Welcome to the ultimate guide for completing every Challenge Mode assignment in Dome Keeper. This guide covers optimal mining strategies, gadget loadouts, weapon choices, and upgrade paths—based entirely on real successful clears using the Engineer Keeper and mostly the Laser Dome. Each assignment section balances strategic depth with efficiency tips so you can succeed without watching 16 full playthroughs.

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GENERAL STRATEGY & MINING STYLES

Before diving into specific assignments, here are three effective mining styles:

1. Horizontal Strip Mining
   • Clear long horizontal tunnels 4 tiles apart.
   • Fastest method to find most iron without wasting time on redundant clearing.
2. Density-Based Mining
   • Prioritize areas with lighter rock patterns—easier to mine and more likely to contain resources.
3. Predictive Resource Triangulation
   • Based on map knowledge: Resources tend not to spawn directly next to each other.
   • Identify one node, then skip a reasonable distance to scout for the next based on spacing.

Upgrade Priority (Engineer Keeper):

1. Drill Strength (4 iron)
2. Carrying Capacity (4 iron)
3. Movement Speed (4 iron)
4. Drill II or Carrying II depending on map demands

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KEEPER GUILD REWARD ORDER

Start by unlocking:

1. Weapon Supplements – Essential for clearing mid/late waves. Double laser, bomb tip for sword, etc.
2. Gadget Supplements – Powerful buffs to tools like the underground station or packer.
3. Gadget Reroll – Lets you reroll bad gadgets.
4. Hostile Proximity Meter – Quality of life improvement.
5. Health Meter and others – Optional or late unlocks.

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ASSIGNMENT BREAKDOWNS

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1. Iron Contribution

• Goal: Deliver 200 iron in 30 minutes. No combat.
• Best Setup:
  • Keeper: Engineer
  • Dome: Tesla (shortest drone delivery path)
  • Gadgets: Drone Yard + Resource Packer
• Tips:
  • Prioritize upgrading drones and packer.
  • Consider Underground Station with Cartography (minimap) to reduce exploration time.
  • Use 2-block gap strip mining for optimal coverage.

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2. Showdown

• Same as Iron Contribution, but ends with a single fight.
• Tip: Save cobalt for healing and dump all resources into Laser upgrades before the final wave.
• Gadget: Same as above.

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3. Upside Down

• No starting gadgets. Increased wave strength.
• Best Loadout:
  • Dome: Laser (with double laser supplement)
  • Gadget: Drone Yard
• Mining Strategy:
  • Use gravity to your advantage: mine horizontally and roll resources to center drop shaft.
  • Alternative: Vertical strip mining—4-tile gaps allow gravity to deliver to midline.

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4. Maze

• Challenge: Twisting tunnels filled with undrillable rock.
• Key Gadget: Suit Supplement “Power Drill” – lets you drill through bedrock.
• Extra Gadget: Teleporter or Underground Station for ease of access.
• Weapon: Laser or Sword.
• Mining Strategy:
  • Use Power Drill to bypass maze paths, especially when tracing relic wires.

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5. Projectile Hell

• Challenge: Enemies fire endless projectiles.
• Weapon: Spire + Shield Dome or Orchard
• Key Tip: Rush the Energy Trap upgrade on Spire.
• Laser Alternative: Use projectile dissolve + double laser supplement.

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6. Dense Iron

• Iron is harder to mine.
• Gadget Choices:
  • Iron Worms (Quick Worm path)
  • Suit Blaster (fully upgrade it quickly)
  • Blast Mining (with triple bomb supplement)
• Tips:
  • Avoid Diligent Worms unless you have time.
  • Use quick worm rotation for fast mining speed.

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7. Barren Lands

• Sparse resources, easy rock.
• Best Gadget: Prospecting Meter or Underground Station + Cartography
• Strategy:
  • Strip mine rapidly using fast mining upgrades.
  • Use prospecting meter to target isolated nodes.

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8. Defective Weapon

• No primary dome weapon.
• Recommended Setup:
  • Shockwave Hammer + Auto Cannon or Spire
• Tips:
  • Upgrade Shockwave Damage early.
  • Drones or battle drones help keep pressure off.

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9. Heavy Hitters

• Only melee monsters spawn.
• Recommended Weapon: Sword Dome
  • Path: Long Blade + Stab damage
• Secondary: Auto Cannon or Stun Laser
• Strategy: Simple melee rotations. No reflection needed.

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10. Swiss Cheese

• Easy rock, but scattered pockets.
• Gadget: Blast Mining or Suit Blaster
• Tips:
  • Explosives let you reach isolated pockets easily.
  • Iron Worms are less effective here.

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11. Logistical Problem

• No carrying or mining upgrades allowed.
• Recommended:
  • Drone Yard + Resource Packer
  • Unlock and use the mini-map via Underground Station supplement.
• Strategy:
  • Mine iron, pack in 7’s, let drones deliver.
  • Focus upgrades on packer/drones.

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12. High Risk

• Damage multiplier to dome and enemies.
• Best Setup: Laser or Spire + Shield
• Strategy:
  • Upgrade Laser early or use Shield’s invulnerability.
  • Shockwave Hammer can also shine here.

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13. Monster Masses

• Swarm of low-tier enemies.
• Best Weapon: Laser or Spire
• Best Gadget: Shockwave Hammer
• Tips:
  • Handle early waves well, and later becomes trivial.
  • Upgrade crowd-control abilities.

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14. Iron Shortage

• Very little iron on the map.
• Gadget Options:
  • Resource Converter (convert water to iron)
  • Suit Blaster
• Avoid Iron Worms – not effective due to small clusters.

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15. Mining Problem

• Mining upgrades disabled.
• Gadgets: Suit Blaster, Blast Mining, or Drill BT
• Tip: Use alternative mining tools. Consider underground station for upgrades.

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16. Cobalt Contribution

• Deliver large amounts of cobalt.
• Setup:
  • Resource Packer + Drone Yard
  • Weapon: Laser (with double laser supplement)
• Tips:
  • Shred extra gadgets and supplements for cobalt.
  • Save all cobalt—don’t waste healing unless critical.

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