Beginner Strategies
Welcome to the beginner strategies guide for Dwarf Mine Colony! This guide will help you optimize your colony's development and avoid common mistakes that can hinder your progress.
Important: In Dwarf Mine Colony, long-term planning is essential. A poor start can make the game much more difficult later on.
Colony Development Phases
The development of a successful colony can be divided into three main phases:
Phase 1: Initial Exploration (Days 1-3)
Objectives: Establish a solid foundation, collect enough resources for the first constructions.
Recommended Actions:
- Stay in the first layers (up to 15 blocks maximum) to avoid hostile creatures at the beginning.
- Create a small "staircase" to facilitate movement between the surface and mined areas.
- Collect at least 15 coal and 20 iron to build your first Barracks.
- Explore horizontally around level 10-15 to find more resources.
Things to Avoid:
- Don't dig too far horizontally without having a plan.
- Don't go beyond 20 blocks deep before having a well-equipped dwarf, as you might encounter spiders.
Phase 2: Basic Development (Days 4-10)
Objectives: Build basic facilities, recruit a second dwarf, improve mining efficiency.
Recommended Actions:
- Build a Barracks as an absolute priority to recruit a second dwarf.
- Build a Workshop to reduce the AP cost of mining.
- Assign specific roles to each dwarf (one for mining, one for defense/exploration).
- Explore up to 30-40 blocks deep to find gold veins, but only after recruiting a second dwarf.
- Build a Foundry to double the amount of ore collected.
Things to Avoid:
- Don't let your dwarves separate too far from each other.
- Don't send a lone dwarf beyond 50 blocks deep, as slimes start appearing at that depth.
Phase 3: Expansion (Days 11+)
Objectives: Maximize resource production, manage threats, improve overall efficiency.
Recommended Actions:
- Build a Brewery to speed up AP recharge.
- Build a Hospital to improve HP recovery.
- Add more Barracks to recruit up to 3-4 dwarves.
- Create "safe zones" with walls at strategic depths.
- Mine as a team when you go deeper than 75 blocks to manage golems.
Resource Management
Prioritize the use of your resources in this order:
- Coal and Iron: Use them first to build a Barracks (absolute priority), then a Workshop.
- Gold: Initially save it to build a Foundry, then a Brewery.
- Diamonds: Very precious, use them only for advanced structures like the Hospital and Brewery.
Defense Strategies
Warning: If all your dwarves die, it's Game Over and your save will be deleted! A good defense strategy is therefore essential.
Securing the Colony
- Protect access points: Use walls to block critical access to your citadel and important buildings.
- Fallback points: Create safe zones at different depths where your dwarves can retreat in case of danger.
- Group defense: When facing creatures, always use multiple dwarves together.
Tactics Against Creatures
Adapt your approach according to the type of creature:
- Spiders (20+ blocks): Can be fought with a single experienced dwarf. Gives 2 coal and 2 iron.
- Slimes (50+ blocks): Use two dwarves to alternate attacks. Gives 2 coal, 2 iron and 2 gold.
- Golems (75+ blocks): Never face alone! Use at least 3 dwarves and prepare an escape route. Very dangerous but gives 5 gold and 3 diamonds.
Combat tip: Position your dwarves diagonally relative to the creature to maximize attacks while minimizing counter-attacks.
Long-term Development Optimization
To ensure sustainable development of your colony:
- Invest early in manpower: A Barracks to recruit a second dwarf should be your absolute priority.
- Balance expansion and security: Don't expand your colony faster than you can defend it.
- Stay near the surface at the beginning: Avoid digging too deep before having at least two dwarves.
- Plan your construction areas: Reserve space for future buildings near the surface.
Remember: In Dwarf Mine Colony, patience is rewarded. Take your time to develop a solid and sustainable colony rather than rushing into the depths.