How to Special Attack in Darktide

Learn how to change your special attack keybind in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. We cover PC and controller setups, plus examples of special attacks.

Alright, so you want to know how to use those fancy special attacks in Darktide? It's not super obvious at first, but thankfully, it's pretty easy to set up once you know where to look. Think of it like this: most weapons have a little something extra they can do, and you just need to tell the game which button you want to use for it.

First things first, you'll need to dive into the game's options. Press the Escape key to bring up the main menu, then navigate to the Options screen. From there, you're looking for Keybinding. Once you're in the keybinding menu, scroll down a bit – you're looking for the 'weapon special actions' keybind. It's usually the third one down.

Now, you can set it to whatever feels comfortable for you. We found that the 'V' key works pretty well because it's not typically used for anything else and it's easy to reach. But honestly, pick any key that makes sense to you and doesn't clash with another important action. The main thing is that it's reliable and you can hit it without fumbling when things get hectic.

If you were stuck on the tutorial mission, you might have noticed the prompt updating to show your new keybind – that's a good sign you've set it up correctly!

For those of you playing with a controller, the button you'll use for special attacks is the right thumbstick. This is super handy, especially if you're planning to jump in on Game Pass or if a console version pops up down the line.

So, what can you actually do with this special attack? Well, it really depends on the weapon. For guns, it often activates a flashlight, which is a lifesaver in Darktide's darker corners. Melee weapons, like Force Swords, might unleash a burst of extra damage by channeling peril. The best advice? Whenever you grab a new gun or a different melee weapon, give that special attack button a press and see what happens. You might discover some cool new tricks!