Deep Rock Galactic: 10 Pro Tips for Surviving Hoxxes IV
Deep Rock Galactic: 10 Pro Tips for Surviving Hoxxes IV
Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative first-person shooter that pits you and your team of dwarven miners against the hostile alien caves of Hoxxes IV. It's chaotic, dark, and endlessly entertaining — but only if you know how to work as a team. Here are 10 pro tips to help you survive, thrive, and bring back that precious gold.
1. Ping Everything with Your Laser Pointer
Your laser pointer is your best tool. Use it to mark objectives, enemies, and resources. A single ping on a bug tells your team where to focus fire. A ping on a compressed gold vein tells everyone to gather around. Communication through pings saves ammo and avoids confusion.
2. Dig the Terrain to Your Advantage
Never be afraid to use your pickaxe (or driller) to reshape the battlefield. Dig a quick trench for cover during swarm fights, carve a stairway up a steep cliff, or tunnel under a trapped door. Good dwarves mine their way to victory.
3. Manage Your Flare Gun Carefully
Flare gun ammo is limited. Don't spam it in every corridor. Shoot flares onto the ceiling in large caves where you're about to fight, and save a shot for the escape back to the drop pod. A dark cave is a dead cave.
4. Stick Together — But Don't Clump
Stay close enough to support each other, but far enough apart that one Bulk Detonator doesn't clear the whole team. Spread out for coverage, yet keep rescue range. This balance is key to surviving on higher hazard levels.
5. Prioritize in Escort Duty
When escorting Doretta (the drilldozer), your top priority is repairing her and clearing rocks that block her path. Kill the bugs that are actively attacking her first. Let your gunner cover the rear, and your scout pick off spitters from afar.
6. Use the Terrain Scanner and Map
Press Tab to see the 3D map. It's easy to get lost in Hoxxes IV. Always orient yourself using the terrain scanner to find the drop pod, nitra veins, and mission objectives. Moles get left behind.
7. Call the Drop Pod Early — But Not Too Early
Once all objectives are done, call the drop pod right away. This gives you time to collect extra minerals and clear a safe path. However, don't call it before you're ready — a pod on the other side of the map can mean death.
8. Cover the Specials
Each mission throws special enemies at you: Mactera Spawns, Acid Spitters, Slashers, and Menaces. Assign roles — Scout focuses on high-health targets, Engineer sets up turrets for crowd control, Gunner suppresses with big guns, and Driller deals with swarms. Always kill a Menace before it charges a shot.
9. Respect the Resupply Etiquette
When you call a resupply, each dwarf gets one crate. Don't take more than your share unless the team agrees. Before a big fight, check everyone's ammo. A dwarf with no ammo is just a walking target.
10. Use the Gunner's Shield Generator for Revives
This is a game-changing move. If a teammate goes down in a swarm, the Gunner can throw a shield generator over their body to create a safe zone. This blocks enemy fire and lets you revive without taking damage. Always pair up with the Gunner in clutch moments.
Bonus Pro Move: Kick the Barrel
On the drop pod and in the rig, kicking barrels is the ultimate morale boost. It doesn't help you survive, but it sure does make you feel like a proper dwarf. Rock and stone!
Final Words
Surviving Hoxxes IV isn't about individual skill — it's about teamwork, communication, and constantly reading your surroundings. Use these tips, keep a cool head in the dark, and you'll be drinking a cold one back at the rig in no time.