- Best solo class: Falconer offers the most consistent early game and flexible scaling into late runs.
- Why it works: The drone clears hordes passively, deals electricity damage, and even frees you from leech grabs.
- Perk deck: Carnage is the strongest overall pick; Storm is a Falconer-exclusive synergy option.
- Solo warning: The drone's remote revive only works on teammates, so it adds nothing in pure solo runs.
- Runner-up: Slicer with melee builds is a strong alternative for aggressive solo players.
Solo Class Tier Rankings in Rogue Core
Choosing the best solo class in Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core comes down to early-game consistency, ammo efficiency, and how well a class survives without teammates to revive you. Based on current meta performance, Falconer leads the pack thanks to a "set it and forget it" drone that handles hordes while you mine, explore, and scale.
Video Highlights:
- Falconer's drone attacks any nearby enemy, prioritizes pinged targets, and returns when the area is clear
- The Thunder Rod adds electricity to teammate weapons and stacks with existing elements
- Carnage perk deck with Seeing Red and Death Resonance is considered the strongest deck
- Storm deck's Chain Lightning explodes electrified kills within a 7m radius, saving early ammo
| Class | Solo Tier | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falconer | S | Passive drone DPS, flexible builds, strong early game | Slower boss kills, remote revive useless solo |
| Slicer | A | Melee burst, Death Resonance synergy, Seeing Red damage | Needs melee investment early |
| Guardian | A | Tankiness, flexible late builds | Slow start without survivability drops |
| Recon | B | Cooldown rush potential, strong burst | Fragile without team support |
| Spotter | B | Damage scaling | Needs early damage drops to come online |
In solo runs, prioritize classes that guarantee a stable early game. Dying before your build comes online is the most common run-ender, and Falconer's drone covers that weak opening phase better than any other class.
Falconer Kit Breakdown: Drone, Revive, and Thunder Rod
Falconer's kit is straightforward but layered. Mastering all three abilities is what separates a good solo run from a great one.
Attack Drone
- Deals electricity damage with slow and DoT
- Prioritizes pinged targets
- Can be recalled early to start cooldown
- Frees you from leech grabs
Remote Revive
- Res downed teammates from a distance
- Benefits from revive-speed perks
- Cannot revive yourself
- Multiplayer-focused tool
Thunder Rod
- Adds electricity to weapons in its radius
- Stacks with existing elements
- Best used when hordes approach
- Saves significant ammo
The drone deserves special mention for solo play. It kills enemies quickly, applies crowd control through slows, and continues fighting autonomously while you focus on objectives. Throwing it out the moment danger appears is almost always correct.
Send the drone out as you get grabbed by a leech. It will attack the leech and can free you without any teammate intervention, which is invaluable when playing alone.
Perk Decks Compared: Carnage vs Storm vs Falconer Default
Perk decks define your mid-game power spike. While Falconer has a dedicated default deck, the strongest current option is actually Carnage, with Storm as the elemental alternative.
| Perk Deck | Key Perks | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnage | Seeing Red, Death Resonance, Bloodlust, Momentum | Any class, constant kills | ★★★★★ |
| Storm | Chain Lightning, Back Charge, Death Torrent, Thunder Strike | Falconer electricity builds | ★★★★☆ |
| Falconer Default | Synergy, Power Efficiency, Flush Out, Constant Pressure | Auto-weapon spam builds | ★★★☆☆ |
The Carnage deck stands out because this game constantly feeds you enemies to kill. Death Resonance keeps your ability charges cycling, Bloodlust sustains you through hordes, and Momentum refunds ammo on drone kills, which directly benefits Falconer.
Storm is a Falconer-exclusive powerhouse. Chain Lightning triggers a 7m explosion whenever you kill an electrified enemy within 15m, and since your drone and Thunder Rod guarantee electrified targets, it clears hordes while saving early-run ammo. Death Torrent's flat 20% damage against electrified enemies seals the deal.
Flush Out's 6-second damage window poorly matches the drone's lingering play pattern. If you keep the default deck, Power Efficiency (minus 20% cooldown) is the only standout pick.
Step-by-Step: Building a Solo Falconer Run
Open with Movement Enhancements
Take Sweet Tooth 3/4 for healing plus movement speed, and Running Blades 3/4 for sprint speed and bonus jump height. This lets you explore caves and mine quickly while the drone handles threats.
Throw the Drone Constantly
The drone is your strongest early-game tool. Deploy it whenever it is off cooldown to clear incoming hordes while you collect resources and position.
Grab Utility Perks
Pick up Steady Aim for weapon synergy, Skullcrusher 4 and Palm Rebalance 4 to power-attack big threats like Clamorheads and Edge Stalkers, and Nimble 4 for faster interactions and revive speed.
Swap to Carnage or Storm
Once offered a second perk deck, take Carnage for raw power or Storm if you are committing to electricity. Both outperform the default Falconer deck.
Build Flexibly Into Late Game
Falconer does not need a forced build direction. Take whatever strong upgrades and artifacts the run offers, melee, explosive, or sniper-style all work.
Against big enemies: pickaxe, power attack to stun, then keep shooting or redeploy the drone. Skullcrusher and Palm Rebalance make this loop reliable in the early game before your build comes online.
Best Upgrades and Artifacts for Solo Falconer
Falconer is the most flexible class when it comes to upgrades and artifacts. Almost everything works, but a few picks stand above the rest for solo consistency.
| Upgrade/Artifact | Effect | Solo Value |
|---|---|---|
| Defibrillator | 100% faster revive speed, counts for drone | ★★★★★ |
| Frenzy | Damage stacks, drone triggers it repeatedly | ★★★★★ |
| Frontline Medic | Faster revive + maxed stone skin | ★★★★☆ |
| Glass Cannon | Damage up, health reduced by 75% | ★★★★☆ |
| Elementalist | Elements on weapons | ★★★★☆ |
| Super Strapped | Extra ammo capacity | ★★★★☆ |
| Ceramic Defense / Safety First | Tankiness layers | ★★★☆☆ |
Frenzy deserves a special note: since Falconer fights at range and the drone benefits from Frenzy stacks too, the reduced damage resist rarely matters. Pair it with turrets when offered, and you can simply kite while everything gets mowed down.
On weapons, the Stubby is the only base electricity weapon but is currently underwhelming. The Shock Striker, with its guaranteed electricity, is a much stronger pickup.
Solo Run Milestones:
- Secure movement perks (Sweet Tooth, Running Blades) early
- Keep the drone on cooldown during every horde
- Swap off the default perk deck to Carnage or Storm
- Pick up Defibrillator or Frenzy when offered
- Reach late game with a flexible damage direction
Falconer does not burst bosses quickly without a strong weapon combo. Conserve ammo, keep the Thunder Rod active, and let DoT accumulate rather than forcing risky close-range plays.
FAQ
Q: What is the best solo class in Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core?
Falconer is currently the best solo class thanks to a consistent early game, a passive drone that clears hordes without ammo cost, and unmatched build flexibility in the mid and late game. Slicer is a close runner-up for melee-focused players.
Q: Does Falconer's drone revive work in solo runs?
No. The drone's remote revive only targets downed teammates, so it provides no value in pure solo play. Its attack and Thunder Rod functions remain fully effective when playing alone.
Q: Which perk deck should Falconer use?
Carnage is the strongest perk deck in the game right now because Seeing Red, Death Resonance, and Bloodlust reward the constant killing this game demands. Storm is the best Falconer-specific option if you commit to electricity synergy with the drone and Thunder Rod.
Q: Is the Stubby a good weapon for Falconer?
The Stubby is the only weapon with base electricity, but it is currently one of the weaker options since other weapons can roll electricity and outperform it. The Shock Striker, with guaranteed electricity, is a stronger alternative.