Grim Protocols - Patch Notes Pt. 1
[previewyoutube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC1HRacColU[/previewyoutube]
Hey Everyone,
We're trying something new and including a TL;DR section.
TL;DR for Grim Protocols
- New Game Mode - Havoc: Think you’ve mastered the threat over Tertium? Think again. Havoc is a new end-game experience that will test the resolve of the most seasoned operative. Be ready to face daunting challenges and earn new cosmetic rewards.
- New Mission - Dark Communion: Return to the Carnival and explore its darkest corners. Steel yourself as you face hordes of cultists who will stop at nothing to achieve their dark communion.
- Three New Weapon Families: tear through waves of enemies by wielding the destructive might of the Two-Handed Force and Power Swords, and the Ogryn Heavy Stubber.
- Anniversary Special Event: to celebrate the second anniversary of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the game will host an event that will reward players with a unique weapon trinket.
- And more: including the expansion of the Penance progression track with new challenges and rewards, as well as quality of life improvements such as an extension of the Party Finder feature.
New Game Mode: Havoc
Listen up, Rejects! You've all had it too easy so far. At least, that's what Commissar Dukane thinks. You've had your training in weapons handling, and now it's time to put that to use. The Commissar has declared this mission now under the purview of the Astra Militarum and intends for it to be carried out in a manner befitting its illustrious reputation. Report to the 53rd tactical command to receive your orders. Perform well and there might even be a medal in it for you. But I wouldn't hold your breath.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUzMxKl9qqM
Havoc is a new tiered progression system we have been working on for Trust Level 30 players. This system consists of different levels, known as Havoc Assignment Ranks. There will be 40 Assignment Ranks in total for Havoc. The highest Assignment Rank that a player successfully clears will give them a Havoc Clearance Level.
The mode is designed to offer fresh and exciting challenges for both new and veteran players. Our goal is to make the highest tiers truly demanding, even for our most experienced players. This will be an ongoing process, and we on the design team are eager to collaborate with the community to develop even more difficult challenges for this mode in the future.
To begin your journey with Havoc you need to be playing on an eligible level 30 character, where you will receive a notification upon logging in saying Darinda Dukane wishes to speak with you. She will give you the task of finishing a Maelstrom mission in order to qualify.
UPDATE: If a player completes an Auric Maelstrom mission, that player will be immediately given access to Havoc Assignment Rank 16 (previously 10).
Each Assignment Rank will incrementally grow in difficulty, with increasing negative modifiers and varying mutators. Players won’t only face increased hordes or enemies, they’ll also encounter 2 challenging mutators and 2 new mutators:
- Cranial Corruption
- A percentage of enemies have been afflicted with a Cranial parasite leaving them with no fear or thought; these enemies are immune against suppression and will explode if killed by headshot.
- Infected 21st Moebians
- Infected Moebian 21ths replaces poxwalkers and newly infected.
- Pus-hardened Skin
- A percentage of enemies have been blessed with hardened skin rendering them more protected against ranged attacks.
- The Blight Spreads
- A percentage of the enemies have been afflicted with a nasty Nurgle plague, turning them into gooey liquid upon death with a chance to infect nearby enemies.
Players can attempt as many Havoc Assignment Ranks as they wish in a week. Each player will have 3 attempts to clear their own Havoc Assignment Rank before they’re demoted (1) Assignment Rank. (Note: This doesn’t affect a player’s Clearance Level, which is the highest successfully cleared level). Of course, you can’t go lower than Assignment Rank 1. If a player is attempting another player’s Assignment as a member of a party, and the party is not successful, it is only the Assignment Rank owner that loses (1) attempt.
Each player’s Assignment Rank will mostly be unique, meaning it could be any of the missions in Havoc rotation, with any combination of mutators. However, the negative modifiers will remain the same for everyone as the levels increase.
To complete an Assignment Rank, players can either create a party in the Party Finder using their own unique Assignment Rank, or they can request to join an existing party using the Party Finder and complete someone else’s Assignment Rank. Note: Players can also create a party by inviting friends through the Social menu. Players are allowed to attempt Assignment Ranks higher than their own current Assignment Rank through this option.
Additional Note: The Party Finder has been extended to include Havoc.
At the end of each week, a player will earn a Weekly Cache of materials that corresponds to their highest cleared Assignment in that week. At the start of the next week, a player’s Assignment Rank will update based on the highest cleared Assignment from the previous week. Note: The player’s Clearance Level, which represents the highest all-time Havoc Assignment completed and updates in real-time, will not go down each week.
There have been some changes since the last communication about Decay in Havoc after reviewing player feedback. Currently: If a player does not partake in at least (1) Assignment Rank (either their own or from a friend or through the Party Finder) during the week (
whether successfully or unsuccessfully), then their current Havoc Assignment Rank will go down (1) Rank.
Along the way to Havoc Clearance Level 40 there are earnable frames, insignias, titles and cosmetics. The cosmetics are all-black versions of the 53rd Moebian cosmetics. (You won’t need to beat Level 40 in order to receive the cosmetics.)
We’ve already written a couple of dev blogs on the topic of Havoc where you can read more (
Introduction to Havoc,
Q&A about Havoc). Please be aware that some things may have changed since these were written.
Ogryn
Zealot
Psyker
Veteran
New Mission - Dark Communion
Interrogator Rannick sends you back into the dingy alleys of the Carnival on the trail of the Tainted Stimms. But a storm rages over the Cathedrum of Messelina Vengeant and ritual bells peal across the empty streets. What fresh horror have the heretics mustered behind the Cathedrum doors?
New In-Game Event: Cry Havoc!
Commissar Dukane means to forge untested fighters into reliable soldiers and soldiers into trustworthy veterans.
To make progress in the event, either complete Havoc missions; or complete any mission with new Rejects (aka Rejects under Trust Level 30).This event will start on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. The rewards will be Ordo dockets, Plasteel and Diamantine. Those who complete the last tier of the event will receive a new Weapon Trinket.
New Weapons
We are introducing three new weapon families into Darktide! Tear through waves of enemies by wielding the destructive might of the Two-Handed Force and Power Swords, and the Ogryn Heavy Stubber.
[h2]2h Powersword - Relic Blade[/h2]
OverviewThe Zealot 2-handed Powersword is a giant greatsword with barely contained energy.
It sports huge, sweeping swings and a unique sprinting Heavy stab attack that is perfect for charging into the fray.
This weapon possesses great damage and incredible reach, with easy to use but still deep movesets available between the two marks.
While not particularly nimble, it has a generous Stamina profile, providing flexible frontline pacing of heretic swarms.
The Special action activates the sword, further improving its already remarkable attack properties at the cost of increasing Heat.
Weapon Special
The 2h Powersword's Special action empowers the sword, improving its swings while it is active.
It particularly buffs the weapon's Cleave values, Damage Multipliers against certain armour types (e.g. Carapace armour) and Impact values (particularly for specific Heavy attacks).
Activating the Weapon Special will start filling a Heat bar. Each activated swing will also increase Heat by a small amount.
When the weapon is deactivated, the Heat bar will passively cool down.
If the Heat bar is completely filled, the weapon overheats. On overheating, the weapon deactivates and cannot be activated until the Heat bar is completely emptied.
The weapon will also deactivate from the following actions:
- Automatically, when swapping out of the 2h Powersword.
- Manually, when performing the Special action while the weapon is already activated.
After performing the Special activate or deactivate action, the attack chain will not be reset.
Additionally, the weapon will receive Block properties while activating or deactivating.
This will provide flexibility to weave in the Special action in between attack combos.
Munitorum Mk X Relic Blade
This 2h Powersword mark is especially easy to use, with immediate access to both sweeping Light Vanguard attacks and powerful Heavy Strikedown attacks.
Additionally, a unique chain from Push to Heavy 4 allows a faster way into the looping Heavy 3 and Heavy 4 Vanguard attacks.
Attacks- Light 1 / Light 2: Moderately fast, horizontal Vanguard attacks with good cleave.
- Light 3: Fast stab Strikedown attack with good armour penetration and finesse multiplier.
- Light Sprint/Slide: Fast, diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with good cleave (only available while in Sprint or Slide state).
- Push-attack: A stab Strikedown attack with similar properties as Light 3.
- Heavy 1 / Heavy 2: Slow, vertical Strikedown attacks with great damage and finesse multiplier.
- Heavy 3 / Heavy 4: Slow, horizontal Vanguard attacks with great cleave.
- Heavy Sprint/Slide: Long reaching stab Strikedown attack with good armour penetration and finesse multiplier (only available while in Sprint or Slide state); entering the windup animation for this attack gives a small speed boost.
Suggested Horde combos
L1 > L2 > H3 > H4 > H3 > …
L1 > L2 > Block cancel > L1 > L2 > …
… > H3 > L2 > …
Push > L2 > …
Push > H4 > H3 > …
Light Sprint/Slide > L2 > ...
Suggested Single Target combos
H1 > H2 > L3 > H1 > …
H1 > H2 > Block cancel > H1 > ...
Push-Attack > H2 > …
Heavy Sprint/Slide > H1 > …
Munitorum Mk II Relic Blade
This 2h Powersword mark trades access to fast Vanguard attacks for a plethora of Strikedown attacks.
The unique chains from Light 1 to Heavy 4, from Heavy 3 to Light 2, and from Heavy 4 to Heavy 3 allow to quickly loop together all the Strikedown attacks in free-flow combos.
Attacks- Light 1 / Light 2: Moderately fast, vertical Strikedown attacks with good single target damage.
- Light 3: Moderately fast, slightly diagonal Vanguard attack with good cleave.
- Light Sprint/Slide: Fast, diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with good cleave (only available while in Sprint or Slide state).
- Push-attack: A horizontal Vanguard attack with similar properties as Light 3.
- Heavy 1 / Heavy 2: Slow, slightly diagonal Vanguard attacks with great cleave.
- Heavy 3: Slow, uppercut Strikedown attack with good damage and great finesse multiplier.
- Heavy 4: Slow, vertical Strikedown attack with good damage and finesse multiplier.
- Heavy Sprint/Slide: Long reaching stab Strikedown attack with good armour penetration and finesse multiplier (only available while in Sprint or Slide state); entering the windup animation for this attack gives a small speed boost.
Suggested Horde combos
H1 > H2 > L3 > H2 > …
H1 > H2 > Block cancel > H1 > H2 > …
Push-Attack > L3 > …
Push-Attack > H1 > …
Push > H2 > …
Light Sprint/Slide > H2 > ...
Suggested Single Target combos
L1 > L2 > H3 > H4 > H3 > …
… > H3 > L2 > …
L1 > H4 > …
… > H4 > L1 > …
Push > L2 > …
Heavy Sprint/Slide > L2 > …
[h2]2h Forcesword - Blaze Force Greatsword[/h2]
OverviewA weapon for the truly incomparable minds, the Psyker 2-handed Forcesword inherits most of the speed and elegance of its smaller 1-handed sibling along with additional damage, reach and a very unique Special (continue reading below for further details).
It has a deep moveset that rewards players who can master its quirky combos and conditional attack starts: both marks have unique chains with specific attacks only available during Sprint or Slide states, or even immediately after wielding the weapon.
Weapon Special
The Special of this weapon is divided into two parts:
- Upon performing the Special action, the blade will be imbued with warp energy for a very short time.
- The first follow-up attack (either Light or Heavy) will always perform a horizontal swing that releases the stored energy as a ranged Warpshock Slash.
The Warpshock Slash travels a short distance, cleaving through most enemies while damaging and staggering them.
At its base power, the Warpshock Slash has moderate damage, while its Impact value will only stagger lesser enemies.
However, the Warpshock Slash level can be empowered by active combat:
- Whenever an enemy is killed by damage from the 2h Forcesword swings, their life essence will be stored temporarily. Stronger enemies provide more essence when killed.
- Upon reaching a minimum essence gauge threshold, the next Special attack will be empowered. If the essence gauge is completely filled, the next Special attack will be empowered even further, granting a reality-tearing Warpshock Slash attack.
- When performing the Special action to imbue the blade with power, all essence is consumed. The Warpshock Slash attack's power is calculated based on the essence gauge threshold rounded down.
- The essence gauge will also slowly passively deplete if no additional essence is gained after a short period of time.
Note that essence from a dying enemy will still be awarded to 2h Forcesword players that damaged but did not kill the enemy in a short grace time period immediately before its death.
Covenant Mk VI Blaze Force Greatsword
This 2h Forcesword mark has immediate access to powerful Strikedown attack loops but can reach its Heavy Vanguard attack only when chaining from specific Light attacks.
This makes the weapon very suited to deal with single foes but also will require a bit of skill when facing dense hordes.
Attacks- Light 1: Diagonal Vanguard attack with good speed and cleave.
- Light 2: Diagonal Vanguard attack with good speed and cleave (also performed directly instead of Light 1 when in Sprint state).
- Light 3: Diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with good speed and cleave, an improved finesse modifier and a unique chain to Heavy 3.
- Light 4: Vertical Strikedown attack with good damage and finesse modifier.
- Light Slide: Diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with similar properties as Light 3; chains into Light 3 or Heavy 1 (only available while in Slide state).
- Light Wield: Diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with similar properties as Light 1; chains into Light 1 or Heavy 1 (only available immediately after wielding the weapon).
- Push-attack: A single target force push, with good range and extremely high Impact.
- Light Push/Push-attack follow-up combo: Horizontal Vanguard attack with similar properties as Light 1; chains into Light 4 or Heavy 3 (only available when chained from a Push or a Push-attack).
- Heavy 1: Slow, vertical Strikedown attack with good damage and finesse multiplier.
- Heavy 2: Slow, stab Strikedown attack with great damage and finesse multiplier, and improved armour penetration; chains into Light 4 or Heavy 1.
- Heavy 3: Slow, slightly diagonal Vanguard attack with great cleave; chains into Light 1 or Heavy 1 (only available when chained from Light 3 and Light Push/Push-attack follow-up combo).
- Heavy Wield/Sprint/Slide: Vertical Strikedown with similar properties as Heavy 1; chains into Light 3 or Heavy 1 (only available while in Sprint or Slide state, and immediately after wielding the weapon).
Suggested Horde combos
L1 > L2 > L3 > H3 > L1 > …
L1 > L2 > Block cancel > L1 > ...
Push > Light followup > H3 > …
Push attack > Light followup > H3 > …
Light Slide > L3 > …
Light Wield > L1 > …
(While Sprinting) L2 > …
Suggested Single Target combos
H1 > H2 > H1 > …
H1 > L4 > H1 > …
… > H2 > L4 > H1 > …
Push Attack > H1 > …
Heavy Wield/Sprint/Slide > H1 > …
[h2]Covenant Mk VIII Blaze Force Greatsword[/h2]
This 2h Forcesword mark has immediate access to many different Vanguard attack loops, but can reach its Strikedown attacks only when further into the combo.
Particularly, its extremely strong Heavy stab can be reached only after a push-attack, therefore requiring a small amount of setup.
Attacks- Light 1: Horizontal Vanguard attack with good speed and cleave.
- Light 2: Horizontal Vanguard attack with good speed and cleave; chains into Light 3 or Heavy 1.
- Light 3: Diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with good speed, cleave and an improved finesse modifier.
- Light 4: Diagonal uppercut Vanguard attack with good speed, cleave and an improved finesse modifier (can also be accessed while in Slide state).
- Light Wield/Sprint: Diagonal Vanguard attack with similar properties as Light 1; chains into Light 1 or Heavy 1 (only available while in Sprint state and immediately after wielding the weapon).
- Push-attack: A single target force push, with good range and extremely high Impact; chains into Light or Heavy follow-up combo attacks.
- Light Push-attack follow-up combo: Fast stab Strikedown attack with good armour penetration and finesse multiplier (only available when chained from a Push-attack).
- Heavy Push-attack follow-up combo: Slow stab Strikedown attack with great damage, armour penetration and finesse multiplier (only available when chained from a Push-attack).
- Heavy 1: Slow, slightly diagonal Vanguard attack with great cleave.
- Heavy 2: Slow, vertical Strikedown attack with good damage and finesse multiplier.
- Heavy 3: Slow, vertical Strikedown attack with good damage and finesse multiplier; chains into Light 4 and Heavy 2.
- Heavy Wield/Sprint/Slide: Slightly diagonal Vanguard attack with similar properties as Heavy 1; chains into Light 1 or Heavy 1 (only available while in Sprint or Slide state, and immediately after wielding the weapon).
Suggested Horde combos
L1 > L2 > L3 > L4 > L1 > …
H1 > L2 > …
L1 > L2 > Block cancel > L1 or H1 > …
… > L2 > H1 > …
Light Wield/Sprint > L1 or H1 > …
(While Sliding) L4 > L1 or H1 > …
Heavy Wield/Sprint/Slide > H1 > …
Suggested Single Target combos
H1 > H2 > H3 > H2 > …
Push Attack > Light Followup > H1 or Push Attack > …
Push Attack > Heavy Followup > H1 or Push Attack > …
Ogryn Heavy Stubber
OverviewWhile sporting only half of the barrels and magazines compared to their Twin-linked brethren, the Heavy Stubbers make up for it with increased punch and precision on each shot, especially when bracing the weapon in secondary fire.
With high-caliber bullets and huge penetration and stagger values, no foe will remain standing after the smoke dissipates.
When correctly pacing the shots, this will allow Ogryns to snipe enemies even at longer distances, while still having the option to go full auto in situations that require less thoughtful strategies.
Weapon Special
The Special of this weapon is a high-power flashlight. While Ogryns are not fully used to such advanced technology, they still find ways to make it work.
May it be a light to you in dark places.
Primary Fire
Full auto mode, with high spread and recoil. Becomes rapidly inaccurate even at medium distances, but can still be useful to create Suppression when covering the team’s advance against entrenched enemies.
Secondary Fire
Semi-auto mode, with slow rate of fire. Bracing the weapon enables more accurate shooting, especially when waiting for the spread and recoil to settle.
Krourk Mk IIa Heavy Stubber40 rounds magazine, with good fire speed in both primary and secondary stance.
While less powerful than the other marks, the Krourk Mk IIa has increased mobility and faster wield and reload speeds, making it a very reliable firearm to quickly deploy in tense situations.
Gorgonum Mk IIIa Heavy Stubber30 rounds magazine, with average fire speed in both primary and secondary stance.
The Gorgonum Mk IIIa has significant power in each shot, while still not completely sacrificing mobility and fire speed.
A good middle ground to bring in any engagement.
Achlys Mk II Heavy Stubber20 rounds magazine, with slow fire speed in both primary and secondary stance.
The Achlys Mk II mark trades nimbleness for enormous power: while its wield time is high and the handling is cumbersome, it makes up for it with the highest damage, armour penetration and cleave of all the Heavy Stubbers.
A great ranged weapon for smart Ogryns with tactical awareness of the fight (or just for players who want problems to disappear).
Quality of Life Additions
[h2]Player Reporting[/h2]
Player Reporting was introduced in Hotfix #53 (1.5.11) and it goes live for all platforms today. To find the reporting option, players will need to open the player’s account details in the Social menu and select the Report entry. From there, you’ll be brought to the Report Player screen.
[h2]Disconnect Punishment for Leaving a Game[/h2]
Disconnecting / ALT+F4:ing to circumvent being “downed” to complete harder penances (e.g. the Auric Storm Survivor penance) or bypass the downed/hogtied states has been an issue especially in higher difficulties, and to this end, we’ve introduced more checks when players reconnect. Players will now respawn back with the health count they had upon leaving, instead of being spawned with a minimal % of hp, and players who disconnect/ALT+F4 to get around being downed will now spawn back hogtied.
Further, if a player leaves mid-mission without reconnecting, it will automatically count as a loss for that player. However, the players in the mission will still be able to complete the mission; and if they do, it will count as a win for the remaining players.
This is the end of Pt.1 for the patch notes.
Please continue on to Pt. 2!
