Darktide Psyker Class Build and Guide: The Mage Playstyle: Guide

Master the Psyker's burst damage and crowd control in warhammer 40000 darktide. Learn about Warp Charges, talents, and end-game weapons.

The Psyker class in warhammer 40000 darktide is designed for burst damage, making it an effective boss killer and a long-reaching class. Its Brain Buster ability allows for easy elimination of distant targets like Snipers and Flamers, and it possesses decent single-target damage. A core mechanic for the Psyker is Warp Charge, which increases damage by 3% per stack, stacking up to four times by default and lasting for 25 seconds. This mechanic encourages a playstyle of building stacks before unleashing heavy damage.

The Psyker's unique ability can easily knock down hordes and even stun larger, armored enemies, providing breathing room for the team or creating openings to eliminate threats. The class aura, Kinetic Presence, grants allies a 10% damage bonus against Elite enemies. However, the Psyker is one of the squishiest classes in the game, with low base health and toughness.

Pros: High Burst, Solid sniping on key enemies, Great Crowd Control, Anti Elite and Boss skills and passives.

Cons: Squishy, Managing Peril can be tricky, Poor starting loadout, Managing Warp Charges can be tricky.

Psyker Feats and Talents

The recommended Psyker talents are as follows:

• Level 5: Essence Harvest (Replenishes 30% Toughness over 5 seconds on gaining Warp Charges) or Warp Absorption (Grants toughness when killing enemies with a Warp Attack, good with force staff). Essence Harvest is a great leveling talent.
• Level 10: Wrack and Ruin (Killing an Elite or Specialist with Brain Bust applies 2 stacks of Soulblaze to nearby targets within 3 meters) or Psykinetic’s Wrath (Increases your damage with force weapons based on Peril). Wrack and Ruin offers great AOE cleave on elite-heavy moments, while Psykinetic’s Wrath grants general DPS improvements to your Force Staff. Both work well when paired with the Purgator Staff for more Soulblaze burn stacks or higher damage force weapons.
• Level 15: Cerebral (Grants damage buffs to you and your allies on the target affected by Brain Bust) or Psychic Communion (Grants better Warp Charge generation). Cerebral supports boss builds, while Psychic Communion helps build your own DPS boost.
• Level 20: Mind in Motion (Your movement speed is no longer affected when quelling Peril). This is a flavor option but provides nice movement speed.
• Level 25: Kinetic Flayer (All attacks have a 10% chance to Brain Bust the Target, does not occur at critical peril and has a 15-second cooldown) or Overload (for Soulfire spread). Kinetic Flayer specializes in pack clearing, while Overload focuses on single-target damage.
• Level 30: Ascending Blaze (Expend all warp charges and apply stacks of Soulblaze to enemies based on the number of Soul Charges. Enemies killed have a 10% chance to grant Warp Charges) or Kinetic Barrage (for boss damage). Ascending Blaze is good for damage buffs without needing to Brain Bust, especially on hordes.

Talent choices can be adapted based on the mission, level, and affixes. For assassination missions or random bosses, consider boss-focused talents. For levels with heavy armored enemies, choose Soulfire talents for cleave damage. You will need to alter your build slightly each mission to adapt to the situations.

End game weapons

This build enhances your Force Staff, which is the best ranged weapon for the Psyker. For the late game, consider the following:

• Surge Force Staff
• Force Sword of choice

Your Force Staff's heavy attack is crucial for horde clearing. Being in Coherency may grant Brain Bust's damage buff stacks. While the Force Staff deals less damage to individual elites, its special attack boosts damage against them. Its melee attack is useful for close-range hordes when necessary.

Warning: Be mindful of your block into push attack counter, as it uses peril instead of stamina. If your peril is high, this can be a death trap. Save your kinetic blast for moments you need to shove with high peril. Your staff should quell peril fast for regular peril management methods.

Psyker Leveling Tips

As you level up, you will unlock access to shops, which help you unlock more weapon types and better quality weapons. You start with the Devil Claw sword, which has great cleave.