- Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core patch notes for Update 1 cover missions, weapons, enemies, and biomes.
- Assault Pace Selection lets you pick Cautious, Standard, or Reckless pressure from the Mission Map.
- New arsenal: Corrosive Sludge Pump Heavy Weapon and the Trident D-E-S energy shotgun.
- New threat: the flying Voidkin Drifter joins the Corespawn roster.
- Free First Responder Cosmetic DLC rewards early supporters of Early Access.
Update 1 Patch Notes Overview
Update 1 is the first major content drop for Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core, and it touches nearly every layer of the rogue-lite loop: mission flow, upgrade drafting, weapons, enemies, biomes, and quality of life. Ghost Ship Games built this patch around player feedback from Early Access, focusing on clearer mission timers, faster upgrade negotiations, and more build variety.
Video Highlights:
- Optional numerical countdown shows exactly when Reaper Worms arrive
- Three Assault Pace options: Cautious, Standard, Reckless
- R.E.P.D. upgrades can now be triggered by any Reclaimer, anywhere in the facility
- More than 10 new Expenite upgrades added for build variety
- Free First Responder Cosmetic DLC announced for early supporters
This patch reshapes the core risk-reward economy. If you have been away from Rogue Core since launch, the Assault Pace system and reworked upgrade drafts change how every run plays out — revisit your usual strategies before pushing deeper.
Mission Flow and Assault Pace Changes
The mission timer now gives much clearer feedback during a run. An optional numerical countdown displays precisely when Reaper Worms will appear, so you never have to guess when the pressure spikes.
The headline feature is Assault Pace Selection, chosen right from the Mission Map before deployment.
Cautious
- Lower time pressure
- Ideal for exploration and looting
- Reduced rewards
Standard
- Default Rogue Core experience
- Balanced risk and reward
- Recommended for most squads
Reckless
- High time pressure
- Proportionally higher rewards
- Built for thrill seekers
| Setting | Time Pressure | Reward Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cautious | Low | Reduced | Exploration, new players |
| Standard | Baseline | Standard | Most runs |
| Reckless | High | Increased | Experienced squads farming rewards |
Reckless pace compresses the window before Reaper Worms spawn. Watch the new numerical countdown and plan your extraction route before the timer hits zero.
R.E.P.D. Upgrade System Rework
Upgrading at the R.E.P.D. has been streamlined end to end. When an upgrade becomes available, a button pops up on the terminal, and any Reclaimer on the team can press it — no grouping up required. The upgrade process then begins for all team members regardless of their position in the facility.
The negotiation draft itself has also been reworked:
- Shared rarity: All upgrades within a draft now share the same rarity — everyone lucks out together or everyone picks from regular upgrades.
- Equal choices: When a player selects an upgrade, it is replaced with a new option, so every player gets the same number of choices regardless of draft position.
- Skip for Health removed: Health upgrades now appear alongside all other upgrades, and Red Sugar spawns throughout the caves have been increased significantly to compensate.
| Old System | New System |
|---|---|
| Team had to gather at the R.E.P.D. | Any Reclaimer can trigger the upgrade button |
| Mixed rarities within one draft | Whole draft shares one rarity |
| Unequal pick counts by position | Replaced picks keep choice counts equal |
| Skip for Health option | Health upgrades folded into the pool, more Red Sugar |
Over 10 new Expenite upgrades arrive in Update 1. Ghost Ship Games has stated they will keep rebalancing — and even removing — boring upgrades while adding new ones, so expect the meta to shift with future patches.
New Weapons, Enemies, and Biomes
Update 1 delivers fresh firepower and fresh threats in equal measure.
| Addition | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosive Sludge Pump | Heavy Weapon | New heavy-hitting option for your arsenal |
| Trident D-E.S. | Starting Weapon | Punchy energy shotgun with two fire modes |
| Voidkin Drifter | Enemy | Brand new flying Corespawn threat |
| Ramok Core Biome | Environment | Unique biome per end boss; shared with Molaktula for now |
| 13 Mining Constructions | Environment | New facility scenery variety |
| New Deployments | Missions | Greater run-to-run variety |
The long-term goal is a unique Core biome for every end boss. The Ramok gets its biome in Update 1, while the Molaktula shares it until its own dedicated home arrives in a future update.
Try the Trident D-E.S.
Add the new energy shotgun to your starting pool and test both fire modes in low-pressure Cautious runs before betting on it at Reckless pace.
Watch the Skies
The Voidkin Drifter attacks from the air. Adjust your aim habits and bring weapons with vertical reach when you expect flying Corespawn.
Build Around Expenite
Rerun the draft with the 10+ new Expenite upgrades to find synergies with the Corrosive Sludge Pump and your existing loadout.
The new Ramok biome changes sightlines and cover in boss arenas. Run a Cautious-paced mission first to learn the layout before committing to high-reward Reckless attempts.
Quality of Life and Free Cosmetic DLC
A batch of QoL improvements rounds out the patch:
- More Munitions Crates squeezed into each facility to ease the ammo economy.
- Loadout Terminal cleanup: enhancements now stack for a cleaner overview, and the terminal auto-equips the highest tier version of enhancements as soon as you unlock them.
- Auto-sprint toggle available in settings.
- Fresh Jukebox tracks spanning Disco, Smooth Soul, and Funk.
As a thank-you to early supporters, Ghost Ship Games is releasing the completely free First Responder Cosmetic DLC, acknowledging the players who helped identify issues and shape the game during its first stretch of Early Access.
The terminal overhaul is still a work in progress. If your enhancement layout looks different after the patch, the auto-equip feature is why — double-check your highest tiers before deploying.
Update 1 Checklist:
- Test all three Assault Pace settings on the Mission Map
- Unlock and try the Corrosive Sludge Pump
- Master both fire modes of the Trident D-E.S.
- Explore the new Ramok Core biome
- Claim the free First Responder Cosmetic DLC
FAQ
Q: What are the biggest changes in the Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core Update 1 patch notes?
The headline changes are Assault Pace Selection (Cautious, Standard, Reckless), the R.E.P.D. upgrade rework with shared draft rarity, the Corrosive Sludge Pump and Trident D-E.S. weapons, the flying Voidkin Drifter enemy, and the new Ramok Core biome.
Q: How does Assault Pace affect rewards?
Higher time pressure means proportionally higher rewards. Reckless runs compress your mission timer — including the Reaper Worm countdown — but pay out more, while Cautious runs trade rewards for exploration time.
Q: Why was Skip for Health removed from the upgrade draft?
Health upgrades now appear alongside all other upgrades in the draft, and Red Sugar spawns throughout the caves have been increased to compensate. This makes every draft pick a genuine choice instead of a health tax.
Q: Is the First Responder Cosmetic DLC really free?
Yes. Ghost Ship Games announced the First Responder Cosmetic DLC as a free thank-you to Early Access players who reported issues and shared feedback during launch. Grab it from the official store page for your platform.