Rust's Monuments, sometimes called dungeons or general points of interest, are hives of loot, NPC enemies, and overwhelming radiation in some cases. Despite the dangers, these are necessary areas to visit during the weekly wipe, mostly to collect loot and rarer items that you can't find elsewhere.
Not all Monuments were created equal in Rust. Ranging from the Supermarket, your sort of base-level Monument with some food crates inside, to the military tunnels, swarming with powerful (and angry) scientists, the rarity of loot is often based on how dangerous each Monument is. Here's a look at 10 Monuments, ranked by least to most dangerous.
10 Safe Zone: Bandit Camp
The Bandit Camp is a safe zone which means you can't be attacked by other players. By default, the Bandit Camp is a pretty safe area to chill out in, make use of the research table and workbench, as well as get the supplies needed to eventually craft a helicopter.
That being said, if you do accidentally shoot another player, the bandits which patrol the camp will open fire. If you see a red mark (looks like a target) at the top of your screen, it's best to wait a while before entering, otherwise, the bandits will shoot at you.
9 Safe Zone: Outpost
Like the Bandit Camp, the Outpost is inherently safe because you can't be damaged by other players. There's a bunch of different utility here, such as benches, recyclers, and a research table. For all Rust newcomers with the console release, keep the Outpost in mind.
Do not come close if you have the red target indicator at the top of the screen. This Monument is guarded by heavily-armed scientists with sentry turrets and a mobile sam unit that will shoot down mini-copters. Keep an eye on your stuff, both the Bandit Camp and Outpost are hotspots for thieves that you subsequently can't kill because of the safe zone restrictions.
8 The Supermarket
These don't quite fall under the "Monument" category, but they're still a viable source of early game loot. It's a good place to start for brand new Rust players. They're not overly dangerous, with no radiation, no AI enemies, and can be pretty peaceful to loot, unless you run into other players.
Supermarkets are small areas that have a chance to spawn a military crate, great for getting a powerful weapon early, lots of food crates and ration crates, which helps with food supplies at the start of your run, and you can get a green keycard to gain access to a green door later on. You can also use the recycler here to get some scrap metal.
7 The Sewer Branch
Once you've picked up a Green card from the Supermarket (or somewhere else) then the Sewer Branch is the next Monument to visit. There is some mild radiation here, but it's fairly low, ideal for players who have a rudimentary set of clothes.
You can use the green card to access the door inside the Sewer, search through the crates and military crates dotted around, and use the Research table that's in the oil refinery area. Even if you don't have a green card yet, the Sewer has plenty of loot, with rations, medical supplies, and crates with the chance to spawn decent-level gear.
6 Water Treatment Plant
The Water Treatment Plant is a huge Monument that spawns a lot of loot. Its complicated pathways, sharp corners, and short line-of-sight mean this is a popular area for PvP combat. There isn't much radiation, it only occurs in certain areas, so it's ideal for players who are just getting started.
You can find plenty of loot crates dotted around as well as a recycler and workbench. There's a decent chance that a Chinook crate drops near the Water Treatment Plant, but that's going to be a big target for players so you best be prepared before making the journey.
5 The Dome
This is a pretty iconic Rust Monument and has been in the game for a long time. Most experienced Rust players know about it, and as such, it can be dangerous during peak hours. A lot of players like to set up bases near this Monument to farm the crates and barrels. There are four military crates right at the top of the Dome.
Other dangers include the radiation which covers inside the Dome and at the very top and the fact that you can fall right off the side and plummet to your death. The Dome is a good place for new(ish) players to check out to recover good loot from the military crates. Keep your eyes open for other players.
4 Airfield
The Airfield is an open Monument with a bunch of useful resources, including dozens of crates, two recyclers, and a repair bunch, as well as other utilities. The rare Chinook crate will often drop at the Airfield, which sort of makes sense.
In terms of danger, there are some spots of high radiation, although it's really the other players that make the Airfield so tricky. It's an extremely open Monument with a lack of cover. You can be picked off from range as you cross the runways. It's a good idea to come here with some of your Rust friends so they can cover your back while you loot.
3 Launch Site
This is where things start to really heat up. The Launch Site has a huge amount of loot, probably the most of any loot drops in the entire game. As a result, it is very difficult to loot through. With the right preparation, a player can get hundreds of scraps and other useful loot here. There is high radiation throughout, and there are areas that necessitate a Hazmat Suit. Deep inside the site, players will still take radiation damage even with a suit.
Radiation isn't the only threat players need to be aware of. The Bradley APC circles the site and shoots on sight. This was introduced to balance out the high loot potential with a more dangerous threat. Sneak past the APC if you can, it completely obliterates players who are unprepared.
2 Military Tunnels
The Military Tunnels are a relatively new addition to Rust. This Monument has plenty of loot, quite a lot of radiation, and waves of angry scientists equipped with top-tier weaponry. The danger is worth it for all the military crates and other loot drops located inside the tunnels. You can get some of the best ammunition, crafting pieces, and other loot here.
The A.I enemies are not like your regular scientists located at other Rust Monuments. These guys will open doors, throw grenades, and start shooting you from some distance. There are a few methods to loot the tunnels with rudimentary gear, but it's going to take a lot of skill and a fair chunk of luck.
1 The Small And Large Oil Rigs
These Monuments are covered in loot, with green, blue, and red rooms storing elite crates. They are worth visiting with a good stock of cards to get access to the best loot. Like the tunnels, the Rigs are guarded by elite scientists and there's radiation all over the place.
These Monuments get much harder after opening up the locked crate. Scientists spawn in with an attack helicopter and waves of bomb-suit-wearing Shotgun-wielding tanks which have hundreds of HP. If you can handle the NPCs, then there's plenty of loot here for a whole team of players.