Veteran Talent Analysis + Quintessential Build

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide General Discussion
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So a discussion continues regarding Zealot in another thread, but I figured I’d so the same for Veteran (other classes to follow).

Below is a pass at rating Veteran’s skills with the big caveat that yes, some skills can be stronger/weaker depending on other aspects of the build (i.e. using certain weapons) or leaning into certain synergies. That said, this attempts to paint a picture for how universally useful a given talent is and how well it helps you move through the talent tree in a productive way.

Here it is:

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And of course, below is a cut at a “quintessential build” working from this, and somewhat aligned with the “quintessential build” discussion from another even earlier thread.

The idea on this vet build is that is showcases that you don’t need a keystone to make a good vet build. This one of course has some optional stuff you can play around with depending on weapon, but it’s a basic template. Thoughts?

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why is one stam delay node a trap and the other neutral
vet has the worst stam regen in the game and im not using a build without at least one

out for blood is overpowered and not just a path

enhanced priority is a noobtrap

marksman focus isnt a trap, its fine, just not great compared to the braindead option (focus target)

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You don’t actually use MF I’m guessing?

Yes the range of guns it works well with is limited but it’s extremely good in those contexts.

Also long range assassin is the best sub node. Camouflage is an absolute noob trap, you’re not meant to stop moving you’re meant to keep hitting heads (very reasonable with the current timers). Chink in their armour is very rarely worth the point, and you are unlikely to have that point to spare anyway.

I’ll probably comment on other stuff later when I have more time but how glaringly wrong your MF/sub node ratings were stood out to me immediately. I get what you said about context but MF deserves at least neutral for being very strong in its niche, and the sub node ratings scream inexperience with the Keystone.

Oh I missed that lmao. Out for blood was one of my favourite toughness options even before it was buffed. Then they buffed it twice. Especially if you runs frags or any kind of bleed/dot it’s extremely good.

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Totally fine changing MF to the neutral and adjusting the sub-nodes :slight_smile:

I’m approaching this understaking as a grouip effort / crowd-sourcing input and revising from there. So these comments are super helpful.

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Ok cool. Sorry for being overly harsh there. I’ve seen too many bad MF takes I get defensive now :sweat_smile:

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i would also put revive shout into trap
same thing as in vermintide with kruber, not worth explaining

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Only because one is the only way to get to Onslaught, and there’s more flexibility to get past the other one (10% TDR is way better I feel).

Good to know. I didn’t realize people were actually running this. I feel like I never see it showing up in builds given all the other great toughness regen options vet has elsewhere.

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I did the MF penance not too long ago and hated myself the whole time. But I admit I was running Camouflage and not Long Range Assassin. Maybe I need to try it again. Do you have a MF build you like posted?

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tdr is not better when your stamina looks like this

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at least one delay node is a must

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Were you aware it works on kills from any source? I’ve seen a lot of people falsely assume it’s only for melee kills.

If you run eg bleed knife you miss out on a lot of toughness from bleeds taking kills but OfB fixes that, while also refilling you from ranged kills, nades, Infernus burns etc.

It’s not the burstiest of heals but it is the gold standard on consistent regen in Vet tree IMO.

I’ll post later when I can look at comp and see what my final arrangement is. Personally I run laspistol with ghost + desperado/dumdum, mostly left tree, new stamina regen sub node for MF + LRA (used to run duck n dive for deadshot uptime with ghost but MF stamina node is more point efficient albeit less effective).

For melee run whatever you like but probably take Kraks if you don’t pick a melee that can deal with crushers well.

Main strength of the build is effortlessly soloing every ranged mob/elite in the mission so your team doesn’t ever have to even think about them, while they basically can’t hit you, and specials and elites drop very quick to it too. Heavy laspistol can hit one crit headshot breakpoints on every elite squishier than a mauler and every special besides mutant. It’s good boss DPS too.

That said the ole’ Accatran has better boss DPS and is more consistent by volume of fire, it’s generally recommended over the Kantrael but I prefer the Kantrael for feel and the funny one shot breakpoints.

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Im just going to shamelessly butt in and dump this here.

I wouldnt mind seeing this one myself. When i go with the pistol i always pick the right side talents, never really tried going heavy left with it.

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I feel the same way, tbh.

Been trying to use MF but I suck at it, still. Also not a fan of how much of a talent sink the right side of the tree is. I have literally never used any of the bottom three nodes of weapon swap and actually just stopped using the reload node and the stamina node because I can’t justify the opportunity cost.

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Here’s my current iteration of it after the last talent tree reset:

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There’s definitely a little room for swapping some things around to preference. I like to run claw sword mostly just cause I like it, so I run kraks to help compensate. Survivalist may also not be your preference, I’ve just had a few games where I just about kill every ranged mob/elite in the map as well as most of the specials and even with shock trooper your ammo can get kinda low if your team is ammo hungry. Probably not necessary though.

My current Kant las pistol has +maniac and +elite. You definitely want the former but the latter I just haven’t bothered rerolling yet, though it may be helping with some breakpoints haven’t tested that.

Note the new desperado blessing does activate on ghost procs like duck and dive does and is currently giving more crit chance than advertised. Highly recommended secondary blessing to ghost, which is itself an insanely underrated blessing IMO.

I tend to find any mission with high intensity modifier loves to absolutely spam ranged enemies at you disproportionately to other mobs and I think that’s the main place this build really shines above others. On other Auric missions you do feel the lack of utility/survivability talents from spending so many points around MF but it’s workable and fun.

Big thing to remember is that laspistol hip fire is shockingly accurate in general, and becomes basically pinpoint even while moving when exe is up so you have a lot of control over when to use stam with dead shot and when to stay in hipfire while staying very agile.

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Desperado or Reciprocity? I think you mentioned that before and I modified one of my specs to try it.

Ofc, since the update I’ve got about fifteen loadouts needing proper testing.

Edit: just reread that it is the desperado blessing. My mistake, still sleepy.

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Both get triggered by ghost. Reciprocity didn’t used to but apparently that was changed at some point. Personally struggle to fit any right tree points in as much as I would love to have reciprocity in there.

If you take power sword or something and change to frags, using the extra point you get, the point from +5% crit chance and the point from tunnel vision you could get over to both reciprocity and duck n dive, which would probably be more optimal by a decent margin.

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Firstly: I think these are brilliant graphics and great conversation leaders. :+1: @Mezmorki

If I may though: I think the definitions worked better on the zealot tree maybe?

I know you’re trying to keep it consistent, but I don’t think you can have the entire top right corner “blue” (only take when needed) and a “leaf node” such as Only in death blue too. They’re not pathing nodes. I think if they’re suboptimal, then be bolder and colour them russet brown.

It’s fair to say these guides could be truly excellent for newer players, so something a bit more definite would I think help, even if some can argue a niche benefit.

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Interesting how I consider the centre keystone the only one worth taking.
But that’s probably more emotional than based on peak efficiency.
I know this is an approximation, and you can’t take into account every possible build (otherwise serrated blade could be conditional green, f.Ex.), but it probably is a good way to foster discussion, and for a simple discussion post, that’s some impressive production value. ^^
Not sure I get the colour on +1 grenade, personally.

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I will put my comments:

Longshot: should be blue. Now it was nerfed to 12.5m, it is really less interesting.

Charismatic: someone take this??

One motion: it should be in brown. This is a tax node except if you use a helbore or a boltgun.

Out of blood: should be in green. This is one of the best toughness regen talent (with confirmed kill)

Tactical reload: Not everybody play auric histg. Volley adapt is great in auric histg, and not good out of it. Tactical reload is good at any difficulty level and mandatory for a shotgun. Perso, I prefer 100 times this talent than Volley adapt.

Serrated blade: is a good talent for horde clear. It is also a real good talent is you use a combat blade with mercy killer

Catch a breath: is a a sort of Loner for a veteran. I agree this is a useless talent.

Grenade Tinkerer: is a good talent with a grenadier build. It is or a good monstrosities killer (krak grenades) or a serious improvement for frag grenades. I would definitively not put it with same color than Covering fire (that is totally unwanted on 90% of the builds)

Executionner stance and Infiltrate: In my opinion both should have same color. Only VoC should be in bright green. Exec has been buffed, and stealth is not really the true great ability. In term of utility, exec stance is even better.

Field improvisation: why in green??? at least put it in blue. This talent is the worst on veteran until they fix the corruption cleanser. With a grimoire in team, you deplete the medikit pretty fast. Seen it again yesterday.

Keep their heads down: must admit I prefer this than “for the emperor!”. +50% suppression can change things on autoguns.

Movement speed boost: you have put one in bright green the other in blue???

Low profile: in brown… worst talent on the veteran tree.

Leave no one behind: surely totally useless on auric with good players. But at lower difficulties, or when you meet a bad player… this is a talent that can save the run, especially if you put one or several “revive ally” bonus on curios.

Hunter’s resolve: I admit it can be a good talent (that I never picked) but I would surely not put it in bright green. At least in dark green.

About auras: I am not sure I would say that all are equals in term of utility. Survivalist is surely really good, close and kill I must admit that it is my preferred. But Fire team?

In my opinion, only focus target! is a good keystone. Weapons specialists is absolutely garbage. But yes… this is personal opinion.

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It works for duty and honour, that’s pretty powerful honestly.

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True, I have forgotten that. You’re right.

It is mentioned in enhanced descriptions.

This one is pretty solid.
Maybe I am wrong, but it is not what you posted at first? I have seen marskman keystone… so a big no for me (any build with keystones is a big no)