- Ground Zero mission: Your first Mycopunk deployment — learn the objective loop before pushing deeper zones
- Priority order: Brief, route to the objective, clear threats, then explore optional loot
- Biggest mistake: Treating extraction as a safe checkpoint instead of a final defense phase
- Squad tip: Assign damage, control, and support roles before activating objectives
- Reward rule: Reaching extraction matters — losing the run erases all collected resources
Ground Zero Mission Overview
Ground Zero is the opening deployment in Mycopunk, the 4-player co-op fungal looter shooter from Pigeons at Play and Devolver Digital. It introduces the core mission loop you will repeat across all four regions: drop in, complete the contract objective, collect resources, and extract safely. New players who master this loop early waste fewer upgrades and reach the game's nine missions and 587 upgrades far more efficiently.
The mission follows the standard four-phase structure every Mycopunk contract uses:
| Phase | Objective | Route Priority | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mission Briefing | Review contract, objectives, extraction conditions | High | Low |
| 2. Objective Route | Reach marked area, complete primary task | High | Medium |
| 3. Optional Exploration | Search side rooms and hidden containers | Medium | Medium |
| 4. Extraction | Reach extraction point, defend if required | Critical | High |
Always check the objective wording and the required extraction condition during briefing. Starting Ground Zero without knowing the win condition is the most common first-run failure reported by new squads.
Step-by-Step Ground Zero Walkthrough
Follow this sequence to clear Ground Zero cleanly, whether solo or with a full four-player squad.
Brief and Load Out
Review the contract before deploying. Choose a dependable primary weapon and upgrades that match your role — direct damage, control, support, or mobility. Do not split early upgrade points across unrelated playstyles.
Move Along the Objective Route
Push toward the marked area in a compact route instead of crisscrossing the map. Read the current objective before moving forward, and clear defensive positions before interacting with mission objects.
Complete the Primary Objective
Regroup before activating the objective. In co-op, assign one player to initiate while others handle enemy groups. Keep a control tool or grenade ready for the wave that follows.
Sweep Optional Loot
Once the primary objective is secure, check side rooms, elevated paths, and resource containers near the main route. Use team markers to record useful locations and avoid splitting far from the squad.
Extract and Bank Rewards
Begin the return route before your inventory is full or ammunition runs low. Set up sightlines around the extraction area and treat the final moments as a defense phase, not a victory lap.
Extraction often triggers a final enemy pressure wave. Squads that arrive low on ammo or scattered frequently lose the entire run's rewards at the last step.
Enemy Threats on Ground Zero
Ground Zero mostly fields the two baseline fungal threat types. Recognizing their patterns early makes every later region easier.
| Threat Type | Attack Pattern | Counter Strategy | Team Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranged Fungal Threats | Punish stationary, exposed players | Break line of sight, flank with alternate angles | One player draws fire, rest flank |
| Close-Range Fungal Threats | Fast pursuit, punish reloads and isolation | Maintain spacing, kite around open cover | Keep escape routes open, focus nearest attackers |
| Mixed Waves | Combined pressure during objectives | Prioritize ranged first, then close threats | Control player delays groups, damage roles clear |
Positioning First
- Use corners and vertical cover
- Avoid fighting in dead ends
- Preserve one escape route
Target Priority
- Remove ranged threats early
- Do not dump ammo on low-threat enemies
- Save heavy tools for the dangerous phase
Team Spacing
- Never retreat through one narrow passage
- Move toward teammates under pressure
- Revive and regroup instead of pushing alone
The most frequent Ground Zero squad wipe comes from spending all ammunition on low-threat enemies before the objective wave or extraction defense. Budget your fire.
Best Loadouts for the First Deployment
You do not need optimized endgame builds to clear Ground Zero — you need a consistent loadout committed to one combat purpose.
| Loadout | Role | Recommended Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| General-Purpose Damage | Sustained damage | Reliable primary, ammo-efficiency upgrades | First-time players |
| Crowd Control | Group management | Radius, duration, recharge upgrades | Objective defense |
| Support Utility | Team assistance | Ally uptime and safety modules | 4-player squads |
| Mobile Survivor | Self-preservation | Movement and recovery upgrades | Solo play |
Invest early resources into the weapon or module that defines your role, and take general improvements only when they reinforce the same plan. A focused loadout outperforms a scattered one in every region.
Ground Zero Completion Checklist
Run Completion Goals:
- Confirm objective and extraction condition during briefing
- Complete the primary objective with the squad grouped
- Collect at least the nearby optional resource containers
- Reach extraction with ammunition and health to spare
- Review the run: fix positioning or target-priority mistakes before the next mission
FAQ
Q: Is the Ground Zero mission the first mission in Mycopunk?
Yes, Ground Zero serves as the opening deployment and teaches the core loop — briefing, objective, optional exploration, and extraction — that every later mission across the four regions follows.
Q: Can I complete Ground Zero solo?
Yes. Mycopunk supports solo play alongside online co-op. A Mobile Survivor or General-Purpose Damage loadout works well solo, though control and support roles shine more in four-player squads.
Q: What happens if my squad dies during extraction?
Failing the extraction phase can erase the value of the entire deployment, including collected resources. Start the return route early and defend the extraction area with clear sightlines.
Q: Should I explore optional areas before finishing the main objective?
No. Complete the primary objective first, then explore. Pursuing optional loot while the squad is damaged or out of cooldowns is a common way to lose an otherwise successful run.