Axe Duelist - Auric Carry
 Zealot Build - Warhammer 40k: Darktide 

Presenting to you the Axe Duelist build for the Zealot:

• Problem solver. Can dispatch any enemy in the game without major adjustments
• Constant and consistent damage
• Crits allow for the build to fully work - proccing toughness damage reduction, also synergizing with the duelist passive ability/brutal momentum to make dodge swings do monstrous damage if aimed at the head. Crit swings instantly refuel shroudfield
• Can mob, play offensively or defensively
• Mobility and attack speed similar to the combat blade
• Can stunlock crushers, maulers, and ragers with special attack
• Revolver can be used in the midst of battling a horde to down specials/elites

Weaknesses:

• Mechanically difficult
• Requires you know to the quickest ways to kill every enemy in the game
• Combination of light swings. heavy swings, blocking, counter swings, special attacks required
• Good but not great damage against bosses
• Easy to miss swings if Axe finesse is low
• Requires good stat distribution on Damage, Penetration, Finesse, and Crit Bonus for Axe. Thus hard to roll for a good axe. Mobility can be dump stat and rolled low. Ideally the four mentioned stats are close to 80%

With the right mechanics, the tactical axe vii is THE best melee weapon in the game and can problem solve every single situation in the game. A player who is adept at the axe can carry auric maelstrom

Tips

1. Use shroudfield's invigorating relevation to refuel toughness and add 20% damage reduction overall. Coupled with good balance, you can get 45% damage reduction alone if you do a successful dodge. Use it as much as possible and don't hesitate as shroudfield should come back up almost instantaneously if you are following this build
2. Use shroudfield's 6 seconds to revive downed teammates, do mission objectives, carry batteries
3. The throwing knife is underrated, use to headshot elites/specials when revolver is at 0 clip size or still reloading. Can also finish specials/elites if you know they are almost instant kill.
4. Learn how to dodge slide. This gives you more distance overall and changes how you approach mobility in the game. You get a small window of invulnerability mid-slide and can dodge bullets laterally/many enemy attacks. Always be dodge sliding even if you are using your revolver/throwing knife. Dodge sliding can also be used backwards. From what I've seen only 1% of the player base utilizes a dodge slide. This gameplay/movement mechanic can be used for all four classes. It can be tiring for your hands to do it constantly but the benefits are worth it if you run auric daily.
5. Go for headshots while melee swinging. You get weakspot damage from brutal momentum and your blazing piety should crit the head as well.
6. Shroudfield is most effective to disengage and reengage enemies constantly if a situation gets sticky - If you have the time, go for the heavy swing on the back of the enemy aimed at the head (backstabber perk). Even the block, shove, counter swing is effective in stealth

Crit Math

• 12% crit chance from 80% crit axe
• 5% zealot passive applied instant 
• 5% from axe blessing. 

22% base crit chance

Blazing Piety 

• Adds 25% at 25 stacks

47% crit chance when enraged

47% to apply 1 stack of bleed (10%) = 57% crit chance after first swing

3 stacks possible = 77% crit chance at max capacity

I went with Headttaker over Shred as the consistent power on hit makes you a straight demon. You can whiff a swing and still be overpowering mobs/enemies. The axe is much better than the dagger/combat blade in my opinion with its stun, mobbing capability, raw damage and survivability. Just has less instant-kill capability.

IGN for Main Zealot: TripleClapPushup