Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core Combat Axe: Melee Guide

Combat Pickaxes, Impact Axes, and Slicer's Blade

Swinging a pickaxe and throwing an axe call for different upgrade choices. This Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core combat axe guide separates Combat Pickaxes, Impact Axes, and Slicer's energy blade so you can build around the attacks you actually use.

Combat Pickaxes are part of every Reclaimer's basic equipment. Guardian, Spotter, Falconer, Retcon, and Slicer can all use them. Your class adds its own Gauntlet abilities and Bio-Booster options on top of those shared actions.

Impact Axes are throwable equipment. Keep their equipment interactions separate from pickaxe Power Attacks. Update 3 repaired both their pickup behavior and their interaction with Two Steps Ahead.

Slicer's energy blade is a class ability. Slicer's kit centers on mobility and bursts of melee damage, while its class decks support melee combat and reward kills. Choose Slicer if you want to explore that dedicated melee kit; you can still use a Combat Pickaxe on another Reclaimer.

Official page: Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core (store.steampowered.com)

Upgrades That Matter for Melee Builds

Update 3 introduced the classless Prowess Bio-Booster deck, built around switching between your pickaxe, weapon, and grenades. It becomes available when you unlock deck swapping. For a build that mixes melee with shooting and throws, use that rotation as your starting point when evaluating its choices.

Image: Steam / Ghost Ship Games

Several other changes deserve attention:

• Icicle Strike: Power Attacks spawn icicles lasting +5s. Update 3 also adjusted the effect's origin to improve its placement.
• Impact Axes: Update 3 fixed the issue preventing axes from being picked up again and repaired their discharge effect for the host.
• Two Steps Ahead: Update 3 fixed its interaction with Impact Axes and Cluster Grenades.
• Slicer's blade: Update 3 fixed difficulty hitting Corespawn Bruisers and Edgestalkers with the sword.

Match upgrades to their stated trigger. Choose Power Attack effects for a plan built around Power Attacks, and read throwable upgrade requirements before committing to an axe-focused setup.

Update 3 made enemy Expenite drops a base feature, so fighting contributes directly toward your next upgrade. Mineable veins remain, although they appear less frequently to account for that additional income. The Expenite Harvest Alteration changes those rules: its quarry facilities have abundant Expenite on the walls, but enemies drop none. Check the mission's Alteration before relying on combat to fuel your upgrade progression.

Use Rerolls to Adjust Your Build

Flux Quartz powers the Refractor Terminal, which lets you reroll Expenite upgrades and Artifacts. Collect it from cave walls while exploring, then use the elevator terminal to replace upgrades that don't fit your attacks.

The stage timer stays paused until the first Reclaimer leaves the elevator. Coordinate your rerolls before anyone steps out, especially when your team needs time to compare choices.

Picking Safe Openings for Close Combat

Melee positioning becomes especially important around Corespawn Bloaters. These slow, durable enemies explode when killed and damage anything nearby. Finish them from a distance rather than staying beside them for the killing blow.

Image: Steam / Ghost Ship Games

Use Guardian's crowd control to create openings against ordinary enemies. Its concussive attacks and defensive abilities provide space during swarms, and the November 11 patch increased Armor Beacon's restoration to up to 100% armor. Coordinate close-range pushes around that support instead of chasing enemies beyond your team's protection.

That patch also strengthened Armor Boost: Uncommon, Rare, and Epic versions now grant +18, +24, and +36 armor, respectively, increased from +12, +18, and +24. The Trophy Wall armor bonus also rose from +5 to +6. Factor those increased values into your defensive upgrade choices.

Against Balgorath Gatekeeper, prioritize movement and attack windows. Its patterned ranged attacks fill the arena, and its projectiles also block shots. Keep a firearm available for openings that don't allow a safe melee approach, and avoid forcing your close-range rotation while dodging the boss's patterns.

The November 11 patch narrowed Balgorath's ground rings and rising ring attacks, making them easier to jump over on uneven terrain. It also reduced the damage from the knockback when Balgorath takes the Corestone from you. Jump the rings and reposition before returning to close combat.