The Arbites Class is arriving in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on June 23, 2025, and with it comes a brand-new arsenal designed to deliver brutal justice. Today’s dev blog reveals four distinct weapons explicitly crafted for the Arbites, loaded with fresh mechanics that promise to disrupt ranged and melee combat. If you’re hyped for new ways to punish your foes, this update might be your next favorite thing.
- Exterminator Shotgun: Packs a punch with special limited shells visible on the weapon, including electric and armor-piercing variants.
- Subductor Shotpistol and Riot Shield: Darktide’s first combo of ranged firepower with shield defense, letting you shoot and block simultaneously.
- Arbites Shock Maul: Delivers electrified swings that stun enemies, with combo potential tied to electrocution effects.
- Shock Maul and Suppression Shield: Offers powerful blocking abilities and a special shockwave attack that staggers enemies and applies suppression.
Weapon Design Insights
Matteo and Erik, designers on Darktide, explained how the Arbites shotgun introduces a new limited special shell system. These special shells are scarce and are shown on the shotgun’s top rack, replenished only by picking up ammo. The Mk III electric shells stun and apply damage over time, while Mk VIII shells tear through armor with a piercing effect. The idea is to offer powerful but rare ammo for tough fights.
The Arbites talent tree supports blocking, which pairs perfectly with the new shield weapons. The Shock Maul benefits from electrocution effects to trigger special stuns, and the shields provide strong blocking with distinct perks.
The Shock Maul & Suppression Shield converts blocked damage into a special gauge that, when charged, unleashes a shockwave to disrupt enemies. This attack keeps the shield active, blending defense and offense seamlessly. Meanwhile, the Shotpistol & Riot Shield lets you block attacks while firing, creating a fresh hybrid playstyle.
Visual and Animation Work
Animator Jonas shared how crafting these weapons was a different experience. The shield weapons required new animations from scratch, with lots of testing to balance weight and speed. The Shock Maul was animated to feel top-heavy with strong wind-ups, while the shield moves quicker to fit into fast attack chains.
Reload animations for the shotgun are pretty cool, too; you grab special shells one by one from the top of the weapon model. Jonas and Julia described using props and duct tape rolls to nail realistic movements. It’s funny imagining them acting out these scenes, but it paid off!
What to Expect on Release
All these new weapons and animations will be available with the Arbites Class DLC on June 23, 2025, across all platforms. The team is ready to answer questions and hear your thoughts once you get your hands on this new gear. I’m pumped to try out that shotgun with visible special ammo; it looks and sounds like a blast.
You can Wishlist the Arbites Class here.
