While the official launch date of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is set for Nov. 30, the pre-order beta has allowed many players to take on the role of Rejects and attempt to stave off the forces of Chaos knocking on the door of Tertium. Developers Fatshark has dived deep into the details of the lore, providing four distinct classes in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide to choose from, and although players can most certainly try them all, there will come a time to make a class the mainstay.
Although the meta might change as the game grows and evolve, the current state of affairs in Darktide means the following information will come in handy when choosing the right class for the next adventure in the Hive City.
Ogryn Skullbreaker Class in Darktide
The hulking behemoths that tower over almost everything in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the Ogryns are understandably strong and the tanks in the game. Charging into fights and being in the thick of things come naturally to this class, and melee combat is a particular highlight.
Although it may be fun to be aggressive all the time, it is vital to note that an Ogryn also plays an important role in a team setup. Offer protection to allies and the fights ahead can become much easier, especially when the shield comes into play. The Ogryn can also be a valuable medic, utilizing the thick skin and defensive capabilities to rescue a downed teammate without being interrupted.
Key Features
- Good versus hordes
- Effective at staggering and suppressing enemies
Starting Loadout
- “Brunt Special” Mk I Bully Club
- Lorenz Mk V Kickback
Tactical Action
- Big Box of Hurt (high damage)
Passive Abilities
- Excessive Force – 25% buff to melee stagger
- Loyal Protector – Taking damage does not interrupt assisting or reviving allies
- Thick Skin – Reduce toughness and health damage by 25%
Class Ability
- Bull Rush – Charge at enemies to knock them back, increase attack and movement speed by 25% for five seconds
Coherency Bonus
- 10% bonus to heavy melee attack damage for allies
Veteran Sharpshooter
Overwhelming firepower comes to mind when the Veteran Sharpshooter class joins the action in Darktide. Specializing in ranged combat, players assuming the role should be comfortable fighting at a distance and pick off the most threatening of targets before problems arise.
However, when the situation calls for it, precision can be replaced by sheer damage at shorter range, or a good thump over the head with the trusty shovel when enemies get too close. For players who have honed their skills in other first-person shooters, this class will be familiar enough even in a world as foreboding as Darktide.
Key Features
- Ranged combat
- Headshots
- Good against Elites and Specials
Starting Loadout
- Standard-issue Munitorum Sapper Shovel
- Kantrael MG Ia Infantry Lasgun
Tactical Action
- Frag Grenade (crowd control and damage)
Passive Abilities
- Make Every Shot Count – increase damage to weak spots by 15%
- Be Prepared – all ranged weapons have 40% more ammo reserve
Class Ability
- Volley Fire – Instantly equip ranged weapons and enter ranged stance for five seconds, increasing weak spot damage as well as accuracy and handling against Specialists and Elites (except for Ogryns)
Coherency Bonus
- Downing Elites may reward bonus ammo
Zealot Preacher Class in Darktide
The holy warriors of the bunch, the God-Emperor’s teachings are all the Zealot Preacher needs to rush headlong into battle. The more risk taken, the better they perform, and that works quite well in Darktide.
With impressive melee capabilities, this class should always be in the fray, but can also function as priority hunters, taking down dangerous targets from afar or rushing ranged enemies to eliminate any advantages they might have. The class also has access to flamers, which will purify any heretics unfortunate enough to be standing in the way.
Key Features
- Hardy, hard to kill
- High-damage melee attacks
- Good against Armor
Starting Loadout
- Rashad Mk II Combat Axe
- Ius Mk III Shredder Autopistol
Tactical Action
- Stun Grenade (Disabling and control)
Passive Abilities
- Martyrdom – every 15 health lost increases damage by five, can be stacked up to three times
- Until Death – Taking fatal damage grants invulnerability for five seconds; can only activate every 90 seconds
- Swift Exorcism – Attack speed is increased by 10%
Class Ability
- Chastise the Wicked – Charge towards enemy, recovering toughness and increasing melee attack damage by 25%
Coherency Bonus
- Allies receive 7% toughness damage reduction
Psyker Psykinetic
The ultimate double-edged sword, the Psyker Psykinectic class in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is always risking it all on the edge. Armed with a variety of exotic skills and trading sanity for the end of enemies, this class requires more careful handling than most. Use of skills like Brain Burst can and will build up Peril, and if left unchecked, it will be the Psyker Psykinetic that goes boom.
Just the balancing act makes this class a more difficult proposition, but master its uniqueness and there will be unparalleled power at the player’s disposal.
Key Features
- Effective against Elites
- Warp Charge and Peril management
- Blowing up enemies’ heads and gaining buffs
Starting Loadout
- Catachan Mk I “Devil’s Claw” Sword
- Accatran MG Mk II Heavy Laspistol
Tactical Action
- Brain Burst (damage dealing)
Passive Abilities
- Warp Siphon – Kills with Brain Burst grants stackable Warp Charge up to a maximum of four, increasing damage by 3% each
- Battle Meditation – Every kill grants 10% chance of reducing Peril by 10%
Class Ability
- Psykinetic’s Wrath – Discharge Warp Charges to create a wave of Warp energy that reduces Peril level and pushes enemies back
Coherency Bonus
- Allies receive 10% boost in damage against Elites
At the end of the day, no matter the classes chosen, the right team setup will almost always be the preferred choice for the encounters in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. While the team at Fatshark will always be looking to tweak things and improve the experience, it is likely that the base nature of the various classes will remain, and the information shared above will remain useful.
