Deep Rock Galactic: 10 Pro Tips For Playing The Gunner
The Gunner fills an interesting role in Deep Rock Galactic. Many players make the mistake that the Gunner simply shoots things given the name, but it’s much deeper and more complex than that. The Gunner is about gunning down waves of enemies, but it is also about protecting allies and prioritizing what it shoots at.
There are a number of strategies and tips players can implement to become more effective at this important role in the multiplayer game. For players considering stepping into the shoes of the Gunner, here are some tips to become more effective at it.
10 Shield Downed Allies
The Gunner’s shield provides a bubble of invulnerability for about 10 seconds. The amount of shields are limited and should be used wisely. One wise use of bubbles is to throw one over an ally that has fallen in battle.
This gives the Gunner a 10 second window to quickly get them up and on their feet without being mobbed by enemies. With 10 seconds the player can revive an ally, reload, and start firing as the bubble drops.
9 Zipline Long Chasms
Many players when acting as Gunner make the mistake of leaning on the Engineer to bridge all gaps in the game. While the Engineer is responsible for smaller gaps, the Gunner is responsible for large gaps.
What modifications the Gunner should use entirely depends on the map being played. For instance it’s better to have the increased firing angle for Dense Biozone given the varying heights of areas found there. Meanwhile extra cable length would be better for the long chasms in Sandblasted Corridors.
8 Big Guns For Big Things
A good rule of thumb to follow when fighting as Gunner is that the big guns are for big things like big waves and big enemies, etc. While the small guns are for small things like small waves and small enemies.
The larger guns are ammo greedy and it’s easy to run out if they’re being used for every enemy that appears. They can also be incredibly inaccurate and are best reserved for large enemies that are harder to miss or large hordes where other enemies will catch the missed shots.
7 Shield The Supply Drop
One tactic that can provide some breathing room during a tough fight is to shield the Supply Drop. Supply Drops will restock one shield for the Gunner so using one to get one isn’t a terrible trade.
More importantly it will allow allies to gather supplies and ammo during an intense swarm without suffering damage. This can let everyone stock up, reload, and come out of the collapsing shield with guns blazing.
6 Emergency Shield
It’s important to have at least one emergency shield on hand for when the team is getting swarmed and all hope is lost. A single well-placed shield can buy precious time to survive, recover, revive allies, let powerful weapons cool down, or even thin out the herd.
Many Gunners make the mistake of using up their shields only to find themselves needing one in the largest battles of the round. Conversely players should avoid finishing a mission with a shield in their possession given how useful they are.
5 Mine Nitra
Each member of the team has a priority when it comes time to mine and the Gunner’s priority is Nitra. The Scout will get the out of the way minerals, the Engineer will lay defenses, and the Driller will gather the priority.
The reason the Gunner should focus on Nitra is to ensure the team can call in supply drops when needed. The Gunner is there to ensure the safety of the crew during combat and having a steady supply of ammo and utility supplies is vital to a mission’s success.
4 Prioritize The Tough Units
When the bugs start pouring out of the walls it’s important for everyone to know what their role is. For the Gunner this role is taking down the tougher units first. The Engineer will cull the weak, the Scout will divide their forces, and the Driller will hinder their efforts. But the Gunner needs to bring down the major threats.
It might feel strange to occasionally ignore the weaker enemies swarming the team, but it is vital to bring down the heavy hitters quickly. That’s not to say a few bullets shouldn’t be spared for the masses, but the priority should always be the greatest threat.
3 Destroy The Armor
Because the Gunner’s job is to bring down the big bugs it’s important to maximize armor destruction. Being able to shoot off the armor allows teammates and the Gunner to do more follow up damage.
Having Armor Penetration on weapons, which doubles the damage done to armor, and Armor Breaking helps a lot with this. Some player may think it’s meaningless to shoot off armor when you can shoot the enemy, but that damage negation helps the bugs survive longer.
2 Soften Everything
Perhaps the main mistake players make when playing as the Gunner is assuming their job is to kill everything in a hail of bullets. In this multiplayer game, that’s the Engineer and to some extent the Driller’s job. The Gunner is meant to make it easier for them.
Sure the Gunner should prioritize on taking down big targets, but aside from that they should be chipping away the armor and health points of everything else. It’s a one-two-three punch with the Driller slowing everything down, the Gunner removing armor and lowering health, so the Engineer’s turrets can obliterate everything.
1 Shield, Plant, Fire
Sometimes the Gunner will find themselves alone surviving against the swarm and need to quickly drop some bugs. A brutal tactic the Gunner can use is to drop a shield, pull out the minigun, and blast the nearby enemies.
For those 10 seconds or so the Gunner doesn’t need to worry about mobility, survival, or kiting. All they have to do is ensure every bullet counts and get ready to move when the minigun overheats or the shield is about to drop.
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