Warhammer 40k: Darktide - Psyker Class Guide (Abilities, Feats, & Weapons) (2024)

Armed with the mage-like abilities drawn from the taboo powers of the Immaterium, the Psyker class in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide fights against hordes of enemies using psykinetic abilities, weapons, and feats that pick off opponents at a range with all the strength of the perilous realm known as the Warp. Functioning as a high DPS glass cannon, the Psyker has a heavy reliance on their powerful traits to deal incredibly high single-target damage while being careful not to draw too much from the plane that gives them the arcane, as it could lead to their immediate death. Ultimately a unique class in the game, players who commit to the Psyker class must maintain a balance of their skills.

While the Pyskinetic Psyker has two starting weapons that work effectively as backup tools when in a pinch, the stand-out feature of the class revolves around their Brain Burst magical ability. This feature provides the most damage the player may produce when in comparison to the standard weaponry, and combines with two Passive Abilities to increase its potency even further during battle.

However, a third passive ability limits the number of magical powers the Psyker may use through a system called Peril. Other Feats gained from progression through class tiers, as well as a Coherency Aura that aids co-op allies in Warhammer 40k: Darktide round out the remaining features of the Psyker.

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Balance Peril and Corruption When Using the Psyker's Brain Burst

The ultimate ability of the Psyker class, Brain Burst deals a high amount of single target damage after being charged for a duration by the player. A meter labeled "Peril" on the center-left side of the player's UI represents a percentage that climbs the more times the Psyker uses this ability in succession. If Peril reaches 100%, and players use another Brain Burst, the Psyker goes down in a large explosion that damages nearby allies from the overuse of powers from the Warp. Players are able to reduce the Peril meter value by holding down the reload button, but this action greatly reduces their movement speed in the process.

Although allies are more than capable of helping the Pskyer in Warhammer 40k: Darktide's first-person melee when in a downed state if they accidentally use Brain Burst too frequently, the burst damage that happens as a result, can be detrimental to an entire team if players are grouped together closely. Players should consider using the Psyker's two standard weapons, the Force Sword melee weapon and Revolver ranged weapon to balance their damage and not rely too heavily on using their arcane ability as often.

Deal Major Damage with Passive Abilities and Aura Coherency

Every class in Warhammer 40k: Darktide has access to a Passive Aura Coherency that buffs themselves and their allies within a certain distance. For the Psyker class, this Coherency is called Kinetic Presence, and allows the player and their teammates to deal an extra 10% damage to any Elite enemies they target. This Aura works particularly well with the Veteran class, as they specialize in dealing damage to Elite and Specialist enemy weak points for consistent damage, a feature that benefits greatly from the boost given by the Psyker.

In addition to the Coherency, the Psyker has two Passive Abilities named Warp Siphon and Battle Meditation that increase damage and reduce Peril respectfully. To include more detail, Warp Siphon gives players a stack of a resource, Warp Charges, when they eliminate an enemy with Brain Burst. Stacking up to four times, the Psyker deals a boosted 3% damage for each Warp Charge they have accumulated. On the other hand, Battle Meditation has an element of chance that has a 10% opportunity to activate when killing a foe, decreasing the percentage of Peril the player has gained by 10% if triggered.

Reduce Peril Greatly Using Psykinetic Wrath

As stated previously, maintaining the balance of Brain Burst damage output and the player's Peril meter while hacking and blasting through Warhammer 40k: Darktide should be the primary focus of those using the Psyker class. Therefore, the Class Ability Psykinetic Wrath contributes greatly toward this goal, giving players a 50% reduction to their Peril automatically upon activation. The Psyker also pushes a majority of enemies back from their position when using this ability, getting players out of dangerous close-range fights that would otherwise be perilous due to the class' low health.

Sample Feats for Future Psyker Builds

Players gain Feat slots every five levels as they progress through the Psyker class, evident through a Skill Tree that opens up new options for various playstyles. The longer cooldowns on the Psyker's abilities typically see players tackling main objectives such as resetting Data-Interrogators or using the Auspex radar while Elite enemy behaviors in Warhammer 40k: Darktide are less frequent, but this does not mean players cannot be thrown into the thick of fights unexpectedly. No matter which task the Psyker takes on, certain feats that influence the Toughness Curios or bolster damage generally form the most formidable builds for the class.

An example Feat players can equip to the Psyker at Level 5 is Essence Harvest, which ties directly to Warp Siphon. For every Warp Charge players earn, they also regain 30% of their Toughness over a five-second duration, giving the Psyker a much-needed boost in durability. A variation to this tier's slot functions similarly to this with a slight difference through Warp Absorption, which immediately grants the player 10% of their Toughness when eliminating an enemy with any psychic ability.

As more Psyker cosmetics in Warhammer 40k: Darktide and feats are unlocked at Level 10, players may wish to use the Inner Tranquility skill, as it slows their Peril gain by 6%, stacking higher for each Warp Charge they have collected. Alternatively, Wrack and Run causes all enemies around an Elite or Specialist who has been killed with Brain Burst to be afflicted with Soulblaze, a debilitating fire that deals damage over time. Regardless of the feats players use for the Psyker class in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the importance of their abilities and the delicate balance of their weapons play a key role on a team that remains distinct from every other class in the game.

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