Rust "The Guardian Red Fox" Guide: 5 Star 5 Fire Paladin

Hero Review

Rust Review: Is This Fox Guardian Still Worth The Rings?

"Rust brings a unique mechanic to the battlefield: a permanent 50% healing reduction for all enemies just for existing. Coupled with his 'Cover' ability, he's a defensive nuisance. But with 2025's power creep pushing stats to new heights, can this 2024 tank still hold the line? We break down his stats, skills, and why his head is so small."

Read Full ReviewIn-Depth Analysis & Strategy

Special Skill

Cover Slam

Mana Speed

Slow

Deals 535% damage to the target and nearby enemies.
The target receives lasting 210 Bleed damage per turn. (This effect lasts until it is cleansed or removed.)
Gives cover to any ally with the lowest Health for 5 turns. This effect can't be dispelled. (While in Cover, the ally takes no damage from Special attaacks or normal attacks. The covering character takes 50% of the damage dealt to the ally.)
The caster regenerates 1750 HP over 5 turns.

⚡ Tile Breakpoints Guide

12Base Tiles

10% Bonus

11Tiles

Family Bonus

Covenant Summon - Foxes

Bonus for 1/2 Heroes:
This hero summons 1/2 Sly Fox Minions for self, with 2% health and 100% attack inherited from the hero.
Sly Fox Minion has 80% chance to dodge incomming attacks.
When Sly Fox Minion dodges, it steals latest dispellable buff from the attacker and gives it to its owner.

Passives

Inherent Abilities

Passive Skills

Decreased Healing
All enemies get -50% healing.

Aether Power

Defense Up

At the start of each battle, this Hero gets 20% defense for 6 turns.

In battles with multiple waves, the effect is refreshed at the beginning of each wave.

Talents

Class Talent

Master Protect

If this character received any damage by the end of enemy turn, 25% chance to activate the following effects:

This character and nearby allies get 25% defense for 2 turns.

Hero Coach Info

Ascension Support

Hero Coach Date

Available After

Aug 20th, 2026

How it works

By utilizing the Hero Coach, you can reach the Maximum Ascension of a Legendary hero instantly. This bypasses the requirement for rare 4★ Materials (like Alpha Aethers and Damaskus Blades) and ignores the traditional leveling time.

Explore Full Coach Roster

Visiting Outfitter Info

Get this costume

Visiting Outfitter Date

🎭

No Costumes Available

This hero does not currently have any costumes in the game. As a result, they do not appear in the Visiting Outfitter events.

Matching Legendary Troops

status_effect_defense_addition_legendary_troop

Elite Knight

Devoted Knight

Unseen Assassin

Divine Cleric

These troops provide full Class Synergy bonuses when equipped on Paladin heroes of the Red element.

Click here to view the full guide on how to obtain and best utilize these powerful troops!

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

By default, Rust has Slow mana speed, requiring 12 tiles to charge. Equipping troops with a Mana Bonus can reach specific Breakpoints — the exact percentages where your tile count drops — allowing your hero to fire their special skill faster, with less tiles. Additionally, as a Paladin, this hero can unlock a +2% Mana Bonus through Emblems (Talent Tree). These bonuses can significantly lower the troop level required to reach these breakpoints.

Standard12Tiles

Optimized10Tiles

status_effect_attack_addition_legendary_troop

5★ Mana Troop Set

8 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 28

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 19

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

5★ Mana Troop Set

10 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 19

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

status_effect_defense_reduction_legendary_troop

5★ Mana Troop Set

2 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 20

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Merciless Wizards

Magic Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 11

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 5

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+10%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

Need Bonus:20%

This Troop:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Barbaric Assassins

Mana Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 17

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 11

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

General Information

Hero Name

Rust "The Guardian Red Fox"

Rarity
ElementFire
ClassPaladin
Mana SpeedSlow
Skill Types
AoE Attackers (Hit-3)DoT Attackers Damage Sharers Heal over Time (HoT)
SourceCovenant Summon
FamilyFox Family
Aether PowerDefense Up
CostumeBase
Release DateAug 20, 2024
Availability
Coach:Aug 20, 2026
HA10:Aug 20, 2026

Ascension Requirements

Tier

Food

Materials

Tier 2Ascension Cost

273K

★★★

★★★

★★

Tier 3Ascension Cost

442K

★★★

★★★

★★★

★★★

Tier 4Ascension Cost

708K

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

★★★

Limit Break Requirements

Tier

Materials

Limit Break 1Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

LB 1 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★

★★★

Limit Break 2Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

LB 2 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Level				💪
4/80	1116	1141	2150	1136
4/85lb1	1203	1229	2317	1214
4/90lb2	1376	1407	2651	1371

Strategy

Mana Node

Talent Level

Calculated Bonuses

Attack

+225 & +3%

Defense

+72 & +4%

Health

+172 & +3%

Mana

+2%

Resource Costs

Emblems

1,740

Master

Food

6,041,800

Iron

6,041,800

+18

+15

+36

+15

+3%

+18

+3%

+15

+36

+15

+18

+2%

+4%

+50

Community Feedback

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Overall Grade

Overall performance in the current meta

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Strong

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Average

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Weak

0v0%

Terrible

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Summon Value

Is this hero worth your gems and tokens?

Yes, Absolutely

0v0%

Only if you’re Pay-to-Win

0v0%

Yes, but only when featured

0v0%

Not Really

0v0%

Not at all

0v0%

Copies to Keep

How many copies are worth keeping and leveling?

None

0v0%

1 Copy

0v0%

2 Copies

0v0%

3+ Copies

0v0%

Limit Break Priority

Priority for applying Limit Breaks

LB2 (Alpha)

0v0%

LB1

0v0%

None

0v0%

Emblem Path

General emblem path preference

Sword path (Attack when possible)

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Shield path (HP and Def when possible)

0v0%

Node Strategy

Specific node priority strategy

Atk > Def > HP

0v0%

Atk > HP > Def

0v0%

Def > Atk > HP

0v0%

Def > HP > Atk

0v0%

HP > Atk > Def

0v0%

HP > Def > Atk

0v0%

Best Def Position

Best placement in a defense formation

Tank

0v0%

Flank

0v0%

Wing

0v0%

None

0v0%

Primary Use (Max 3)

Top scenarios where this hero excels

Raids/War

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Defense

0v0%

Titans

0v0%

Tournaments

0v0%

Events

0v0%

Farming

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Visual Design

What do you think of the visual design?

Amazing

0v0%

Refreshingly new

0v0%

It’s ok

0v0%

It could be better

0v0%

Very bad

0v0%

Discussion

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Rust

What element and rarity is Rust in Empires & Puzzles? +

Rust is a 5 star Fire hero (Red) with legendary rarity.

What is Rust's special skill? +

Rust's special skill is called "Cover Slam". Deals 535% damage to the target and nearby enemies. The target receives lasting 210 Bleed damage per turn. (This effect lasts until it is cleansed or removed.) Gives cover to any ally with the lowest Health for 5 turns. This effect can't be dispelled. (While in Cover, the ally takes no damage from Special attaacks or normal attacks. The covering character takes 50% of the damage dealt to the ally.) The caster regenerates 1750 HP over 5 turns.

When was Rust released? +

Rust was released on Aug 20, 2024.

Which family does Rust belong to? +

Rust belongs to the Fox Family. Bonus for 1/2 Heroes:. This hero summons 1/2 Sly Fox Minions for self, with 2% health and 100% attack inherited from the hero.. Sly Fox Minion has 80% chance to dodge incomming attacks.. When Sly Fox Minion dodges, it steals latest dispellable buff from the attacker and gives it to its owner.

What are Rust's passive skills? +

Decreased Healing: All enemies get -50% healing.

What is the mana speed of Rust? +

Rust has Slow mana speed.

Hero Review

Rust Review: Is This Fox Guardian Still Worth The Rings?

Special Skill

Cover Slam

Family Bonus

Covenant Summon - Foxes

Passives

Passive Skills

Aether Power

Defense Up

Talents

Master Protect

Hero Coach Info

Hero Coach Date

How it works

Visiting Outfitter Info

Visiting Outfitter Date

No Costumes Available

Matching Legendary Troops

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

5★ Mana Troop Set

5★ Mana Troop Set

5★ Mana Troop Set

Merciless Wizards

Barbaric Assassins

General Information

Rust "The Guardian Red Fox"

Ascension Requirements

Limit Break Requirements

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Community Feedback

Overall Grade

Summon Value

Copies to Keep

Limit Break Priority

Emblem Path

Node Strategy

Best Def Position

Primary Use (Max 3)

Visual Design

Discussion

Join the Hero Discussion

Council Login Required

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Rust