Rust's 'Pivot or Die' update was meant to shake up the meta, but it's a nightmare for solo survivors that leaves me no choice but to die

Facepunch demanded that Rust players 'Pivot or Die' with its latest update to progression changes this month, and it's not lookin' too hot for solo survivors or small groups trying to pivot. Opting out of big clans on official servers has never been the easiest way to play Rust, but recent monument, scrap, and blueprint reworks have turned the island into a real bloodbath—moreso than usual.

Historically, scrap has been pretty easy to get, and its abundance throughout the map made crafting upgraded workbenches easy. Playing it safe and farming scrap around your base meant fewer people out in the world for PvP, but the strategy worked. As a solo player, I could visit monuments to find a little treat, but I didn't need to venture into the wild as soon as possible.

The update largely reduces