You’re probably tired of it. Honestly, everyone playing Once Human hits that wall where they’re just sprinting through abandoned towns, smashing crates, and praying for a few pieces of rubber to drop so they can finally craft that Tier 3 gear. It’s a grind. A tedious, soul-crushing grind that makes you want to quit the seasonal resets entirely. But here’s the thing: you don't actually have to live like a scavenger. Setting up a proper once human rubber farm isn't about planting seeds in dirt; it's about knowing exactly which corners of the map the developers "forgot" to balance and which deviant abilities actually pull their weight.
Rubber is the literal glue of mid-to-late game progression in Starry Studio’s weird, supernatural survival world. You need it for everything from basic weapon upgrades to the high-end tactical gear required for Prime Wars. If you aren't farming it efficiently, you're falling behind.
Why Your Current Rubber Strategy Is Failing
Most players think farming rubber means running through the Iron River region and looting every trash can they see. Stop doing that. It's a waste of stamina. The drop rates for loose scrap like "Old Tires" or "Rubber Tubes" are decent, but the time-to-yield ratio is abysmal. You spend twenty minutes clearing a supermarket just to get maybe 40 rubber. That won't even cover the repairs on your chest piece after a single Silo run.
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Efficiency in Once Human comes from two specific avenues: passive generation and high-density loot loops. If you aren't using the right Deviants, you're leaving resources on the table. If you aren't hitting the specific "Blackfell" runs that top-tier warbands use, you're basically working a minimum-wage job in a game where you should be a god.
The Blackfell Loop: The Gold Standard
Blackfell is the holy grail. Specifically, the Blackfell Fallen Zone in Red Sands. This is the closest thing to a manual once human rubber farm that actually respects your time.
Start at the northern entrance. Don't engage every single zombie—it's a trap. You want the crates. The sheer density of industrial crates in the residential buildings and the central plaza is unmatched. A single 10-minute run through Blackfell, hitting the gear and storage crates, can net you anywhere from 150 to 300 rubber once you dismantle the scrap.
Pro tip: bring a motorcycle. Park it near the entrance. Use the "Dismantle Bench" back at your territory immediately to see the fruits of your labor. The "Discarded Plastic" and "Waste Tires" found here yield the highest rubber-to-weight ratio in the game.
Automating the Process with Deviants
Real experts don't just loot; they automate. You want a once human rubber farm that works while you’re offline or fighting a Great One.
The "Digby Boy" is great for ores, sure, but for rubber, you need to look at utility Deviants that fetch scrap. While there isn't a "Rubber Tree Deviant" (though that would be nice), the Hand of Wonders or specifically the h37 "Scrap Collector" (found in certain Silos) can be game-changers.
- The H37 Strategy: This little guy scavenges for random industrial materials. If you keep his mood high and his environment powered with green lights and music, the passive rubber income becomes a steady trickle. It won't replace a Blackfell run, but it cushions the blow when you're crafting 1,000 rounds of AP ammo.
The Dismantling Secret
You’ve got to be smart about what you pick up. Not all scrap is created equal.
- Focus on Sport Balls.
- Grab every Toy you see.
- Old Boots are surprisingly heavy on rubber content.
If you’re inventory-constrained, drop the metal scraps. Iron and Copper are easy to mine. Rubber cannot be mined. It is a finite, looted resource. Prioritize the rubber-bearing items in your backpack every single time you see that "Inventory Full" warning.
The "Permit" Method: High-Level Scrapping
Have you tried the refinery permits? If you have a group, running the Refinery Facilities in the Red Sands or Iron River is essentially an industrial-scale once human rubber farm.
By using a "Refinery Permit," you trigger a wave-based defense event. The enemies here aren't the problem—the rewards are. The loot crates rewarded at the end of a successful defense often contain high-tier "refined" scrap. This isn't just basic rubber; it's the stuff that breaks down into large stacks.
It’s risky. If your base defense isn't up to par, the mobs will shred your extractors. But if you have a couple of friends with turrets, this is the fastest way to stock up for a week's worth of raiding in under an hour.
Technical Breakdown: Rubber Yields per Item
Honestly, it helps to know the math. You’re looking for the best "bang for your buck" when looting. Here is what you should be grabbing:
- Waste Tire: Usually yields 3-5 Rubber. High weight, but worth it.
- Old Boot: Yields 2-3 Rubber. Lightweight, always grab these.
- Sports Ball: The jackpot. Often yields 5+ Rubber.
- Rubber Tube: Common, but only gives 1-2.
Don't bother with "Electronic Scraps" if you specifically need rubber. They give you electronics and springs, which are fine, but they won't help you build that new set of Falcon gear.
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Mapping Your Route
A lot of people get lost in the "Silo" grind. Silos are great for Mods, but they suck for basic materials. If you need a once human rubber farm, stay in the open world.
The Sunbury Loop:
For players who aren't quite ready for Red Sands, Sunbury in the Broken Delta is your best bet. The docks area has a high concentration of warehouses. These warehouses are filled with crates that respawn every 20 to 30 minutes.
You can literally circle the docks, clear the crates, go back to your base to dismantle, and by the time you ride back, the first set of crates is usually back. It's boring. It's repetitive. But it works better than any other mid-game method.
The Role of Memphis and Territory Placement
Where you put your house matters. If you're serious about your once human rubber farm, don't build in the middle of nowhere. Build near a Teleportation Tower close to a high-scrap zone.
The "Blackfell" area is crowded for a reason. Everyone wants to be near the loot. If you can snag a spot just outside the town's borders, you're cutting your travel time to zero. This allows you to do "scrap runs" in between activities.
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- Finish a boss? Do a 5-minute Blackfell run.
- Waiting for a friend to log on? Hit the Sunbury docks.
- About to log off? Check your H37 Deviant's storage.
Misconceptions About Rubber Farming
Let's clear some things up.
First, "farming" zombies doesn't work. The drop rate for rubber directly from a dead Scorcher or Glutton is tiny. You're wasting durability on your weapons for almost no return. You are a looter, not a hunter, when you need rubber.
Second, the "Wish Machine." Don't waste your Starchrom trying to get materials. Starchrom is for Blueprints. Using it for anything else is a massive mistake that will haunt your endgame.
Third, trading. If you’re on a populated server, check the player vending machines. Often, high-level players who spend all day in the desert have thousands of extra rubber. They usually want Acid or Fuel in exchange. If you have an automated Fuel farm (using the pumps in polluted zones), you can simply "buy" your rubber and skip the looting entirely.
Actionable Steps to Maximize Your Rubber Income
To stop worrying about rubber once and for all, follow this specific checklist:
- Relocate your base: Move to the Red Sands region as soon as you hit level 35. Being close to Blackfell is non-negotiable for efficient farming.
- Spec into "Dismantling Enhancement": Check your Memetic Specializations. If you get the option for "Double Scrap Dismantling" or anything that increases yield from the Dismantle Bench, take it immediately. It turns a 200-rubber run into a 400-rubber run.
- The 20-Minute Rule: Set a timer. Every 20-30 minutes, crates in the open world respawn. Hit the Blackfell residential area, loot the 15+ crates there, and leave.
- Automate Fuel for Trade: Set up water pumps in a polluted zone to farm Crude Oil. Refine it into Portable Mixed Fuel. Use that fuel as currency to buy Rubber from other players in the World Chat.
- Use the Right Deviant: Secure an h37 Deviant from Silo Theta or Sigma. Even a low-level one helps.
Doing this consistently will change the game for you. You won't be the person asking in global chat where to find rubber; you'll be the one selling it. The once human rubber farm isn't a single spot on the map—it's a system of efficient looting and smart trading. Stick to the Blackfell loop and prioritize high-yield scrap like sports balls and tires, and you'll have more rubber than you know what to do with.