Big changes in Warhammer 40k: Darktide have players looking forward to checking out the revamped Ogryn
A major overhaul of Ogryn skills and weaponry in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will ensure that players no longer have to rely solely on a heavy hand.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide receives a major update Nightmares and Visions, the first of its kind for PlayStation 5.
At the end of last year, on the occasion of another major update (and the launch on PS5), developers from Fatshark Studio announced four major updates for 2025. The first of them was announced last week, after which the developers released a long list of changes in the gameplay balance alone - in three separate posts (!) published on Steam.
Strength in ignorance?
A lion's share of these fixes concerns one class: Ogryns, who will receive a rebuilt skill tree and modified weapons. So far, they have mainly relied on strong close combat attacks, which somewhat suits these large and not overly intelligent people (or "abhumans"). However, the creators decided that this should not be the only correct and effective path of development.
This is why the dev is planning many changes to encourage players to try different "builds," such as lifting the restrictions on certain abilities to only powerful attacks. This will be supplemented by completely new skills, including one that stuns minor opponents when the Ogryn performs a dodge.
A working version of the new Ogryn skill tree. Source: Fatshark.
This also applies to the Ogryn's weapons, which is significant because, besides traditional tanks and melee combat, the Fatshark team aims to improve the combat potential of "builds" centered on ranged combat (and most importantly, the enjoyment of playing this way). This doesn't mean that close combat will be sidelined, as the Latrine Shovels and Cleavers will also be modified.
The last of the three posted entries focuses on the remaining changes from Nightmares and Visions. There are slightly fewer of them, but certainly not a small number. Among them were an increase in the attack speed of secondary weapons in melee combat and - much to the relief of many players - the removal of the mechanic that caused special weapon abilities to "disappear" after the player was stunned (though not in every case).
Not only Ogryns
So far, players seem to be very satisfied with the announced balance changes, especially with the new skill tree of Ogryns and the aforementioned "special activations" fix. Of course - as always - we can also find complaints about the omission of this or that weapon from the list of changes (or alleged nerfs).
Nonetheless, most players can't wait to check out the new Ogryns. So far, the devs have confirmed a collaboration with Game Lantern to allow fans to check out the new skill tree in the "simulator" of the site. This option is expected to be added to the game this week.
This isn't all we will receive with the Nightmares and Visions update. Coming to Darktide are: a new endgame activity (psionic visions with hordes of enemies in Mortis Trials) and an updated Havoc mode. Here, the enthusiasm of the players is somewhat smaller, at least for now. This may change with the publication of the full list of changes.
The Nightmares and Visions update will be released in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on March 25 on PC, PS5, and XSX/S.
