Over two years after launch, Warhammer 40K co-op shooter to a significantly better state.
Since the release of Darktide's Unlocked and Loaded update in September 2024, which reworked Darktide's previously controversial itemization systems, the game has continued to see major improvements, including the addition of a new game mode, Havoc, in the Grim Protocol update. Now, the latest update to Darktide, Nightmares & Visions, released on March 25, 2025, adds yet another new game mode, along with additional improvements to Havoc and the Ogryn class.
New Features In Darktide's Free Update
Nightmares & Visions Brings The Mortis Trials, Havoc Updates, & An Ogryn Class Rework
The main features of Darktide's newest update, Nightmares & Visions (viewable in full on the game's official website), are the new wave-based activity, Mortis Trials, improvements and additions to Havoc mode, and a comprehensive rework of the Ogryn class's talent tree, aimed towards giving the class more varied options and strengths. Along with these additions, the update will also bring the usual balance changes for weapons and classes, bug fixes, and for DLSS 4 frame generation.
Notably, the endgame Havoc mode is receiving some major changes to its ranking system, which will make it easier for lower-ranked players to quickly catch up to higher-ranked players participating in the same missions. Additionally, order ranks will directly roll over from week-to-week, instead of being based on the highest played order from the previous week, and the mode has received a new pool of missions.
Modes, Challenges, & Special Events In Darktide's Update
The Mortis Trials & A New Time-Limited Event Are Focal Points Of Nightmares & Visions
One of the main features of Nightmares & Visions will be the new Mortis Trials activity, a wave-based mode with roguelike elements. In the Mortis Trials, players will face down twelve waves of progressively stronger enemies, separated into four groups of three, and be given the option to choose a small buff from one of five categories, called "indulgences." As players progress through each wave, they will continue to receive more buffs, culminating in a stronger buff after every third objective wave, which requires players to do certain tasks in addition to defeating enemies.
The five indulgences are Pyrokinetic, Voltaic, Fulminator, Death Dealer, and Colossus, which respectively focus on fire damage, electric damage, a combination of both damage types, close-range combat, and survivability and melee.
To encourage players to try out the Mortis Trials, the update will also include a time-limited, in-game event, A Day At The Theatre, which will reward players with resources and a cosmetic insignia. Every four consecutive waves that players survive in the Mortis Trials will award them a point in the event, allowing them to gain up to three points per run. Players will reach even milestones with every other point they gain, which in turn will net them rewards until they reach the event maximum.
Additionally, Havoc will be receiving Campaigns in Nightmares & Visions, which are intended to give the mode some more variety with a rotating pool of missions and mutators. New Campaigns are intended to be released alongside new major updates, and more comprehensive plans regarding Campaign will be shared at a later date. Havoc is also receiving four entirely new mutators: Heinous Rituals, The Encroaching Garden, Enraging Elites, and Rampaging Enemies.
Ogryn Talent Tree Rework Explained
Nightmares & Visions' Ogryn Rework Aims To Expand The Class's Build Options
The final main feature of Nightmares & Visions is an overhaul to the Ogryn class's talent tree, intended to give it more varied build choices for melee, tank, and ranged archetypes. For melee-focused builds, the rework mainly aims to expand the class's options outside Heavy Attacks, changing several talents, including the Keystone Heavy Hitter, to apply to all melee hits, and adding options to allow players to make builds focused on using different types of melee attacks.
Builds centered around tanking enemies and ing other players have also received several important buffs - the Loyal Protector ability, for example, now repeats its taunt twice, three and six seconds after its initial use, making it a more consistent option for drawing aggro as new enemies flood in. The ability's No Pain! modifier now also provides more instant Toughness for three seconds, triggering each time Loyal Protector taunts enemies, and the Stay Close! aura and Feel No Pain keystone now provide more generalized Toughness replenishment.
How to Unlock More Cosmetics in Warhammer 40000: Darktide
Cosmetics in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide can be unlocked several ways, including Penances and a currency called Aquilas.
Finally, ranged Ogryn builds are receiving some changes to provide more reliable buffs and also standardize their power levels across different weapon types, with the keystone Burst Limiter Override now having a higher chance to proc and granting additional ranged damage when killing enemies with ranged weapons. New talents like Concentrate, Fire Away, and Lucky Streak will also allow Ogryn ranged builds to focus on sustained fire, explosive damage, or critical hits, respectively, and other new talents have been added to encourage a hybrid melee-and-ranged playstyle as well.
Every change coming to Darktide in the Nightmares & Visions update can be seen in full detail on the game's official website, including additional balance changes to the other classes and to individual weapon types. As with any major update, it will take some time for the community to form an overall opinion on Nightmares & Visions, but so far, the update looks to be continuing an upward trend for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
Source: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
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- Top Critic Avg: 75/100 Critics Rec: 63%
- Released
- November 30, 2022
- ESRB
- M For Mature Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Fatshark
- Publisher(s)
- Fatshark
- Engine
- bitsquid
Based on the ever-expanding Warhammer 40,000 universe, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a follow-up to developer Fatshark's prior Warhammer: Vermintide sub-franchise. Set in the hive city of Tertium, the player will create their own Reject and select a class as they face off against impossible odds via hordes of enemies and grotesque bosses that lie in wait.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Warhammer 40K
- Number of Players
- 4
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
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