Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has launched a new trailer revealing a new DLC character class coming to the game soon, the Hive Scum, along with a press release detailing its gameplay.
As the name implies, it has you play as a full-blown criminal scumbag that's been drafted to purge their Hive World from the cultists and daemons of Nurgle infesting it.
The Hive Scum is a psychotic class that specializes in dual-wielding weapons like autopistols, stubs, and shivs, injecting themselves with dangerous custom-made Stimms to boost their stats, poisoning enemies with chemical bombs, and more.
According to Fatshark's dev blog, the Hive Scum will have three distinct gameplay styles to invest their talent trees in "Gunslinger", "Ruffian", and "Chemist" (these names are not official and will be changed in the final build).
Gunslinger
The Gunslinger archetype revolves around dodging enemies and blasting them up close and personal with your guns.
Here are some of the Gunslinger archetype's abilities stated in the dev blog:
- Talent – In Your Face: Increased damage at close range, which is further increased for a short while after reloading.
- Talent – Like the Wind: Dramatically increased Sprint Dodge Angle, and can Sprint Dodge even without Stamina.
- Base Coherency Aura – Gunslinger: When an Ammo pickup is collected by you or your Allies in Coherency, everyone else in Coherency also replenishes a small amount of ammo.
- Base Blitz – Blinder: An extremely quick-to-throw blinding grenade, which staggers enemies. This enables the Hive Scum to close the gap and get into their preferred range with very little effort, regardless of what gunlines the heretics have aiming your way. (The devs mention it can be thrown mid-combo while using melee weapons).
- Base Combat Ability – Desperado: Immediately swap to and reload your ranged weapon, entering Desperado for a few seconds. During Desperado, the Hive Scum is immune to Ranged Attacks, Sprinting costs no stamina, and reloading does not reduce your Ammo Reserve. Close Ranged Kills extends the duration of Desperado.
- Keystone – Vulture’s Mark: Killing Specials or Elites with a Ranged weapon gives you stacks of Vulture’s Mark, which improves Ranged Damage, Ranged Critical Strike Chance, and Movement Speed. At max stacks, ranged Special and Elite kills restore Toughness for you and Allies in Coherency.
Ruffian
Next, we have the Ruffian archetype. It's another dodge-heavy playstyle, but it trades away the firepower of the Gunslinger archetype in favor of skills centred around caving an enemy's skull in with melee weapons.
Here are some of the Ruffian archetype's abilities stated in the dev blog:
- Talent – Nimble: Dodges move farther and last longer.
- Talent – Hyper-Violence: Upon Melee kill, gain bonus Melee Damage based on the amount of overkill damage.
- Coherency Aura – Ruffian: Increased Melee damage for you and Allies in Coherency.
- Blitz – Boom Bringer: A high-powered missile launcher. What else is there to say? For when you really want something dead!
- Combat Ability – Rampage!: Enter Rampage! for a few seconds, gaining vastly increased Melee Attack power, Attack Speed, Damage Reduction, and becoming immune to Stuns and Suppression. Melee attacks extend the duration of Rampage!, although this effect is diminished after 30 seconds. Exiting Rampage! leaves you exhausted and vulnerable for a few seconds.
- Keystone – Adrenaline Frenzy: A very aggressive keystone that encourages relentless brawling! Melee hits grant stacks of Adrenaline, which are lost over time when not attacking. At max stacks, lose all stacks and gain Adrenaline Frenzy, increasing Attack Speed and Melee Damage for a few seconds.
Chemist
Finally, we have the Chemist archetype. This archetype revolves around developing artificially-enhanced Stimms to give you special buffs and poisoning enemies with chemicals (there's even a way you can lace your weapons with chemicals that the developers will reveal in the future).
Here are some of the Chemist archetype's abilities stated in the dev blog:
- Talent – Blessed Stimms: While Stimmed, killing blows clear some Corruption.
- Talent – Targeted Toxin: Enemies infected with your Chem Toxin deal less damage. Increased effect on Monsters.
- Coherency Aura – Anarchist: Increased Critical Chance for you and Allies in Coherency.
- Blitz – Chem Grenade: Throw a canister containing Chem Toxin, which breaks open and spills its contents across an area when it explodes. Any enemy that enters the lingering toxic cloud will be affected by stacks of Chem Toxin.
- Combat Ability – Stimm Supply: The Hive Scum has ‘repurposed’ military gadgets to come up with this customized Medical Crate that can be placed down on the ground. This is a supportive ability that grants nearby Allies the effects of the Hive Scum’s Cartel Special Stimm.
- Keystone – Chemical Dependency: While the Stimm Lab allows you to craft the perfect Stimm to suit your playstyle, the more potent Cartel Special Stimms have a longer cooldown. This Keystone is not so much about the perfect Stimm, but about taking as many Stimms as you can, as fast as you can!
This class sounds like pure chaos, and I'm all for it.
While I did enjoy playing the Arbites class and siccing my Cyber-Mastiff on enemies, I think I'm going to enjoy playing as the Hive Scum way more.
Its ballistic, in-your-face playstyle, where you make mincemeat out of enemies with dual-wielding weapons and poisons, sounds right up my alley, especially its Ruffian archetype, where you turn into a berserker.
It reminds me of Krieg from Borderlands 2, a nigh-unkillable berserker that lets you experience what it's like to be one of the iconic Psycho enemies of the Borderlands series.
I'm sad that Borderlands has never made another playable character like Krieg again since Borderlands 2, even in Borderlands 4. So if Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's new Hive Scum class can let me relive those blood-soaked glory days as Krieg, then I'm fully onboard.
The Hive Scum class will be available to purchase for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on December 2 for $11.99 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.
There will also be a Deluxe Edition of the Hive Scum DLC available on December 2, 2025, which will include the Hive Scum class, a Deluxe class outfit, a Deluxe hairstyle, six Deluxe weapon skins, and a unique Deluxe tattoo set.
FAQ
What is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide?
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a co-op horde-shooter set within the grim, dark universe of Warhammer 40,000, where you are tasked with liberating the city of Tertiam from Chaos cultists and daemons created by the Chaos God, Nurgle.
How many players can form co-op parties?
Players can form up to 4-player co-op parties.
What platforms is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide available to purchase on?
The game is available to purchase on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide available on Xbox Game Pass?
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is included within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
However, you will need Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to access multiplayer on consoles.
Also, you will need to purchase the game and acquire either Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass Essential to stream it via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
