities |
How to perform a map wipe
- Stop your server.
- Delete the
*.sav,*.sav.1and*.mapfiles from the server directory (or the save folder). - Optionally change the
server.seedin your config for a new map layout. - Start the server. It generates a fresh world.
Do not delete the *.db files unless you want a blueprint wipe too.
How to perform a blueprint wipe
- Stop your server.
- Delete the
player.blueprints.*.dbfiles from the server directory. - Start the server. All player blueprints are reset.
Planning your schedule
- Announce wipes in advance - post your wipe schedule on your Discord, server description and website. Players plan their week around wipe day.
- Wipe at a consistent time - pick a time that works for your region. European servers often wipe at 14:00 to 16:00 CET.
- Thursday is standard - forced wipes are Thursday, so most community servers also wipe on Thursdays. Players expect it.
- BP wipes bring players back - if your server population drops mid-wipe, a BP wipe resets the progression gap and attracts returning players.
What happens to plugins during a wipe?
Most Oxide/Carbon plugins store player data in separate files. Some (like Economics, ServerRewards, Kits cooldowns) retain data across map wipes. Check each plugin's config for wipe-related settings. Many plugins have a "wipe on map wipe" option.
Do I have to wipe every month?
The map wipe on forced wipe day is mandatory because the save format changes with each update. You cannot skip it. Between forced wipes, you choose when and whether to wipe.
Why do players leave after a few days?
Rust has a natural population curve: peak on wipe day, steady decline until the next wipe. Weekly servers mitigate this with frequent fresh starts. Longer wipe cycles favor established groups but can feel stale for solos joining mid-wipe.
Can I change the map without wiping?
No. Changing the seed or map size requires a new save file, which means a full map wipe. You can change server settings (gather rates, upkeep) without wiping.
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