How to - Military Tunnel

A guide on how to navigate and complete the military tunnel monument puzzle.

RustUpdated 23 Feb 2026

Military Tunnels Monument Guide

alt text Military Tunnels is one of Rust’s highest-tier underground monuments, offering heavy loot, multiple elite crates, scientists, and a multi-stage keycard puzzle. It has medium radiation but extremely tough NPCs.

Overview

Military Tunnels is an underground rail-tunnel complex with interconnected chambers, scientists, large crates, elite loot, and a single recycler near the entrance. The monument includes a fused switch room and a green-card/blue-card/red-card puzzle sequence to access the deepest loot rooms.

Key characteristics:

  • Medium radiation
  • Deep underground layout
  • Many scientists (tough)
  • Multi-stage keycard puzzle
  • Elite crates and high-tier loot
  • One on-site recycler

Getting to Military Tunnels

Players can approach the tunnels from:

  • The main tunnel entrance (most common)
  • A cave entrance that connects into the tunnel mid-section
  • Above-ground access near the recycler shed

Hot tip: Where possible, leave the bridge scientist alive as an early warning for sneaky players

Monument Layout

Military Tunnels has multiple interconnected areas:

Entrance and Recycler Area

  • Open entrance with scientists
  • Small shed with a recycler
  • Initial loot crates

Main Tunnel Corridor

  • Underground rail tunnel
  • Scientists patrol this area
  • Loot crates scattered along the path

Puzzle and Loot Sections

  • Fuse room with timer switch
  • Green Keycard door
  • Blue Keycard door
  • Final Red Keycard reward room

Loot includes elite crates in the tunnel core and large loot rooms deeper inside.

Scientists and Combat Strategy

Scientist NPCs in Military Tunnels are aggressive and can flank through tunnels. Clear them systematically as you progress or at least isolate fights before starting puzzles. Expect multiple patrol paths.

Puzzle Requirements

To complete the full puzzle run you will need:

  • Electric Fuse
  • Green Keycard
  • Blue Keycard
  • Red Keycard

These unlock deeper doors and access the final elite loot room.

Puzzle Flow

Military Tunnels has a specific sequence you must follow to complete the deep puzzle and reach the best loot.

Step 1 – Fuse Room (Activate Fuse and Timer)

Location: Just inside the main tunnel, right side
What to do:

  1. Enter through the main tunnel entrance.
  2. Head right and locate a room marked with “Armory” signage or a fuse box.
  3. Insert the Electric Fuse and flip the timer switch.
  4. This powers parts of the tunnel system necessary for later steps.

Step 2 – Green Keycard Door and Switch

Location: Further down the tunnel past the initial crates and enemies
What to do:

  1. Run past the fuse room deeper into the tunnel.
  2. Locate a fenced section on the left and enter through a gap.
  3. You’ll see a Green Keycard door marked “Storage” or similar — swipe the Green card to open it.
  4. Inside, find a switch labeled “Laboratory” and flip it to power the next circuit.

Step 3 – Blue Keycard Door

Location: Deeper within the tunnel after the Green room
What to do:

  1. Continue forward from the Green card area.
  2. Clear scientists along the tunnel until you see a Blue Keycard door, often near the central railcar section.
  3. Swipe the Blue Keycard to enter the laboratory section leading toward the Red room. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Step 4 – Red Keycard Room and Loot

Location: Connected through the room past the Blue card
What to do:

  1. Inside the Laboratory area, locate the Red Keycard gated door.
  2. Flip the timer switch and swipe the Red Keycard.
  3. Clear the room of scientists once the door opens.
  4. The final chamber yields the richest loot — elite crates and high-tier rewards.

Loot Overview

Loot in Military Tunnels includes:

  • Elite Tier Crates deep in puzzle rooms
  • Military Crates along tunnel corridors
  • Standard and medical crates scattered throughout
  • Recycler near the entrance

Exiting Military Tunnels

After looting:

  • Retrace your steps out of the tunnel
  • Keep awareness of reinforcements or counters behind you
  • Use alternate cave exits if available for faster escape

Tips and Best Practices

  • Clear scientists before starting puzzle progression (leaving the bridge scientist)
  • Don’t insert the fuse until you’re ready - it starts a timer
  • Move quickly between rooms to avoid backtracking fights

Tags

#monument#puzzle