What do tech tree unlocks cost?

Blueprint paper, not scrap. Each item costs one piece: a Blueprint Fragment on the Workbench Level 1 and Engineering Workbench trees, a Blueprint Page on the Level 2 tree and a Blueprint Book on the Level 3 tree. Ten fragments make a page. The Research Table still takes scrap.

How many Blueprint Fragments does the whole Workbench Level 1 tree take?

146 Blueprint Fragments unlock all 146 items on the Workbench Level 1 tree. The bench itself costs 500 Wood, 100 Metal Fragments, 50 Scrap to craft.

How many Blueprint Pages does the whole Workbench Level 2 tree take?

141 Blueprint Pages unlock all 141 items on the Workbench Level 2 tree. The bench itself costs 500 Metal Fragments, 25 High Quality Metal, 500 Scrap to craft.

How many Blueprint Books does the whole Workbench Level 3 tree take?

32 Blueprint Books unlock all 32 items on the Workbench Level 3 tree. The bench itself costs 1000 Metal Fragments, 100 High Quality Metal, 1250 Scrap to craft.

How many Blueprint Fragments does the whole Engineering Workbench tree take?

96 Blueprint Fragments unlock all 96 items on the Engineering Workbench tree. The bench itself costs 500 Wood, 100 Metal Fragments to craft.

Which workbench upgrade makes the tech tree cheaper?

The Salvage Workbench Upgrade. At a bench with it fitted, each paper an unlock spends has a 20% chance to come back, so 10 unlocks cost about 8 paper on average.

Do you have to unlock the tech tree in order?

Yes. Most items need an item above it unlocked first. Where two lines lead into an item, either one is enough: the dashed line is an alternate unlock route, and the game charges for the cheaper one. Finding an item and researching it at a Research Table skips the tree.

Rust Workbench Tech Tree

Pick a workbench, then click an item for the cheapest path to it. Each unlock costs one Blueprint Fragment, Page or Book, by workbench. A dashed line is an alternate unlock route from another branch.

Salvage Workbench Upgrade20% chance to keep each paper an unlock spendsDetails

WB 1

62%

No prerequisite 48

Off the tree. Unlock these as soon as you have a Workbench Level 1, for one Blueprint Fragment each.

Skip the tree: Prototype upgrade

Unlocks any tree item without its path, so you can take the AK without the branch before it.

Unlock cost: 1×; the normal paper
Fail chance: 75%; the paper is lost
One item: ~4; paper on average
Fits: Any; crafted workbench

Not craftable. Drops from the Military Crate at 1.7%. Monument workbenches take no upgrades. Worth it to jump a long branch for one item.

Workbench upgrades

Upgrade	What it does
Accelerated	Items in one batch take 100%, 75%, 50%, then 25% of the normal craft time
Comfort	Comfort around the bench is at least 100%
Defensive	Armor crafted here gets +1 insert slot (up to the armor's max)
Efficiency	10% chance of a free extra copy of the crafted item when you queue 2+ (does not apply to Rocket, High Velocity Rocket, Smoke Rocket, Incendiary Rocket, Timed Explosive Charge, Explosives, Satchel Charge, Propane Explosive Bomb, Explosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo, Gun Powder, Beancan Grenade)
Prototype	Unlock any tech tree item without its path, at its normal cost, with a 75% chance to fail and lose what you spent
Range	Crafting zone reaches 2x as deep, out from one side of the bench; its width and height stay the same
Recycle Bin	Each craft refunds a random 0-10% of every ingredient into the recycle bin
Reinforced	Bench max health +500 at Level 1, +500 at Level 2, +750 at Level 3, +500 on the Engineering Workbench, 20% less explosive damage
Salvage	Each blueprint fragment, page or book a tech tree unlock spends has a 20% chance to stay in your inventory
Surplus	Adds bonus parts to recipes that list them (none do today)

Fit these into a workbench's upgrade slots. Each bench takes one of each.

Rust tech tree: common questions

What do tech tree unlocks cost?: Blueprint paper, not scrap. Each item costs one piece: a Blueprint Fragment on the Workbench Level 1 and Engineering Workbench trees, a Blueprint Page on the Level 2 tree and a Blueprint Book on the Level 3 tree. Ten fragments make a page. The Research Table still takes scrap.
How many Blueprint Fragments does the whole Workbench Level 1 tree take?: 146 Blueprint Fragments unlock all 146 items on the Workbench Level 1 tree. The bench itself costs 500 Wood, 100 Metal Fragments, 50 Scrap to craft.
How many Blueprint Pages does the whole Workbench Level 2 tree take?: 141 Blueprint Pages unlock all 141 items on the Workbench Level 2 tree. The bench itself costs 500 Metal Fragments, 25 High Quality Metal, 500 Scrap to craft.
How many Blueprint Books does the whole Workbench Level 3 tree take?: 32 Blueprint Books unlock all 32 items on the Workbench Level 3 tree. The bench itself costs 1000 Metal Fragments, 100 High Quality Metal, 1250 Scrap to craft.
How many Blueprint Fragments does the whole Engineering Workbench tree take?: 96 Blueprint Fragments unlock all 96 items on the Engineering Workbench tree. The bench itself costs 500 Wood, 100 Metal Fragments to craft.
Which workbench upgrade makes the tech tree cheaper?: The Salvage Workbench Upgrade. At a bench with it fitted, each paper an unlock spends has a 20% chance to come back, so 10 unlocks cost about 8 paper on average.
Do you have to unlock the tech tree in order?: Yes. Most items need an item above it unlocked first. Where two lines lead into an item, either one is enough: the dashed line is an alternate unlock route, and the game charges for the cheaper one. Finding an item and researching it at a Research Table skips the tree.

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