The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Deep Rock Galactic

If you’re new to Deep Rock Galactic, you might be wondering what exactly this game is and how to make the most of your time on Hoxxes IV. With its cooperative, sci-fi mining adventures and dangerous insect-infested caves, DRG offers a unique and rewarding experience. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from class selection and mission types to endgame content and progression, ensuring you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead.

What is Deep Rock Galactic?

At its core, Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative first-person shooter where you and up to three other dwarves take on missions to mine resources, complete objectives, and survive relentless attacks from alien creatures. The game combines elements of team-based coordination, procedural cave exploration, and combat to create an immersive and engaging experience.

If you enjoy teamwork-focused gameplay with plenty of action and a healthy dose of humor, then DRG is the game for you.

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Choosing Your Class

One of the first things you’ll need to do is choose a class. Each class has unique abilities and gear, making them suited for different roles in a team. However, you can switch classes at any time, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Scout – The mobility expert, equipped with a grappling hook and a flare gun for lighting up caves.
Engineer – Specializes in area control, using turrets, platforms, and mines to assist teammates.
Gunner – The heavy-hitting firepower of the team, armed with high-damage weapons and a protective shield.
Driller – Master of terrain manipulation, able to carve paths with drill arms and explosive weapons.

Each class has multiple weapons and gear upgrades that unlock as you progress, allowing for customization and specialization.

Understanding Missions and Assignments

Once you’ve selected your class, it’s time to embark on missions. Missions are accessed through the Mission Terminal in the Space Rig, and they vary in difficulty, objectives, and terrain complexity.

Assignments

Assignments serve as structured progression paths, helping new players unlock essential content such as new biomes, mission types, and weapons. If you’re just starting, you’ll automatically have the Conquer Hoxxes assignment, which introduces you to the game’s core mechanics.

Completing assignments should be a priority, as they open up new content and give clear objectives to follow.

Mission Basics

Every mission type is influenced by three key factors:

Hazard Level – Determines the difficulty and enemy aggression (higher hazards yield better rewards).
Cave Length – Affects how large and complex the mission area is.
Cave Complexity – Governs how intricate and winding the cave system will be.

For beginners, it’s recommended to stick to Hazard 2 or 3 until you gain more confidence in combat and navigation.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

Using the Terrain Scanner and Navigation Tools

The Terrain Scanner (TAB on PC, Back button on controllers) is a crucial tool for navigating the procedurally generated caves. It provides a top-down view of the environment, highlighting paths, teammates, and mission objectives.

Molly the Mule and Bosco the Drone

Molly (the Mining Utility Lift Engine) is the resource deposit system that follows you throughout the mission. Call her to your location to offload minerals.
Bosco is an AI drone companion available in solo play. He can mine resources, carry objects, revive you, and assist in combat.

Resource Collection: Gold and Nitra

Gold – Grants extra credits at the end of a mission.
Nitra – Used to call in resupply pods, replenishing ammo and health. Always prioritize mining Nitra!

Mission Types

There are eight different mission types in Deep Rock Galactic, each requiring different strategies and class combinations:

Mining Expedition – The simplest mission type; collect Morkite and extract.
Egg Hunt – Retrieve alien eggs from nests while dealing with aggressive bug swarms.
On-Site Refining – Build and defend pipelines to extract liquid Morkite.
Salvage Operation – Repair lost equipment and defend a drop pod for extraction.
Point Extraction – Gather Aquarq crystals and deposit them in a central platform.
Escort Duty – Protect a Drilldozer as it mines through a cave to crack a giant crystal.
Elimination – Hunt and defeat Dreadnought boss enemies.
Industrial Sabotage – Disable a heavily guarded data vault and defeat a robotic boss.

Each mission type comes with secondary objectives for extra rewards, but completing the main objective is all that’s required to finish a mission.

Progression and Endgame Content

Once you start mastering the core gameplay, you’ll naturally progress toward DRG’s long-term goals.

1. Player Rank and Class Promotion

Your Player Rank (top-right number in the Space Rig) tracks overall progression.
Once a class reaches level 25, you can promote them, resetting their level but unlocking new features.

2. Endgame Content

Deep Dives – A series of three back-to-back missions with increasing difficulty, offering high-tier rewards.
Machine Events – Randomly appearing in missions, these events provide Overclocks for weapons.
The Forge – Used to craft Overclocks, which modify and enhance weapons.

3. Cosmetics and Customization

DRG has an extensive collection of cosmetics that can be unlocked through missions, promotions, and the Performance Pass (a free seasonal progression system). These allow you to customize your dwarf’s appearance and show off your experience.

Tips for New Players

Stick Together – Teamwork is key. Going solo often leads to getting overwhelmed.
Use Your Laser Pointer – Mark minerals, enemies, and objectives for your team.
Mine All Nitra – Resupply pods are your only source of extra ammo.
Don’t Hoard Resupplies – Each pod contains four uses—share them fairly.
Experiment with Classes – Try all four dwarves to see which fits your playstyle.
Upgrade Your Equipment – Visit the Equipment Terminal in the Space Rig to improve your gear.
Play Co-Op – While solo is viable, DRG is best enjoyed with friends or online teammates.
Rock and Stone! – Press V (PC) or click the right stick (console) to participate in the classic DRG chant.

Final Thoughts

Deep Rock Galactic is a one-of-a-kind cooperative experience that blends exploration, combat, and teamwork seamlessly. Whether you’re just starting out or working towards high-level promotions, there’s always something new to discover and master. With a supportive community and an ever-expanding roster of missions and content, this is a game that truly thrives on camaraderie.

So grab your pickaxe, load your weapons, and remember: Rock and Stone!