Darktide: Soulfire Psyker Build

Patch 13 for Darktide for has completely overhauled the game's class system, giving each of the four playable character types vastly expanded skill trees that allow for deeper build customization. This change has opened up broader horizons for each class, and players now have more freedom in terms of how to cater to the playstyle they prefer.

As of this patch, Psykers now have the option to build heavily into DPS, crowd control, or defensive roles. The classic Soulblaze setup is much stronger than it was before for clearing large hordes, and building it in the new skill tree is relatively straightforward as well. Here's how to make and use this build in Darktide.

Darktide Psyker Build: Soulblaze Skill Tree Setup

Soulblaze is a damage-over-time effect that continuously burns enemies with Soulfire. This build aims to inflict Soulblaze as frequently as possible to enemies via skills and the Purgatus Force Staff in hopes of quickly stacking Warp Charges, which decrease the cooldown of the selected active skill while increasing the base damage of all attacks. Psykers are good at a lot of things, but this particular build focuses on dealing with hordes and special enemies.

There's a maximum of 30 skill points to spend, and players will want to focus on getting the ones that boost Warp damage, Critical Hit Chance, and Quell-related buffs. There's plenty of room for flexibility in this build in terms of where the skill points are spent, but the following is a streamlined setup that focuses on CC and damage:

1–10 Points
Skill	Effect
Warp Expenditure	Replenish Toughness with every 10% Peril generated
Battle Mediation	Chance to quell Peril on kill
Toughness Boost	+15 Toughness
Brain Rupture (Blitz)	Charge up and deal massive damage to a single enemy
Kinetic Resonance	Brain Rupture gains +75% cast speed and -50% Peril generation after using a Combat Ability
Peril Resistance	-5% Peril generation
Wildfire	Soulblazed enemies spread Soulblaze to nearby enemies on death
Psykinetic's Aura	Cooldowns reduced by 5% on Elite/Specialist kill
Inspiring Presence	+10 Toughness replenishment
Seer's Presence	+10 Ability Cooldown Reduction
11-20 Points
Skill	Effect
One With The Warp	Gain Toughness Reduction based on current Peril levels
Peril Resistance	-5% Peril generation
Venting Shriek (Combat Ability)	Stagger all enemies in front and remove 50% Peril
Becalming Eruption	Reduce Peril generation for each enemy hit by Venting Shriek
Creeping Flames	Venting Shriek ignites all enemies with Soulfire
Peril Resistance	-5% Peril generation
Puppet Master	+50% Coherency aura radius
Toughness Damage Reduction	+5% bonus
Solidity	Increase Quell speed by 30%
Toughness Boost	+15 Toughness
21-30 Points
Skill	Effect
Warp Siphon	Gain a Warp Charge after killing an Elite/Specialist. Warp Charges are consumed when using Combat Abilities. Combat Ability cooldowns are reduced by 7.5% per spent Warp Charge Up to four Warp Charges can be stored
Inner Tranquility	-6% Peril generation for each Warp Charge
Empyrean Empowerment	+4% base damage to all attacks per Warp Charge
In Fire Reborn	Killing enemies with Soulblaze on them has a chance to generate a Warp Charge
Warp Battery	Stack up to six Warp Charges
Health Boost	+10% HP
Warp Rider	Up to +20% Warp Damage based on Current Peril
Soulstealer	Replenish Toughness on Warp Attack Kill
Perilous Combustion	Kill an Elite/Specialist to inflict Soulblaze on all enemies near it
Perfect Timing	+3% Warp Damage on Critical Hits

This build strikes a nice balance between CC and DPS. Using a Purgatus Force Staff means players don't have to rely on abilities to gain Warp Charges. Also, now that Warp Charges reduce the cooldowns of abilities, Venting Shriek should be available every 20 seconds assuming players can get max Warp Charges before they use it the first time.

Randomly-rolled Purgatus Staff in Darktide — Darktide Purgatus Force Staff stats

Brain Rupture makes up for the Purgatus Staff's lack of range. Since Venting Shriek will be off-cooldown a lot, players will be able to trigger Kinetic Resonance often, making Brain Rupture invaluable when it comes to hordes filled with Elite and Special units. Expect Venting Shriek to come off cooldown before Kinetic Resonance's duration ends when playing in Hi-Intensity Shock Troop Gauntlet missions.

Players are free to choose whichever melee weapons they prefer, though single-target weapons like the Dueling Swords, Deimos Force Sword, Catachan Combat Blade, or any of the axes and swords with Strikedown or Assassin movesets.

Use the Purgatus Staff in hordes and Brain Rupture when there are too many Elites/Specialists. Players will be able to completely refresh Venting Shriek's cooldown if they have six Warp Charges and kill three or four Elite/Special enemies.