Back to mods
Rust Creatures Reworked project artwork

Vintage Story Mod DB · Vintage Story mod

Rust Creatures Reworked

Rust Creatures Reworked Overview This mod overhauls the behavior of Rust Creatures, making them more dangerous and configurable. It refines how Drifters, Shivers, and Bowtorns move, attack, pursue targets, produce sounds, and spawn in relation to light leve

Choose a version Pick your version below, then grab the matching file.

Quick answer

Which Rust Creatures Reworked release should I use?

Updated last month
Latest stable file 1.0.0
Game version 1.22.3
Loader Built-in Vintage Story mod system

Rust Creatures Reworked 1.0.0 targets 1.22.3. It must be installed on the client. Installation on the dedicated server is optional. No extra mods listed for this file.

Where it goes

Is Rust Creatures Reworked required on the client, server, or both?

It must be installed on the client. Installation on the dedicated server is optional.

Client Required
Dedicated server Optional
Loader for this release Built-in Vintage Story mod system
Required install it here Optional supported, not mandatory Not supported do not install here Source doesn’t say do not assume

This release supports both sides, but the source does not require it on the server.

What else does Rust Creatures Reworked 1.0.0 need?

1.0.0. Change the file and its required mods may change too.

No extra mods listed for this file

This file does not list any required mods. Do not add a library just because a different file uses it.

This file does not list any required or optional mods.

Before you install it

Add Rust Creatures Reworked without breaking your instance.

Built for Rust Creatures Reworked 1.0.0. Pick another file and the loader, install side or required mods may change.

  1. 01

    Stick to this file

    Use 1.0.0. It targets 1.22.3; another release may have different loader, side or dependency requirements.

  2. 02

    Bring the mods it needs

    This file does not list any required mods. Do not add a library just because a different file uses it.

  3. 03

    Put it on the correct side

    It must be installed on the client. Installation on the dedicated server is optional.

  4. 04

    Pick the file you checked

    Use the “Get this file” button beside 1.0.0. It opens that exact file at the source.

About this project

What does Rust Creatures Reworked add?

Rust Creatures Reworked

Overview

This mod overhauls the behavior of Rust Creatures, making them more dangerous and configurable.

It refines how Drifters, Shivers, and Bowtorns move, attack, pursue targets, produce sounds, and spawn in relation to light levels.

It also serves as a foundation for the following mods:

Rust Creatures Can Destroy Obstacles
Ores Defended By Rust Creatures

Features

Improved Pathfinding

Rust Creatures now chase and pursue players more intelligently.

Shiver Enhancements

Shivers can crawl walls and ceilings, move faster, and scale in tier speed.

Bowtorn Behavior

Flees only within 3 blocks. Shooting speed increases as player approaches.

Custom Sounds

New Shiver and Drifter sounds. Vanilla sounds can be enabled in the config if you prefer them.

Light-Based Spawning

Spawns depend on light level. Darkness increases threat.

Configurable Damage

Fully adjustable damage values for all rust creature types.

Config Location

VintagestoryData/ModConfig/RustCreaturesReworked.json

Use /rcr reload after config changes.
Configuration Reference ▼

Spawn & Light Settings

  • SpawnBlockingLightLevel – Maximum light level that allows Rust Creatures to spawn.
    • Example: 3 allows spawns at light levels 0–3. Light level 4+ blocks spawning.
  • DarkSpawnRate – Multiplier for spawn attempts in very dark areas.
    • 1.0 = normal spawn rate
    • 2.0 = double spawn attempts
    • 2.5 = 2.5× spawn attempts
    • Note: Only affects valid spawn areas; does not override other spawn rules.

Bowtorn Settings

  • BowtornFleeRange – Distance at which a Bowtorn begins to flee.
    • Example: 3.5 = Bowtorn only flees when the player is closer than 3.5 blocks.
  • BowtornNormalShootDistance – Distance where Bowtorn shooting speed is normal. Closer players trigger faster fire rates.
  • BowtornMaxShootSpeedMultiplier – Maximum speed multiplier for close-range shooting.
    • 1.0 = normal speed
    • 2.0 = up to double speed
    • 3.0 = up to triple speed
  • BowtornMoveSpeedMultiplier – Multiplier for Bowtorn movement speed.

Custom Sound Settings

  • newShiversSound – Enable custom Shiver sounds (true) or vanilla sounds (false).
  • newDriftersSound – Enable custom Drifter sounds (true) or vanilla sounds (false).

Creature Selection Settings

  • CreatureCodePatterns – Entity codes controlled by this mod (e.g., game:drifter-*, game:shiver-*).
  • ExcludedCreatureCodePatterns – Entities ignored by the mod even if they match patterns (e.g., game:bowtorn-*).

Aggro & Targeting Settings

  • AggroRange – Maximum distance for Rust Creatures to acquire a player target.
  • AggroDropRange – Distance at which creatures give up on a target. Should usually exceed AggroRange.
  • TargetMovedRepathDistance – Minimum target movement distance to trigger path recalculation.
  • RequireLineOfSightForNaturalPlayerAggro – Requires line of sight for normal aggro (true/false).
  • NaturalAggroLostSightGraceSeconds – How long a creature remembers a player after briefly losing sight.
  • NaturalPlayerAggroMemorySeconds – Total time a creature remembers a naturally acquired player target.

Movement Settings

  • GroundCreatureMoveSpeedMultiplier – Multiplier for ground Rust Creatures like Drifters.
  • GroundCreatureTierMoveSpeedBonusMultiplier – Additional speed per creature tier.
  • ShiverMoveSpeedMultiplier – Base Shiver movement speed.
  • ShiverTierMoveSpeedBonusMultiplier – Additional speed per Shiver tier.
  • MaxGroundDropHeight / MaxShiverDropHeight – Maximum safe drop heights for ground Rust Creatures and Shivers.

Damage Settings

  • ShiverNormalAttackDamageByType – Melee damage per Shiver type.
  • DrifterNormalAttackDamageByType – Melee damage per Drifter type.
  • BowtornNormalAttackDamageByType – Melee damage per Bowtorn type.

Also check out my other mods

Cave-Only Ore Spawns ↗

This mod makes ores spawn exclusively in caves. No more ore veins appearing in the middle of nowhere.

All Caves Are Connected ↗

Enter a single cave, and you can travel endlessly through an interconnected underground world.

Rust Creatures Can Destroy Obstacles ↗

With this mod, rust creatures will destroy obstacles blocking their way to the player.

Ores Defended By Rust Creatures ↗

This mod makes mining ore veins a dangerous and strategic task.

Realistic Biome Generation ↗

ONE Equator. ONE North Pole. ONE South Pole. On ANY world size.

Real Darkness ↗

A simple mod that removes minimal block light.

Cave Sound Physics ↗

Adds sound reverb to all caves.

Project description from Vintage Story Mod DB.

Pick your setup

Rust Creatures Reworked releases for each Vintage Story version.

Choose the version and loader you play, then open the matching release.

1 available setups

Check the dependencies, then try the file in a copied instance before changing a world you care about.

Recent files

Rust Creatures Reworked versions and loaders

1 of 1 releases match

Looking for an older file? The official Vintage Story Mod DB project page is in Resources.