Hazard Levels with Friends! - First Attempt

Hazard levels with friends can change how Deep Rock Galactic feels from one mission to the next. Community players commonly describe Hazard 3 and Hazard 4 as approachable starting points for groups, while Hazard 5 offers a much more demanding experience once everyone is comfortable with the game. The best choice depends on the group’s experience, preferred pace, mission modifiers, and tolerance for failure.

The discussion summarized here is a community conversation posted on Steam on November 1, 2021. It is not an official player-distribution report, and the version is not independently confirmed. The thread received 102 comments, although only the first 15 are visible in the collected material.

Starting with friends

The original poster describes beginning on lower Hazard levels, then progressing as the group gained confidence, game knowledge, overclocks, and general experience. Their personal progression moved from mostly playing Hazard 4 to trying Hazard 5 with a friend. After making that change, they reported meeting more players and forming more friendships through Hazard 5 missions.

That experience suggests a practical approach for a first attempt with friends:

1. Begin at a level the whole group can manage comfortably.
2. Move up when the current difficulty becomes consistently easy.
3. Try the next level during a mission where everyone is prepared to learn.
4. Drop back down if the higher setting becomes frustrating rather than enjoyable.

There is no need to treat Hazard 5 as the only successful destination. One commenter argued that players should use the level they are comfortable with, adding that staying around Hazard 3 or Hazard 4 does not mean a casual player is missing a major amount of progression.

Which Hazard level fits a group?

The community responses describe the levels in broad, experience-based terms rather than as an official difficulty guide.

These descriptions are community opinions, not official difficulty definitions. Several commenters said they usually play Hazard 4 because it remains engaging without becoming overly stressful, especially in public groups. Others preferred Hazard 5 because it felt more exciting or fun.

Why Hazard 4 is popular for groups

Hazard 4 appears repeatedly as the community’s compromise choice. One player described it as a comfort zone: challenging enough to avoid feeling dull, but manageable in most public groups. Another said it was enjoyable with random teammates because it created less stress than Hazard 5.

Hazard 4 can also make experimentation easier. A commenter said they reserved Hazard 5 for class builds they considered reliable or useful, while using Hazard 4 for more unusual builds. For a group playing together for the first time, this can be a useful principle: choose the difficulty that leaves room for players to test different approaches without turning every imperfect loadout into a likely failure.

When to try Hazard 5 with friends

The thread includes several examples of players moving to Hazard 5 in specific circumstances. One player used Hazard 5 for duo missions with an experienced friend, while another played it regularly but joined Hazard 3 or Hazard 4 for assignment missions when they wanted to finish quickly.

Other comments highlight the trade-off. Hazard 5 was described as more rewarding or more fun by some players, but others felt the extra effort was not worth it compared with Hazard 4. One player noted that bad map generation, environmental hazards, or unlucky timing could usually be overcome on Hazard 4, while the same kind of bad luck on solo Hazard 5 might force a restart.

For a first Hazard 5 attempt with friends, the safest community-supported lesson is to treat it as a test rather than a permanent switch. Try it when the group is coordinated, accept that the mission may fail, and return to Hazard 4 if the difficulty stops being enjoyable.

Playing with different skill levels

Mixed-experience groups do not have to use the highest player’s preferred Hazard level. The discussion includes players who host Hazard 4 specifically to help newer teammates, as well as players who lower the difficulty for assignment objectives or particular mission conditions.

A useful group agreement is to choose the level that keeps everyone involved. A player who can handle Hazard 5 may still have a better cooperative experience on Hazard 4 if another friend is learning. Conversely, a group that finds Hazard 4 too predictable can use Hazard 5 for a deliberate challenge and then adjust afterward.

Community takeaway

The Steam discussion points to Hazard 3 and Hazard 4 as common stopping points for many players, with Hazard 5 serving as an optional high-difficulty challenge. Some players enjoy every level, while others settle into Hazard 4 or play Hazard 5 almost exclusively. For friends making their first attempt together, start with the highest level everyone can enjoy, then increase it when success feels routine.

Source: Steam Community discussion: What hazard level do you play and why?