Deep Rock Galactic Escort Duty: When to Do Side Objectives

Combat Summary

• Complete all side objectives and extra resource gathering after Doretta finishes drilling the Heartstone in Escort Duty missions.
• This strategy centralizes your team for defense during the critical drilling phase and allows for efficient, low-pressure cleanup afterward.
• Never attempt to gather secondary objectives or distant resources during Doretta’s active drilling; it creates unnecessary vulnerability and splits miner focus.

Completing optional objectives and scavenging extra resources in an Escort Duty mission is a common point of contention. The optimal timing is clear: wait until Doretta has successfully drilled the Heartstone and the main waves of Glyphids are dealt with. This approach simplifies defense significantly, keeps the team together, and reduces pressure from incoming swarms while you gather. For Solo Play, this becomes even more critical.

Best Time for Side Objectives

The period after Doretta has drilled the Heartstone and is awaiting extraction is the ideal window for side objectives. By this point, the primary danger (constant swarms while defending Doretta’s head) has passed. You can freely explore the carved-out tunnels and surrounding areas without the immediate pressure of protecting a stationary target. This allows for:

• Unified Team Movement: Your entire team can move together, covering each other and quickly completing any lingering objectives like collecting Apoca Blooms or Ebonuts.
• Lower Threat: While some straggler Glyphids or a few new spawns might appear, the large, sustained waves cease, allowing for relaxed exploration and gathering.
• Optimized Resource Management: You can meticulously sweep the area for hidden Nitra veins or gold chunks, ensuring you maximize your haul without jeopardizing the mission’s primary objective.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Splitting the Team During Drilling: The biggest mistake is having Miners wander off to collect secondary objectives while Doretta is actively drilling. This leaves fewer Dwarves defending the M.U.L.E., making it easier for swarms to overwhelm the remaining defenders and damage Doretta.
• Getting Distracted by Small Pockets: Don’t get tunnel vision on a small patch of Gold or a single Apoca Bloom during the drilling phase. The value gained rarely outweighs the risk of taking significant damage or depleting shield health before critical waves.
• Ignoring Nitra Needs: If your Resource Management is tight, trying to grab extras during drilling is a gamble. Consolidate your Nitra during quieter moments, but always prioritize keeping Doretta operational over side objectives until the Heartstone is extracted.

Solo Miner Considerations

For Solo Play, this strategy is paramount. As a lone Miner, your focus must be entirely on protecting Doretta during the drilling phase. Attempting to manage swarms and complete side objectives simultaneously is a recipe for failure. Waiting until the drilling is done allows you to clear the immediate area and then systematically address any remaining objectives without the constant threat of a damaged M.U.L.E. or unexpected enemy flank. It turns a chaotic defense into a manageable cleanup operation.

Miner’s Chatter

The consensus among veteran Miners heavily favors waiting until after the Heartstone is drilled. Many highlight the ease of defense without having to protect Doretta as the key reason. The improved odds of consolidating Resource Management, especially for vital Nitra, is another frequently cited benefit. The shared warning: never attempt side objectives while Doretta is actively drilling, as it inevitably leads to mission complications or outright failure due to split attention and reduced firepower.