Monuments
Guide to Airfield in Rust
Navigate the underground section and puzzle to secure the red keycard at Airfield.
Navigate the underground section and puzzle to secure the red keycard at Airfield.
Airfield is a large Tier 2 monument combining surface scavenging with an underground puzzle system. The monument sprawls across multiple hangars and industrial buildings, with the real treasure in the underground bunker. Eight scientists patrol the underground section, making this a moderate combat encounter compared to higher-tier monuments.
You'll extract a red keycard from the underground blue card room, which opens access to higher-tier monuments. The surface area contains 54 barrels and 38 basic crates for supplemental farming. Airfield produces around 320 scrap per run with two recyclers positioned conveniently on-site. The research table and repair bench make Airfield useful for extended farm sessions where you need to repair gear or research blueprints.
You need green and blue keycards plus two fuses for the fuse boxes. Bring combat gear because eight scientists patrol the underground. Medical supplies should be 6-8 medkits since scientist encounters can drain health quickly. A flashlight or mining helmet is mandatory for the dark underground corridors.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Keycards | Green and Blue (both required) |
| Tools | 2 Electric Fuses, Flashlight (mandatory underground) |
| Combat Gear | Rifle, 6-8 medkits, ammunition |
| Protection | Combat armor, 1-2 anti-radiation pills |
| Run Time | 15-25 minutes total |
| Threat Level | 8 scientists underground, moderate radiation |
Airfield has multiple hangars numbered in sequence, with the main office building as your entry point for the underground puzzle. Between hangars 2 and 3, you'll find the ladder down to the underground bunker where scientists patrol. The surface area contains barrels and basic crates scattered across the facility. Two recyclers are positioned on-site for component processing.
The monument spawns 54 barrels, 38 basic crates, 6 military crates, and 1 elite crate. The underground section contains the high-value loot, with the blue card room holding 3-4 military crates plus the red keycard. The research table in the office building lets you research blueprints during your run, and the repair bench allows gear maintenance on-site.
You can farm the surface area alone if you want to avoid scientist combat. The 54 barrels and 38 basic crates add up to solid scrap income without entering the underground. However, the real value is the red keycard in the blue card room, so most players run the full underground puzzle.
If you're running the full monument, collect surface loot on your way to and from the underground. Don't spend extra time on the surface area when underground loot is more valuable per minute. The research table and repair bench are useful if you're doing extended farming sessions where you need to repair gear between runs or research blueprints.
Enter the main office building through the garage area. Locate the right door inside and find the first fuse box. Insert your first fuse to start the timer and unlock the underground entrance.
Move toward the ladder entrance between hangars 2 and 3. This is the primary underground access. The timer is active, so head there directly. Descend the ladder and prepare for scientist activity immediately.
At the bottom of the ladder, turn right and follow the corridor. Expect scientist patrols in this area. Reach the green card door and use your green keycard to enter. Collect the crate inside and exit quickly.
Exit the green room and turn right around the corner. Locate the second fuse box and insert your second fuse. This unlocks the blue card door ahead on the timer.
Navigate back to the main corridor and use your blue keycard on the blue card door. This is the final loot chamber. Inside you'll find the red keycard, 3-4 military crates, and brown crates. Grab the red keycard first, then collect military crates if space allows.
Eight scientists patrol the underground section, which is less intense than Military Tunnels but still a serious threat. They're equipped with standard gear and patrol specific corridors. Use the confined spaces to your advantage by forcing close-range engagements where their accuracy drops. Establish defensive positions at corridor intersections before scientists see you.
Coordinate team fire if you're in a group to eliminate scientists before they get effective shots. Solo players should kite individual scientists and take them down one at a time using cover. Never try to engage multiple scientists simultaneously. The underground darkness works against you, so keep your flashlight on despite it revealing your position. Being able to see your environment beats hiding in darkness.
The underground is dark, giving scientists a tactical advantage. Use your flashlight anyway. Seeing your movement path clearly is more important than staying hidden. Position at corridor intersections and engage scientists as they approach.
Airfield yields around 320 scrap per complete run. The surface area contributes 54 barrels, 38 basic crates, and 6 military crates. The underground blue card room is where the real value sits, containing the red keycard plus 3-4 military crates and brown crates.
The red keycard is your priority item. This opens access to higher-tier monuments and puzzle areas like Military Tunnels and Launch Site. Store red keycards in your base for future runs rather than selling them. The red keycard is a progression asset, not consumable loot.
Use the two on-site recyclers to process unwanted components and maximize scrap output. Check the monument loot database to identify which military crates contain the highest-value blueprints. The research table is useful if you're researching blueprints during extended farm sessions.
Airfield's large surface area creates ambush opportunities for raiders. Teams can establish overwatch positions on hangar roofs overlooking approach routes and the runway. Scout the surface area before committing to a full run. The multiple hangars provide cover if you spot raiders, but the distance between structures makes movement risky.
The underground section is safer once you're inside. Hostile players must follow your exact route to catch you. If you hear footsteps behind you, accelerate your puzzle completion and reach the blue card room before enemies close in. Once you have the red keycard, you can extract knowing you've grabbed the most valuable item.
If you encounter heavy surface raider activity, skip surface looting entirely and head straight to the underground. The time you save by not collecting barrels is worth the safety gain. The red keycard alone justifies the run, so prioritize reaching the blue card room safely.
Bring extra ammunition because eight scientists force multiple engagements underground. Stock at least 200 rifle rounds to handle encounters safely. Extra rounds give you flexibility to engage from favorable distances rather than being forced into close-range fights.
Memorize the fuse box locations before your run. The first fuse is in the main building, the second is underground near the green card room. Knowing exact locations prevents wasted movement. Practice the route on a private server if you're new to Airfield.
Prioritize the red keycard above all else. If your inventory fills up before reaching the blue card room, carry only the red keycard and leave other loot behind. The red keycard unlocks access to higher-tier monuments like Military Tunnels, making it exponentially more valuable than any single crate.
Use the research table if you're researching blueprints. Combining blueprint research with loot farming consolidates your monument efficiency. Bring empty research slots when visiting Airfield if you have blueprints ready to research.