Tangerine has always been our opportunity to try something different in Rust. From the very start, the vision behind Tangerine was about building a new kind of server experience — something that stood apart from the always-on chaos of Orange and the relaxed calm of Mandarin. We wanted a space that could bridge both worlds and introduce fresh mechanics that encouraged competition without sacrificing the amazing social aspects that Rust can hold for educational experiences.
Block 0: The Wild West
Tangerine launched with Block 0 as a PVP server — but with one major twist: no raiding. Players could fight each other out in the open world for resources, scrap, and control, but your base was safe until the final week. That’s when our signature Purge Event began — one final push of full PVP and raiding where players scrambled to defend or turn in their precious hash. That moment helped define Tangerine’s identity and started a tradition we’ve carried forward.
Finding the Middle Ground
As the server evolved, we stepped further into experimental territory. Orange had always been the home of hardcore PVP. Mandarin became known as a haven for pure PVE. Tangerine aimed to strike a unique balance between the two — something with real stakes, but without the grind punishment of losing everything to a raid.
That idea led to Dynamic PVP zones: mini combat arenas spread throughout the map where battles could take place for control of monuments, while the rest of the world stayed safe. It was a compelling middle path. You could build in peace and jump into action when you were ready.
War Mode and Player Choice
Next came War Mode — our attempt to give players direct control over how they played. If you wanted to be PVE, you could stay protected. If you wanted to be PVP, you could opt-in and face others who had done the same. Even Raidable Bases became exclusive to PVP players in an attempt to increase participation.
But that shift taught us a hard lesson: when given the choice, most players chose peace. Rather than sparking more combat, it just led players to avoid high-stakes zones entirely. What we hoped would energize the server actually slowed it down.
Back to a Better Foundation
After technical issues with War Mode and growing clarity from our community, we returned to a full PVE foundation with dynamic PVP zones layered in. That’s the structure we’ve used for recent wipes and I think it’s been enjoyed by most players.
We recently ran a poll in Discord asking players where they stood on a scale from make the server even more PVE to take us PVP and the scale was overwhelmingly on the PVE front. This has only solidified what we’ve been planning out.
The Road Ahead
After testing several iterations and listening to feedback, we’ve restructured Tangerine around what our players enjoy most: a collaborative, competitive economic simulation.
The main world will now function as a PVE-protected economic environment, built to support farming, trading and growing your share of the server’s Hash. It’s a live economy with risks, rewards and growth built into every system.
PVP Reimagined: Purpose-Driven Combat
PVP isn’t completely gone.
- Raidable Bases remain the core PVP area in the main server world. When you enter a public raid, you’ll get a chat notification that you’re in a PVP zone and can take damage from other players.
- Custom arenas will run hourly, providing structured battles without risking personal gear. It’s the perfect place to sharpen your combat skills and challenge others without fear of losing what you’ve found.
Watch Your Back (Against NPCs)
Just because the world is PVE doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Monument Defenders are back, and they’re not just window dressing. If you want access to key loot, you’ll need to clear out well-armed AI forces first. Do that, and your team will gain control of the monument, locking it down so only you (and your teammates) can access the containers.
Others can help with the fight, but if you’re not the controller — you’re not looting.
And if you think Raidable Bases are your shortcut to mining gear? Be careful. The “Environment” in PVE is now fiercely active. These NPCs are done getting farmed and might just follow you home.
What’s Next
Because of all the changes coming with this new chapter, Tangerine will not be coming online immediately after the wipe. We’ll be taking the extra time to dig in, test systems and ensure everything is properly set up for the experience we’re building. This isn’t just another wipe — it’s the foundation of a new era for Tangerine. We want it to be rock solid.
Players can expect to see another blog post soon with the full details on Block 9, new features and what to expect when the server opens its gates. Stay tuned — you won’t want to miss what’s coming next! Until then stop in the Discord and cast your vote on the map we use for next wipe.
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