Introduction
If you’re preparing for some dangerous dives in Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor apk — a rogue-lite mining action shooter with intense gunplay — choosing the right class can mean the difference between surviving waves of insect attacks and being annihilated in seconds. In this guide, we’ll break down which classes excel at dealing massive damage while remaining survivable, provide a list of classes and subclasses, and share expert tips to help you dominate Hoxxes IV.
Game Overview – Why Classes and Subclasses Matter?
In Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, you will control one of four main dwarven classes — Scout, Gunner, Engineer, and Driller. Each class offers a unique playstyle. Within each class, you will unlock sub-mods (three per class) that change your toolbox: improved stats, weapon abilities, special perks. As you dive into more dangerous biomes, enemies will become stronger, larger, and more numerous — making weapon power, upgrades (overclocking), resource gathering, and movement all important.
Two key metrics for success: Damage output & survivability
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Damage output: clearing waves, taking down elites and bosses; many classes specialise in heavy weapons, status effects, critical hits.
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Survivability: staying alive in the crush of enemies; mobility, armour, knock-back, support systems (turrets/mining speed) all matter. Good class choices find balance — you need to hit hard and stay alive.
Overall Class Tier Ranking: Here’s a simplified ranking of how classes perform for combined damage and survival in the current build of the game:
- A-Tier (top picks): Gunner, Engineer
- B-Tier (very strong): Driller, Scout
- C-Tier (situational): Some subclass mods within classes that lag behind the best choices
This aligns with multiple sources: according to Prima Games, the tier goes Engineer > Driller > Gunner > Scout in their listing, though this ranking emphasises support/utility as much as raw DPS.
Deep Dive: Best Subclasses (Class Mods) to Boost Damage & Survive
Gunner (Heavy weapons & tanky)
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Juggernaut: This subclass is frequently cited as the best all-round choice. Provides +10 armour, +50 max health, and a stacking +10% damage bonus after taking damage (up to 5 stacks). Great for survival and sustained DPS.
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Heavy Gunner: Focuses on heavy weapons’ range and reload speed. Excellent damage output with heavy weapons like miniguns or autocannons. Mobility downside means you may need to work more to stay alive.
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Weapons Specialist: More niche — high projectile output, but learning curve and less forgiving in high hazard without strong build.
Engineer (Turrets, constructs, support-damage)
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Tinkerer: Starts weapons at Level 3 and gets XP bonuses. Excellent early-game power and scales well.
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Demolitionist: Explosive weapon focus, great AOE. Solid damage but weaker per-target and survival may suffer.
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Maintenance Worker: Turret/construct-focused. Very useful for utility and support, but its raw damage is less competitive at the top hazard levels.
Driller (Mining speed, utility, melee/throwables)
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Interrogator: Trades base damage for +100% status effect damage (but -30% direct damage). With fire/acid weapons and “potency” stacking, this becomes a DPS monster at later hazards.
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Strong Armed: Throwable/explosive build, high burst damage and area control, though slower weapon speed/gap for some players.
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Foreman: Strong mining utility (+70% mining speed potential), helpful for resource gathering, but weaker in raw offence especially in later hazards.
Scout (High mobility, light weapons, crit builds)
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Sharp Shooter: +15% crit chance and +50% crit damage, plus shrapnel explosions on overkill. Excellent damage potential especially with precise play.
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Classic: Balanced starter subclass; good for beginners and steady performance.
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Recon: Dodge and movement focus. Good for evasive play, but “low damage” and weaker survival in high-hazard according to sources.
How to Choose the Right Class for Damage + Survival
Match your play-style
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Prefer heavy armoured blaster-style? Choose Gunner (Juggernaut or Heavy Gunner)
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Like turret/construct play, mid-range or support with power? Engineer (Tinkerer)
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Enjoy mining, utility, throwables and status-effect play? Driller (Interrogator)
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Prefer speed, dodging, precision shots? Scout (Sharp Shooter)
Consider your goal
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High Hazard runs (Hazard 4–5) demand both high damage and reliable survival. The tier list reflects which classes/subclasses scale better into tougher content.
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Resource farming / lower hazard runs might allow more experimental or utility-focused picks.
Weapon pool & upgrade synergy
Classes differ in available weapons, overclocks, and how easily they scale with upgrades. For example, Engineer’s turret builds rely on strong weapon levels and utility mods, while Scout’s crit build scales with precision and specific overclocks.
Solo vs Team
Though DRG: Survivor is solo-focused, many of the dynamics mirror team roles (tank/gunner, support/engineer, miner/utility, sniper/mobility). Choose the role you’re comfortable fulfilling.
Tips to Maximize Damage and Survive With Your Pick
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Prioritise weapon levels and overclocks that align with your subclass perk. For example, if you’re Sharp Shooter, pick critical-chance + damage upgrades early.
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Don’t neglect survivability stats (health, armour, dodge, knock-back) even while chasing big DPS.
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Use mobility and positioning: even heavy classes benefit from not being cornered, and mining speed/utility help you stay ahead.
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Gather resources (gold, nitra) aggressively: upgrading your base stats, weapons and gear is what lets you scale into higher hazards.
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Adapt your approach when you hit hazard spikes: change tactics if you find a class struggling in Hazard 5 compared to Hazard 2–3.
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Consider versatile builds: for example, a Driller with status-effect bias can double as a miner and damage dealer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Picking & Playing Your Class
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Going all-in on DPS without mobility or survivability backup → leads to early death against tough waves.
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Picking a subclass purely by “cool name” rather than synergy with weapons, overclocks and play-style.
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Ignoring mining/resource strategy: utility and upgrades are as important as your class choice.
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Sticking with a weaker subclass just because you’ve invested time — sometimes you need to switch to a better-scaling subclass for higher hazards.
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Overlooking weapon choice: class perks matter, but without the right weapons/overclocks you’ll under-perform.
Conclusion
Choosing the right class and subclass in Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor isn’t just about “looking cool,” it’s about matching your playstyle with damage output and survival mechanics so you can thrive in the more dangerous stages. Using the tier list above as a guide, pick a subclass that fits your playstyle and invest in weapons and upgrades that amplify that class’s power. With the right build and approach, you’ll conquer Hoxxes IV like a true mining legend. So what are your favorite classes and subclasses in DRG: Survivor? Let me know in the comments below with your builds.