- Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core next update is Update 3, live now on Steam.
- Balgorath Gatekeeper debuts as the fourth boss with bullet-hell ranged attacks.
- Expenite drops from all enemies are now part of the default game.
- Refractor Terminal lets you reroll upgrades using Flux Quartz.
- Ventura Model 57 shotgun and XQ-2 Quantum Warp Field expand your loadout options.
Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core Next Update: What Shipped in Update 3
The Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core next update is officially here. Ghost Ship Games launched Update 3, the third major content drop for the roguelite spin-off, and it is one of the most substantial patches yet. From a brand-new fourth boss to a full upgrade reroll system, this update reshapes how runs flow from the first elevator drop to the final showdown.
Video Highlights:
- All enemies now drop Expenite by default, rewarding combat directly.
- The Balgorath Gatekeeper arrives as the fourth boss with bullet-hell mechanics.
- Boss-specific Risk Vectors add customizable twists to final fights.
- New Ventura Model 57 pump-action shotgun joins the arsenal.
- Host crash protection lets teams continue runs without losing progress.
The headline changes fall into four buckets: combat rewards, build flexibility, boss content, and quality-of-life. Here is how the biggest features compare at a glance.
| Feature | Category | Impact on Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Expenite enemy drops | Combat economy | Mining no longer the only income source |
| Refractor Terminal | Build flexibility | Reroll unwanted upgrades with Flux Quartz |
| Balgorath Gatekeeper | Boss content | Fourth boss, bullet-hell ranged patterns |
| Boss Risk Vectors | Boss content | Optional modifiers for final levels |
| Host disconnect protection | Quality of life | Team can continue after host crash |
Patch notes with smaller tweaks and bugfixes are published on the official Steam page, so check there after major patches for the full list.
New Combat Systems: Expenite Drops and the Refractor Terminal
The biggest systemic change in this update rewards you for fighting, not just mining. Back in Update 2, Expenite drops from enemies existed as an optional mission modifier. The developers found it was simply more fun — and the community agreed — so it is now baked into the default experience.
You can still mine Expenite veins as usual, but every kill now adds to your income. This makes aggressive playstyles and prolonged engagements far more sustainable across a full run.
The second major system is the Refractor Terminal, a reroll station found in the elevator starting from the second level of every run. It is powered by Flux Quartz, a collectible resource, and gives you another shot at landing the upgrade you actually want. You are no longer locked into a bad pick for the rest of the run.
Reach Level 2 of a Run
The Refractor Terminal unlocks from the start of the second level in every run, so plan your first-level choices knowing a reroll is coming.
Collect Flux Quartz
Gather Flux Quartz during levels to power the terminal. Prioritize it when your current upgrades feel weak.
Reroll at the Elevator
Use the Refractor Terminal between levels to reroll toward the upgrade you want instead of settling for a poor option.
Reassess Your Build
After rerolling, adjust your playstyle and weapon synergies to match the upgrades you actually secured.
Flux Quartz is limited per run. Burning it early on minor rerolls may leave you unable to fix your build before the final boss, so spend it deliberately.
The Balgorath Gatekeeper and Boss Risk Vectors
The long-teased fourth boss has arrived. The Balgorath Gatekeeper delivers a bullet-hell-style encounter, demanding constant movement, dodge timing, and spatial awareness against dense ranged attack patterns. If you have been steamrolling the existing bosses, this one will force you to actually dance.
Alongside the new boss, Ghost Ship introduced boss-specific Risk Vectors. These are selected as you enter the final level of a run, and each one changes the terms of your final showdown. Some Risk Vectors are available on any boss, while others are exclusive to specific bosses. Crucially, the system is implemented as an alteration — if you prefer the standard fight, you simply do not pick one.
| Boss Content | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Balgorath Gatekeeper | Fourth boss | Bullet-hell ranged patterns, heavy dodging |
| Universal Risk Vectors | Alteration | Available on any boss, twists final fight |
| Boss-Specific Risk Vectors | Alteration | Unique to certain bosses only |
| Trophy Wall | Progression | Tracks where/when you defeat bosses, unlocks rewards |
The Trophy Wall rounds out the boss experience. It records where and when you defeated each boss and unlocks unique rewards for doing so, giving completionists a long-term hunting objective across runs.
Because Risk Vectors are alterations, you keep full control over run difficulty. Skip them for a standard fight, or stack them when hunting Trophy Wall rewards.
New Arsenal: Weapons, Enemies, and Traversal
Update 3 expands the sandbox in several directions at once. The Ventura Model 57 is a classic pump-action shotgun: it hits hard, reloads slowly, and shreds anything at short range. It rewards committed, close-quarters positioning.
On the enemy side, meet the Bloater — a heavyweight Corespawn that moves slowly and absorbs enormous amounts of damage. Its large health pool makes it a walking elemental synergy platform, since it lives long enough to proc effects on nearby enemies. And when it finally dies, it explodes, so keep your distance on the killshot.
Traversal also got a rework. The new XQ-2 Quantum Warp Field is a teleporter tool: place two points and zap between them. Meanwhile, the Flare Gun was removed from the traversal pool since it is not truly a traversal tool — it now sits in a glass box that any player can break open to collect.
Ventura Model 57
- Pump-action shotgun
- Hits hard, reloads slow
- Excellent short-range cleanup
Bloater
- Heavyweight Corespawn
- Soaks bullets, procs synergies
- Explodes on death
XQ-2 Quantum Warp Field
- Place two warp points
- Instant teleport between them
- Flexible repositioning tool
Never finish a Bloater at point-blank range. Its death explosion punishes shotgun users especially, so step back before the killing blow.
Quality of Life: Disconnect Protection, Bio-Boosters, and Extraction Variety
Several quieter changes may end up mattering most over long play sessions.
Host crash protection is the standout. If your host leaves or crashes mid-run, the remaining team can now continue the game without them, restarting the stage they were on. This prevents the frustrating loss of an entire run to a single disconnect.
The Bio-Booster system gained depth: the UI was polished for a clearer overview of which decks you have collected and what the unlock requirements are for missing ones. Ghost Ship also added base decks unlinked to any specific Reclaimer, enabling more mix-and-match playstyle options, with more promised in the future.
Extraction sequences now have variety. Instead of always booting up the elevator and defending it, each level rolls a random variation — you might scavenge parts to repair the elevator, or fight off mysterious growths jamming the gears.
Finally, the cosmetic sheet received a facelift. Most cosmetics are now automatically unlocked for all classes rather than one, and any scrip spent in the old system is automatically refunded, so nothing is lost.
| QoL Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Host disconnect | Run lost | Team continues, restarts current stage |
| Bio-Booster UI | Unclear overview | Shows collected decks and unlock requirements |
| Bio-Booster decks | Reclaimer-locked only | Base decks for any Reclaimer added |
| Extraction | Single defend sequence | Random repair or growth-clear variants |
| Cosmetics | Per-class unlocks | Most items unlock for all classes, scrip refunded |
Update 3 To-Do List:
- Fight the Balgorath Gatekeeper and learn its patterns
- Collect Flux Quartz and reroll a bad upgrade at the Refractor Terminal
- Try the Ventura Model 57 shotgun build
- Experiment with boss Risk Vectors for tougher finales
- Start earning Trophy Wall rewards
- Test the XQ-2 Quantum Warp Field traversal routes
If you spent scrip on cosmetics in the old system, it is automatically refunded in Update 3 — check your balance after patching.
FAQ
Q: What is included in the Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core next update?
Update 3 adds the Balgorath Gatekeeper boss, default Expenite drops from all enemies, the Refractor reroll terminal, boss Risk Vectors, the Ventura Model 57 shotgun, the Bloater enemy, the XQ-2 Quantum Warp Field traversal tool, host disconnect protection, Bio-Booster improvements, extraction variations, the Trophy Wall, and a cosmetic sheet rework.
Q: How does the Refractor Terminal reroll system work?
The Refractor Terminal appears in the elevator from the start of the second level of every run. It is powered by Flux Quartz, which you collect during levels, and lets you reroll toward upgrades you want instead of being stuck with unwanted picks.
Q: Are boss Risk Vectors mandatory?
No. Risk Vectors are implemented as alterations. You select them when entering the final level of a run, and you can simply skip them if you prefer the standard boss fight. Some work on any boss, while others are specific to certain bosses.
Q: What happens if the host crashes mid-run?
With Update 3's new protection system, the remaining team gets the option to continue the game without the host, restarting the stage they were on. This helps prevent lost run progress.