Deep Rock Galactic: 10 Essential Tips for Greenbeards

Welcome to Hoxxes IV, Greenbeard!

Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op first-person shooter where you play as a dwarf mining precious minerals while fighting off alien bugs. The game has a steep learning curve, but with these 10 essential tips, you'll go from greenbeard to greybeard in no time.

1. Communicate with Your Team

Use the laser pointer (default: Ctrl) to mark minerals, enemies, and objectives. Your teammates will see a glowing outline. Ping everything important – it helps especially when playing with randoms.

2. Master Your Class

Each class has a unique role: Gunner provides heavy firepower and ziplines; Engineer builds platforms and turrets; Scout grapples to high ledges and lights up caves; Driller tunnels through rock and clears crowds. Stick to your class duties and don't try to do everything alone.

3. Always Watch Your Ammo

Resupply pods cost 80 nitra per call. Always deposit nitra into the minehead. When you're out of ammo, call for a supply drop but only take one resupply per pod (each pod has 4 uses). Share with your team.

4. Dig Vertically to Escape

If a swarm starts and you're overwhelmed, dig upward with your pickaxe (or use Driller's drills). Bugs have limited vertical mobility. Creating a small bunker or escape tunnel can save your life.

5. Light Up the Cave

Scout's flares are invaluable, but if you're not Scout, use your personal flare gun or throw flares into dark corners. Well-lit caves reveal minerals and enemy positions, making combat safer.

6. Use Terrain Scanner Regularly

Press Tab to see the cave map. It highlights minerals, objectives, and the drop pod location. Plan your route and avoid backtracking. The scanner also shows resource veins through walls.

7. Don't Reinforce the Drop Pod Early

The mission ends when you press the button to call the drop pod. Only do so when the main objective is complete and you have enough nitra for emergency supplies. Calling early can trap your team in a swarm.

8. Prioritize High-Value Minerals

Gold and aquarq are secondary objectives, but nitra is life. Never ignore nitra veins. Also, collect bittergem and error cubes for extra credits and xp, but only if it's safe.

9. Learn Enemy Weaknesses

Different bugs have weak spots: Glyphid Grunts take extra damage on the mouth; Praetorians have a glowing back that deals extra damage; Mactera Spawn are weak to fire. Focus fire on weak points to conserve ammo.

10. Always Pick Up Doretta

In Escort Duty missions, if the drilldozer (Doretta) is damaged, you can repair it with your pickaxe. Protect her at all costs, and when she's destroyed, carry her head to the drop pod for bonus points.

Final Advice

Don't be afraid to fail. Deep Rock Galactic is about teamwork and learning from mistakes. Start on Hazard 2 or 3 until you're comfortable, then ramp up. Remember: rock and stone!