The Ultimate Guide to Unleashing Devastating Psychic Abilities in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Unleash the true potential of the Psyker class in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide with the ultimate talent choices Enhance your abilities, dominate with lightning-fast blitz attacks, radiate powerful auras, and secure victory with the best keystone talent Master the Psyker and become an unstoppable force
The Psyker in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is the ultimate combination of a caster, capable of dealing damage and controlling crowds. However, players must be prepared to handle a new meter called peril, which can result in self-destruction if filled to the maximum.
In order to fulfill the group's requirements, gamers must acquire the finest talents available in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Although better weapons and gear are beneficial, they cannot compare to the transformative impact feats have on the character's gameplay.
Updated on October 9th, 2023 by Hodey Johns: The Psyker, along with all the other operatives, has undergone a significant revamp with Path #13. Furthermore, numerous adjustments to gameplay, combat, and leveling have been made, reshaping the dynamics and worth of various weapons and abilities. The most notable alteration has occurred in the talent system, replacing the old feats. Ranking talents poses a challenge as different builds prioritize different talents. Opting for the "best" talents may result in an incoherent character, as some talents complement each other well. Nonetheless, it is beneficial to explore the talents that have shown the highest success, popularizing the Psyker among a specific group.
Best Ability Talent
Best Choice | Description |
Scrier's Gaze | Triggers Scrier's Gaze. When entering Scrier's Gaze, the Psyker gains 10% Damage and 20% Critical Chance. For every second in Scrier's Gaze, the Psyker gains 1% Damage up to a maximum of 30%. This effect lingers for 10 seconds after leaving Scrier's Gaze. While in Scrier's Gaze, the Psyker builds up Peril. Build up is temporarily slowed down by enemy Kills. At 100% Peril, Scrier's Gaze ends. Cooldown: 30 seconds. |
Other Options | Description |
Venting Shark | Unleashes a wave of warp energy that Staggers Enemies in front of the Psyker. Quells 50% Peril. Cooldown: 30 seconds. |
Telekine Shield | Spawns a psychic shield in front of the Psyker for 15 seconds. The shield blocks Enemy Ranged Attacks, while the Psyker and Allies can still shoot through. Cooldown: 40 seconds. |
Most casters will enjoy the improved upgrade to Venting Shark from Psykinetic's Wrath. By eliminating excess Peril, it allows for multiple casts without overheating. Telekine Shield is an ideal option when confronted by hordes of ranged enemies.
When used effectively, it's difficult to surpass the benefits of Scrier's Gaze. However, new players should be cautious as Peril can quickly reach 100% if used at the wrong moment. Yet, when employed against groups of weaker enemies, Scrier's Gaze grants the Psyker a sense of being one of the top operatives in the game.
Best Blitz Talent
Best Choice | Description |
Smite | Unleash a torrent of Bio-Lightning. Charge to deal high Damage and high Impact to an Enemy on release, or channel a continuous stream that deals low Damage but high Impact over time, spreading between multiple Enemies. |
Other Options | Description |
Brain Rupture | Charge up the Psyker's Psychic Power and release it to deal immense Damage to a Single Enemy. Effective against Flak and Carapace Armoured Enemies. +50% Damage over Brain Burst. |
Assail | Throw swift, homing projectiles formed of psychic energy. Less effective versus Carapace Armoured Enemies. |
The Psyker has two effective single-target damage moves listed under Blitz. Both options, Brain Rupture and Assail, offer their own advantages. Brain Rupture inflicts greater damage across a wider range of enemies, while Assail boasts a homing feature that proves helpful for inexperienced players honing their aiming skills.
However,
Best Aura Talent
, if the Psyker is responsible for dealing damage to a group rather than focusing on boss DPS. In this case, utilizing Smite is the optimal approach. While players can employ one of the game's top-notch ranged weapons to inflict damage, a skilled expert has the option to either charge or channel Smite for even more impressive outcomes.
Best Choice | Description |
Seer's Presence | +10% Cooldown Reduction on Abilities for the Psyker and Allies in Coherency. |
Other Options | Description |
Prescience | The Psyker and Allies in Coherency gain a 4% Critical Hit Chance. |
Kinetic Presence | +10% Damage (Elite and Specialist Enemies) for the Psyker and Allies in Coherency. |
Seer's Presence can greatly enhance certain builds, leading to monstrous outcomes. Providing a 10% cooldown reduction for the entire team benefits everyone, but it particularly empowers Psykers who excel in casting destructive psychic attacks.
Meanwhile, those who favor using top-tier melee weapons will find Prescience advantageous as it grants an additional 4% critical hit chance to all allies. However, this bonus may prove overwhelming for specific teammates. While Kinetic Presence may appear enticing with its additional 10% damage, it should be noted that it only applies against two particular enemy types.
Best Keystone Talent
Best Choice | Description |
Empowered Psionics | Kills have a 7.5% chance to Empower the Psyker's next Blitz. Empowered Brain Rupture: 100% Peril Cost Reduction, 50% Cast Time Reduction, +50% Damage. Empowered Smite: +30% Damage, 25% faster Enemy spread. Empowered Assail: 100% Peril Cost Reduction, +50 Base Damage, does not consume charges. |
Other Options | Description |
Warp Siphon | Killing an Elite or Specialist Enemy gains the Psyker a Warp Charge for 25 seconds, stacking 4 times. The Psyker's next Combat Ability spends all available Warp Charges to reduce the Cooldown of that Combat Ability by 7.5% per Warp Charge. |
Disrupt Destiny | Every second, Enemies within 25 meters have a chance of being Marked. Killing a Marked Enemy Replenishes 10% Toughness, grants +20% Movement Speed for 2.5 seconds, and adds a Precision Bonus for 15 seconds. Each Precision Bonus grants +1% Damage, +2% Critical Damage, and +2.5% Weakspot Damage. Precision Bonus Stacks 15 times. |
Selecting a Keystone talent for the Psyker can be challenging, but the Empowered Psionics talent stands out as the ideal choice. By enhancing all abilities in a significant manner, it holds immense value for any build. Considering the vital role abilities play, this option proves to be advantageous in various scenarios.
Warp Siphon specializes in harnessing the power of killing Elites and Specialists, allowing your weaponry to speak for itself. Another alternative is Disrupt Destiny, although it is important to note that it only activates when the Psyker eliminates the designated target.
You can now experience Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
