You’ve hit level 25. Finally. The red bar is glowing, your dwarf looks like a grizzled veteran, and you're probably wondering why the hell you aren't gaining any more experience. It’s a common bottleneck. Honestly, the first time I hit the cap with my Driller, I spent three missions wondering if the game was bugged before I realized I had to actually do something about it.
Learning deep rock galactic how to promote isn't just about getting a shiny new border around your portrait, though the gold and platinum ones do look pretty sick. It’s the literal gatekeeper to the endgame. Without that first promotion, you are basically playing the demo version of Ghost Ship Games’ masterpiece. You’re locked out of Overclocks, you can't touch Deep Dives, and you’re missing an extra perk slot that—let’s be real—you desperately need for Hazard 5.
Rock and Stone. Let's get into the weeds of how this actually works.
The Ritual of Promotion: Not Just a Button Press
Promotion is the process of resetting your class level from 25 back to 1. Don't panic. You keep all your gear, all your upgrades, and all your cosmetics. You are essentially "prestiged" in the old Call of Duty sense, but with way better rewards.
First, you have to complete the Promotion Assignment. Check the Assignment Terminal next to the Map Table. It’s a series of four missions. You can play these as any class, but I'd suggest playing a different dwarf than the one you’re promoting. Why? Because your level 25 dwarf literally cannot earn XP. Any experience you gain while on that level cap is just evaporated into the atmosphere of Hoxxes IV. It's a waste. Play your Scout while your Engineer waits for his paperwork to clear.
Once those four missions are done, head to the Memorial Hall. It’s that big, slightly somber room at the back of the Space Rig filled with statues of dwarves who probably didn't make it back.
The Cost of Success
Management doesn't give out promotions for free. You’re going to need Credits and Crafting Minerals. The exact amount scales depending on how many times you’ve promoted that specific dwarf. Your first one is cheap—maybe around 8,000 credits and a handful of minerals like Croppa or Enor Pearls. By the time you’re hitting Legendary 3, you’re looking at 600+ of three different minerals and a credit sink that would make a Loot Bug weep.
Go to the terminal in the back of the Memorial Hall. If you aren't in a solo lobby, you have to be. You cannot promote while in a team. It's a private moment between you and the crushing weight of corporate bureaucracy. Click the button, pay the fee, and watch the little ceremony.
Why You Actually Need to Care About Promoting
If you’re just playing for fun on Hazard 2, maybe you don't care. But you should. The first time you figure out deep rock galactic how to promote, you unlock the "Breach the Core" assignment. This is the holy grail.
This assignment gives you your first Weapon Overclocks and Matrix Cores. Overclocks change how your guns work fundamentally. Want a shotgun that propels you through the air like a rocket? RJ250 Compound. Want a minigun that sets the floor on fire? Burning Hell. You can't use any of these until that first promotion is in the bag.
Also, the second active perk slot. This is huge. Being able to carry both "Dash" and "Field Medic" changes the game. It’s the difference between clutching a mission and being the guy who needs to be revived every three minutes because a Bulk Detonator sneezed in your direction.
The Tritilyte Key
You'll notice weird machines during missions—pulsating crystals, modular exterminators, or those annoying Kursite grinders. You can't start these without a Tritilyte Key. You get this key the moment you promote your first dwarf. It’s permanent. You only need to promote one class to unlock it for everyone. These Machine Events are how you actually use the blank Matrix Cores you earn in Deep Dives.
Managing the Grind: Speeding Up the Level 25 Loop
If you’re trying to promote fast, you need to hunt for Double XP mutators. They appear randomly on the map. A Point Extraction with Double XP is a gold mine. If you see one, drop everything and run it.
Don't ignore the secondary objectives. Holomite and Gunk Seeds might seem like a chore when there’s a swarm coming, but that extra XP adds up over 25 levels. Also, length 3 and complexity 3 missions give higher base XP multipliers.
A common mistake? Staying on Hazard 3 when you're ready for Hazard 4. The hazard bonus is a massive multiplier for your end-of-mission XP. If you can handle the heat, move up. Just don't be that guy who joins a Haz 5 mission at level 10 and expects a carry.
The Promotion Tier List
There are 18 total promotion tiers for each dwarf.
- Bronze (I, II, III)
- Silver (I, II, III)
- Gold (I, II, III)
- Platinum (I, II, III)
- Diamond (I, II, III)
- Legendary (I, II, III)
After Legendary 3, you can keep promoting, but the border doesn't change. It just adds a little number to your profile. It’s pure bragging rights at that point.
Common Pitfalls and Annoyances
Sometimes the terminal says "Requirements Not Met" even after you finish the assignment. Check two things: Are you level 25? And are you in a solo lobby? You’d be surprised how many people forget the solo lobby part. You have to leave your party to access the promotion button.
Another thing: the Mineral Exchange. If you're short on Bismor for a promotion, don't be afraid to sell your excess Umanite. The exchange rates are terrible—Management is greedy—but it’s better than grinding three more missions just for 20 minerals.
One nuance people miss is that your "Blue Level" (Account Level) only increases by one for every three class levels you gain. Promoting is the only way to keep that blue number going up. If you want those cool prestige armors or the scale-brigade skins, you need a high account level. Standing still at level 25 is essentially freezing your account's progress.
Is It Worth It After the First Time?
Yes. Every promotion gives you a Matrix Core. Specifically, you get a Blank Core, a Weapon Core, and a Cosmetic Core. Given that there are hundreds of Overclocks in the game, you need every core you can get your hands on. The grind is real, but the variety it adds to the gameplay is what keeps Deep Rock Galactic fresh after 500 hours.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
Stop sitting on that level 25 cap. It’s hurting your progress and making Mission Control look bad.
- Check your Assignment Terminal immediately and select the Promotion Assignment for your capped class.
- Swap to a different class to run those missions so the XP isn't wasted.
- Sell junk minerals at the Mineral Exchange if you're short on cash for the fee; don't wait for a lucky spawn.
- Disband your team once the assignment is done, walk to the back of the Memorial Hall, and hit that button.
- Equip your new Perk Slot and check the Forge for the Breach the Core assignment that unlocks immediately after your first-ever promotion.
Once that first star is on your portrait, the real game begins. You’ll start seeing Hoxxes differently when you’re hunting for Machine Events and planning for the weekly Deep Dive. Now get back to work. Management isn't paying you to read articles all day. Rock and Stone!