Property Details
Item Rusted Tools
Rarity Rare
Loot pool Mechanical
Stack size 3
Weight 2 kg
Sell price 1,000 coins
Recycle (at base) 8× Metal Parts + 1× Steel Spring
Salvage (mid‑raid) 7× Metal Parts

Rusted Tools are a rare scavenged item in the mechanical loot pool. They’re light enough to carry in early runs, and they’re valuable whether you sell them or break them down for components.

Find Rusted Tools (mechanical loot pool)

Rusted Tools come from scavenging in areas and containers tagged as mechanical. Each map has distinct sub‑areas with thematic loot pools; check the location tag in the HUD and the map legend and route through mechanical‑themed spots. If your goal is Rusted Tools, skip zones tagged for other themes (like technological or electrical) and prioritize mechanical interiors, workshops, and similar facilities when you see that tag.

  • Open every viable container you have time for. Interacting makes noise and takes a few seconds, but you gain XP even if a container is empty.
  • Plan a route between multiple mechanical‑tagged areas so you’re not backtracking under pressure to extract.
  • Modifiers like night operations can increase overall loot quality but raise the risk and reduce safe exits. Balance that against what your squad can handle.
Tip: If spawn locations are unkind, reset your route early rather than forcing a long cross‑map trek through unfriendly loot pools.

Efficient farming runs for Rusted Tools

  • Free Loadout runs: Useful for low‑risk scavenging. You’ll bring less and have no Safe Pockets, but losing the kit won’t set you back.
  • Custom loadouts: Bring a shield you can move with, a weapon with decent ARC armor penetration if you must fight, and enough ammo to avoid looting mid‑firefight.
  • Use Safe Pockets for one stack of Rusted Tools or other high‑value materials. Items in Safe Pockets survive if you’re eliminated.
  • Sound discipline: Opening containers, sprinting indoors, and triggering extractions are loud. Crouch‑walk near other players or ARC patrols; holster to run faster when repositioning.
  • Fight only when necessary. ARC machines chain aggro and draw attention. If you’re farming, break line of sight and rotate rather than burning resources in protracted fights.
  • Extraction: Hatches are quiet but require a key. Standard exits (airshafts, tunnels, elevators) blare alarms and attract players and patrols—clear the area and set crossfires before committing.
Note: If you’re downed just outside an extraction, you can still crawl into some exits to keep your haul.

Workshop upgrade that needs Rusted Tools

Workshop upgrade Materials required
Gunsmith 1 → Gunsmith 2 3× Rusted Tools + 5× Mechanical Components + 8× Wasp Driver

If you’re stuck on this upgrade, budget your mechanical runs around the full set of materials—not just Rusted Tools—so you don’t bottleneck on the last piece.

Sell, recycle, or salvage Rusted Tools

Action What you get When to choose it
Sell (vendor) 1,000 coins per item When you need currency more than basic components
Recycle (at base) 8× Metal Parts + 1× Steel Spring Best long‑term value in components; do this back in the hub
Salvage (mid‑raid) 7× Metal Parts Emergency pack space or quick materials during a run

If inventory pressure is high mid‑raid, salvaging one helps you free 2 kg and still walk away with some materials. Otherwise, hold for base recycling to maximize component yield.

Quick answers

  • Are Rusted Tools rare? Yes. Expect inconsistent spawns; plan multiple mechanical‑tagged stops per run.
  • Do they stack? Up to three per slot. Keep one slot free if you’re targeting them.
  • What weighs more—the components or the tools? The tools weigh 2 kg; breaking them down mid‑raid converts weight into multiple items and usually increases slot pressure, so salvage sparingly until you extract.

The fastest path to Rusted Tools is disciplined routing through mechanical‑tagged areas, minimal combat, and clean extractions. Treat them as progression currency: use them to push your Gunsmith upgrade first, then decide on selling versus recycling based on what your stash is missing.