SpawnPass · Rust
Workbenches and the tech tree
Scrap paths from workbench one to three, and the two May 2026 upgrades that change the maths.
Last checked 2026-09-21
Overview
The tech tree is a scrap sink with a shape. Knowing the shape stops you from researching the wrong branch on Monday and having nothing to shoot with on Friday.
The path
Workbench one, then two, then three, each unlocking the tier above it. Working the full tree costs on the order of ten to eleven thousand scrap, so it is a whole-wipe project for a solo and an afternoon for a group.
Research table versus tech tree
The research table turns a found item into a blueprint directly. The tech tree lets you buy toward an item you have not found. Use the table when the item lands in your inventory, the tree when it will not.
The May 2026 workbench upgrades
Two upgrades changed the calculus.
- Salvage: roughly 20% off scrap costs.
- Prototype: skip prerequisites at double cost, with a chance to fail.
- Reinforced: more workbench health and explosive resistance.
Plan around the wipe
Blueprints wipe on official force wipes. If you find the Salvage upgrade early, reorder the tree around it — the saving compounds across the whole wipe.