Piercer Bolt

The Piercer Bolt is one of four ammunition types compatible with the Ballista or Mounted Ballista and is the primary anti-vehicle ammunition type for either of the Ballista siege weapons. Facepunch added this ammunition to RUST with the Primitive Update in February 2025. 

While Players can use this bolt type for PVP and crowd dispersion, it shines as an anti-raid mechanism for disabling or destroying armored vehicles or camper vans used as mobile raid bases. It is also quite effective at taking out grounded aircraft like Minicopters, Attack Helicopters, and any flying devices low enough to the ground.

The big downside to using this ammunition type is the reliance on the firing mechanism itself, the ballista type. To fire any bolt, players must first acquire and construct the Ballista, then move it into position and aim it very carefully. If other players destroy the Ballista, this ammunition is useless.

This ammo type is ideal for base defense ammunition in the stationary Ballista variant. Its utility cannot be overstated, and its price to craft isn’t terrible.