Dredge The Iron Rig: How to defend the rig from the tentacle creature? Dredge guide, tips

The Iron Rig DLC features a large monster with tentacles that threatens an oil rig. This page of the Dredge guide tells you where to find the researcher in the Defend the Platform mission, how to build defenses and chase the monster away, and whether you need to fear the destruction of the Iron Rig.

Last update: 21 August 2024

The Defend the Rig and Drilling in the Deep quests in The Iron Rig DLC for Dredge are associated with a big underwater tentacled monster that's threating the stability of the oil rig. Our guide explains where to meet the Researcher and how to build defenses in Ironhaven as well as how to sabotage the defenses in the final part of the DLC. You will also learn if disabling defenses is the point of no return and whether the rig can be irreversibly destroyed.

• The appearance of the huge monster
• Building defenses and scaring the creature away
• Deactivating defenses and the monster returning

The appearance of the huge monster

1. Right at the beginning of The Iron Rig DLC, you may have already suspected that the rig poses a serious threat to the local ecosystem and that a large underwater creature resides in the depths beneath Ironhaven.
2. The underwater monster will appear after delivering and catching 4 species of fish from the Gale Cliffs region as part of the Strange Specimens quest. The monster's tentacles will wrap around the rig's large supportsand it will become clear that they pose a real threat to it.
3. However, you don't have to rush to get rid of the tentacles and chase the creature away. You can easily engage in available missions or simple exploration and fishing. There is no time limit.

Building defenses and scaring the creature away

1. You will receive the Defend the Rig quest, which involves constructing a defense system for the rig.
2. You must reach Stellar Basin to meet the Researcher - this is a character you've already met in the base game. As a reminder, you have to sail to the Old Fortress on a small island in the archipelago (see the screenshots). The Researcher will give you a free defense system schematics.

1. When you return to Ironhaven, a new Defenses button will appear. You must pay to build a tower that will scare the monster away. You need 1 Ironhaven Crate and 1 Dark Canister.
2. The constructed tower will automatically start working and the large tentacles will hide in the water again.

Deactivating defenses and the monster returning

1. In the final part of the expansion, your priorities will change slightly. As part of the Drilling in the Deep Pursuit, you need to find a way to disable the defenses. Start by examining the black box mounted on the tower.
2. You must return to the Researcher from the Old Fortress in Stellar Basin. She will tell you how to summon the monster.
3. You need to build another construction on the rig. You need to deliver 1 Ironhaven Crate and 1 Dark Canister.

1. You will watch a cutscene where you will again see the large tentacles and another monster as well. The supports will be damaged, but you don't have to worry about the risk of the platform collapsing.

1. The rig will be partially evacuated and it will be only minor characters that you've only encountered in pursuits that are going to be gone.
2. The above actions were not the point of no return and all key buildings of Ironhaven will still be available - Factory, Generator, Fleet Services, Foundry, Tech Lab and Undermarket. You can use them to buy or craft unique items associated with the rig.