Point Extraction
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Point Extraction is a mission type in Deep Rock Galactic.
A huge deposit of a glowing, blue crystal named 
Aquarq has been located, and the Dwarves are sent in to extract as many as possible. The Mine Head, a heavily armored mining platform, is sent in to assist you. Point Extractions are the third unlockable mission type, the second being Salvage Operation.
Collect Aquarqs
Point Extraction missions always take place in a large cavern filled with Aquarq. The Drop Pod lands in the cavern, along with the Mine Head, which lands shortly after the Drop Pod lands. The Mine Head acts as a central playing point throughout the mission. Similar to On-site Refining, the M.U.L.E. is not present, and resources gathered by the team must be deposited into the Mine Head.
The Aquarq that must be collected for the primary objective are embedded in the walls of the cavern. Small, blue crystals dot the location they are buried, and they must be dug out using the pickaxe or other terrain destroying tools or weapons. Aquarq are large resources, and must be carried back to the Mine Head by hand.
After the primary objective has been completed, a red button on the Mine Head platform will appear, and can be interacted with. Pressing the button using the [Interact] key ("E" by default) will launch the Mine Head rocket and Mission Control will announce that they will send in the Drop Pod to extract the Dwarves after the rocket has been secured at the Space Rig. The Drop Pod will take two minutes to arrive, after which the Drop Pod will land and open for three more minutes before departing, with or without the Dwarves.
While you must complete your primary objective to finish the mission, you can choose to collect an optional secondary objective resource for a 
Credit and 
Experience bonus upon mission completion.
Enemy Spawning
Main article: Swarm
Swarms in this mission type do not have an advance warning from Mission Control before they occur - they are only announced directly upon arrival. Otherwise they play out the same as a regular Swarm.
Throughout the mission, waves will be spawned in at intervals. These waves continually increase in size, potentially reaching a point where the previous wave had not been dealt with before the next one spawns. This effect is multiplied on higher Hazard Levels.
During the two minutes between launching the Mine Head and the Drop Pod landing, the regular extraction phase spawning of enemies will occur. This will continue as it regularly does; ending when the Drop Pod leaves.
Cave
Point Extraction missions take place in large, expansive open caves with various height levels. They always have at least one small tunnel that leads to a medium sized cave. Keep an sharp eye out for this cave, as it can be hard to spot. The Mine Head will always be positioned in the general center of the main cave.
Objectives
Primary Objective
- Collect 7-10 Aquarqs
The number of Aquarq to collect is dependent on the length of the mission.
| Length | Complexity | Objective | Primary Payout | Secondary Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Collect 7 Aquarq | 585 1575
|
195/325
|
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Collect 10 Aquarq | 910 2450
|
280/350 1260/1120
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| Base Values (complexity/length bonus deducted) | ||||
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Collect 10 Aquarq | 650 1750
|
200/250 900/800
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Secondary Objective
Unlike all other mission types besides On-site Refining, Point Extraction missions have Dystrum as a possible secondary objective.
Possible Secondary Objectives:
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Mine Head
The Mine Head is a specialized heavy lifter deployed by Deep Rock Galactic to assist the dwarves during Point Extraction missions.
Appearance
The Mine Head is a large, yellow colored platform with a massive auger drill at the base. It is delivered to the Point Extraction mission area, where it lands and unfolds, revealing a wide metal grated surface for the team to stand on, a red button, four ramps connecting it to the ground, and five solid yellow platforms where two floodlights and three large Sentry Turrets, similar to the Engineer's LMG Gun Platform, will be placed in a star formation. At the top of the Mine Head lies a small rocket ship with two doors on either side. The doors will open when approached, allowing players to deposit their resources into a large mineral grinder.
Gallery
Floodlights on the Mine Head
Large Auto Turrets on the Mine Head
Trivia
- Deep Rock Galactic refuses to send in the Drop Pod to save the team until after the goods are secured. This is even more evidence showing they prioritize profit over employee safety, and consider employees disposable.
- The internal name for Point Extraction is still "Motherlode", which is original name of the very first iteration of this mission type.
- In the Closed Alpha, the floodlights and sentries present on the platform could be summoned similarly to the Resupply Pod by spending gold instead.
- As bugs can attack through the metal mesh of the Mine Head, it's not recommended to fight on it.
- Dwarves are instantly downed by the Mine Head if it lands on top of them, similar to Resupply Pods.
- As of Update 33, the Mine Head has received a visual update to make it more aesthetically consistent with newer assets.
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