What should I craft first in Rust?

The items that unlocks better gathering. Tools before trophies.

No. Each tier teaches the system; skipping it costs you later.

What do I keep vs scrap?

Keep one of every items you outgrow. The spare pays for itself.

Crafting in Rust is a sequence, not a checklist. The items fall into an order where each step unlocks the next.

Craft the items that opens new gathering first. A better tool is worth more than a bigger pile of raw material.

Upgrade in tiers. Jumping straight to the top tier wastes the parts you needed for the step that teaches the system.

Hatchet (Weapons): This tool is a must-have for any rust player.
Pickaxe (Weapons): A Pickaxe, useful for gathering ore from rocks.
Rock (Weapons): A Rock.
Bolt Action Rifle (Weapons): A high powered, highly accurate rifle.
Revolver (Weapons): A shoddy eight-shooter.
Eoka Pistol (Weapons): A primitive pistol that fires one Shotgun round at a time.
Pump Shotgun (Weapons): A Shotgun.
Assault Rifle (Weapons): High damage machine rifle.
Bone Knife (Weapons): Melee weapon crafted from bone and wood.
Salvaged Axe (Weapons): A high-yield resource gathering axe.
Salvaged Hammer (Weapons): A Hammer made from a bunch of other crap.
F1 Grenade (Weapons): Reliable explosive device.
Rocket Launcher (Weapons): Shoots rockets slightly farther than North Korea
Rocket (Weapons): Ammunition for a type of ammo used in the Rocket Launcher.
Beancan Grenade (Weapons): Unreliable explosive device.
Custom SMG (Weapons): A rapid-firing Machine Gun.
High Velocity Rocket (Weapons): Fast moving rocket ammunition.
Crossbow (Weapons): A accurate ranged weapon.

Keep one of every items you outgrow. The moment you need it again, the spare saves a full detour.

Bandage (Items): Heal yourself or others with this bandage.
Anti-Radiation Pills (Items): Taking these pills will lower your radiation level.
Armor (Items): A Full list can be seen in Attire Armor is a system in Rust based on equipping particular items in the clothing slots ( by default, these are.
Animal Fat (Items): Fat from an animal.
Bear Trap (Items): see Snap Trap
12 Gauge Buckshot (Items): Ammunition for a Shotgun.
Assault Rifle (Items): High damage machine rifle.
5.56 Rifle Ammo (Items): Ammunition for a Rifle.
Apple (Items): An Apple.
Bear Meat (Items): Raw Bear Meat.
Battery - Small (Items): A Battery.