NRGaa's Invulnerable RATATA Scum H40
 Hive Scum Build - Warhammer 40k: Darktide 

14.07.2026 Build is still viable in Havoc 40 even after "Pickpoint" nerf.

• Highlights updated
• Stim changed
• Gameplay loop changed

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Build Highlights: 

• Pistols: www.twitch.tv/videos/2818432999
• Vraks IA: www.twitch.tv/videos/2818432998

MAIN GAMEPLAY LOOP:

• Use Enhanced Desperado and shoot everything highlighted, prioritizing specials and elites.
• Keep kiting while killing specials and elites.
• Use Stimm, when Enhanced Desperado runs out. 
• Chill untill CD. Try to do something usefull meanwhile, like looting or watching for backline specials.
• REPEAT

How we are supposed to play:

• Your main role is to be a frontline gunner tank/killer or backline sweeper. Amount of speed Enhanced Desperado provides, enables you to do both at the same time.
• If your team can't advance because heavy gunner presence in front, its your job to run in maniacally shooting and grab gunners attention, while working on specials and thinning them out.
• Target specials and gunners in your comfortable distance (~25m). Priority list: Dreg Tox Bomber > Scab Bomber > Scab Trapper > Scab Sniper > Flamers > Mutant > Pox Hound > Poxburster (Be sure that nobody is in the range) > Gunners > Elites
• On twins or captains your role is to hold direction and win time for your teammates to deal with those treats. You can easy grab ranged twin attention and just continue to do your job, while he shoots at you and you dodge every shot. Reasoning behind that: Your damage vs those enemies is terrible. 
• On Chaos Spawn or Pack Master dump all special charges of Improvised Mk I Shivs on them. You must continue with special/gunner peeling duty (in 80% of cases) while your team deals with bosses and captains.
• Another usage of Enhanced Desperado is to rescue teammates under heavy gunner fire. If needed toss Chem Grenade to thin out melee enemies around downed teammate, wait some time for melee enemies to thin out and then proceed with Enhanced Desperado rescue.

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Possible node changes:  

Blitzes:

• Boom Bringer your save from a nasty situation. Possible boss ledge tool.  Ritual softener.
• Chem Grenade  mixed horde clear tool, best placed in chokepoints.
• Blackout imo ignore this one for current build, because it reqires additional investments to became great.

BE AWARE: Vulture's Dodge is still bugged (6 Months YAY) and works only for ranged damage. After few more test runs without Vulture's Dodge and deaths to gunners (Because Desperado ended suddenly in the middle of the gunner pack), I think we are keeping it even in this state.

Can be dropped: 

• Probably can ditch Street Tough + Hive City Brawler and if we do so, we can go for Extra Pouches with those 2 points.
• Hive City Brawler is interchangable with Cheap Shots.

Can be picked:

• Hyper-Critical for more potency in melee combat.
• Mobility nodes like Jittery Nimble Alley Rat .
• Slippery Customer for melee evasion while sliding.

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Curios:

Corruption Res helps us vs Poxburster and Pox Gas. Don't change that. Run 2 of those on any Scum build and thank me later.

So we have to make sacrifices to compensate for Pickpocket nerf. Running 3x CDR on curios is now mandatory. So we are chosing between:

• Playing safe and never go for Revives, unless its totally needed. We still need to cover a person who is going for revive tho (Don't be an selfish ass). So we ditch Ally Revive speed from curios completely.
• Toughness. We are mostly ranged character, so i decided to go for that route.
• Gunner resistance. May be a valid ditch choice, because we have tons of ranged evasion, but I probably will still keep at least 1 of those.

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Best weapons for this build:

1. Branx MkVIII Dual Stub Pistols (Flak/Unyield + Desperado / Crucian Roulette )

   Personal favorite of mine. Aim for the head. Use special vs distant snipers. Bracing is not needed at all. 

   Quick Reload. Tons of crits. Really good comfortable shooting distance. Solid Cleave on top.

2. Vraks Mk V Infantry Autogun (5% Crit/Unyield/Flak + Dumdum / Fire Frenzy ) 

   Crazy weakspot damage. Accurate hipfire at ~30m. Comfortable reload. No glaring cons. 

3. Branx MkIII Dual Autopistols (Unyield/Flak/Maniac + Run 'n' Gun + Blaze Away )

   This weapon got insane DPS on paper, but is limited to close range (15m) and got bad reload time. Personally I have chosen to live with reload weakness and close "Long range" weakness (Run 'n' Gun) plus run max damage Blaze Away. Screen shake is super annoying on this weapon. For long range shooting we are using quick Mouse1 taps. 

   Branx MkIII Dual Autopistols Is THE Most toxic weapon from the Scum weapons pool, because you are forced to play like an selfish ass just by design (Limited range).

   If i see you constantly shooting melee enemies in front of your ogryn, I will find you and we will have a talk =) Be a satelite of your team when you play this weapon/push ahead/sweep backline, that is what you have to do.

Suboptimal choices:

1. Ius Mk IV Shredder Autopistol (Unyield/Flak/Maniac + Cavalcade / Blaze Away ) 

   Really nice blessings. Lightning quick reload. Accurate hipfire at ~25m. Light targets cleave. 

   Innacurate at longer distances.

2. Agripinaa Mk VIII Braced Autogun (5% Crit/Reload/Flak + Fire Frenzy / Deathspitter )

   This one is interesting, but not optimal. Not good dps as base, but best horde cleaving weapon (Can cleave through Flamers and Dreg Rager), so to open this weapon full potential we will be shooting targets in 15m range to get those damage blessings rolling (same reasoning for reload perk). Low firerate=not optimal Vulture's Dodge uptime. Still accurate ~30m from hipfire. Insane stagger on this weapon too.

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Kudos to you dear reader, if you managed to read all that wall of text! If that was helpful, don't forget to UPvote this build. And if you need additional tips, catch me live on  > twitch.com/nrgaa <

Or watch clips and build HL on > youtube.com/@NRGaaTV < [Youtube is scuffed atm, but I will try to improve quality of content there soon].