Warhammer 40K: Darktide Adds Adeptus Arbites in Major Update

Fatshark has unveiled the Battle for Tertium update for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, introducing the Adeptus Arbites class DLC alongside major gameplay refinements. The complete patch notes are now available.

The Adeptus Arbites expansion, Darktide's first premium class DLC, launches June 23 at 7am PDT/4pm CEST across all platforms for $11.99/€11.99. This paid content arrives simultaneously with the free Battle for Tertium update, which fundamentally restructures the player experience around a more cohesive narrative framework.

Fatshark explains the update refocuses the experience on the pivotal Battle for Tertium conflict. Players will now navigate a structured campaign featuring mission briefings and integrated cinematics. This redesigned progression system helps onboard newcomers while gradually unlocking features that were previously level-gated.

The studio has replaced the previous randomized introductory experience with carefully sequenced map reveals, enemy encounters, and character introductions. Fatshark believes this approach allows players to discover Darktide's systems at a more deliberate pace.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Battle for Tertium Update Highlights

Story missions maintain standard gameplay mechanics but feature controlled enemy spawn compositions. Players may encounter new voiceover lines during missions, with unique debrief cinematics concluding each operation.

Veteran players with level 10+ characters can bypass the campaign or replay it from scratch. Opting out requires interacting with the Barber-Chirurgeon's Personality Scourge. Notably, skipping the narrative upon first login is irreversible - experiencing the story later demands creating a new character, as mission replay functionality remains in development.

The Adeptus Arbites timeline positions these enforcers as arriving post-Battle for Tertium. While playable throughout the new campaign, certain story beats won't directly acknowledge Arbites characters. Fatshark recommends first-time players experience the narrative through core archetypes.

A revamped mission board system decouples missions from specific difficulties, enabling players to first select operations then choose their preferred challenge level. This expands available mission options across all difficulty tiers.

The difficulty progression system now unlocks through mission completion rather than character levels. "Players must demonstrate mastery at their current maximum difficulty before accessing more challenging tiers," Fatshark explains. This design aims to motivate skill development while ensuring high-level teammates have earned their placements.

Progress accrues by completing missions at one's current maximum difficulty, with failures causing minor setbacks but never dropping players to lower tiers. Higher difficulties require more completions to unlock. Existing characters will have their progression migrated based on level and mission history.

Battle for Tertium represents Darktide's most substantial update since launch, arriving as the co-op FPS approaches its third anniversary. Following a rocky debut, Fatshark's consistent improvements have elevated the game to "Mostly Positive" status on Steam.

Gameplay Adjustments

Quality of Life Improvements

Expanded operative slots to 8
Increased weapon loadout capacity to 8
Added approximately 900 new dialogue exchanges between original characters and Arbites

Weapon Balancing

Catachan "Devil's Claw" Swords

Refinements enhance crowd control capabilities and reliability through improved light attack properties and armor penetration values. Stamina management receives adjustments alongside sprint-attack functionality and hitbox optimizations.

Key adjustments:
- Light attacks now deal 50% increased base damage
- Heavy attacks gain improved armor penetration (25-50% increases)
- All models can initiate attacks while sprinting

Technical Fixes

Resolved Psyker ability display issues
Fixed mission boundary exploits
Addressed cosmetic clipping across multiple gear sets
Corrected controller deadzone implementation