GRAVHOUNDS Story Mode Guide: Mission Walkthrough, Mechanics, and Survival Tips

Master the GRAVHOUNDS story mode campaign with our in-depth guide covering base building, pipeline networks, combat tactics, and resource collection.

Waking up on the far side of the galaxy as an expendable canine operative is tough, but conquering the GRAVHOUNDS story mode campaign requires serious tactical planning. As an engineered canine worker deployed into hostile alien biomes, your objective is to gather critical resources, set up industrial infrastructure, and repel relentless swarms. If you want to survive the challenging shifts of the GRAVHOUNDS story mode, understanding how base construction links into high-speed combat is essential.

Developed by Octopus Panic, Inc., this hybrid co-op shooter and tower-defense extraction game tests your ability to think on your paws while under constant siege. Whether you deploy solo as a lone wolf or assemble a four-player squad, mastering shift progression will keep your crew alive and funded.

Story Overview and the "Shift" Campaign Structure

In the narrative setup of GRAVHOUNDS, you play as a member of Crew 3-7, a batch of bio-engineered canine workers built specifically for high-risk industrial recovery. Abandoned or stranded across perilous planetary sectors, you wake from cryosleep only to find ship communications disrupted and supply reserves dangerously low. To fund repairs, fuel extraction ships, and secure passage back across the cosmos, you must descend to treacherous planetary surfaces to complete salvage shifts for the company.

The campaign narrative unfolds through mission briefings delivered via the ship's holo-table before each drop. Rather than a purely linear hallway shooter, the GRAVHOUNDS story mode uses an escalating, shift-based campaign loop. Each planetary landing presents distinct hazards, volatile resource clusters, and alien swarms that adapt to the length of your stay.

Campaign Phase	Primary Objective	Key Hazard / Swarm Escalation
Shift 1: First Deployment	Deploy Collector, establish pipeline grids, build basic fabricator	Low-density scout swarms
Shift 2: Industrial Expansion	Mine core resource nodes, upgrade turret defenses, survive mid-shift waves	Armored crawlers and flanking units
Shift 3: Launch Prep	Initiate pre-flight diagnostic cycle at terminal, hold the LZ	High-frequency horde rush, siege breakers
Shift 4+: Outer Rim Expeditions	High-variance planetary operations, gather rare schematics	Mutated alien strains, environmental anomalies

Core Mechanics: From Mining Lasers to the Grav Beam

Success in any GRAVHOUNDS story mode deployment rests on a tight loop of mining, transport, fabrication, and frantic defense. You are equipped with a suite of multi-tools designed for rapid field exploitation.

1. The Mining Laser

Your initial tool for both industry and upkeep. The mining laser slices raw ore nodes out of rock formations. Beyond resource extraction, player experience highlights an equally vital secondary role: directing the beam at damaged defenses instantly initiates field repairs.

2. The Grav Beam

The signature tool of every operative. The Grav Beam lets you snatch loose resource chunks, machinery kits, and even airborne hostile units. Instead of manually carrying heavy raw materials across the map, you can use the beam to sling objects across the battlefield directly to teammates or toward base collectors.

3. Tactical Pipelines

Pipelines serve as the nervous system of your base. Running pipes from the Collector hub activates power nodes across the terrain. Additionally, pipelines double as automated resource transport conveyors and speed-boosting transit routes for operatives fleeing danger.

Mining Node ---> [Mining Laser] ---> Loose Chunks ---> [Grav Beam] ---> Pipeline Network ---> Collector Hub ---> Build Funds

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Surviving Your First Shift

To help you get through your initial mission in the GRAVHOUNDS story mode, follow this operational sequence from drop-pod impact to successful extraction.

Step 1: Establish the Collector LZ and Lay the Pipeline

Upon touchdown, locate your central Collector. Before you can construct anything, you must establish power and logistics connections:

Approach the Collector's primary connector port.
Lay your first pipeline run toward open ground.
Lock the pipeline into place using the Grav Beam connector prompt.
Confirm the adjacent build node lights up blue, indicating live operational power.

Step 2: Erect the Fabricator

Everything you deploy starts at the Fabricator. Once your pipeline powers a build node:

Enter Placement Mode.
Line up the Fabricator blueprint over the active node.
Lock and plug it directly into the pipeline grid to enable manufacturing.

Step 3: Harvest Ore and Process Build Funds

With the Fabricator running, you need capital to finance defensive hardware:

Seek out glowing mineral clusters nearby.
Carve out mineral blocks using your mining laser.
Grab chunks with your Grav Beam and flick them onto the pipeline; the belt automatically ferries resources back into the Collector's processor ports.
Watch your HUD as the company credits your account with build funds.

Step 4: Fortify Defenses and Monitor Drone View

Hostile lifeforms will quickly notice your extraction noise. Prepare your perimeter early:

Purchase a Turret Build Kit from the Fabricator.
Haul the kit using your Grav Beam to an empty build node near defensive chokepoints.
Enter Placement Mode to anchor the turret.
Tap your tactical interface to toggle Drone View. This tactical overhead perspective highlights approaching hostile signatures in red, giving your squad advance warning of incoming waves.

Defense Unit	Build Fund Cost	Ideal Placement	Key Function
Automated Kinetic Turret	Low	Chokepoints, high ground near pipeline	Sweeps light swarms, suppressive fire
Power Relay Pylon	Very Low	Perimeter nodes	Extends pipeline build range
Fabricator Unit	Moderate	Central base, close to Collector	Produces kits, weapon modules, items
Repair Terminal	Moderate	Cluster center	Area-of-effect passive maintenance

Step 5: Launch Prep and Final Evacuation

Leaving the planet requires completing pre-flight safety warm-ups:

Head to the Collector's launch terminal and trigger Launch Prep.
Prepare for a massive, multi-minute siege. The swarm will focus entirely on smashing the Collector. If the Collector is destroyed, extraction fails.
Rotate between shooting targets, tossing volatile objects with the Grav Beam, and using the mining laser to heal damaged turrets.
When the countdown hits zero and launch is confirmed, sprint to the ship airlock to escape.

Gear, Progression, and Bio-Canine Loadouts

As you progress through the narrative campaign, the GRAVHOUNDS story mode unlocks new operative classes, offensive weapon platforms, and research tree perks. Every canine specialist brings distinct passive attributes and ability modifiers to the field.

Operative Role	Base Trait	Best Suited For	Key Ability
Vanguard Hound	Increased armor plating, high base health	Frontline tanking, swarm stalling	Shockwave Stomp
Surveyor Hound	Faster pipeline construction, mining laser efficiency	Base expansion, rapid resource hauling	Overcharge Mining Beam
Artillery Hound	Bonus turret damage and faster fabrication times	Perimeter defense, heavy siege response	Automated Kit Drop
Scout Hound	Extended boost distance, faster Grav Beam pull speed	Flanking, manual resource retrieval	Kinetic Dash

Mid-shift upgrades allow you to adapt on the fly. Players can check official announcements on the GRAVHOUNDS Xbox Store Page for ongoing details regarding platform-specific updates and co-op balance patches.

Tactical Tips for Solo vs. Co-op Play

Whether you tackle the GRAVHOUNDS story mode solo or in a full four-player pack, tailoring your approach prevents wipeouts during high-intensity extraction pushes.

Solo "Lone Wolf" Strategies

Consolidate Your Defenses: Do not stretch pipelines too far from the Collector. Keeping your turrets within a tight radius allows you to repair structures quickly without abandoning the ship.
Rely on Drone View: Check your overhead view frequently between mining runs to avoid getting ambushed from blind spots.
Prioritize Automated Repairs: Keep your mining laser ready to heal turrets the second they begin smoking.

4-Player Pack Tactics

Designate Roles: Have one player manage pipeline construction and Fabricator orders while two others mine and harvest. The fourth player should patrol the perimeter to eliminate early scout waves.
Pass Resources Like a Frisbee: Take advantage of the Grav Beam's range. Miners can launch ore across canyons directly to teammates waiting near the Collector.
Stagger Boost Cool-downs: Coordinate pipeline boost runs during the final extraction countdown so team members do not collide or block defensive turret firing lines.

Campaign Mission Checklist

Before initiating the final launch terminal sequence in any GRAVHOUNDS story mode chapter, run through this quick operational checklist:

Preparation Step	Status	Verification Detail
Perimeter Turret Health	Ready	Inspect with mining laser; repair all to 100%
Pipeline Integrity	Secure	Ensure lines are connected without broken nodes
Collector Reserves	Full	Deposit floating ore to secure maximum mission payout
Drone View Sweep	Checked	Confirm enemy approach paths and set killzones
Escape Vector Cleared	Clear	Maintain an unobstructed sprint path to the ramp

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you play GRAVHOUNDS story mode completely solo?

Yes. The GRAVHOUNDS story mode supports both single-player and 1–4 player cooperative squads. When playing solo, enemy horde densities and objective requirements scale dynamically to ensure solo runs remain challenging yet beatable.

What happens if the Collector is destroyed during launch prep?

If the Collector's structural integrity hits zero during pre-flight diagnostics or launch preparation, the mission ends in catastrophic failure. You will lose collected planetary materials and must restart the shift from the drop phase.

How do you repair damaged turrets in GRAVHOUNDS story mode?

Equip your standard mining laser and fire it directly at the damaged structure. The beam automatically switches to maintenance mode, repairing the turret's health bar without consuming additional build funds.

How do pipelines help with resource transportation?

Pipelines feature integrated conveyor tracks. When you sever mineral deposits with your mining laser, use your Grav Beam to toss the ore chunks directly onto the pipeline. The system will slide the materials straight to the Collector's processor ports automatically.