Deep Rock Galactic: How to Disable Swarms with Custom Difficulty

Combat Summary

• Utilize the Custom Difficulty mod to fine-tune enemy spawn rates and disable swarms in Deep Rock Galactic.
• This allows Miners to practice weapon builds, test Overclocks, or explore biomes without combat interruptions.
• Combine with Sandbox Utilities for advanced testing environments and resource spawning.

Miners looking to refine their skills, test experimental loadouts, or simply explore the treacherous caverns of Hoxxes IV without the constant threat of a Glyphid swarm can effectively do so by leveraging specific Deep Rock Galactic Mods. The primary tool for this is the Custom Difficulty mod, which grants granular control over various mission parameters, including the ability to completely disable enemy swarms. This creates a powerful Practice Mode for dedicated training or map familiarity.

Best Use Case

Disabling swarms is invaluable for several tactical situations. It’s perfect for new Miners learning movement and traversal on complex terrain or veteran Miners wanting to master tricky platforming without being ambushed. It also provides a clean environment to accurately assess weapon damage, recoil patterns, and utility tool effectiveness against isolated targets. Consider using this for:

• Loadout Testing: Experiment with new weapon builds or Overclocks in a controlled setting.
• Map Exploration: Learn biome layouts, hidden paths, and optimal deposit routes.
• Parkour & Mobility Practice: Hone your traversal skills on challenging terrain without interruption.
• Team Coordination Drills: Practice Mission Tactics like resupply efficiency or objective handling with a new team.

Recommended Tools

To gain control over swarms and other mission parameters, you’ll primarily need:

• Custom Difficulty Mod: This mod provides direct sliders and toggles for enemy density, health, damage, and critically, swarm frequency and intensity. You can set swarm frequency to zero to ensure no swarms spawn.
• Sandbox Utilities Mod: While not strictly necessary for swarm control, Sandbox Utilities is highly recommended as a companion. It allows Miners to spawn resources (Nitra, gold, crafting materials), enemies, and even deployables (like a supply pod) at will, further enhancing your practice environment.

Deployment Tactics

Installing these mods typically involves using a mod manager. Once installed and enabled:

1. Launch Deep Rock Galactic with the mods active.
2. Access Mod Settings: Usually found in the in-game options menu or a dedicated mod menu.
3. Adjust Custom Difficulty: Navigate to the swarm settings and reduce Swarm Frequency or similar parameters to zero. You can also disable ambient enemies if desired.
4. Start a Mission: Select any mission type. You’ll find that the typical swarm events are entirely absent, allowing for undisturbed exploration and testing. Remember that standard mission objectives and environmental hazards will still be present.

Common Pitfalls

While incredibly useful, this method isn’t without its caveats. Miners should remember:

• Not for Standard Play: Missions played with these modifications are not representative of standard hazard levels and should not be confused with genuine combat experience. Don’t rely on these settings to prepare for a Hazard 5 deep dive.
• Mod Stability: Always ensure your mods are up-to-date to avoid conflicts or game instability.
• Habit Formation: Over-reliance on a swarm-free environment can create bad habits in combat-focused scenarios. Ensure you still engage in standard missions to maintain combat readiness.