Red Rust Map: Military Tunnels and Launch Site
The Red Keycard in Rust unlocks the final level of card puzzles leading to elite and military crates. High-level ground routes are found in the Military Tunnels and at the Launch Site. Both locations are dangerous not only due to radiation: armed scientists can be encountered in the tunnels, and the main building at the Launch Site quickly accumulates radiation.
Where to Obtain the Red Keycard
Red keycards are found at the end of blue puzzles at the Power Plant, Airfield, Train Yard, and Water Treatment Plant. They are not sold by the standard Outpost trader, although another player may sell the card at their vending machine. A reliable method is to complete the medium level independently; routes are detailed in the Rust Blue Keycard guide.
The red keycard has limited durability and wears out upon use. Do not use it to check a random door if you are not prepared to fully complete the location. After obtaining it, return to base, transfer the card to a secure storage, and gather the required equipment separately.
Preparing for a High-Level Monument
You cannot approach the red route like a regular roadside monument. Losing your gear, all keycards, and fuses will set back your team's progress by several stages. Before heading out, check the following points:
- Weapons and ammunition. For the Military Tunnels, you need stable damage against NPCs at medium range.
- Medical supplies. Take syringes, bandages, and food supplies; keep some medical items on your quick access bar.
- Radiation protection. Switches require a solid supply, and in the main building at the Launch Site, a full protective suit is necessary.
- Water. A full water jug helps reduce accumulated radiation at the Launch Site.
- Keycards. Military Tunnels require green, blue, and red. Launch Site requires green and red.
- Fuses. One for the Tunnels, two for the full route at the Launch Site.
- Free inventory slots. Elite loot cannot be efficiently gathered with a full inventory.
Radiation tea from the mixing table guide can provide an additional supply, but it does not replace protective gear. Server settings vary, so monitor the radiation indicator and do not rely on a fixed number.
Military Tunnels
You need: green, blue, and red keycards, one electrical fuse, about 25 radiation protection, weapons, and medical supplies.
Step 1: Power up
At the main entrance, choose the right door. Move to the right and find the room labeled Armory. Proceed down the corridor; in the first room on the right, you will find a fuse box and a timer. Install the fuse and activate the circuit.
Do not rush to start the timer while scientists are still in the nearby area. Sounds of combat and opening doors attract players, and a subsequent firefight will consume the limited power time. First, clear a convenient part of the route and reload your weapons.
Step 2: Go through the green section
Return from the Armory and move deeper into the tunnel, which bends to the right. Find an opening in the fence to the left, pass through it, and turn left. You will encounter a door labeled Storage with a green card reader across the rails. Apply the card and enter.
Inside, activate the Laboratory switch. Afterward, return to the central part of the complex. Do not ignore the train car and open crates along the way, but remember the timer: it's safer to collect the main loot behind the red door, and check regular containers on the way out.
Step 3: Blue and red doors
From the center, move to the right and continue straight to the blue door labeled Laboratory. Use the blue card. Immediately after it, you will find the red door; the access window is short, so the red card should be prepared on the quick select panel in advance.
Behind the final door are elite, military, and regular crates. The exact quantity and contents change after updates and can be customized by the server. First, take compact valuable items: weapon bodies, high-quality metal, explosive components, and rare gear. Then distribute the remaining loot among participants.
Exiting the Military Tunnels
Look for a quick exit to the left of the main loot area. Before opening the door, listen carefully and restore your health. Players often wait not inside the puzzle but along the route to the surface. More detailed combat tactics and NPC locations are covered in our separate Military Tunnels guide.
Launch Site
You need: green and red keycards, two fuses, good radiation protection, a protective suit for the main building, and a full water jug.
Step 1: Activate the first switches
Locate the green building marked 011 and activate the switch inside. Then pass the rocket to the stone structure with a metal ramp. Descend the stairs and activate the second switch in the room on the left.
This part takes place in an open area. The Launch Site is well-sighted from above, so do not run straight without stops. Use concrete blocks and buildings as cover, and circumvent the heavy tank Bradley with caution.
Step 2: Upper route and timer
Reach the construction forests and jump through the opening. Leap onto the ledge, activate the timer, and pass through the opened passage. Then cross the beams to the opposite side and press the red button. Proceed carefully: a fall can not only cause damage but also disrupt the entire timed route.
After collecting available loot, press the second button to exit. Do not use up all medical supplies before reaching the main building— the most radioactive part lies ahead. If radiation levels are already high, step back, use water, and recover.
Step 3: Green circuit and red door
Head towards a small building with a green door next to three silos. Open it with the card, install the fuse, and power up. Then move to the far side of another building near two blue containers. Inside, you will find the second electrical panel and switch.
Leave the building and run to the main structure. The red door is located to the right. Use the card, enter, and collect the loot. To exit, be sure to activate the exit switch in the loot room. Without it, a player loses precious time in a high radiation zone.
Surviving Radiation in the Main Building
Wear a full protective suit before entering, not after receiving a warning. Keep water and medical supplies on quick slots. Do not examine every item on-site: transfer valuable loot to your inventory and sort only after exiting. If the route is a team effort, one member can stay outside with a spare kit and monitor the retreat.
Military Tunnels or Launch Site
| Criterion | Military Tunnels | Launch Site |
|---|---|---|
| Keycards | green, blue, red | green and red |
| Fuses | 1 | 2 |
| Main Threat | Scientists and narrow corridors | Radiation, open terrain, and Bradley |
| Navigation | Long underground route | Several remote buildings and jumps |
| For the First Time | Better with a well-armed group | After practicing the route |
How to Carry Loot
Do not return home via the most obvious route. Set up a sleeping bag and a small stash at a safe distance but not directly at the entrance. If using modular cars, leave them out of sight, facing the retreat direction. The driver should not sort through the cargo at the monument.
Within the team, distribute the most valuable items between two players. Even if one is intercepted, the group will retain part of the loot. Do not pursue a random opponent with a full inventory: the goal of the red room is to deliver the loot, not win every fight on the map.
Common Mistakes
- Bringing only the red keycard to the Military Tunnels and forgetting the green and blue ones.
- Bringing only one fuse to the Launch Site.
- Powering up before clearing scientists and reloading.
- Entering the main building at the Launch Site without a full protective suit and water.
- Sorting crates under radiation instead of quickly gathering loot.
- Not activating the internal exit switch.
- Parking transport directly at the entrance and informing opponents of your route.
Correct Progression Chain
- Find the green card at a small roadside monument.
- Go through the green room and obtain the blue card.
- At the Train Yard, Water Treatment Plant, Airfield, or Power Plant, acquire the red card.
- Hide the card and gather a separate high-level set.
- Choose the Military Tunnels for combat PvE route or the Launch Site for complex navigation and radiation management.
Check the wipe calendar to avoid starting a long chain before the card reset. Servers with different development speeds are available in the Prostoj Rust server list. Monument changes and balance adjustments are posted in the Rust update section.
Conclusion: The red keycard requires preparation of the entire chain—from fuses to a safe exit. Military Tunnels test shooting skills and corridor control, while the Launch Site tests route knowledge and radiation management. Conduct the first successful run as a group, do not be greedy during looting, and plan the loot delivery to the base in advance.
Answers to Common Questions
Can the red keycard be purchased at the Outpost?
Not from the standard trader—no. Red keycards are obtained from blue puzzles. Sometimes another player may sell the card at their vending machine, but the price depends on the server and wipe stage. Buying saves time but does not eliminate the need to learn the complex route.
