Known as "Spark Head" and "Witch," the Psyker Psykinetic is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's take on a traditional mage class. Tapping into the Immaterium allows Psykers to call upon otherworldly Warp-based powers that serve multiple offensive and defensive purposes. They might not prefer being on the front lines, but the Psyker Psykinetic can do just as much at a distance as other classes do up-close.
Because of the versatility of their Warp abilities, Psykers can fill out the weak spots in their strike team. Whether it be shooting Blaze Bolts from mid-range or burning foes with magical fire up close, a Psyker Psykinetic will always be useful no matter the situation. Add in the class' feats and abilities that are focused on taking down Elite enemies, and Psykers are a force to be reckoned with in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
A Ranged Mage Benefits Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Much like the Veteran Sharpshooter, the Psyker Psykinetic works best when played at mid-to-far range. The small number of firearms available to Psykers work best at these distances, and the majority of the Force Staffs unique to the class allow them to project Warp abilities. For example, the Voidstrike's Force Staff's Staff-Bound Blaze Bolts are relatively slow-moving projectiles that need to be fired predictively rather than reactively, forcing Psyker Psykinetics to get close but not too close.
Psykers work best when they can see and control the state of the battlefield. As Psykers often use their Force Staffs instead of firearms, they generally have infinite ammo to work with as long as they manage the class's unique Peril gauge mechanic. Though Psykers possess melee weapons and a unique blade called the Force Sword that allows them to channel their connection to the Immaterium, the class should only pull out melee weapons when they have no other option. Psyker Psykinetics are neither the tankiest class nor the one with the most stamina, so they can only fight on the front lines for some time before they become overwhelmed.
Bursting Brains and Elites is The Psyker Psykinetic's Specialty
Where Psyker Psykinetics really shine is in their Elite-killing capabilities, some of which they can pass on to their strike team. The best example of ability sharing is the Kinetic Presence passive ability that increases the damage all allies do to Elites by 10 percent, so long as they are within the Psyker Pyskinetic's Coherency radius. Since Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's higher difficulties throw more Elites at players, having a Psyker Psykinetic to deal with them can be invaluable.
By far the most useful ability of the Psyker Psykinetic is Brain Burst. By trading in conventional grenades, Psykers gain the ability to do direct damage. As long as players have an initial line of sight when charging up Brain Burst, the target in question will take significant damage regardless of its defenses. Killing an enemy with Brain Burst gives Warp Charges, which increase the Psyker Psykinetic's damage by three percent per-stack. While most Psykers can generally hold up to four Warp Charges at a time, there is a feat that allows higher-level players to increase the capacity to six.
Most of the Psyker Psykinetic's feats focus on gaining Warp Charges and quelling their Peril gauge, both of which contribute to the increased frequency of Brain Bursts and Warp abilities. Psykinetic's Wrath may be the Psyker Psykinetic's class ability, but its shockwave serves mostly to create space and enable more powerful attacks. The Psyker Psykinetic may not be as gruff and up-close as the other classes, but it can bring the hurt to tougher foes without too much effort.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.