GRAVHOUNDS Local Coop Guide: Complete Multiplayer Walkthrough

Master GRAVHOUNDS local coop and online squad play with our complete guide to base building, defense turrets, team roles, and artifact extraction.

Surviving deep-space planetary mining shifts requires sharp instincts, precise engineering, and steady squad communication. Diving into GRAVHOUNDS local coop transforms this indie action-builder into a dynamic couch multiplayer thrill ride where every connected power conduit counts. Whether you are running a two-canine strike team from the couch or exploring GRAVHOUNDS local coop with a full squad of four, coordinating your building pipelines and defensive choke points is the only way your blue-collar canine crew makes it back home alive.

Developed by indie studio Octopus Panic, GRAVHOUNDS drops players into the heavy boots of stranded space pups scrambling across hostile planetary surfaces. To survive the shift, haul ancient artifacts, and launch your Collector dropship before the swarm overwhelms your perimeter, you must master the delicate balance between rapid resource extraction and rigid tower defense.

Understanding GRAVHOUNDS Multiplayer: Local vs. Online Play

At its core, GRAVHOUNDS is designed around seamless team synergy for one to four players. While the game provides robust online matchmaking across Xbox and PC platforms, playing GRAVHOUNDS local coop offers a distinct couch-multiplayer experience where instantaneous vocal coordination makes frantic base management much smoother.

When playing locally, squad members share screen awareness, making it easier to monitor resource distribution, watch power pipeline connections, and cover flank routes when alien wildlife encroaches on the perimeter. The game supports drop-in session launches directly from the main orbital mining vessel. From here, your pack selects hazardous contracts, adjusts gear, and boards the dropship together.

Multiplayer Feature	Local Co-op Setup	Online Squad Matchmaking	Solo Play (Offline/Online)
Max Player Count	Up to 4 Players	Up to 4 Players	1 Player
Screen Setup	Shared / Dynamic Screen	Individual Display	Single Screen
Platform Availability	Xbox Series X\|S, PC	Xbox Series X\|S, PC (Game Pass)	Xbox Series X\|S, PC
Revive Mechanic	Physical Gravbeam Assist	Remote Gravbeam Assist	Autonomous Drone Revive
Coordination Focus	Verbal Callouts, Screen Sharing	Ping Wheel, Voice Chat	AI Routing / Solo Focus

Because GRAVHOUNDS launched day one on Xbox Game Pass, bringing friends together for co-op sessions requires minimal friction. When setting up your couch session, make sure each controller is properly mapped before undocking from the mining vessel, as shifting mid-mission can disrupt active turret networks.

The Core Mission Loop: From Dropship Landing to Extraction

Every successful run follows a rigid five-stage industrial shift. Jumping into a mission unprepared is the fastest way to get your crew wiped out by aggressive alien fauna.

Dropship Descent (The Collector)
              │
              ▼
   Establish Pipeline Power Grid
              │
              ▼
   Deploy Fabricator & Turret Perimeter
              │
              ▼
   Connect & Defend the Planetary Excavator
              │
              ▼
  Multi-Hound Artifact Haul & Final Extraction

1. Landing and the Collector

The Collector dropship serves as your base of operations and power generation hub on the alien surface. If the Collector falls, the contract terminates immediately. Securing its perimeter is your crew's top priority upon touchdown.

2. Laying the Power Pipeline

Structures in GRAVHOUNDS do not run on wireless batteries. You must physically lay out a continuous pipeline network extending outwards from the Collector. This pipeline transports energy across harsh topography to support industrial modules and defenses.

3. Deploying the Fabricator

Once energy flows through the pipeline, your crew can erect a Fabricator. Nicknamed the "factory in a box," this automated station processes gathered raw resources into tactical build kits, automated sentry turrets, and protective barriers.

4. Activating the Planetary Excavator

Orbital support drops a heavy Excavator directly above a buried alien artifact. To initiate digging, your team must extend the pipeline across open terrain directly into the drilling rig. The moment the drill spins up, acoustic vibrations draw aggressive alien swarms directly to the dig site.

5. Hauling and Final Evacuation

After the Excavator unearths the target, the real challenge begins. The artifact is far too heavy for a lone hound to carry. Multiple players must tether their beams together to physically drag the prize back across the hostile map to the Collector, all while repelling relentless creature waves during a final launch countdown.

Mission Stage	Primary Objective	Main Threat	Tactical Priority
Stage 1: Touchdown	Establish Collector perimeter	Wandering local wildlife	Survey choke points and mineral deposits
Stage 2: Power Grid	Lay power pipeline lines	Environmental hazards / terrain gaps	Protect line continuity from breakages
Stage 3: Infrastructure	Build Fabricator & initial turrets	Scout packs	Balance Build Credit spending
Stage 4: Deep Excavation	Power and defend the drill rig	Massive coordinated assault waves	Turret promotion and active choke repair
Stage 5: Artifact Run	Dual-tether artifact & board ship	Apex swarm predators & berserkers	Coordinated team movement and rear guard

Essential Equipment: Harnessing the Gravbeam and Booster Rig

Every canine operative arrives on the planetary surface equipped with standard-issue corporate engineering gear. Mastering these items is crucial when running coordinated GRAVHOUNDS local coop sessions.

The Gravbeam Multi-Tool

The Gravbeam acts as your primary utility tool, tractor beam, and defensive repulsor:

Resource Extraction: Use the beam to pull mineral nodes, volatile crystals, and scrap directly into your hopper to earn Build Credits.
Structural Deployment: Transport prefabricated building kits from the Fabricator directly to defensive frontlines.
Wildlife Management: Shove smaller attacking creatures backwards or throw volatile, explosive rocks into dense clusters of charging enemies.
Cooperative Hauling: Connect beams in tandem with teammates to lift and pull oversized mission objectives like the extracted artifact.

The Booster Rig

Navigating vertical alien cliffs and shifting valleys requires dynamic movement. The onboard booster rig grants each hound fluid dashes, burst jumping, and brief directional hovering. Efficient booster management lets players kite dangerous swarms away from defenseless pipelines while builders reinforce perimeter emplacements.

Gear Item	Primary Function	Secondary Application	Team Synergy Tip
Standard Gravbeam	Pulling ores & moving crates	Repelling approaching critters	Pair beams on heavy artifacts for 2x pull speed
Booster Thruster	Quick evasion and elevation climb	Hover-building over gaps	Scout ahead to spot safe paths for pipelines
Fabricator Kit	Spawns automated defense units	Acts as temporary cover	Place near pipelines to minimize transit delays
Build Credit Pouch	Stores shared currency	Purchases specialized tech	Pool credits early to fund advanced defensive turrets

Base Defense and Turret Evolution Mechanics

Automated defenses are the backbone of your planetary operation. When alien swarms descend upon your pipeline, player firepower alone will not suffice. You need an evolving turret perimeter.

In GRAVHOUNDS, turrets gain real-time combat experience (XP) as they defeat incoming creatures. As turrets rank up during a defensive stand, players can promote them into specialized variants tailored to handle specific enemy types.

Turret Base Type	Tier 1 Promotion	Tier 2 Specialization	Optimal Placement
Rapid Kinetic Sentry	High-Velocity Gatling	Armor-Shredding Auto-Cannon	Tight canyon choke points
Thermal Projector	Napalm Area Denial	Sustained Plasma Beam	Funnels leading to the Excavator
Shock Conduit	Chain-Lightning Pylon	EMP Disruption Spire	Clustered alongside main power pipelines
Blast Mortar	Heavy Cluster Launcher	Seismic Concussion Battery	Elevated ridges overlooking swarm spawns

Keep a close eye on your power pipeline. If an alien swarm severs a single pipeline link between the Collector and your advanced turrets, every gun connected downstream instantly powers off. In GRAVHOUNDS local coop, having one dedicated runner patrolling the pipeline ensures your frontline defenses stay electrified throughout intense combat waves.

Tactical Squad Roles for Couch Play

Success in couch multiplayer hinges on dividing labor rather than clumping together. Community reports and player experiences highlight four distinct player roles that dramatically boost survival rates during high-hazard contracts:

1. The Grid Engineer (Pipeline Specialist)

Responsibilities: Lays rapid power lines, bridges rough canyons, and monitors structural integrity.
Key Focus: Carries spare pipeline segments and builds redundant power loops so that a single severed pipe does not disconnect the entire defense grid.

2. The Heavy Gunner (Frontline Defender)

Responsibilities: Controls choke points with the Gravbeam, hurls volatile alien eggs, and draws swarm aggression.
Key Focus: Keeps dangerous acid-spitting and burrowing fauna away from delicate Fabricators and power lines.

3. The Scrap Master (Resource Harvester)

Responsibilities: Rapidly mines mineral veins, collects volatile elements, and feeds materials to the Fabricator to maximize team Build Credits.
Key Focus: Prioritizes unlocking mid-run Reward Pods to grant randomized squad perks and weapon enhancements.

4. The Pack Medic & Escort (Utility Support)

Responsibilities: Revives fallen teammates, patrols rear flanks, and leads the artifact tethering effort.
Key Focus: If a teammate goes down, this player uses their Gravbeam to stabilize and revive them before the swarm overwhelms their position.

Tactical Role	Optimal Player Positioning	Recommended Focus	Common Mistake to Avoid
Grid Engineer	Along active pipeline runs	Power loop redundancy	Overextending lines without turret coverage
Heavy Gunner	Frontline swarm corridors	Area-of-effect crowd control	Forgetting to protect rear-spawning burrowers
Scrap Master	Mineral pockets and outcroppings	Maximizing Build Credits	Carrying volatile ores too close to teammates
Pack Medic	Central defensive pocket	Team revives & artifact dragging	Tunnel-visioning combat instead of support

Upgrade Systems: In-Shift Pods vs. Shipboard Meta-Progression

GRAVHOUNDS balances temporary in-match rogue-lite upgrades with persistent ship upgrades between missions. Understanding how both systems interact makes conquering higher difficulty sectors achievable.

In-Run Reward Pods

Throughout each planetary shift, defeating swarm leaders and fulfilling sub-objectives rewards your pack with randomized dropship pods. These pods grant immediate, temporary perks that persist until you lift off in the Collector:

Overcharged Gravbeams: Boosts pull range and throwing velocity for hostile fauna.
Supercharged Capacitors: Increases turret fire rates when connected to primary pipelines.
Reinforced Booster Rigs: Reduces thruster cooldowns and increases jump height.

Orbital Ship Meta-Progression

Once you successfully lift off with the recovered artifact, your team returns to the safety of the orbital mining vessel. Here, players spend mission earnings on permanent account upgrades:

Meta-Progression Category	Upgrade Description	Gameplay Impact
Suit Armor Plating	Increases maximum hound health pool	Greater survivability against apex alien hits
Gravbeam Core Tuning	Increases base carrying capacity and manipulation	Faster solo dragging of mid-sized objects
Pipeline Hardening	Increases health of laid power lines	Gives players more time to react to grid breaches
Fabricator Efficiency	Lowers Build Credit cost of sentry kits	Enables faster early-game base setup
Booster Fuel Tanks	Adds additional burst charges	Fluid traversal across vertical biomes

Investing in Pipeline Hardening and Fabricator Efficiency early provides immediate dividends when tackling late-game planetary expeditions.

Pro-Tips for Dominating Couch Co-Op Sessions

To maintain high win streaks across unpredictable alien planets, integrate these tactical habits into your squad's routine:

Build Redundant Power Grids: Never rely on a single line of pipe. Lay circular loops connecting back to the Collector so that if one line is severed, electricity still reaches your turrets from the opposite direction.
Handle Volatile Ores with Care: Certain mineral deposits become explosive when struck. Use your Gravbeam to launch these unstable rocks into incoming swarms like makeshift grenades rather than storing them near critical machinery.
Coordinate the Final Drag: During the extraction phase, assign two hounds to tether the heavy artifact with their Gravbeams while the remaining two players clear path blockages and defend the rear.
Save Build Credits for Turret Promotions: A single fully promoted Tier 2 auto-cannon is significantly more effective at stopping swarm bosses than three unranked base turrets.
Communicate Screen Space: In GRAVHOUNDS local coop, avoid splitting up toward opposite edges of the map. Stick within visual range to maintain seamless mutual cover and rapid revive capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GRAVHOUNDS support local split-screen or shared-screen play?

Yes. Playing GRAVHOUNDS local coop allows up to four players to team up locally on the same display. The camera dynamically adjusts to keep the action readable while your squad constructs defenses and navigates hostile alien terrain together.

How does player reviving work during cooperative missions?

When an operative runs out of health, they are not eliminated immediately. Teammates receive a brief window to rush over and tether their Gravbeam to the fallen hound, restoring their health and getting them back into the fight. However, if the entire pack is incapacitated simultaneously, the mission ends in failure.

Can local players team up with online players simultaneously?

GRAVHOUNDS supports hybrid multiplayer configurations on supported platforms, allowing local couch players to fill open roster slots with online friends via invite systems or matchmaking.

Do turrets retain their upgrades between missions?

No. Turret levels, promotions, and Reward Pod upgrades are session-specific and reset once you extract. Permanent progression is managed aboard the orbital mining ship between drops, where you spend earned mission contracts on enduring gear enhancements.