Unleash Devastation with Warhammer 40,000: Darktide - Ultimate Talents Guide for Seasoned Veterans
The Sharpshooter in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide can achieve devastating DPS if equipped with the perfect talents Discover the top Ability, Blitz, and Aura talents that will enhance your gameplay and make you unstoppable
The Veteran, the expert in ranged physical damage, dominates as the primary damage dealer in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, surpassing the contributions of other classes. With the ability to unleash deadly shots from both close range and afar without slowing down, teams rely on this operative to carry the weight during combat.
To fulfill this role effectively, players must acquire the top feats available in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. While improved weapons and gear provide assistance, they cannot compare to the transformative impact that talents have on the character and the game itself.
Updated on October 9th, 2023 by Hodey Johns: Path #13 has brought about a significant overhaul for the Veteran and all other operatives. Alongside this revamp, numerous changes have been made to gameplay, combat, and leveling, reshaping the effectiveness and worth of various weapons and abilities. The most notable adjustment lies in the talent system, which has replaced the previous feats. Ranking these talents poses a challenge, as different builds will have varying priorities. Opting for the "best" talents may result in an incoherent character, as some talents work well together. Nevertheless, it is worth exploring the talents that have seen the greatest success and have made the Veteran a popular choice in a given party.
Best Ability Talent
Best Choice | Description |
Executioner's Stance | Enter a ranged stance for 5 seconds. When in Ranged Stance, the Veteran instantly equips a ranged weapon and deals +25% Ranged Damage and +25% Weakspot Damage. The Veteran's Spread and Recoil are also greatly reduced. Elite Enemies and Specialist Enemies are highlighted for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 25 seconds. |
Other Choices | Description |
Voice of Command | Replenishes the Veteran's Toughness and Staggers all Enemies within 9 meters. Cooldown: 45 seconds. |
Infiltrate | Replenish all Toughness and enter Stealth for 6 seconds, gaining +25% Movement Speed. Leaving Stealth Suppresses nearby enemies. Attacking makes the Veteran leave Stealth. Cooldown: 60 seconds. |
Upgrading the Veteran's Volley Fire, The Executioner's Stance immediately establishes itself as the most powerful DPS build in the game. The cooldown for this ability is astonishingly low, which greatly contributes to its effectiveness. When fully equipped, the Veteran becomes one of the top operatives in the game.
Although the cooldown for Voice of Command is slightly too long to be fully justified in certain situations, it can still be useful. Similarly, Infiltrate offers a means of escape with its Stealth and speed, but its cooldown is also quite lengthy. These choices are acceptable when playing without a well-rounded group, but if there is a support and tank available, opting for Executioner's Stance is the superior option.
Best Blitz Talent
Best Choice | Description |
Shredder Frag Grenade | Throw a frag grenade that explodes after a short delay. Applies 6 Stacks of Bleed to all Enemies Hit, causing Damage over time. |
Other Choices | Description |
Krak Grenade | Throw a grenade that deals devastating Damage. Sticks to Flak Armoured, Carapace Armoured, and Unyielding Enemies. |
Smoke Grenade | Throw a grenade that creates a lingering smoke cloud for 10 seconds. The cloud blocks line of sight for most enemies and reduces the sight range of enemies inside it. |
The Krak Grenade is highly effective at inflicting significant damage within a confined radius. Its adhesive property allows it to target specific units, making it a potentially ideal choice for certain combat scenarios. Those with expertise in tactical warfare will appreciate the Smoke Grenade's utility for the Veteran class, as it enables them to anticipate the locations where adversaries typically launch ranged assaults and effectively block access to these areas.
Best Aura Talent
The Shredder Frag Grenade proves to be highly effective in various scenarios. Its explosive burst is capable of eliminating a vast majority of adversaries, while those of considerable strength will gradually succumb to a fatal bleeding. Engage in close combat using top-notch melee weapons to personally ensure the task's completion, or conveniently eliminate remaining stragglers from a safe distance.
Best Choice | Description |
Fire Team | +3% Damage for the Veteran and Allies in Coherency. |
Other Choices | Description |
Survivalist | Replenish 1% Ammo for the Veteran and Allies in Coherency whenever anyone kills an Elite or Specialist Enemy. |
Close and Kill | +5% Movement Speed for the Veteran and Allies in Coherency. |
The additional movement speed provided by Close and Kill can be situational, as it often results in the Allies within the Coherency Aura range not being far enough. Moreover, Veterans equipped with the top-notch ranged weapons should prioritize dealing damage rather than traversing the battlefield.
Fire Team and Survivalist hold similar levels of effectiveness. On lower difficulty settings, encounters with Elite and Specialist enemies occur less frequently, making the additional damage from Fire Team more advantageous. However, there are specific maps where the Survivalist talent offers greater rewards.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is available now for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
