A new character spotlight has revealed information about the Zealot: Preacher class in upcoming cooperative shooter Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. (opens in new tab) Developers Fatshark have released a slew of quick cuts showing the class in action and highlighting some of those many and varied character lines (opens in new tab) and party banter.
The Zealot is a melee-focused character, one that thrives in the thick of combat. They focus on the use of close-range weapons like automatic pistols, revolvers, shotguns, flamethrowers, thunder hammers, chain axes, and power mauls.
The more damage a preacher takes the more melee damage the preacher deals, lending a push-your-luck element to managing your health while playing as one. You can also lunge forward, engaging enemies in melee—or escaping it—and have an aura that decreases friendly damage taken.
To be clear, the character’s broader Archetype is Zealot, while their specialized class is Preacher. The four archetypes in Darktide are Zealot, Veteran, Psyker, and Ogryn. Each one has its own range of classes. The Zealot archetype and Preacher class were revealed in a trailer posted to YouTube (opens in new tab) and in a blog post on the Fatshark website. (opens in new tab)
The Preacher will also have increased melee attack speed, and “resists death on taking lethal damage,” says the Fatshark blog. So you get at least one slip-up as you ride that low-health damage boost high. Fatshark points out that their fast, high-damage melee attacks make them good at dealing with both armored and unarmored enemies at close range.
Fatshark also posted a short clip (opens in new tab) to YouTube highlighting the starting equipment and ability of the Preacher. You can read more about the Preacher on the Fatshark blog.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a very exciting game for those who love the Left 4 Dead type cooperative formula, and past games Vermintide 1 and 2 are both superb. You can read everything we know about Darktide on the site. (opens in new tab)
Darktide will have a beta this month (opens in new tab) following its delay (opens in new tab) to a fall release. In a hands-on with Darktide earlier this year, our Wes Fenlon said it “absolutely rules.”
