A new Warhammer 40k Darktide game mode is arriving soon to test your skills in a chaotic fight for survival. Part of the upcoming Nightmares and Visions update, the Mortis Trials are designed as a counterpart to the late-game challenge of Havoc mode that provides “easy access for immediate fun.” Developer Fatshark breaks down exactly what we can expect from the new mode, which sees us delve into a new nightmarescape courtesy of the Mourningstar’s resident Spyker, Sefoni.
Mortis Trials are a new way to play Darktide, and Fatshark says it wanted to introduce “something players wouldn’t encounter in normal missions, something with crazy wave compositions and roguelike elements.” While the Havoc Mode brought us a tough challenge that stacked mutators and multipliers to push endgame players to their limit, Mortis Trials is intended as a more chaotic and fun spin on the Warhammer 40k game where no two runs are alike.
It’s unlocked from trust level 13, and is accessed from Sefoni’s Reverie on the Mourningstar. From there, she’ll send you to the Theaters of Mortification, where you’ll be tasked with blasting, carving, and demolishing your way through 12 waves of heretics. These are broken up into three initial sets of three, followed by a final trio courtesy of Sefoni herself. There’s a selection of difficulty settings, so you can step in at whatever tier you’re comfortable with.
Prior to the first wave, you’ll choose an ‘indulgence,’ which determines the types of buffs you’ll gain after each wave. ‘Pyrokinetic’ focuses on fire damage and bonuses when attacking burning targets, ‘Voltaic’ takes a similar approach for electric damage, and ‘Fulminator’ combines the two. Pick the ‘Death Dealer’ indulgence to specialize in close-quarters combat, with faster weapon swaps and reloads, or opt for ‘Colossus’ to earn survivability boosts and melee upgrades.
Every third wave features an objective, which you must complete to progress. Completing these awards a cache of ammunition and supplies along with your choice of an extra, stronger buff that continues to stack across future waves. After completing the third objective (in wave nine), you’ll then be required to endure a particularly intense final three rounds. “These are the waves where the players are the strongest,” Fatshark explains, “[so] we want to give them plenty of time to enjoy their power to the fullest.
Completing the Mortis Trials will return you to Sefoni, and as you progress, the strain placed on her will cause stray thoughts and memories to slip, giving you some potential insights into key members of the Mourningstar crew for those of you with a passion for the lore. Personally, I’m just eager to try the mode – I’m a huge fan of BioWare’s multiplayer mode in Mass Effect 3, and this structure with its periodic objectives calls that to mind.
The Mortis Trials game mode arrives in Warhammer 40k Darktide as part of the free Nightmares and Visions update on Tuesday March 25. There’s plenty more to look forward to in the patch, including an Ogryn rework, so be sure to mark it in your calendar.
Until then, you can blast your way through more of the best FPS games, or grab your friends and strap into the best co-op games on PC in 2025.
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