The Hive Scum makes its debut in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide like a desperate soul retrieved from the depths of Tertium, armed with a gun purely out of necessity. This is the game’s first genuine DLC class, and Fatshark dives deeply into the fantasy: you are neither a soldier, nor a zealot, nor sanctioned by any authority. Instead, you’re a cartel fixer pulled from the hive’s underbelly, high on dubious stimulants and primed to slice, poison, or blast your way through heretics with a recklessness that Darktide has never experienced before.

What stands out immediately is how boldly the Hive Scum deviates from the polished archetypes that Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has employed thus far. This isn’t a class centered on discipline, faith, or tanking. It revolves around momentum, improvised brutality, and an array of toxins that will excel in multiplayer settings. It represents the units authentically and effectively. The class feels quick, twitchy, and always on the verge of spinning out of control, which is precisely what makes it invigorating.

The toolkit of the Hive Scum is unified by two essential concepts: chaotic, high-stakes combat flow and a significant dependency on homemade chemical boosters. The Stimm Lab introduces the most intriguing new mechanic to Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Rather than depending on conventional mission Stimms, you can create your own “Cartel Special,” customizing bonuses that accompany you in every mission. The more potent you make it, the longer it takes to cool down.

This compels you to strike a balance between power and cooldown. It’s a transformative mechanic that shapes your entire playthrough. Would you prefer a rapid speed boost or a damage-focused option that you activate only a few times during a level? Each choice alters the class and makes it feel authentically unique to the player, in ways that other Darktide classes don’t quite achieve.

The combat skills amplify the Scum’s character even further. Desperado transforms you into a frenzied, gun-wielding terror completely invulnerable to ranged attacks and boasting unlimited ammunition for the duration of the timer. Rampage shifts you into a melee-focused character, stacking buffs as long as you maintain hits on enemies. While Desperado embodies chaos, Rampage represents organized mayhem.

Then there’s Stimm Supply, a deployable crate that disperses whatever chemical concoction you brewed in your lab to your entire team, granting the Scum a unique utility absent in other classes: player-crafted team support.

The blitz abilities also reinforce the Hive Scum identity even more. The Blinder grenade delivers a concussive blackout that flattens enemies and grants you space, aligning perfectly with the Scum’s dart-in, bail-out approach. Conversely, Boom Bringer acts as a pocket missile launcher capable of turning the tide of battle with precisely targeted shots. The Chem Grenade seems purpose-built for the Hive Scum fantasy, releasing a toxic canister that transforms an area into a poisonous trap, causing enemies to explode as the gas disintegrates them.

In terms of weaponry, this class showcases some of the most distinctive identities introduced in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Dual-wielding here is not merely a gimmick; it is essential to the gameplay. The dual stub pistols render the Scum a nimble gunfighter, inflicting substantial damage while maneuvering through adversaries.

The unique spin flare action grants the next shot pinpoint accuracy and added weak spot damage, which is satisfying, especially with a coordinated team. The dual autopistols prioritize a rapid fire rate that decimates close-range foes while consuming ammunition faster than nearly any other weapon in Darktide. Conversely, the Needle Pistol excels against larger enemies; a few precisely placed needles can take them down swiftly.

Melee options complete the new class in an unexpectedly cohesive manner. The dual shivs are just what you would anticipate: exceptionally quick, ideal for backstabbing and slicing through unarmored foes. The crowbar unexpectedly shines, featuring two stances—one for multi-target staggering and the other designed for plunging the hooked end into a single enemy before yanking it out for additional damage.

It all embodies the gruesomeness characteristic of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Then there’s the Bone Saw, laced with toxins that you can alternate between. One variant dissolves flesh with Chem Toxin; the other degrades armor with Brittleness stacks. It resembles industrial gear repurposed by someone who definitely shouldn’t possess industrial tools.

After several days of playing the Hive Scum class, it feels significantly faster and more chaotic than any other class in Darktide. The essential aim is