Warhammer 40k Darktide Best Veteran Builds

Learn all about the best feats, weapons, and playstyles to create the best Veteran builds in Warhammer 40K Darktide.

The Veteran Sharpshooter Build in Warhammer 40K Darktide is one of the best classes. This class can be a bit misunderstood, especially if it is not built in the right way. 

Key Takeaways
  • The Veteran leveling build helps you navigate through the early and mid-game stages of the game.
  • The Veteran late-game build helps you take on all of the end-game content and missions in the game.
  • Veteran Sharpshooter has a wide array of abilities that help players maximize their damage while playing in this class.
  • There are many weapons to choose from, but the Boltgun and the Power Sword best suit the playstyle of the Veteran Sharpshooter.
  • The Veteran focuses on staying at long-range distances and dominating the enemies through his ranged attacks.

First and foremost, let us have a look at the Veteran Build Summaries:

BuildFeat (Level 5)Feat (Level 10)Feat (Level 15)Feat (Level 20)Feat (Level 25)Feat (Level 30)Weapons
Leveling BuildConfirmed Kill
Tactical ReloadBio-Optic TargetingUnwavering FocusFrag StormThe Bigger They Are
- Boltgun
- Power Sword
Late Game Build
Exhilarating TakedownSniperCovering Fire Duck And DiveDeadshotCounterfire- Boltgun
- Power Sword

Leveling Build

Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
The Leveling Build. [Image Credit: eXputer]

While you make your way toward the late-game build, you can use the leveling build. This build is made while keeping early and mid-game in mind. You will not be able to face and complete late-game missions, but for that, we have another build.

Feats are talents that are specific to each class. You will unlock one feat slot every five levels you gain with the Veteran Sharpshooter. You can switch between the feats that you unlock, but keep in mind that at a time only a single feat may be selected for each level slot. Moreover, players can have up to six slots in total at most. By the time you reach level 30, you will have access to all six slots.

Here’s an overview of the chosen feats:

Level 5: Confirmed Kill

  • Toughness: Instantly regain 25% of your original Toughness.
  • Overtime Toughness: Gradually regain an additional 25% Toughness.

Level 10: Tactical Reload

  • Reload Speed: 20% Quicker.

Level 15: Bio-Optic Targeting

  • Enemies Highlighted: Enemies highlighted through Volley Fire will be visible to teammates as well.

Level 20: Unwavering Focus

  • Toughness: 75% increase (during Volley Fire).

Level 25: Frag Storm

  • Bleed: Inflicts 8 stacks of Bleed.

Level 30: The Bigger They Are

  • Enemies Highlighted: Ogryns and Monstrosities are now highlighted (during Volley Fire).
  • Damage: Attacks gain a 50% damage buff (during Volley Fire).

These feats offer a well-rounded approach to combat situations, including improved Toughness, faster reloading, team synergy, increased damage to specific enemy types, and crowd control through bleeding effects. This build aims to provide newer players with a solid foundation as they progress through the game.

Late Game Build

Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
The Late-Game Build. [Image captured by eXputer]

The late-game build is one that is oriented toward the more experienced players. For players who are ready to take on the end-game missions and challenges, this is the build for them. This build brings out the true potential of the Veteran Sharpshooter and utilizes the strong feats it has. The six feat slots that are available at level 30 will all be equipped with the best of the best feats.

To bring out the best from this late-game build, players will also need to be more proficient when it comes to their gameplay. You will have to focus more on getting headshots and plan out your encounters more intricately so that you can get the buffs from various of your feats. For this late-game build, here are all the feats that you need:

Level 5: Exhilarating Takedown

  • Toughness: 10% Increase (Weak Point based).

Level 10: Sniper

  • Damage: 25% buff to damage (depending on the distance from the enemy).

Level 15: Covering Fire

  • Toughness: Teammates regain 10% Toughness.

Level 20: Duck and Dive

  • Stamina: 20% recovery (based on attacks dodged).

Level 25: Deadshot

  • Critical Chance: 25% increase.
  • Weapon Sway: 60% decrease.
  • Stamina: 10% decrease per second.

Level 30: Counterfire

  • Damage: 25% increase (during Volley Fire and upon targeting weak points).
  • Enemies Highlighted: Scab Shooters are now highlighted (during Volley Fire).

This build aims to enhance the Veteran Sharpshooter’s damage potential, precision, and team support capabilities. It rewards players for precise aiming, effective dodging, and executing enemies at weak points. Additionally, it improves the overall synergy of the team by providing Toughness regeneration and highlighting specific enemy types during Volley Fire. This late-game build is well-suited for tackling challenging end-game content.

Veteran Abilities

Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
Abilities of the Veteran Sharpshooter.[Image captured by eXputer]

As we have established earlier, the Veteran class is best for long-distance combat. Keeping your distance from the enemy while barraging them with relentless attacks is the core of the Veteran’s game plan. The abilities of the Veteran class support this game plan a lot and complement it in various ways. The bulk of your damage comes from precisely aimed headshots that deal massive damage to the enemy.

To ensure that you always get the most damage out of your shots, the Veteran class has certain abilities that set it apart from the other classes. These abilities play a huge role in how you plan out your builds and which game plan you are more oriented towards. Learning how to utilize these abilities properly can make the difference between life and death in the game. Here we will go over all the abilities in depth. 

Here are the details of the Veteran abilities:

1. Volley Fire:

  • Weapon: Allows an immediate switch to the ranged weapon.
  • Enemies Highlighted: Highlights Specialist and Elite enemies in the vicinity.
  • Damage: Increases damage by 50%.
  • Duration: Lasts for 5 seconds.
  • Volley Fire is the key ability for the Veteran class, allowing quick weapon switching, enemy highlighting, and a significant damage boost for 5 seconds.
    Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
    Volley Fire. [Image Credit: eXputer]

2. Frag Grenade:

  • Frag Grenade is a projectile that can be thrown to deal damage to groups of enemies. It’s particularly useful against hordes of foes.
    Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
    Frag Grenade. [Image Credit: eXputer]

3. Scavenger Hunt:

  • Ammo Regain: Coherent teammates regain ammo after eliminating Elite class enemies.
  • Scavenger Hunt rewards teammates staying close together by granting ammo to all Coherent teammates when an Elite enemy is killed.
    Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
    Scavenger Hunt. [Image captured by eXputer]

4. Make Every Shot Count:

  • Damage: Increases damage by 15% (based on attacking weak points).
  • This passive ability provides a 15% damage boost to the Veteran’s attacks when targeting weak points, which complements the class’s precision-focused playstyle.
    Make Every Shot Count. [Image captured by eXputer]

5. Be Prepared:

  • Ammo Capacity: Increased by 40%.
  • Be Prepared increases the Veteran’s total ammo capacity by 40%, ensuring they have enough firepower for long-range combat.
    Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
    Be Prepared. [Image Credit: eXputer]

These abilities and passives are designed to make the Veteran Sharpshooter an efficient long-range combatant, emphasizing accuracy, damage output, and teamwork when used in conjunction with the Coherency mechanic.

Veteran Sharpshooter Weapons

The Veteran Sharpshooter class is the embodiment of ranged firepower, as the name suggests. This class specializes in keeping the enemy at bay while dominating them from a distance. The Veteran class is incredibly dominant when it comes to making precise and calculated plays. Once they get a chance to execute their well-thought-out plans, there are few options the enemies have in the face of sheer firepower.  

No build is complete without covering the weapon options. The Veteran Sharpshooter has access to a wide array of weapons that you can pick and choose. Each of these weapons compliments the Veteran in different ways. Most weapons offer something that other weapons do not have, so picking the proper weapon is really important. However, some weapons are not so different from others. We will now cover the best weapons for this class. 

Boltgun

Warhammer 40k Darktide Veteran build
Boltgun.[Image captured by eXputer]

The Boltgun is the best-ranged weapon for the Veteran Sharpshooter. It packs a heavy punch and enables you to fire your way through almost all the enemies in the game. Admittedly the ammo capacity is a bit on the lower side, but that is made up for by the sheer damage this gun can output. It can get rid of most normal enemies in a single shot, which is incredibly powerful. 

Power Sword

Power Sword.[Image Credit: eXputer]

Although the Veteran Sharpshooter will be attacking from a distance most of the time, certain scenarios may come where you have to engage in melee combat. For such situations, the Power Sword is the unquestionable choice as the melee weapon for the Veteran. It has armor-ignoring capabilities and also gets certain buffs in its attack. It is a bit slower than the other options that are available, but the damage more than makes up for it. 

You can confront hordes of enemies or even bosses with this behemoth of a sword and play your Veteran as a melee class. 

How To Play As The Veteran In Warhammer 40k Darktide 

Here’s a brief rundown of how to play as the Veteran Sharpshooter:

  • Positioning: Stay at the rear of your team, focusing on long-range combat.

  • Distance Matters: Maintain a safe distance from enemies to maximize your effectiveness.

  • Use Abilities: Activate Volley Fire to switch quickly to your ranged weapon and gain a damage boost.

  • Target Weak Points: Aim for enemies’ weak points, usually their heads, to deal more damage.

  • Leverage Feats: Utilize feats like Exhilarating Takedown and Deadshot to enhance your abilities.

  • Crowd Control: Deploy Frag Grenades against groups of enemies for area damage.

  • Team Coherency: Stay close to teammates for benefits like shared ammo from Scavenger Hunt.

  • Stay Informed: Maintain awareness of your surroundings and communicate with your team.

  • Adapt and Evade: Be ready to adapt to changing situations, including evading threats.

  • Practice Precision: Hone your aiming skills for accurate shots on weak points.

Wrap Up

The Veteran Sharpshooter has a wide array of feats to select from. Depending on which feats you pick, your game plan can vary vastly. We have compiled the best combination of these feats so that you can have the most powerful Veteran Sharpshooter builds depending on your requirements. If you are interested in approaching the Veteran in an unorthodox way, then check out this post.

While you are here, consider checking out our guide on Weapon Unlock Levels. If you are interested in the best Psyker build then be sure to check out Warhammer 40K Darktide BEST Psyker Build. In case you are a newer player or even a returning player, check out our guide on Tips & Tricks.

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Moiz Banoori is the brains behind eXputer. Having worked at various Video Game sites, with 8 years of Content Writing Experience and a Journalism Degree at hand, he presently monitors teams, creates strategies, and publishes qualified pieces through his aptitude at eXputer. Feel free to get in touch with him through his gaming profile on Steam and PSN.

Experience: 8+ Years || Manages Teams, Creates Strategies, and Publishes Guides on eXputer || Education: Bachelors in Journalism.

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