Uploaded March 2017 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
Why do Rust players sometimes spare defeated enemies?
Rust is a PVP game first and foremost with some survival elements thrown in. For players who complain about being killed and robbed by stronger players, there's something naive or disingenuous about that. Either those players have not played enough and do not understand what game they are playing, or they are just complaining to complain.
But then, a lot of us veteran players do still offer mercy. Why?
I am highlighting in this video an example where I defeated a bowman who was loaded up with enough supplies to build a starter base, and I decided to give the guy his stuff back.
Why would I do that? There was every reason not to. I could have used his loot for myself. If this guy had killed me instead of me killing him, I do not think he would have given me my stuff back.
This was not planned on my part, either. I was out roaming solo looking for fights. This guy was fair game.
I think I ended up giving him his stuff back for a few reasons.
First, he was a good sport about it. If he had trash talked, I would have walked away.
Second, he did make it clear that he was pretty crushed by losing all of his starter base materials. At this point in the wipe, I honestly did not really need his stuff and so I did not feel the loss of his loot hardly at all.
My third, and most important reason, involves my own understanding of honor and gravitas. Let me make an analogy so that I can make it clear what I mean by gravitas. In ancient Rome, the great men of the day competed for gravitas, which means they competed to see who could have the best reputation.
Wealth and military glory were part of it, but not all of it. For example, a private citizen who spent his own money to build a public temple or to pay for gladiatorial games would gain gravitas in the eyes of Rome. Offering mercy to a defeated enemy could also increase a man's gravitas.
When Julius Caesar won a civil war against other factions in Rome, he pardoned a lot of the men who fought against him. If he had executed all of them, nobody would have questioned Caesar. It would have been considered normal to execute defeated enemies. But Caesar offered them mercy. He let them live and by doing so he gained gravitas.
Caesar's message was clear. I won. You lost. I have everything. You have nothing. If I wanted to kill you, I would. I am all powerful. You have no power. I will let you live because I do not fear you. That was Caesar's message. By doing this, Caesar gained honor.
I think many of us offer mercy to fallen enemies or even fresh spawns for the same reasons. It is not just about being a nice person. It is about building this image of your Rust self as a fierce, confident warrior who fights with honor and fears nobody.
Has anyone ever showed you mercy in game? Do you show others mercy? If so, why?
Why do Rust players sometimes spare defeated enemies?
Rust is a PVP game first and foremost with some survival elements thrown in. For players who complain about being killed and robbed by stronger players, there's something naive or disingenuous about that. Either those players have not played enough and do not understand what game they are playing, or they are just complaining to complain.
But then, a lot of us veteran players do still offer mercy. Why?
I am highlighting in this video an example where I defeated a bowman who was loaded up with enough supplies to build a starter base, and I decided to give the guy his stuff back.
Why would I do that? There was every reason not to. I could have used his loot for myself. If this guy had killed me instead of me killing him, I do not think he would have given me my stuff back.
This was not planned on my part, either. I was out roaming solo looking for fights. This guy was fair game.
I think I ended up giving him his stuff back for a few reasons.
First, he was a good sport about it. If he had trash talked, I would have walked away.
Second, he did make it clear that he was pretty crushed by losing all of his starter base materials. At this point in the wipe, I honestly did not really need his stuff and so I did not feel the loss of his loot hardly at all.
My third, and most important reason, involves my own understanding of honor and gravitas. Let me make an analogy so that I can make it clear what I mean by gravitas. In ancient Rome, the great men of the day competed for gravitas, which means they competed to see who could have the best reputation.
Wealth and military glory were part of it, but not all of it. For example, a private citizen who spent his own money to build a public temple or to pay for gladiatorial games would gain gravitas in the eyes of Rome. Offering mercy to a defeated enemy could also increase a man's gravitas.
When Julius Caesar won a civil war against other factions in Rome, he pardoned a lot of the men who fought against him. If he had executed all of them, nobody would have questioned Caesar. It would have been considered normal to execute defeated enemies. But Caesar offered them mercy. He let them live and by doing so he gained gravitas.
Caesar's message was clear. I won. You lost. I have everything. You have nothing. If I wanted to kill you, I would. I am all powerful. You have no power. I will let you live because I do not fear you. That was Caesar's message. By doing this, Caesar gained honor.
I think many of us offer mercy to fallen enemies or even fresh spawns for the same reasons. It is not just about being a nice person. It is about building this image of your Rust self as a fierce, confident warrior who fights with honor and fears nobody.
Has anyone ever showed you mercy in game? Do you show others mercy? If so, why?
