Deep Rock Galacticis a co-op PvE FPS aboutdwarvesbeing sent underground to extract resources from the planetHoxxes IV. The planet will fight back to complicate this process with wave after wave of the planet’s local wildlife. It is currently in its second season withseason 3 plansannounced. Teamwork is crucial for mission success as each class has their ownunique abilitiesthat encourage cooperation. Each class has a job they must do, and this guide will go over theGunnerclass and its responsibilities on the team.
Synergies With Other Classes
The default guns the Gunner starts with are the"Leadstorm"Minigunand the"Bulldog" Heavy Revolver. The minigun is the main attraction here with itslarge ammo capacityand DPS output, but the other primary weapons still follow the theme of a really big gun. Once the minigun gets spinning, a heavy stream of bullets tear throughGlyphidsand armor alike. It doesn’t need to reload, but it canoverheatif fired for too long, preventing you from shooting again until the gun has cooled off. Effectively managing the heat on your minigun means the bullets never have to stop for too long.
Thesidearmsare all pistols and are more suited toward taking out isolated bugs that aren’t part of a swarm. The Gunner is at hismost vulnerable when enemies are closeas it’s hardest to deal with small enemy swarms that surround while shooting the minigun. Pistols are easier to use while in close quarters or while running away, but the minigun will be the gun in hand for the majority of the time.
The Gunner also has explosive choices forgrenades, withsticky bombsthat stick to walls and enemies alike before exploding,fire bombsthat melt everything in an area for a while granting area denial, andcluster grenadeswhich explode into smaller grenades that explode again clearing the area of most signs of life. Each has its strengths and drawbacks, so it depends on personal taste and mission type.
TheShield Generatorand theZip-line launcherare wonderful gadgets that help make the Gunner one of the morewell-rounded classesfor solo and multiplayer as both gadgets areuseful soloandhelp the team. Theshieldcan be very helpful forholding a spotor saving a downed ally. The firepower and utility make Gunner one of the most self-reliant classes as it has the tools for most situations.
TheShield Generatoris a bubble shield that alsoreplenishes the shieldsof anyone inside it. Great for when there are many ranged foes and someone gets downed–or for when things are getting overwhelming and the team needs a breather. The Shield Generator can buy time tomake a standand thin the overwhelming number of enemies without threat of death for a while. Shield regeneration can be life-saving in a pinch.
TheZipline Launchercreates a zipline that can angle up or down which gives the Gunner some level ofmobilitythat feels great going down but is quite slow going up.Being hitwhile on theziplinewill result in apotentially bad fall, so mind the gap. Ziplines can help the Gunner and their team easily get tohard-to-reach locations, but they have another use. During boss fights–or missions that require holding a room or take place in one big room–the ziplines can grant the Gunner abird’s eye view of the battlefield, allowing him to fire on enemies below in relative safety. Layered zip-lines set up around the room allow the Gunner to shoot from a great vantage point without having to worry about beingswarmed.
Role On The Team
The Gunnerclears waveswhile the team works on the objectives. The Gunner has good tools forprotecting teammatesorholding a location, and the zipline can be used toreach objectivesand materials that are high up, as well as a way totactically retreat. Setting up ziplines that enable allies or yourself to complete the objective, or justmaking the area more traversableis a good use of time in between waves. Above all, the Gunner primarily shoots enemies, so being on the lookout forNitrais essential to keep the minigun fed. This class both has and goes through the most ammo, so be a littlegreedy with resuppliesduring large holdouts as running out of ammo is bad for you and the team equally since other classes lack the Gunner’s firepower.
Role In Combat
The Gunner stands in thefront line, supplying a steady stream of lead to any unlucky swarm of bugs trying to stop the team and their objective. This class has everything it needs to beentirely self-sufficient, but it also has useful tools tohelp the team surviverough conditions with theshieldandziplines.Positioning is vitalsince shooting drastically lowers the speed you can move which makes picking the right time to run and the right time to hold your ground essential as the gun takes a bit to warm up before it starts shooting.
No other class has the same level of steady DPS that a Gunner brings on a mission. Theminigun is excellentforkilling bossesorpushing back wavesalike. Thegrenadeoptions are also excellent foreliminating large amounts of clumped-up enemiesquickly. During big enemy waves, try to stand in a spot ahead of (or above) allies. Doing so not onlyavoids friendly firebut also provides theclearest line of sightbefore getting the gun spinning. Thebubble shieldcan provide a second wind as well as a bastion to keep firing from safety. In most situations, the Gunner should be shooting. Theother classesare most suited towardshit and run tactics, and theGunner holds the line.
