# Avoiding Game-Bans

⚠️ This section is only for legit cheating. If you plan to rage, you can safely skip this. These steps are focused on avoiding server bans and maximizing your account’s lifespan while using cheats

**🧾 Use a Real or Aged Account**

* Always use an account with **real, BattleMetrics-proven hours**.
* If you're on a **new or low-hour account**, play extremely **legit** to avoid suspicion.
* Avoid accounts with **boosted hours** — admins will detect and ban them after only a few reports.

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**🧼 Start on a Fresh Install**

* If you've been banned before, do a **clean Windows reinstall via USB**.
* No software cleaner fully removes all traces — a fresh install is the safest option.

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**🛡️ Always Use a Spoofer**

* Use a **temp spoofer** (e.g., from [**shamods.com**](https://shamods.com/products/kola-tempspoofer)) to avoid getting HWID banned.
* Spoof every time you launch the game, especially after any prior bans.

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**🎯 Cheat Smartly — Not Ragey**

* Don’t track players through walls or hard-lock with aimbot — keep it human.
* Avoid extreme **recoil control / spread reduction**. Plugins like **Arkan** can detect unnatural patterns.
* You can cheat a bit more on **official/community servers** (rare admin spectating), but go extra safe on **modded servers**.

> 🔎 Reminder: Most bans are from **BattleMetrics checks**, not server-side anti-cheats. Low-hour accounts or IPs linked to banned accounts = fast bans.

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**🌐 Change Your IP (If Previously Banned)**

* If you have a **dynamic IP**, restart your router to get a new one:
  1. Visit [whatismyipaddress.com](https://whatismyipaddress.com/)
  2. Note your IP, restart router, then check again to confirm it changed
* If you have a **static IP**, use a **residential VPN** (some exist specifically for Rust), as most regular VPNs are banned by servers.

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**🚫 Avoid Facepunch Servers (Unless You're Legit)**

* If you play on **Facepunch official servers**, play **extremely safe**.
* A ban from a Facepunch admin = **global game ban**, not just server.

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**🧠 Understand Cerberus (Server-Side Anti-Cheat)**

* Rust’s anti-cheat **Cerberus** tracks:
  * Account age
  * Kill stats
  * Aim angles
  * Recoil patterns
  * HWID usage
* On **new accounts**, even if they have hours:
  * Play **legit** for the first **5–10 hours**
  * Avoid high kill counts or extreme accuracy
  * Keep recoil reduction under **30%**
  * Don’t go on killstreaks right away

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**✅ Final Tip:**

If you follow these steps and cheat **smart**, your account is much more likely to survive long-term — especially on BattleMetrics-tracked servers.