A Special Action is a combat move in Warhammer 40K: Darktide that enables Rejects to execute a unique attack with their weapon. For instance, the Zealot Preacher’s Eviscerator can rev their chainsaw to cleave an enemy in two. Psyker Psykinetics’s Special Action with their Force Sword allows them to focus their psychic energy into their blade to perform a powerful finishing move on trash mobs and elites. Some Special Actions are less “special” than others, like the Warhammer 40K: Darktide Ogryn‘s hand slap, which is a decent move for briefly pushing back enemies but less effective for challenging combat.
[Updated August 21, 2024 – Updated links]
Performing a Special Action in Warhammer 40K: Darktide
To perform a Special Action in Warhammer 40K: Darktide, Rejects must press the Mouse Button 5 on their mouse. For most, this input will be one of the small buttons on the left side of their mouse, near the spot where one places their thumb.
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It is not mandatory to execute Special Actions to clear a mission, as most basic weapon attacks or special abilities are sufficient to carry them through combat. However, there is a moment during the tutorial phase of one’s playthrough when performing a Special Action is necessary to progress. This event occurs during Sefoni’s combat training module within the Psykhanium aboard the Mourning Star. After being rescued by Zola’s squad from the prison ship, players must complete a training lesson with basic combat mechanics that involves using various abilities to dispatch enemies. One of these abilities will be Special Actions, which will vary depending on one’s chosen class.
The main challenge during Sefoni’s Psykhanium training is that some players might need an additional button on their mouse, meaning they seemingly have no means of performing their weapon’s or class’s Special Action in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Fortunately, there is an easy way to solve this dilemma. Gamer Guides suggests that players open the pause menu and head into the game’s settings. Next, go to keybindings and rebind the key used for executing Special Actions. Gamer Guides recommends the V key, but this choice will depend on individual preference. After rebinding the move, return to the Psykhanium’s combat training and try out the new approach to slay enemy targets.