DRG Speedrun: Master the Rich% "Rock" Side Objective World Record

What is the DRG Rich% "Rock" Side Objective Speedrun?

Welcome, fellow dwarves and speedrunning enthusiasts! If you're here, you're likely itching to shave precious seconds off your runs and climb the leaderboards. Today, we're diving deep into a particularly lucrative and challenging category within the gaming speedrun community: the Deep Rock Galactic (DRG) Rich% World Record, specifically focusing on the "Rock" Side Objective. This isn't just about pure speed; it's about efficiency, resource management, and executing flawless strats under pressure.

The core of this category demands players to not only secure the fastest possible completion time but also to meticulously gather a specific amount of Morkite (typically 200 units) and, crucially, maximize gold collection. The twist? All of this must be accomplished while tackling the often-overlooked "Rock" side objective. It’s a true test of a dwarf’s grit and a speedrunner’s dedication.

Deep Rock Galactic: The Perfect Speedrun Canvas

For those new to the mines, Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative first-person shooter that pits a team of up to four heavily-armed dwarves against hordes of alien bugs on procedurally generated planets. Its blend of intense combat, environmental destruction, and distinct class roles makes it an incredibly engaging experience, and, as we're discovering, a fantastic playground for speedrunning.

The procedurally generated nature of the caves, combined with various mission types and enemy spawns, introduces an element of RNG (Random Number Generation) that speedrunners constantly strategize around. Mastering DRG speedruns means learning to adapt to these variables and exploit every possible advantage. It’s a game where quick thinking and even quicker reflexes are paramount.

Understanding the Rich% Category

In speedrunning, categories define the specific goals a player must achieve to consider a run complete. The "Rich%" category in DRG is all about maximizing your mineral haul, particularly Morkite and Gold, within the shortest possible time. It’s a delicate balancing act: you need to be fast, but you also need to be *efficient* with your resource gathering.

This differs from categories that might focus solely on mission objectives or eliminating enemies. In Rich%, every second spent mining or moving between deposits is scrutinized. A seemingly small detour for a pocket of gold could cost you the world record if not executed perfectly. This requires a deep understanding of map layouts and resource distribution.

The "Rock" Side Objective: A Deeper Dive

The "Rock" Side Objective, often presented as "Mine X amount of Nitra" or "Find a specific rare mineral," can seem secondary. However, in this speedrun category, it's a crucial component. It forces runners to deviate from the most direct path to the main objective, adding a layer of complexity and risk.

Successfully integrating the "Rock" objective requires precise planning. You can't just stumble upon it; you need to know where these objectives typically spawn and how to reach them quickly without sacrificing too much time on your primary goal. Often, the best runs integrate the side objective into the main Morkite collection path, turning a potential time-sink into an efficient part of the overall strategy.

"The 'Rock' objective is where many runs are lost. You either go too far out of your way, or you ignore it and risk a DQ if the category rules are strict on its completion."

Optimal Strats for the Rich% "Rock" Side Objective

Achieving a world record in this category hinges on mastering specific strategies, often referred to as "strats." These are highly optimized sequences of actions designed to minimize time and maximize efficiency.

  • Pathing: Identifying the most efficient routes through the procedurally generated caves is paramount. This involves predicting potential cave layouts and knowing the fastest ways to traverse them.
  • Resource Prioritization: Knowing exactly where to mine Morkite and Gold, and how much to gather from each deposit to meet the Rich% quota quickly.
  • Combat Efficiency: Minimizing time spent fighting enemies. This often involves using AoE (Area of Effect) attacks to clear swarms quickly or employing movement-enhancing tools to bypass threats entirely.
  • Objective Integration: Seamlessly weaving the "Rock" side objective into the main mission flow. This might involve collecting its resources en route to a Morkite vein or completing it during a strategic pause.

Experienced runners often develop custom builds and loadouts tailored specifically for this category, focusing on speed, traversal, and burst damage rather than sustained combat.

Class Selection: Dwarves for the Win

In DRG, each of the four dwarf classes—Scout, Engineer, Driller, and Gunner—offers unique abilities that can be leveraged for speedrunning. For the Rich% "Rock" objective, the choice of class is critical.

  • Scout: Excels at rapid traversal with the grappling hook and illuminating large areas. Their ability to reach high-up resources quickly makes them invaluable for certain map seeds.
  • Engineer: Offers crowd control with turrets and platforms that can create shortcuts or reach difficult areas. Their platforms are particularly useful for rapid vertical movement.
  • Driller: The king of traversal through terrain. Drillers can create direct paths through rock, bypassing obstacles and saving significant time, especially in dense cave systems.
  • Gunner: Provides powerful ranged support and mobility options with the zipline gun. While less focused on traversal, their firepower can quickly clear threats.

In my experience, a coordinated team often features a combination of these classes, with the Driller and Scout frequently taking the spotlight for their unparalleled movement capabilities. However, solo attempts might heavily favor the Driller for its terrain manipulation. The specific class choice can also depend on the current meta and any newly discovered glitches or skips.

Team Communication: The Unsung Hero

While solo runs are possible, DRG is fundamentally a cooperative game. For world records, especially in team-based categories like this, communication is non-negotiable. Clear, concise callouts can mean the difference between a successful run and a catastrophic failure.

"Ping everything! Know where the Nitra is, where the Morkite is, where the swarm is coming from. That tiny bit of info can save five seconds, and five seconds is everything in a WR attempt."

Coordinating movement, sharing ammo, and calling out incoming threats ensures the team stays on track. A well-oiled team moves as a single unit, executing strats flawlessly. This level of synergy is built through countless hours of practice together. For those aiming for the top, joining a dedicated DRG speedrunning Discord is highly recommended.

Route Planning: Precision is Key

Given the procedural generation, rigid route planning might seem impossible. However, speedrunners develop sophisticated strategies based on common cave generation patterns and known spawn locations for objectives and resources.

This involves understanding biome-specific layouts, identifying efficient "entry points" into caves that maximize resource density, and knowing when to cut your losses on a bad seed. Advanced runners can often predict the general layout within the first minute of a mission, allowing them to adapt their pre-planned route on the fly.

Equipment Upgrades: Gear Up for Speed

While some speedrun categories restrict upgrades, the Rich% category generally benefits from optimized gear. Investing in upgrades that enhance movement speed, mining speed, and combat efficiency is crucial.

  • Weapon Mods: Focus on mods that increase damage output for quicker swarm clearing or faster mining speed.
  • Traversal Tools: Upgrades for the Scout's grappling hook or the Driller's drills can significantly reduce travel time.
  • Perks: Certain perks, like those that increase movement speed or reduce fall damage, can be game-changers.

Experimenting with different loadouts and understanding how each upgrade synergizes with your chosen class and strategy is a vital part of the preparation.

Practice and Refinement: The Speedrunner's Mantra

There's no substitute for practice. World records are not set by accident. They are the result of thousands of attempts, meticulous analysis of each run, and constant refinement of strats.

This involves:

  • Repeating specific sections of a mission until they are perfected.
  • Analyzing video footage of top runs to identify micro-optimizations.
  • Testing new strats and glitches that might emerge within the community.
  • Maintaining peak performance through consistent play.

The journey to a world record is often a marathon, not a sprint, requiring patience, dedication, and a relentless drive to improve.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with the best strategies, mistakes happen. Being aware of common pitfalls can help you avoid them:

  • Over-mining: Spending too much time on secondary objectives or small gold veins when the primary Morkite goal is close.
  • Ignoring Threats: Underestimating enemy swarms, which can quickly overwhelm a team focused on speed.
  • Poor Communication: Lack of clear callouts leading to confusion, wasted movement, or missed opportunities.
  • Bad RNG: Sometimes, the cave generation is simply unfavorable. Knowing when to reset is a skill in itself.
  • Execution Errors: Simple mechanical mistakes like missing jumps, fumbling reloads, or activating the wrong tool at the wrong time.
"The biggest enemy isn't the bugs; it's the clock. Every second counts, and every mistake is magnified when you're pushing for a world record."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of the DRG Rich% "Rock" Side Objective speedrun?

The primary goal is to complete the mission as quickly as possible while gathering a predetermined amount of Morkite and maximizing gold collection, all while successfully completing the "Rock" side objective.

Which class is best for this speedrun category?

While team composition matters, the Driller and Scout are often favored due to their superior traversal capabilities. However, optimal team strats may vary.

How important is RNG in this speedrun?

RNG plays a significant role due to the procedurally generated caves. Speedrunners develop strategies to adapt to different layouts and resource distributions efficiently.

Can I use any gear upgrades?

Yes, in the Rich% category, utilizing optimized gear upgrades for weapons, traversal tools, and perks is generally allowed and encouraged to achieve the fastest times.

Where can I find the current world record?

The best place to find the current world record and other DRG speedrun leaderboards is on the official Speedrun.com DRG page.

Mastering the DRG Rich% "Rock" Side Objective speedrun is a testament to skill, strategy, and sheer determination. It demands a deep understanding of the game's mechanics, efficient execution of complex strats, and seamless teamwork. By focusing on optimal pathing, intelligent class selection, clear communication, and relentless practice, you too can shave precious seconds off your time and contribute to the ever-evolving world of speedrun records. Remember, every dwarf for himself... but glory is often shared! Rock and Stone!

What are your favorite strats for this category? Have you set any personal bests? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Join our Discord channel to connect with fellow speedrunners and discuss your latest runs.

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