illustration done with Image Generation 4o (ChatGPT)Playing Solo
Solo game mode is actually not supported by Darktide. There are several threads about this. This guide is not about that.
However, you have to understand that , actually, you need to use mods to be able to play “solo”. Please refrain to start a discussion to ask that Fatshark gives us this game mode.
This guide aims at presenting the different solutions that exist. Let’s say it, if you play on console, you cannot play solo. There’s is no possibility for you. Sorry.
The definition of a solo game, in this guide, is: « a game that you play without any human teammate. »
I - The options for playing a “solo” game
A. Many More Try
Many More Try is a mod that can allow you to play solo and also progress in the game. So you will gain experience, collect materials, and be able to complete contracts or objectives.
This also means that you have to use the standard bots.
Actually you can use DTFilter or Darktide Mission to get missions ID.
B. Solo Mod
Solo mod is a mod that allows you to play a game locally. You still need an internet connection to access your account (and your characters), but missions will be played offline.
This means that there is no progression in this mode. It also means that you regain a large degree of freedom.
You can tweak your game with these mods.
List of mods that works for the Solo mod:
- True Solo QoL : This mod permits you to disable bots, pause the game or restart the mission.
- Will of The Emperor : basically, a mod that permits you to cheat
- Tertium 5 : You can use your characters as bots.
- Unspeakable : An actually game modifier mod, can be used in Solo Play. Darktide’s version of VT2 Deathwish mod.
- SpawnTweaks : Disable enemies spawns by type.
- Combat Evolved : Reworks Darktide’s combat to behave more like Vermintide 2.
- SoloMinigames: Permits to automatically resolves minigames after several seconds (you can define the time needed)
Secret
You can change your build in middle of a mission in this mod. You just need to press the key to access inventory
C. Mini games mods
If you play Many More Try, or if you don’t want to the easy solution of SoloMinigames, you can also use the mini games solvers that work in any game (and not just for solo mod like SoloMinigames).
Here a list of these mods:
II - Playing missions
A. Generic bots of the game
Follow these rules:
- Be careful not to let a bot stays near a medical station. If you see a medical station, take the med charge before the bot does. Bots don’t monitor your health.
- Don’t put yourself in danger to save a bot. If a bot dies, so be it.
- Use the bots — they are just tools. If they can give you time against a monstrosity while you kill a second one, let one die against one… that’s their mission, dying for you.
Why these rules? Obviously they are not rules… just several advices.
And why these advices? Because you have to understand that you’re playing a solo game. This means that once you die, it’s game over. If a bot dies, it’s not a problem. In a solo game, you will learn to rely only on yourself. So being alone is… normal.
Having bots means you have an extra chance: they might free you from a net, hit that Pox Hound, or revive you.
Standard bots have incredible stamina, so they can block a Demon Host for a long time. This also means that bots are like mini-Ogryns when it comes to reviving players — so yes, they can revive you.
However, the weak points of bots are clear: you can summarize their talents with one aura — Survivor. You won’t get more from them. They won’t use blitzes, they don’t know how to activate abilities, and they don’t have keystones.
Their aim is incredibly precise, but their vision range is limited. So don’t expect them to take out a sniper from far away — you should handle that before a bot gets killed.
At close range (under 25 meters), they always hit. The problem is their choice of weapons. Their headhunter is quite weak — it’s a poor weapon, probably a grey one.
Same goes for the Catachan sword or the tactical axe that bots use. These weapons are weak on light attacks — and bots only use light attacks.
To summarize:
You’re alone. The bots won’t help you much except to push a dog off you, free you from a net, and, if you’re particularly lucky, revive you.
However, if you fall to a Crusher, you can expect to see the bots trying to kill it with Catachan swords… and all dying in the process. Most of the time, if you make a mistake, the game will end abruptly. The odds of winning are pretty low due to the fact that you have to clear everything on your own without making any fatal mistakes.
B. Using your own bots
If you go for the solo mod and use your own bots with Tertium 5, things are clearly differents.
You can configure them and so choose their class and weapons.
Using a Plasma Gun on any of the chars used as a bot leads to a game crash actually.
Here several bots limits:
- bots don’t know using heavy hit with a melee weapon
- best classes are obviously zealot or ogryn cause bots can be easily wounded
- bot get a +1 bonus for wound (so a basis of 4 for human, and 5 for ogryn on damnation / heresy)
- bots don’t dodge, but they parry
- bots will never use the special of a weapon
- bots don’t aim
Several tips to configure your characters as an efficient bot
Weapons I advice for bots:
Melee weapons
- Combat axe Rashad (if zealot critical build) or Antax (veteran or zealot without critical build)
- Pick axes
- Latrine shovel
Ranged weapons
- Heavy laspistol (that they use sometimes)
- Infantry Autogun (MKV is perfect)
- Revolver (absolutely good, both MK, Agri can be better as they aim good and that this weapon has more ammo)
- Boltgun (fun to see bots with that)
- Boltpistol
Top talents for bots
Zealot
- Beacon of purity is a good choice especially if you pick shield of contempt to get it.
- Shield of contempt: a big help in a solo game
- Blazing piety can be used. I would go for righteous warrior branch
- Martyrdom builds, great for a bot
Veteran
- Close Order Drill is a must!
- All auras
- Precision strikes
- Superiority complex (+15% vs elite) and Bring it Down (+20% against ogryn & monstrosities)
- Rending strikes
- Field improvisation
- Leave no one behind
Ogryn
- Any keystone can work
- Any aura works… but I would prefer the 2 first unless you want to use for you the aura effect of Coward Culling (+20% damages against suppressed enemies)
- All talents to refresh toughness… you can take all
Talents to not take
Zealot
- Loner branch
- anything that requires dodging
Veteran
- Every talents linked to abilities or grenades
- Any keystone
- anything that requires to think about what you do… like bonus linked to stamina, running, dodging
Ogryn
- any talent that requires an heavy hit or pushing or abilities
You have to adapt the blessings. For example, for a Combat Axe, I would take Thunderous, Headtaker, or Brutal Momentum. I would avoid Thrust, since bots never use heavy attacks. I also wouldn’t pick Shred or Decapitator, because you have to chain hits without stopping, which is too difficult for a bot.
Keep it simple. Pick blessings that proc on simple hits. Always keep in mind that you are equipping bots. They are stupid. So give them tools that let them help you.
If you can use your bots effectively, they can help you and be really efficient. They might even kill a lot of enemies faster than you. You could be really surprised by them (when you use your own characters as bots).
However, while they are excellent at close range (25 meters or less), they are clearly blind at long range. A sniper can aim at them and kill them without any reaction from them.
C. General tips
- The Trapper is your worst enemy and your top killing priority. Most of solo games end because of a trapper.
- Never get close to a Poxburster, or a bot could explode it.
- Take everything you need… That bot has 8% ammo, you’re at 85%, take the ammo. Anyway, bots use water pistols (unless you’re using your own characters as bots).
- That bot has only one wound and 5% HP… you’re at 75% HP, take the med charge before he does. When he dies, you’ll revive him at the next waypoint.
- Don’t rush, don’t push forward. Don’t hesitate to go back. You’re alone, if you fall, the game ends.
- Advance at your own pace. Don’t rush. Take your time. Few enemies will spawn, out of events, if you take your time. Learn what starts a spawn event, and what can end it.
- Secure your position… During events, make sure everything is safe before you start hacking. An Ogryn can complete any event without being interrupted, but you’ll lose health in the process. However, it’s the best class for such events. If you use the Solo Mod, you can add the mod that removes mini-games.
- Restart from Malice. It should be easy if you regularly play Damnation. Then try Heresy, it should be hard. Once you manage it, return to Damnation, and so on. You’re playing a different game now. You’re alone! This is seriously, totally different.
- If you just want to have a fun time, don’t forget that the Solo Mod can be tweaked with several other mods. For example, you can remove specials from spawning. With mod that control spawning, you can even visit levels without any enemies disturbing you.
- You should, but no obligation, take a weapon that is efficient at long range. Bots are clearly blind at long range. It is your job to take care of such threats.
III - The events
In any mission, there are events that, in solo, can be a real problem. The following list aims to give you an idea of the real difficulty of playing a mission solo.
What are this strange way to summarize a mission?
The scheme is not hard to understand. It details every step of a mission and attributes a difficulty to the mission. Below 10, it is a green flag, between 10 and 15 it is an orange flag, and above 15 it is a big red flag.
The idea is to give you a fair understanding of what will make this mission really difficult to complete in a solo game.
What is the difference between old and new generation maps?
The maps “old gen” have more pathways, more places where the team can split. Old gen maps also have more objectives that are focused on team completion. These maps are less good to be played solo.
Maps have evolved to a corridor pathway (only one pathway) and have greatly restricted the number of objectives that need team cooperation. The new maps are really better to play solo as they are easier.
Follow a list of missions and their difficulties regarding solo game mode.
Archivum Sycorax
Medicae ─ Labyrinth ─ Ventilation airflow (2) + button ─ Door passage
─ Final event ─ Scanning 4 objects (3 times) ─ Hold your ground
─ Extraction
Ascension Riser 31
─ Event ─ Train room ─ Push button 1 time ─ Collect and place power core (2 times) ─ Place servo-skull and hold your ground (2 times) ─ Hacking 1 time ─ Activate lever ─ End: Airlock sas
Refinery Delta-17
