Unlocking the Power of Rending in Warhammer 40,000 Darktide

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide goes beyond being a typical horde shooter, standing out with its intricate melee combat and RPG mechanics reminiscent of looter-shooter games. However, certain aspects of these mechanics are inadequately explained, leaving players confused about the purpose of their items.

One of these unexplained mechanics is Rending, which plays a vital role in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide gameplay. It is highly recommended for players to possess at least one weapon capable of inflicting this effect in order to tackle high-difficulty missions effectively.

Darktide: Rending Explained

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Rending is similar to armor penetration effects found in other games. The higher the Rending, the more armor of the target is ignored. Blessings that grant Rending percentage increase the weapon's armor penetration by the specified amount. On the other hand, Blessings that cause Rending decrease the target's armor depending on the number of stacks inflicted. The video above demonstrates the damage of a Shredder Autopistol against a Damnation-level Crusher with and without Rending.

Rending affects both Carapace and Flak Armor, although it is most effective against Carapace Armor. Carapace Armor is the most resilient type of enemy armor in the game, and players typically require specific weapons, such as Plasma Guns, Combat Axes, Bolters, and Power Swords, to deal significant damage to it.

Darktide: Rending vs Brittleness

However, with sufficient sources of Rending, even a Shredder Autopistol can effortlessly take down Crushers. This feat is primarily achievable with a Veteran class, which boasts two skills that provide innate Rending. It's also possible to eliminate Crushers using ballistic weapons, given that the target possesses enough stacks of Rending to exploit their vulnerability.

In essence, Rending and Brittleness are virtually indistinguishable. Inflicting Rending stacks on an opponent is equivalent to inflicting stacks of Brittleness. The only instance where Rending and Brittleness diverge is when a Rending percentage comes into play.

The Can Opener Blessing enhances Ogryn Ripperguns by inflicting +1-4 stacks of Rending on a target, increasing their susceptibility to damage from all sources. Similarly, Bolters equipped with the Shattering Impact Blessing can achieve the same armor-shredding effect by applying stacks of Brittleness, which also diminish the target's armor.

On the other hand, the Hand-Cannon Blessing for the Stub Revolver provides a +70% Rending bonus on Critical Hits, resulting in increased Rending damage from the shooter's Critical Hits only. It should be noted that any other Blessing that grants percentage-based Rending bonuses will solely impact the wielder of the weapon, without affecting their teammates.

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In Heresy and Damnation difficulties, where Crushers, Maulers, and Scab Ragers pose the greatest threats, it is essential to have abilities that enhance Rending and Brittleness. Bolters are the optimal choice for weapons equipped with Rending-related Blessings, although Thunder Hammers, Axes, Force Swords, and Power Swords also serve this purpose effectively.

It is advisable to always designate a squad member as a dedicated anti-armor player, ideally a Veteran equipped with either a Plasma Gun or a Mk III Helbore Lasgun. These weapons have the capability to eliminate Crushers with a single shot if the Veteran possesses sufficient Rending or if the target's brittleness is heightened.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.