This guide was created as of the terrain update. (March 1st, 2024) The information on this guide may not be up to date.

What is the point of even digging down, you might ask?
Some strategies can benefit from a pit to stall foes.
Some perks incentivize using it. (Like Buried Artifacts)
Some layers can be used to endanger the enemy boss.

Also, just because its fun.

There are many ways to damage neutral tiles, but most methods work that you would imagine.

Some examples include:
Excavate,
Crystal Crusher,
Execute*,
and Area Blast.

*Execute and other Exile based attacks only work if the entire bottom layer is removed, or another tile in the layer dies after the Exile. Exile does not trigger further layers being generated.

Each layer gets more difficult to mine, as they gain more armor and health. Around 3 armor is a good stopping point if its just for a trap, as most melee attacks don't do more damage than that.
Additionally, Deep Rock has flying, which can be useful for any of the same reasons flying is useful.

As you dig deeper, be wary. There are dangers below the surface.

At 5 armor for the deep rock, you encounter magma.

It acts as a stronger version of Solid Shadow, and can be used in the same way to easily win. (Or lose). Magma does 5 damage per tick, and has retaliatory damage.

(The following is spoilers)

After a few layers of that, you reach Rotting Flesh.

This is the most dangerous layer, and will be what remains for the most part past this point. This acts as a timer before the game ends from either side. Every 10 seconds, EACH cube of it deals 10 damage to all non-neutral cubes, and inflicts 100 poison. Good Luck.

After 5 layers of this, there is the final unique layer. Dead Brain Mass.


This is one of the reasons to dig down. When killed for the first time each run, you gain the brain mass perk.


This increases the deck size by 1, and starting max mana by 200. Its value is 300, and its not unique or upgradable.

Here is what all of the layers look like, in case digging through them is not worth the time.