The Thompson is the SMG a lot of Rust players live with in the mid game: cheap to craft at Workbench 2, easy to control, and hard-hitting for a pistol-ammo gun. That makes it one of the most skinned guns in Rust. There are 87 Thompson skins, and on November 6, 2026 almost 13,500 copies of them were listed for sale across the Steam Market and the big skin sites.
This page ranks the best Thompson skins in Rust by what players actually buy and hold: copies for sale on every market, the cheapest real price, and who made each one. You will also find the most expensive Thompson skins, the best ones under $1, the newest releases, the Twitch drop Thompsons you can’t buy, and how to put a skin on your Tommy gun.
- Top 15
- Most Expensive
- Under $1
- Newest
- Twitch Drops
- Glow Skins
- How to Pick
- Apply a Skin
- Where to Buy
- FAQ
The 15 Best Thompson Skins in Rust (by Popularity)
“Best” is a matter of taste, so we rank by the closest thing to a vote: how many copies of each skin are listed for sale across every market. A skin with hundreds of listings is one a lot of players bought, kept and now trade, and it means you can always find one near the lowest price. “Cheapest” is the lowest listing on any market we track; the Steam column is the lowest Steam Market listing, which is usually higher because of Steam’s fees.
| # | Thompson skin | For sale | Cheapest | Steam | In store | Workshop artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tempered Thompson | 899 | $1.28 | $1.85 | 2021 | Milho Frito |
| 2 | Bombing Thompson | 716 | $0.82 | $1.23 | 2021 | Andrey |
| 3 | Redemption Thompson | 493 | $2.77 | $4.19 | May 2023 | Slan |
| 4 | Blackout Thompson | 457 | $2.79 | $4.02 | 2021 | MDE |
| 5 | Cold Hunter Thompson | 383 | $2.94 | $4.42 | 2021 | MDE |
| 6 | Chameleon Thompson | 342 | $1.11 | $1.47 | Aug 2023 | Milho Frito |
| 7 | HellCore Thompson | 330 | $6.09 | $8.51 | Mar 2026 | Delarai |
| 8 | Heat Seeker Thompson | 326 | $7.43 | $10.73 | Jun 2025 | Veys |
| 9 | Croc Thompson | 299 | $0.87 | $1.25 | May 2025 | VHS_ToNight |
| 10 | Popstar Thompson | 289 | $2.54 | $3.65 | Apr 2025 | RR3 |
| 11 | Thundergold Thompson | 270 | $1.37 | $1.90 | Jan 2026 | Morphus |
| 12 | Deep Ruby Thompson | 266 | $2.12 | $3.02 | Jan 2026 | YNIT |
| 13 | Dominus Mortis Thompson | 257 | $0.92 | $1.37 | Sep 2025 | Yan |
| 14 | No Mercy Thompson | 248 | $3.25 | $4.72 | 2021 | badtRIP |
| 15 | Black Gold Thompson | 233 | $3.44 | $4.90 | Apr 2022 | badtRIP |
Prices and listings: November 6, 2026. “In store” is when the skin reached the Rust item store; “2021” marks skins from the 2021 store whose exact week our data does not record (their Steam Workshop pages date from January to May 2021). Artist names are the Steam Workshop creators.
Two things stand out. First, the Thompson top five is older than the SAR’s: four of the five came out in 2021, and they are still the most traded. The Tempered and Bombing Thompsons have both been subscribed to by 70,000 to 86,000 players on the Steam Workshop. Second, most of the list belongs to matching sets. Tempered, Redemption, Blackout, Cold Hunter, HellCore, Heat Seeker and No Mercy all have versions for other guns, including the SAR skins of the same name, so players who own one tend to buy the rest.
Most Expensive Thompson Skins
Thompson skins are cheap next to the most expensive Rust skins, which run into the hundreds and thousands of dollars. The priciest Thompson skin with real supply costs under $12. We only count skins with at least five copies for sale, so one seller’s wishful price can’t top the list.
| # | Thompson skin | Cheapest | Steam | For sale | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glory Thompson | $11.57 | $14.18 | 87 | Older skin, part of the Glory set |
| 2 | Heat Seeker Thompson | $7.43 | $10.73 | 326 | Jun 2025, Heat Seeker set |
| 3 | HellCore Thompson | $6.09 | $8.51 | 330 | Mar 2026, HellCore set |
| 4 | Salvation Thompson | $4.47 | $6.62 | 71 | Sep 2026, still new |
| 5 | Valkyrie Thompson | $4.03 | $5.91 | 88 | Aug 2026, still new |
| 6 | Black Gold Thompson | $3.44 | $4.90 | 233 | Apr 2022 |
| 7 | No Mercy Thompson | $3.25 | $4.72 | 248 | 2021 |
| 8 | Cold Hunter Thompson | $2.94 | $4.42 | 383 | 2021 |
Unlike the SAR, where age and glow push prices up, the Thompson list mixes one old skin with several new ones. The Heat Seeker and HellCore Thompsons cost more than most older skins because their matching sets are popular. The Salvation and Valkyrie Thompsons are expensive because they only hit the store in August and September 2026; new skins usually get cheaper once everyone who wants one has it.
Best Cheap Thompson Skins (Under $1)
You don’t need to spend much. 17 Thompson skins had a cheapest price under $1 on November 6, 2026. These are the most popular ones (at least 140 copies for sale) at the lowest prices:
| Thompson skin | Cheapest | For sale | In store |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Hunter Thompson | $0.80 | 166 | 2021 |
| Tier 3 Thompson | $0.80 | 146 | May 2023 |
| Bombing Thompson | $0.82 | 716 | 2021 |
| Modern Military Thompson | $0.82 | 168 | Aug 2025 |
| Recycler Thompson | $0.85 | 153 | Dec 2022 |
| Croc Thompson | $0.87 | 299 | May 2025 |
| Retro Blast Thompson | $0.90 | 203 | Sep 2022 |
| Glister Thompson | $0.90 | 175 | Jan 2022 |
| Dominus Mortis Thompson | $0.92 | 257 | Sep 2025 |
The Bombing Thompson is the best value in the whole list: the second most popular Thompson skin overall for about 82 cents. The Dominus Mortis Thompson matches the famous Dominus Mortis set at a fraction of the price, and the Croc Thompson is the cheapest of the 2025 skins.
The Newest Popular Thompson Skins (2025-2026)
Facepunch adds new weapon skins to the store every week, and the Thompson gets a new one every few weeks. These are the best-selling Thompson skins added since January 2025:
- HellCore Thompson: March 2026, 330 for sale, $6.09.
- Heat Seeker Thompson: June 2025, 326 for sale, $7.43.
- Croc Thompson: May 2025, 299 for sale, $0.87.
- Popstar Thompson: April 2025, 289 for sale, $2.54.
- Thundergold Thompson: January 2026, 270 for sale, $1.37.
- Deep Ruby Thompson: January 2026, 266 for sale, $2.12.
- Dominus Mortis Thompson: September 2025, 257 for sale, $0.92.
- Valkyrie Thompson: August 2026, 88 for sale, $4.03. Newer still are the Salvation (September 2026), Rainbow Pony and MetalCore (both October 2026) Thompsons.
To see what is in the store this week, check our Rust item store guide.
Twitch Drop Thompson Skins
17 Thompson skins had no market listing at all on November 6, 2026. Almost all are Rust Twitch drops, earned by watching streamers during a drop event, so the only way to get one is to watch during the event or trade with someone who has one.
The full list: Twitch Rivals Spooky (October 2026), xKevv, Team Junin, Ser Winter, xChocobars + Starsmitten Tommy, Aroyitt, Wabbit, Winnie, Dilanzito, SnuffyFluffy, VEGETTA777, Trust in Rust Time Travel, Agustabell, JLTomy & Krolay, Twitch Rivals, TwitchLand and Ella_Playz.
Do Any Thompson Skins Glow?
Only one. The xChocobars + Starsmitten Tommy, a Twitch drop, is the only Thompson skin with glowing parts, and it had no market listings. Every Thompson skin you can buy today is a normal, non-glowing skin. If you want a weapon that lights up in the dark, look at the glowing SAR skins instead. Many recent Thompson skins do use cutout parts (see-through sections or cut iron sights), like the Salvation and Valkyrie Thompsons.
How to Pick a Thompson Skin
Since every skin is cosmetic, picking one comes down to a few practical points:
- Matching sets. Tempered, Redemption, Blackout, Heat Seeker, HellCore, No Mercy and Dominus Mortis all have versions for other guns. If you already own the AK or SAR version, the Thompson one makes your kit match.
- Dark vs bright. Dark skins like Blackout and HellCore stay low-key. Bright skins like Tempered, Bombing and Popstar look great on stream but are easier to spot in a bush.
- Iron sights. The Thompson is often used without a scope, so a skin with clean, uncluttered sights (or cut sights) is easier to aim with.
- Resale. Skins with hundreds of listings, like the top ten, hold a steady price and are easy to sell later. Our Rust inventory value guide shows how to check what your skins are worth.
How to Apply a Thompson Skin
- Get the skin into your Steam inventory. Buy it on the Steam Market, in the Rust item store, or trade for it.
- Pick it when you craft. In the crafting menu, select the Thompson and choose the skin before you craft it.
- Or reskin one you already have. Put the Thompson in a Repair Bench and pick the skin from the list. Reskinning is free.
- Done. The skin shows for everyone on the server, and the gun keeps exactly the same damage, fire rate and recoil.
Where to Buy Thompson Skins
The Steam Community Market is the safest place and had about 3,800 of the 13,491 Thompson skin listings, but its prices are usually 30 to 50 percent higher than skin sites because of Steam’s fees and Steam-wallet-only payouts. On November 6, 2026 the cheapest copy of each top-15 Thompson skin was most often on RapidSkins, followed by Lis-Skins, Skinport and CS.Deals.
Before you buy on a third-party site, read our where to buy Rust skins guide and the comparison of Rust skin trading sites. Never log in to a site through a link someone sends you, and check the trade offer before you accept it.
Thompson Skins FAQ
What is the best Thompson skin in Rust?
By popularity, the Tempered Thompson. It had 899 copies for sale on November 6, 2026, more than any other Thompson skin, from $1.28. The Bombing, Redemption, Blackout and Cold Hunter Thompsons complete the top five.
How many Thompson skins are there in Rust?
There are 87 Thompson skins. 70 of them had market listings on November 6, 2026; the other 17 are mostly Twitch drop skins.
What is the most expensive Thompson skin?
The Glory Thompson, with a cheapest listing of $11.57 and $14.18 on Steam on November 6, 2026. The Heat Seeker Thompson ($7.43) and HellCore Thompson ($6.09) are next.
Do Thompson skins change the stats?
No. Every Rust skin is cosmetic only. A skinned Thompson has the same 37.5 damage, 20-round magazine, 462 RPM fire rate and recoil as a plain one.
Are there glowing Thompson skins?
Only one: the xChocobars + Starsmitten Tommy, a Twitch drop that had no market listings. None of the Thompson skins you can buy glow.
What is the cheapest good Thompson skin?
The Bombing Thompson is the best value: the second most popular Thompson skin for about $0.82. Chocolate Hunter and Tier 3 Thompsons were $0.80.
How do I put a skin on my Thompson?
Choose the skin in the crafting menu before you craft the Thompson, or put an existing one in a Repair Bench and reskin it there for free.
Who made the Tempered Thompson?
The Tempered Thompson was made by Steam Workshop artist Milho Frito, who also made the Chameleon Thompson. Its Workshop page has more than 86,000 subscribers.
Sources
- Skin list, store dates, glow and cutout flags: rust-skin-archives (skins.json)
- Prices and listing counts across every tracked market (lowest listing per skin, November 6, 2026): SCMM via the rust-skin-archives price feed
- Workshop artists and subscriber counts: Tempered Thompson, Bombing Thompson, Redemption Thompson, Heat Seeker Thompson on the Steam Workshop
- Steam prices: Steam Community Market, Rust Thompson skins