Warhammer 40,000: Darktideis an ambitious co-op RPG launched in 2022 and developed by Fatshark, the same studio behind the critically acclaimedWarhammer: Vermintide 2. The gameplay of Darktide follows the formula of other co-op shooters likeLeft 4 DeadandBack 4 Bloodwith a team of four players progressing through a level while completing objectives, fighting hordes of enemies, and making quips about the lovely God-Emperor.
The game has four classes: Zealot, Ogryn, Psyker, and Veteran. Each class has its own weapon selections unique to the class and various abilities that allow you to make a build to your liking. Although Zealotfocuses on melee weaponryand abilities, the guns available are solid and make for fun combinations with melee-oriented abilities.
412.5 - 577.5
6.04s
Magazine Size
15 bullets
Becoming available at level 12, the Spearhead Boltgun packs a big punch in a small package. The rounds fired deal extremely high damage, but the main downside of the weapon comes from reloading. The magazine size is only 15 bullets, which isn’t much considering the size of enemy hordes during missions.
The reload time is exceptionally slow as well, making the gun difficult to rely on in the heat of battle. Overall, the weapon is good for single targets like a Plague Ogryn but falls short when dealing with hordes.
50 - 70
2.15s
40 – 60 bullets
The Shredder Autopistol is a fantastic weapon for low-level Zealots that excels at crowd control. Boasting a high rate of fire and large ammo reserves, the Shredder can easily cut through crowds of heretics. It’s an excellent choice for a Zealot looking for something fast and reliable for ranged encounters.
Being that it is an Autopistol, it’s not meant to be used at long range, but it excels at mid-close range. Its large magazine size will help you make short work of the enemies of the God-Emperor.
90.25 - 126.75
3.20s
50 - 80 bullets
Autoguns are the bread and butter of any good Zealot build, and the Graia Mk IV is no different. A large magazine size ensures you can unload plenty of fire and cut down any enemies unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end. The gun has good enough accuracy to be fired from the hip as well as while braced.
The large ammo reserve of this gun is what makes it such a good contender for a place in a build since ammo can be hard to come by during missions. On higher difficulties, this large reserve is bound to come in clutch, especially during a boss fight.
145 - 215
2.73s
45 - 90 shots
Aside from looking cool, this Heavy Laspistol feels at home for those looking for a balance between speed and power. Each shot from this Laspistol deals devastating damage for a pistol, putting it on par with weapons like the Headhunter Autoguns. The available blessings for the gun are what help make it so effective.
The Speedload blessing in particular is a game-changer for any Zealot. Adding seven-ten percent reload speed for three seconds after a close-range kill, making the blessing a life-saver during big horde segments of the game.
218.75 - 306.25
60 - 120 shots
High power and a large ammo capacity make this Lasgun a terror to all enemies of the Emperor you’re bound to face. This rifle boasts a magazine size of 60–120 shots before having to reload. The large magazine combined with a slower rate of fire than other Lasguns means you won’t eat through ammo so quickly.
The Deadly Accurate blessing makes the guna master at eliminating large threatson the field since it causes a 70–100 percent increase in damage on weak point hits. The Beast of Nurgle is a great enemy to test your damage with the gun since it has a large weak point on its back.
312.5 - 427.5
5.45s
8 - 12 shells
Stamp out heresy with a semi-automatic shotgun built todrop even the heaviest of enemies. This shotgun easily makes short work of Crushers, Bulwarks, and Plague Ogryns among other heavy hitters. Pairing the high damage with the special ammunition ability makes for some seriously powerful shots.
The high stagger from the special ammo makes it particularly strong against nuisances like Ragers, who are difficult to interrupt when attacking. It’s just a great companion to have for the melee-oriented class and works best in conjunction with a fast melee weapon.
112.5 - 157.5
3.30s
30 - 50 bullets
Headhunter Autoguns are very deadly when put in the hands of the right Zealot. While it’s not fully automatic like the standard Autoguns, don’t count it out of the bunch just yet. The Agripinaa Mk IX packs a big punch and has some great Blessings available, like the Falter blessing.
This blessing adds 60-90 percent stagger on weak point hits, which enables you to continuously stun a target with high health if your accuracy is on point. It works wonders on Maulers and the Beast of Nurgle.
75 - 105
50 - 60 bullets
This gun has an excellent rate of fire, making it easy to cut down large hordes. The firepower isn’t as high as some other guns available but it makes its mark with its fire rate and above-average magazine size. The blessings Fire Frenzy and Speedload make this gun an absolute menace at close quarters, which is where most Zealots are anyway.
Fire Frenzy grants seven-ten percent increased close-range damage for three and a half seconds on a close-range kill. Speedload, on the other hand, grants a seven-ten percent reload speed increase for two and a half seconds after a close-range kill.
360 - 540
3.84s
6 bullets
Take all the cowboy skills you learned inRed Dead Redemptioninto space and be the ultimate gunslinger serving the God-Emperor. This revolver is not only extremely fun to use, but it’s incredibly practical due to its high damage and great precision.
The revolver allows for hard hits against heavy enemies at the cost of a very limited magazine size and slow reload. However, it’s very ammo efficient as long as your shooting is up to scratch. Despite those two setbacks, it’s one of the best guns available for the Zealot.
187.5 - 262.5
15 - 25 bullets
Vraks has combined surgical precision and good firepower to deliver the best gun available for the Zealot class. This Headhunter Autogun has the power to easily drop most special enemies with ease while having virtually no drawback except the fact that it’s burst fire, but even then it isn’t inherently bad.
The blessings available for this gun make it even more powerful, so it’s hard to say which one is definitively the best of the bunch. This Autogun is the ultimate weapon for any Zealot and is deserving of the title of Headhunter.
