I wrote this last year, but thought I'd retweak it for all the new PS+ players. Hope it helps! R&S!

I've since moved onto modded Startship trooper games Haz5/6 but these tips still work for all levels.

• Animation cancel your reloadable weapons!

Speed up reloads by swinging your pickaxe. All guns technically reload faster than their animations. Get into this habit early if you can.

Pay attention to the ammo count on the bottom of the screen, as soon as it changes from 0 to full right click [or pick swing button on controller] and you'll have a full mag ready to shoot. GREAT for the Auto cannon and Engi gear.

• When extracting, just rush to the pod

It's fun to shoot stuff, but I see sooo many players engaging enemies on the extract. When the pod is open, just rush in behind the green line on the floor. Other than minor XP there is no point and you risk being downed and losing survival XP bonuses.

Of course, when Molly is not there you have to wait and fight, but as soon as those gates open, get in and bounce.

• Once Morkite is all collected, mine no more

A pedantic tip, but don't bother gettin anymore morkite after you have it all. I believe the xp drops off to 1, so it's not worth it, especially if it's out of reach. I'll smash some if it's on the floor just for the hell of it. This is fun!

• Mine the base of thin minerals/obstacles

Great for Hollomite/Umanite and annoying rock columns/mushrooms on Sandblasted/fungus bogs. Mining the base of these formations will pop the whole stack for harvesting, or destroying the decorative rocks.

• Mining the terrain around a mineral stack will instantly pop it for collection

I find this not hugely practical. The time it takes to remove the rock around a resource cluster; you might as well of mined it. Works great for crassy-gold-craters though if your driller's smart [even smarter if he EPC'd it tho :) ]

• Scouts can zip onto the top of nitra most of the time

No need to wait for an engi for most nitra veins. If it's lookin a bit sus you can power strike the top of the rock to make a little standing platform as soon as you zip to it. Dig into the rock a little bit more and you should be good to mine downwards.

• OMEN Tower machine event cheese.

I haven't seen this before, but recently the meta is to put some platforms just above the pads you stand on for the OMEN tower. There should be a wall nearby, just extend your platform chain over those 3 pads, a couple of feet out of range of the pulse lasers and the pads will still activate and open that sucker up.

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Total cheese, but this event can be rough with an unprepared group, enjoy it while it lasts I say!

• Dash perk is LIFE

I cannot think of a more critical perk than dash. Even before Iron Will and Field medic. The amount of times dash has gotten me out of goo, away from exploders and other major hazards and across unreachable places. It's just that damn good in my opinion. Scout doesn't need this for obvious reasons (although MAYBE if you don't have special powder on your boomstick).

• Press SPACE with the scanner up to align yourself on the map.

I'm not sure what this would be on console, sorry!

This is great for aiming at the drop pod and for finding eggs. Despite it being written on the Laser Scanner, I didn't know this until 300 hours ago :P. Very useful

• Land on other dwarves for no fall damage

A canned generic tip, but very useful. Snow on Glacial also works, also some enemies and misc items but I can't recall right at this second. Handy for scouts sometimes.

• Engineers/Gunners be mindful of your proximity mines/Clusters

I actually despise the prox mines, they're great when used right, but rarely they are. These cause a lot of friendly fire and are super irritating most of the time. No gate-keeping here, but just be aware of placing them around resupplies and high foot traffic areas. You can pick them back up again if a throw has go awry.

Clusters not so much as they are location based, but again a clumsy gunner can cause a lot of damage. YMMV with these. I love greenbeards, but excessive friendly fire on a salvage is a nightmare XD.

• Don't sit on the Engis plasma grenades

As mentioned, Engi is my 3rd most played class, but I've really been enjoying plasma grenades. They're great for clearing swarms that are coming after you. Give them a try, it's nice to have offensive grenades instead of prox/lures. If you can get them into a mactera swarm and the engi doesn't have cryos - winner winner.

• If you have the Carpet Bomber OC for the Gunner's Auto Cannon

Configure it to max splash damage and fast firing and wipe up hordes on all HAZ levels. This build will be poo for Grunts/Praets and other big bois, but with 600+ ammo you can still blast them. I get so many requests for my build when i'm gunner - it's that good.

(I'm not saying it's the best AC build, but certainly great for lazy-effective-spraying). The other classes should be taking on the big bois so it's all good. Field tested on endless Haz 5 and EDDS. Please prioritise web spitters/acid spitters on HAZ5.

NEW: Currently enjoying Neuro Toxin Payload. It really changed up auto cannon gameplay where you 'tag' enemies with your poison. Damage over time is really useful, and almost set it and forget it for a lot of little critters. It also lights up enemies with the poison effect!

• Drink buff beers in your offline Space Rig, then join a server to keep the buff!

This is cool if you get pots of gold and join a gold rush. This works for all buff beers :) (Not sure if this is still current in 2022 with all the big updates?)

• Power strike with your pick when you're revived

As soon as you're up, hit that power attack to do some good damage against enemies that are surrounding you. If you have your power attack configured to AOE damage, even better. If you have the vampire perk, you will have instant HP back too, if the enemies were grunt-level.

• Don't be afraid to rez dwarves that are surrounded by enemies

Generally speaking, the bugs eating a dead dwarf will pay you no mind. Most of the time you will take no damage at all. If stuff is chasing you as you approach the dead dwarf they will eat you while rezzing, this can be a problem. Scouts/Cryos can flash freeze for a quick rez too.

I've seen some crazy modded swarms eating us all, and our scout just walks up in no problem. Just keep an eye on shields if you're being nibbled on/taking a DOT from something like poison gas etc.

• Field Medic Perk > Iron Will Perk

Controversial, and dependent on who you play with, but Field Medic instant revive has been far more useful than iron will. Scout can have it for clutches, but I'd rather take F.M on the other 3 classes.

Newbie iron willers may not have the Vampire perk/be near red sugar if the cave is dry and it's kinda a waste. Entirely player skill dependant/location dependant but that's just my 2 cents.

• Thorns Perk is so-so

I play Haz 3 - 4 -5 depending on the level of chill (but mostly 5 and above). I've deduced that this perk is kind of a poor crutch. Instead, use vampire. The thorns cooldown is rubbish on higher haz. You can easily get back HP with vampire power melee attacks rather than using this perk. Avoid damage, run, dash, wait for shields, don't sit absorbing damage as this perk scales badly on higher difficulties.

• The sprint perk is crap

The speed boost it just not worth it. Take literally anything else.

• Strong arm is nice, if you can afford the space

I use strong arm on my cryo driller, and it's nice to have that extra throw for my EPC mining judgements, or juuuust getting enough light to ping minerals for the scout/engi. I miss it so much on other classes.

• Scouts with Special powder Overclock

Use this on your shotgun, it gives you incredible mobility and safeguards against failed zips. Scout is my least played class, but I love using this shotgun OC. Blast at the ground at angles you expect to fly in backwards; it's great fun and even negates waiting for zip recharges.

If you've mucked up a zipline and are falling, shoot at the ground before you hit to not take so much fall damage!

• Scouts can cryo any flying mactera swarm instantly

I can happily say Mactera swarms are the most deadlist enemy. They hit HARD and are a total pain. A well placed cryo grenade will instantly kill them all within range. Engi plasmas are also very good for this too as mentioned.

• Ping Glyphid Menaces to see them when they re-emerge

Always ping a menace, this is handy for when it re-emerges. The whole team will see it an can take it out. Menaces get deadly on Haz 4+

• Pinging enemies is useful.

Struggling with overwhelming odds? Team grabbing minerals and you spot an incoming horde? It's never a bad idea to just ping enemies. Visual signposting in the game is OK, but could be better. A pinged heavy and ESPECIALLY a dreadnought can sometimes be a life saver. Ping ping ping, no one will be mad at useful intel.

• Ping spam lazy engineers/scout

Mild tox here, but sometimes rampant ping noises can wake up a stoned scout/engi. Hell even I get carried away with a mineral stack and feel bad for the 0.5 seconds of not paying attention.

• Take out Breeders and Spitballers!!

Breeders are #1 priority, they have to go ASAP. The little jellies when left unchecked are a real menace. Get your cryo to freeze it, or get a scout to grapple to it (yep, you can do that) and throw a cryo nade on him

Spitballers can be frozen and dispatched. If I see a cave with these two, its Breeder, then spitballers.

• Stick to your driller on extract

80% of the time, your driller should know the 'meta' of drilling a safe path to the drop pod [regardless of skill level]. Failing this, stick together on extract. If you play as driller. PING your new driller tunnel as team-mates may not know this meta and get lost/over-run if they're following molly solo.

• On egg hunt, be advised multiple egg pulls can trigger a double horde

Underprepared team and two hordes? Hope one of you is a clutcher XD

• Have patience, tell folks how stuff works

I know.....it's annoying when an engi is not doing stuff, pressing the pod early, scout's not lighting shit. Sometimes all it takes is a friendly message or reminder. A LOT of my knowledge has been from other veteran players passing down knowledge and it sticks.

A huge amount of stuff is not clearly signposted, and especially dwarf etiquette. Be mindful we were all new once. Being nice is better than being a dick on your server message. Granted this doesn't always work :P Some folk are strangely beyond help.

• BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT TIP

Ping compressed gold incessantly. You must.

MASTER DRILLER SECTION

• Use your map and drills

It sounds simple, but check your map. A quick connecting tunnel can be a life-saver for your team and molly extraction. Guesstimate where foot traffic will be and carve em up. Many maps like fungus bogs have very close, winding tunnels that can save minutes of pointless running around. A good driller should be thinking about this constantly.

• Cryo drillers - Treat your cryo-blasts like sticky flames and single tap to save ammo

(My high freeze build has been slightly nerfed since writing, but I still love it and it works the same pretty much)

The freezing power still works with single clicking. You can fire at the floor and freeze grunts and above extremely quickly. Single click freezing points on the floor will also quicky freeze swamers. Click click click! Don't bother freezing Mactera goo bombers.

• Vampire Perk + Barbed Drills + Frozen enemies is AMAZING.

Regardless of Haz level, freezing a swarm of enemies and charging in with barbed drills and vampire will not only destroy those buggers, but depending on mix of slashers/guards you will often come out with MORE health and an easy set of kills. Handy for downed friends.

This tactic is a major carry skill and has helped out many near wipes. I am forever switching between cryo and drills and am mega offensive.

• Frozen big bois = axe them.

Driller is a support boi, but if you are alone. Get spitballers/praets/wardens/menaces frozen ASAP. Axe them in the face and they'll be gone in 1-2 hits most of the time. Failing axe ammo, drill those buggers with your barbed drills.

• Pay attention if you're driller is cryo

It's tempting to throw an incendiary into a horde, but your cryo-driller can be much more effective. Thermal shock is a thing, but just be mindful of the builds your playing with. I don't mind either way, but cryo denial can be a serious issue on Haz5, but usually those players are mindful anyways - just a heads up.

(I don't have the maths for thermal shock damage, but I've noticed it's not as bad these days? Was tempted to remove this part but left it in)

• Drillers, learn EPC mining today!

The EPC with thin containment field and heat pipe is a MAJOR game changer. Scouts and Engis are redundant for mineral collecting when a pro EPC'er is in the field. Be advised, the graphical effect of the thin containment field can be annoying, and even hurt attentive scouts.

This turns your plasma gun into a remote mineral miner, it's hard to master and involves shooting your CHARGED shot at the right time with a follow up shot left-click shot. Practice on Haz1 and soon you'll be a pro. This also works with terrain clearing for sightline improvements. I can morph the battlefield how I desire.

SETUP FOR EPC - OVERCLOCK = 'Energy Rerouting' - 22122. These numbers are your weapon upgrades in the equipment terminal. 2 = the 2nd one of the 3 on a single line, per line

• EPC tip - fire at minerals from the side, not AT them

Stand under / above your minerals and fire your charged shot. Even in the dark, the charged shot lights up so you can fire your follow up shot. Firing straight at requires extreme precision and results in failed implosions.

Sometimes you just have to shoot AT minerals to get them, and it sucks believe me. So much calculation, luck and practice.

2022 edit: since they adjusted EPC mining to blast minerals everywhere I am much less aggressive with EPC mining. I only really use it on gold lazily as it's often ignored in my circles. 80% of the time my engi/scouts are already on it

• Flying enemies that are frozen are insta-killed

Macteras and breeders are no longer a problem with a cryo driller. Goo Bombers take too long to freeze and are not really worth it imo. I tend to run back to team mates so they can be taken down traditionally.

• Use your axes to clear those feckin fungus mushrooms!

You can clean fungus bog mushrooms with your axe and pick them up again. You can swipe a big group of them if you hit a few side on. It's so useful. I've been told they work on denze-biozone floor urchins too.

• Axe Frozen Guards, Praets, Menaces

You can use barbed drills on these enemies, but you are better off taking off a large chunk with axes. Your mileage may very depending on the situation.

• Sightlines!

Never underestimate the power of clear sightlines. I use a generous amount of ammo just tidying up a workspace. If you've mastered the art of EPC, you can use this too to save on drill ammo.

Crystals/terrain will vanish instantly if there is no connection to the ground. Lots of familiar room types can be easily cleaned up with tactical terrain clearance.

Clearing up a Point Extract minehead/Dreadnought fight area is one of my favourite things to do in the game, it's like starting a new minecraft world or something. Very satisfying and helps everyone.

• C4 set to carving/full terrain AOE

Great for point extract and hidden gems like Jadiz. Save time by just drilling a minor tunnel into your chosen gem to maximize the radius of the C4's blast. This build is only really good offensively if the enemies are grunts (or better yet, frozen enemies).

• Web/Acid spitters are a pest on higher difficulties

Most of the time these will be out range and you're stuck with shooting them with your EPC. Hopefully your team will be on the ball and help you out. Be advised on HAZ5 these guys are priority #1 and will strip your armor on one hit. I fear these more than most enemies, they are SO annoying.

• Mild flamer tips

I'm not a flamer main, but I really enjoyed the sticky flame overclocks. You must treat your stick flames like paint. Paint the ground instead of firing at the enemies.

Face melter OC on eliminations is amazing for stripping dread armour.

That's all for now, I may of missed a few generic tips, but I hope this can help a lot of you. Rock and stone!