All 7 Classes and Abilities in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a co-op shooter set in the hive city of Tertium, where you and other players fight through hordes of enemies. Your class decides what weapons and abilities your character has and what job you take on in a fight. The Veteran, Zealot, Psyker and Ogryn come with the base game, while the Arbites, Hive Scum and Skitarii are paid add-ons that you can buy separately.

Veteran

A ranged specialist built to pick off elites and other dangerous targets.

Role

A ranged specialist who focuses on accurate fire and removing dangerous enemies before they reach the squad.

Access

Base game

Blitzes

Krak Grenade; Shredder Frag Grenade; Smoke Grenade

Auras

Close and Kill; Fire Team; Survivalist

Combat Abilities

Executioner's Stance; Infiltrate; Voice of Command

Keystones

Focus Target!; Marksman's Focus; Weapons Specialist

Talent-Tree Paths

Marksman's Focus: precision and weak-point damage; Weapons Specialist: switching between ranged and melee attacks; Focus Target!: mark priority enemies for team damage

Class-Specific Weapons

Helbore Lasgun; Power Sword; Sapper Shovel

Other Accessible Weapons

Combat Blade; Duelling Sword; Devil's Claw Sword; Recon Lasgun; Combat Shotgun; Tactical Axe; Spearhead Boltgun; Assault Chainsword; Combat Axe; Vigilant Autogun; Assault Chainaxe; Shock Maul; Double-Barrelled Shotgun; Bolt Pistol; Power Falchion; Infantry Autogun; Huntsman's Shotgun; Infantry Lasgun; Braced Autogun; Plasma Gun; Shredder Autopistol; Quickdraw Stub Revolver; Heavy Laspistol; Heavy Sword

Zealot

A melee-focused fighter who charges into close combat and helps the squad hold the line.

Role

A close-combat fighter who leads the push, deals heavy melee damage and can stay in a fight under pressure.

Access

Base game

Blitzes

Blades of Faith; Immolation Grenade; Stunstorm Grenade

Auras

Beacon of Purity; Benediction; Zealous

Combat Abilities

Fury of the Faithful; Chorus of Spiritual Fortitude; Shroudfield

Keystones

Blazing Piety; Inexorable Judgement; Martyrdom; Until Death

Talent-Tree Paths

Martyrdom: benefits tied to accumulated wounds; Blazing Piety: critical-hit focused combat; Inexorable Judgement: build momentum through movement and attacks; Until Death: survival and recovery

Class-Specific Weapons

Purgation Flamer; Thunder Hammer; Relic Blade; Heavy Eviscerator

Other Accessible Weapons

Combat Blade; Duelling Sword; Crusher; Devil's Claw Sword; Recon Lasgun; Combat Shotgun; Tactical Axe; Spearhead Boltgun; Assault Chainsword; Combat Axe; Vigilant Autogun; Assault Chainaxe; Shock Maul; Double-Barrelled Shotgun; Bolt Pistol; Infantry Autogun; Huntsman's Shotgun; Infantry Lasgun; Braced Autogun; Shredder Autopistol; Quickdraw Stub Revolver; Heavy Laspistol; Heavy Sword

Psyker

A Warp-powered fighter who trades lower durability for ranged damage and crowd control.

Role

A fragile Warp user who can damage or control groups and priority targets, while managing the danger of Peril.

Access

Base game

Blitzes

Assail; Brain Rupture; Smite

Auras

Kinetic Presence; Prescience; Seer's Presence

Combat Abilities

Scrier's Gaze; Telekine Shield; Venting Shriek

Keystones

Disrupt Destiny; Empowered Psionics; Warp Siphon

Talent-Tree Paths

Warp Siphon: build and spend Warp Charges; Empowered Psionics: strengthen Blitz abilities; Disrupt Destiny: mark and eliminate priority enemies

Class-Specific Weapons

Inferno Force Staff; Voidblast Force Staff; Electrokinetic Force Staff; Blaze Force Sword; Blaze Force Greatsword; Voidstrike Force Staff

Other Accessible Weapons

Combat Blade; Duelling Sword; Devil's Claw Sword; Recon Lasgun; Combat Shotgun; Tactical Axe; Assault Chainsword; Combat Axe; Vigilant Autogun; Assault Chainaxe; Shock Maul; Double-Barrelled Shotgun; Bolt Pistol; Infantry Autogun; Huntsman's Shotgun; Infantry Lasgun; Braced Autogun; Shredder Autopistol; Quickdraw Stub Revolver; Heavy Laspistol; Heavy Sword

Ogryn

A tough frontline fighter with heavy melee and ranged weapons for controlling crowds.

Role

A durable frontline fighter who staggers crowds, protects teammates and can bring heavy weapons to bear.

Access

Base game

Blitzes

Big Friendly Rock; Frag Bomb; Big Box of Hurt

Auras

Bonebreaker’s Aura; Stay Close!; Coward Culling

Combat Abilities

Indomitable; Loyal Protector; Point-Blank Barrage

Keystones

Heavy Hitter; Feel No Pain; Burst Limiter Override

Talent-Tree Paths

Heavy Hitter: heavy melee and sustained frontline damage; Feel No Pain: resilience and damage mitigation; Burst Limiter Override: ranged firepower

Class-Specific Weapons

Kickback; Bully Club; Ripper Gun; Twin-Linked Heavy Stubber; Battle Maul & Slab Shield; Grenadier Gauntlet; Latrine Shovel; Delver's Pickaxe; Power Maul; Heavy Stubber; Cruncher; Thugshot; Rumbler; Cleaver

Other Accessible Weapons

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Arbites

A crowd-control specialist who combines law-enforcer weapons, squad support and a Cyber-Mastiff.

Role

A law-enforcement fighter who controls crowds, supports the team with a shield and can send a Cyber-Mastiff after targets.

Access

Paid class DLC

Blitzes

Arbites Grenade; Voltaic Shock Mine; Remote Detonation

Auras

Part of the Squad; Ruthless Efficiency; Breaking Dissent

Combat Abilities

Nuncio-Aquila; Castigator's Stance; Break the Line

Keystones

Execution Order; Terminus Warrant; Forceful

Talent-Tree Paths

Left route: elite killing and Cyber-Mastiff support; Middle route: hybrid combat and supportive utility; Right route: crowd control and melee

Class-Specific Weapons

Arbites Shock Maul & Suppression Shield; Subductor Shotpistol & Riot Shield; Arbites Shock Maul; Exterminator Shotgun

Other Accessible Weapons

Crusher; Combat Shotgun; Tactical Axe; Spearhead Boltgun; Assault Chainsword; Combat Axe; Vigilant Autogun; Shock Maul; Double-Barrelled Shotgun; Bolt Pistol; Infantry Autogun; Braced Autogun; Shredder Autopistol; Quickdraw Stub Revolver

Hive Scum

A mobile close-range fighter who mixes firearms, melee weapons and toxin effects.

Role

A fast, close-range fighter who uses paired weapons, toxins and a custom Stimm, with less durability than the other classes.

Access

Paid class DLC

Blitzes

Blinder; Boom Bringer; Chem Grenade

Auras

Gunslinger; Ruffian; Anarchist

Combat Abilities

Desperado; Rampage!; Stimm Supply

Keystones

Vulture's Mark; Adrenaline Junkie; Chemical Dependency

Talent-Tree Paths

Close-range firearms and mobility; Melee damage and toxin effects; Toxin zoning and support utility

Class-Specific Weapons

Dual Stub Pistols; Dual Autopistols; Needle Pistol; Crowbar; Bone Saw; Shivs

Other Accessible Weapons

Combat Blade; Devil's Claw Sword; Combat Shotgun; Tactical Axe; Assault Chainsword; Combat Axe; Vigilant Autogun; Assault Chainaxe; Double-Barrelled Shotgun; Bolt Pistol; Infantry Autogun; Huntsman's Shotgun; Braced Autogun; Shredder Autopistol; Quickdraw Stub Revolver; Heavy Sword

Skitarii

A tech-equipped fighter with precision weapons, electric attacks and a support Servo-Skull.

Role

A Mechanicus fighter who mixes precision ranged weapons, electrifying melee attacks and Servo-Skull support.

Access

Paid class DLC

Blitzes

Servo-Skull; Arc Grenades; Integrated Refractor Emitter

Auras

Resurgence; Foe-Render Creed; Ammunition Deposit

Combat Abilities

Voltaic Expander; Voltaic Emitter; Chordclaw Strike; Advanced Combat Doctrines

Keystones

Redline Capacitors; Power Overload; Flensing Protocols

Talent-Tree Paths

Radial tree: start at the center and expand in any direction; Precision ranged damage; Electrocution and melee; Servo-Skull support

Class-Specific Weapons

Mechanicus Power Sword; Paired Transonic Blades; Arc Maul; Arc Rifle; Mechanicus Phosphor Blast Pistol; Galvanic Rifle

Other Accessible Weapons

Combat Blade; Devil's Claw Sword; Assault Chainsword; Vigilant Autogun; Shock Maul; Power Falchion; Infantry Autogun; Braced Autogun; Plasma Gun; Shredder Autopistol; Quickdraw Stub Revolver; Heavy Laspistol

How Darktide Classes Work in a Team

Pick an Ogryn and you take the most punishment. Pick a Psyker and you control crowds with powers. Either way, your class decides the weapons you carry, the special abilities you can use and the job you do in every fight. Darktide throws hordes of enemies at you, so a team does best when each member covers a different job. Some classes are built to take hits and hold enemies back, others deal heavy damage from range or up close, and some help the rest of the group stay standing.

Darktide's Base Game Classes: Veteran, Zealot, Psyker and Ogryn

The Veteran, Zealot, Psyker and Ogryn come with the base game. All of them are prisoners the Inquisition has drafted into service. Together they cover the main jobs in a fight. The Ogryn takes the most punishment and holds enemies back, while the Veteran and Zealot deal damage from range and up close. The Psyker uses powers to control crowds and deal with the most dangerous targets.

Best Darktide Class for Beginners

No single class wins every fight, so the right choice depends on the role you enjoy. Many newer players start with the Veteran, which is easy to understand and works well both alone and in a team. If you would rather hold the line, the Ogryn is a good first pick, because its extra health gives you room to make mistakes. The Psyker asks more of you, since it has to manage Peril while it casts its powers. Either way, a group works best when its members pick different roles rather than all choosing the same class.

The Paid Darktide Classes: Arbites, Hive Scum and Skitarii

The Arbites, Hive Scum and Skitarii are each paid add-ons, and unlike the original classes, none of them is a prisoner. The Arbites is an active-duty Imperial law enforcer, the Hive Scum come from the criminal cartels of the Conclave on Atoma Prime, and the Skitarii are cyborg infantry of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Those different backgrounds show up in how each one plays.

The Arbites fights with a riot shield paired with a melee weapon or a firearm. The Hive Scum is built around using two weapons at once, such as Dual Stub Pistols and Dual Autopistols, and it mixes its own custom blend of combat stimulant. The Skitarii uses special weapons made by the Mechanicus, mixing precision ranged fire and electric melee attacks with support from its Servo-Skull.

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