Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Launches Major Battle for Tertium Update Alongside New Adeptus Arbites Class

Introduction to the Latest Darktide Update

The developers of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Fatshark, have rolled out a significant new update titled Battle for Tertium. This update is accompanied by the launch of the game’s first class DLC, the Adeptus Arbites. The patch aims to overhaul core gameplay mechanics, enhance narrative clarity, and introduce fresh content for both new and veteran players.

Introducing the Adeptus Arbites Class

The Adeptus Arbites class is available starting at 7 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time / 4 p.m. Central European Summer Time on June 23. Priced at $11.99 or €11.99 across all platforms, this new DLC offers players a unique set of abilities and playstyle options. The Arbites bring a law-enforcement flavor to the game, emphasizing tactical enforcement and crowd control, making it a valuable addition to any team composition.

Major Changes in the Battle for Tertium Update

The free update introduces a comprehensive rework of the game’s narrative structure, shifting from a randomized experience to a more linear campaign. This new approach allows players to follow the story of the Battle for Tertium with clearer mission progressions, embedded cinematics, and detailed debriefs, providing a more immersive storytelling experience.

Players will notice that the campaign now features a fixed sequence of maps, enemies, and characters, enabling a paced discovery of the game’s mechanics. Mission objectives are more streamlined, with tighter enemy spawn controls and enhanced voice-over lines to enrich the gameplay narrative. Additionally, new cinematic debriefs mark the completion of each mission, adding depth to the story.

Player Progression and Campaign Mechanics

Existing players with characters at level 10 or higher can choose to skip the story or start from the beginning. Those opting to skip will not be able to revert this choice later, and the only way to experience the campaign again is by creating a new character. This change encourages players to experience the story at least once before skipping.

The storyline of the Arbites is set after the events of the Battle for Tertium, which means that while players can play as Arbites during the campaign, some story scenes may not directly involve their character type. Fatshark recommends experiencing the original campaign with core characters for the fullest narrative understanding.

New Mission System and Difficulty Overhaul

The update introduces a novel mission board system, allowing players to select missions independently of difficulty levels. This flexibility increases the variety of available missions and supports a more tailored gameplay experience. The difficulty system itself has been revamped: players now unlock higher difficulties by completing missions rather than leveling up characters. To advance, players must demonstrate mastery at the current difficulty, creating a steady progression path for newcomers and veterans alike.

Progression at higher difficulties requires completing more missions, with failures only slightly reducing progress—players will not be demoted to lower difficulties. Existing characters will have their difficulty levels migrated based on their performance and completed missions.

Significance of the Update

This update marks one of the most substantial improvements to Darktide since its launch nearly three years ago. After a challenging debut, Fatshark has steadily enhanced the game, boosting its Steam review rating to a mostly positive standing. The Battle for Tertium update signifies a major step forward in refining the game’s experience and content depth.

Patch Notes Highlights

Quality of Life Enhancements

Maximum operative count increased from 6 to 8.
Weapon loadout slots increased from 4 to 8.
Added approximately 900 new banter interactions, including dialogues between the original cast and the Arbites.

Weapon Balance and Tweaks

Catachan “Devil’s Claw” Swords

Several improvements have been made to reinforce crowd control and responsiveness, including increased damage for light attacks, enhanced armor penetration, and faster attack timing. New attack options and combo routes have been introduced, especially for the Mk I, Mk IV, and Mk VII variants, offering players more tactical choices.

Atrox Tactical Axes

The axes’ mobility has been significantly improved, especially their sprinting capabilities. Damage on special attacks has been boosted, and new attack profiles have been implemented to better handle armored enemies. The updates provide a more aggressive and fluid combat style, with smoother attack windows and increased damage output.

Lucius Helbore Lasguns

The lasguns now feature faster wield times, extended range, and improved accuracy modifiers, making them more effective at ranged combat. Adjustments to ADS zoom and damage profiles have increased their viability as precision weapons.

Combat Shotguns

To make shotguns more versatile, base damage and reload speeds have been increased, along with improvements to mobility and ammunition reserves. These changes aim to make shotguns viable for both close-quarters combat and sustained fire, reducing reliance solely on special shells.

Bug Fixes & Miscellaneous Improvements

Corrected tooltip descriptions across weapons and blessings.
Fixed out-of-bounds issues in specific missions, such as Clandestium Gloriana.
Enhanced UI elements and localization for better user experience.
Addressed clipping issues with various cosmetics and headgear.
Speeded up weapon swap times and adjusted hit detection for ranged weapons.

Summary

The Battle for Tertium update ushers in a new era for Darktide, focusing on narrative clarity, improved progression systems, and a broader arsenal of weapons. Whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran, these enhancements aim to deliver a more engaging, balanced, and immersive Warhammer 40,000 experience.

Alex "Pixel" Petrov

Gaming journalist & industry insider. Covers the latest game releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes dev stories. Knows every Easter egg, patch note, and upcoming title worth hyping. Always gaming, always analyzing.