Your server listing is an ad you don't pay for. Players scan hundreds of rows in the server browser and decide in seconds. This guide shows what the browser displays, a name formula that matches how players search, every tag you can set, and description templates you can copy.
What players see, in order
- In the list: server name, player count / max, ping, and your tags.
- When they click: header image, description, and the server's website link.
- Then: they join, or they go back to the list.
Everything in step 1 has to be right before anyone reads step 2.
The settings that control your listing
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
server.hostname |
The name in the list |
server.tags |
Up to four browser tags players filter by |
server.headerimage |
The image at the top of your server page (public image URL) |
server.description |
The text under the header. \n makes a new line |
server.url |
The website or Discord link shown on your server page |
server.logoimage |
A small logo shown in some views (public image URL) |
Set them in your server.cfg or startup command, and restart for name and tag changes to show reliably.
The name formula
Players search with their eyes for four things: region, rates, group size and wipe. Put them in that order:
[REGION] [RATES] [GROUP] | [WIPE] | [YOUR NAME or HOOK]
Examples:
EU 2x Solo/Duo | Weekly Thu | PinewoodNA Vanilla Quad | Monthly | Fresh Thu 19:00 GMTUK 3x Trio | Biweekly | Late-joiner protectionOC 5x No BP Wipe | Weekly Fri | Kits + Events
Rules that help:
- Lead with the filter words. Region and rates first, your brand name last. Nobody searches for a brand they haven't heard of.
- Use the group limit players use: Solo, Duo, Trio, Quad, Max 5, No limit.
- Say when you wipe. "Weekly Thu" beats "Weekly".
- No "official". Never suggest you're run by the developer. Read Rust's server guidelines before naming.
- No emoji walls or ALL CAPS. They read as low effort and get cut off.
- Keep it short enough that the important part isn't truncated in the browser.
Tags: all of them, explained
server.tags takes a comma-separated list. The browser shows up to four, and tags are grouped: pick at most one from each group, otherwise filtering breaks. Source: Rust wiki, server browser tags.
| Group | Tags |
|---|---|
| Wipe schedule | monthly, biweekly, weekly |
| Difficulty | vanilla, hardcore, softcore |
| Server type | pve, roleplay, creative, minigame, training, battlefield, broyale, builds, tut |
| Region | NA, SA, EU, WA, EA, OC, AF |
| Other | premium (for premium servers) |
There is also a tag group for the server's mod framework; see the wiki for how it's set.
Good: server.tags "weekly,vanilla,EU"
Broken: server.tags "weekly,monthly,EU,NA" (two from the same group)
Rates ("2x", "5x") and group limits are not tags. Put them in the name.
Header image
- Size: 2:1 ratio. 512×256 is the commonly recommended size; 1024×512 gives a sharper image at the same ratio.
- Hosting: a direct public image URL (ending in .png or .jpg). If the host blocks hotlinking, it won't show.
- Content: logo, rates, group limit, wipe day. Readable at a small size. No paragraphs.
Description templates
Keep the first two lines about what makes you different. Then the facts. Then the rules. Then the link.
Vanilla
Pure vanilla Rust. No kits, no TP, no shortcuts.\n
Active admins, fast cheater response.\n
\n
Group limit: Duo | Wipes: Weekly, Thursday 19:00 GMT (map), BP on forced wipe\n
Map: 3500 procedural\n
\n
Rules: no cheating, no racism, no griefing new players in the first hour.\n
Discord: discord.gg/yourinvite
2x
2x gather, vanilla gameplay. Get your base up before dinner.\n
Raid night every Saturday 20:00 CET.\n
\n
Group limit: Solo/Duo | Wipes: Weekly Thursday + forced wipe\n
Rates: 2x gather, 1x loot | Map: 4000 procedural\n
\n
Rules: max 2, no alliances, no offline raids in the first 24 h after wipe.\n
Discord: discord.gg/yourinvite
3x / 5x with quality-of-life
3x gather, faster crafting, no pay-to-win.\n
Late joiners get 24 h raid protection.\n
\n
Group limit: Trio | Wipes: Weekly Thursday 19:00 GMT\n
Rates: 3x gather | Map: custom, monuments + outpost\n
\n
Rules: max 3, no cheating, admins online at wipe.\n
Discord: discord.gg/yourinvite
Solo / duo focus
Solo/Duo only, strictly enforced. Fair fights, small bases.\n
Group limit checks every wipe.\n
\n
Group limit: Solo/Duo | Wipes: Biweekly Thursday + forced wipe\n
Rates: 1x | Map: 3500\n
\n
Rules: max 2, no teaming with other groups, no cheating.\n
Discord: discord.gg/yourinvite
Adjust the facts to match what you actually run. A description that doesn't match the game is the fastest way to lose a player.
Keep every listing identical
Use the same name, tags and description on BattleMetrics, rust-servers.net and any other list. If your browser listing says "Weekly Thu" and BattleMetrics still says "Biweekly", players assume nobody's maintaining the server.
Common mistakes
- Brand name first, filter words last.
- Two tags from the same group.
- Header image too detailed to read as a thumbnail.
- Description that hasn't been updated since the server launched.
- Discord link that's expired.
- Pay-to-win perks advertised in the description.
When the listing isn't enough
A great listing still sits next to a player count. If your server is at 4/150 on wipe day, most players will pick the one at 80/150. Our guide on how to get players on your Rust server covers the rest, and a pay-per-goal campaign can bring real, verified players for the first hours of a wipe, or on any date range you pick when the count dips, so the listing has something to show.
Next: How to get players on your Rust server · Wipe-day checklist