To promote in Deep Rock Galactic, you need to hit level 25 on a class, complete a special promotion assignment, then buy the promotion in Memorial Hall. After that, you can keep leveling that class from level 1 again and unlock extra features.
Basic requirements
You must first level the specific class (Gunner, Scout, Engineer, or Driller) to level 25; account level does not matter for promotion. Once you hit 25 on that class, a Promotion Assignment for that class becomes available at the Assignment Terminal on the Space Rig.
Promoting costs credits and crafting minerals in addition to finishing the assignment. The first promotion is fairly cheap, but later ones get significantly more expensive.
Doing the promotion assignment
The Promotion Assignment is a chain of four missions you must complete while it is active. These missions are regular mission types (Mining Expedition, Salvage, Egg Hunt, Escort, Refinery, etc.) but flagged as part of the promotion task.
You can run these missions solo or in co‑op, and you can play other classes during them; progress is tied to the assignment, not to the class you bring on each mission. After all four missions are done, you are “eligible for promotion” on that class.
Where to actually promote
Once the assignment is complete, go to Memorial Hall on the Space Rig (take the elevator near the Equipment Terminal). At the promotion terminal in Memorial Hall, select the dwarf that has finished the assignment, then pay the credit and mineral fee to confirm the promotion.
You usually need to be in a solo lobby to start the actual promotion ceremony, not in a team. After confirming, that class drops back to level 1 but gains a promotion star on its icon.
What promotion unlocks
Your first promotion on any class unlocks an extra active perk slot for that class and new assignment types. It also unlocks late‑game systems like Deep Dives, Machine Events activation, the Forge, and Prestige assignments on the rig.
Repeated promotions on the same class grant more stars and higher‑tier Honor Badge frames (bronze to legendary, with multiple star tiers). This lets you keep progressing that dwarf indefinitely while showing off your experience.
Leveling faster to reach 25
To reach level 25 quickly, focus on missions with Double XP anomalies and play on higher hazard levels you can handle safely. Completing secondary objectives, collecting extra minerals beyond the quota, participating in events, and killing lots of enemies each mission all give bonus XP.
Avoid playing a class that is already level 25 until you have done its promotion, so you do not “waste” potential XP. Deep Dives and Elite Deep Dives (once unlocked) are also strong sources of class XP.