Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Patch 1.12.4 - Notes (11th August 2026)
Vanguard enemies are getting a substantial health cut, a new stagger method, and reduced spawn rates in events. Skitarii Blitz abilities see sweeping changes to balance and consistency.
Patch 1.12.4 lands today with a direct assault on Vanguard enemies, the heavily armoured melee units that have been a friction point since their introduction. The health reductions are substantial: Scab Vanguards drop from 850 to 450 on Uprising, and from 2125 to 1675 on Auric Damnation. Dreg Vanguards see similar cuts. On paper this looks like a simple nerf, but the practical effect is that these enemies now die to burst damage windows that previously required sustained pressure. A player running a high-damage melee build can now actually kill a Vanguard before it locks down their entire team with its block.
The blocking radius decrease from 120 to 100 degrees is the quieter half of this equation. That 20-degree reduction narrows the half-moon arc in front of the enemy where attacks are deflected, meaning flanking and positioning matter more. Combined with the new double-push stagger mechanic, Vanguards shift from "immovable wall" to "heavily armoured but manageable." The stagger itself is the unlock: two rapid pushes now cause them to stumble backwards and expose their back, creating a genuine vulnerability window. This gives crowd control builds and support roles a concrete way to contribute without needing raw damage.
Skitarii Blitz abilities have been overhauled with an eye toward consistency and balance. Arc Grenades now deal damage through a 0.5-second debuff instead of direct hits, which sounds like a nerf but the patch notes confirm average damage per enemy should increase. The jump range expands from 8 to 12, and the ability now generates Capacitance on Elite and Specialist kills, feeding back into your resource economy. Servo-Skulls lose a charge (4 to 3 base) but Purgator gains burn stacks per hit, and selecting both skulls together bumps charges back to 5, rewarding synergy builds. Noospheric Command now requires available Capacitance before use, closing a loophole where it could be triggered without resources.
Xbox Series S players get a tangible fix: a black pre-loading screen appears before the Valkyrie loading screen to alleviate memory pressure and prevent crashes. Load times should not change, but this is a band-aid; the developers note they have further memory solutions coming in future patches and aim to restore the normal loading screen once those land. This matters because it signals the platform is still under strain and stability is an ongoing conversation.
The Decapitator blessing rebalance lowers the one-shot threshold from 100% to 80% enemy health, making it trigger on lightly damaged targets rather than only full-health kills. Stack decay now happens one by one instead of all at once, improving uptime consistency. Duration standardises to 5 seconds across weapon families, though scaling values drop to compensate for the higher uptime. These are the kinds of tweaks that reward careful play and make the blessing feel less binary.
Quality of life additions include Vanguards now appearing in Meat Grinder (the endless wave mode), operative reordering in the selection screen, and a new controller layout option. The patch also fixes a minigame progress bug and resolves several UI and cutscene issues. What remains unaddressed is any mention of broader Skitarii survivability or whether the Blitz changes fully solve the class's positioning in the meta, but this patch does give the class more tools to work with.
Full Patch Notes
▲ Buff▼ Nerf✓ Fix◆ TweakWarband!
Today’s patch comes with several tweaks and fixes. After feedback from you all we have done some balance changes to the Vanguard enemies, decreasing their health, modified their block radius and added a new way for you to stagger them.
We also took a look at the Blitzes available to the Skitarii class and made some adjustments. There are plenty of other things going into Patch 1.12.4, and it is now being rolled out on all platforms, notes are below!
Dev Note for our Xbox Series S players: To alleviate memory, and to prevent crashes, there is now a black pre-loading screen that appears before the Valkyrie loading screen when you go into a mission. This shouldn’t change the loading time length. We have other memory saving solutions that we will implement in a future patch, and we aim to return to the normal loading screen once those are implemented.
Patch 1.12.4 patch notes
Features & Tweaks
Balance Changes
- Scab & Dreg Vanguard updates:
- Health Adjustment:
- Note: Values denote difficulty (Uprising / Malice / Heresy / Damnation & Auric)
- Scab Vanguard
- from 850 / 1060 / 1275 / 1700 / 2125
- to 450 / 550 / 750 / 1250 / 1675
- from 650 / 812 / 975 / 1300 / 1625
- to 350 / 450 / 650 / 1000 / 1450
- The Blocking radius has been decreased from 120 degrees to 100 degrees
- Note: This is the Half-moon we check in front of the enemy to consider if they are guarding against attacks
- We’ve lowered the amount of Vanguard enemies allowed to spawn concurrently in mission mid and end Events
- It’s now possible to heavily stagger a Vanguard by Pushing them twice in a rapid fashion; this will make them stumble backwards and open to be attacked.
- Mechanicus Power Sword
- Fixed an issue where the Finesse and First Target stats would not correctly apply their scaling to Special activated attacks
- Increased the Melee Strength bonus scaling on Special charges from +4% to +5% (max at 6 charges from +24% to +30%)
- Added a new Light 5 diagonal Vanguard attack, chained from Light 4 and chaining back into Light 4 / Heavy 3
- Changed the scaling of the Mobility stat to provide an additional effective Dodge when exactly at 80% stat.
- Slight range and hitbox increase for all attacks
- Slight movespeed curve increase for Heavy windups and attacks
- Fixed an issue where Light attacks could be repeated at way faster than intended rate when quickly swapping between wielded weapons/items.
- Fixed an issue where the Cleave Efficiency stat would fail to scale the damage on secondary targets for most attack profiles.
- Dev Note: 2nd target ADMs for profiles that use both weapons (Slayer Heavy 2, Dueller Heavy 1) have been tweaked to avoid scaling their damage higher than the 1st target due to the above change.
- The new circle crosshair will be displayed when the Special is enabled, instead of the standard dot crosshair
- The alternative crosshair behaviour can be turned off in the Interface Options, through the ""Weapon Special Crosshair"" toggle
- Affecting the following weapons:
- Paired Transonic Blades
- Sapper Shovel
- Latrine Shovel
- Crowbar
- Bone Saw
- Tweaked the HUD element which represent the Special charges to have better visibility against the background in different lighting situations
- Increased the contrast and opacity of the HUD, both when the Special is activated or deactivated
- Removed the fade out of the HUD when at full Special charges
- Changed the “One-Shot” enemy current health requirement from 100% to 80%
- Changed stacks to decay one by one instead of all at once
- Updated the duration and scaling per stack over Blessing tiers for all weapon families:
- Combat Axe
- Duration from 8s to 5s
- Scaling from 18/20/22/24% to 14/16/18/20%
- Duration from 8s to 5s
- Scaling from 18/20/22/24% to 10/12/14/16%
- Duration from 8s to 5s
- Scaling from 18/20/22/24% to 14/16/18/20%
- Duration from 4s to 5s
- Scaling from 18/20/22/24% to 10/12/14/16%
Additionally, we have updated the stacks to decay one by one over time instead of all at once, to further increase the consistency of the Blessing.
Since the uptime of the Blessing effects will be higher after the changes, we have rebalanced accordingly the values of the Finesse bonus and aligned the duration of each stack to 5s for all the weapon families.
- Lowered cooldown scaling over tiers from 6/5/4/3s to 5.5/4.5/3.5/2.5s
- Skitarii Blitzes Update:
Dev Note: We’ve taken a pass on the Blitz Abilities of the Skitarius with the goal of aligning their power levels in comparison to each other and improving their usability.
- Arc Grenades
- Updated Arc Damage application to increase consistency
Dev Note: Damage is now delivered through a short duration (0.5s) Debuff instead of direct damage. This change also affects Voltaic Resistance (Integrated Refraction Emitter Sub Node) and Voltaic Arcs (Voltaic Emitter Sub Node). The average damage per enemy should increase compared to before.
- Arc Jump Range 8 -> 12
- Explosion Radius of initial Arcs 8 -> 10
- Now generates 4% Capacitance for each Elite or Specialist Killed by the Arc Grenade.
- Purgator and Medicae Servo-Skulls
- Base Charges 4 -> 3
- Selecting both the Purgator and Medicae Servo-Skulls increases the Charges to 5.
- Burn stacks per hit 1 -> 2
- Max Burn stacks 16 -> 12
- Can now only be used if you have the required Capacitance available.
- Charges replenish every 75s.
- Max 3 Charges
- No longer replenished by picking up Grenade Boxes
- Voltaic Resistance (Sub Node)
- The number of Arcs released will now be at least 1
- Reduced the number of hits required per Arc 10 -> 6
Quality of Life Changes
- Both Vanguard type enemies have been added to the Meat Grinder.
- You can now order your operatives from the list in the Operative Selection screen. Hovering with a mouse will show arrows to reposition that operative up or down. With a controller, new button actions will show on the bottom part of the screen as a prompt to do the same.
- Expeditions - Tech-remnants dropped with a value above 100 will now show on the Auspex map
- Expeditions - Made it so dodging out of the Auspex map does not count as clicking on the map
- Updated the ‘Alternative 7’ controller layout buttons scheme
- Dev note: The Alternative 7 layout will now be very similar to the Default one, with the Special input being moved to the Left shoulder button and conversely the Tag input being moved to the Right Stick pressed input.
Fixes
General Fixes
- Fixed so that the Rolling Steel data-interrogation minigame counts as progress for "The Machine Whisperer" Penance
- Fixed an issue where the Skull Companions had incorrect unlock requirements.
- Kicked players will no longer be prompted to reconnect to the mission they were kicked from.
- Fixed an issue where Sire Melk's Events were empty when no event was ongoing.
- Fixed an issue where some cutscenes would end with a fade to black which would never go away.
- Fixed an issue where notifications could get permanently stuck on screen
- Equipped gear now will stay the same if a player made changes to the backstory choices during Personality Scourge and all background choice cosmetics were already available in the player's inventory
- Tweaked the text position for mission modifiers in multiple places in the UI
- Fixed an issue where Input Device selection was not available in the Sound settings
- Preset Graphics quality no longer gets modified to "Custom" after selecting any of the preset choices
- Controller configuration "Alternative 2" no longer shows an incorrect button layout
- Fixed an issue where players level could show as 0 in the mission result screen
- The Tagging Wheel option entry now resets as expected
- Item icons now should display as expected when viewing an item that the current character cannot equip.
- Fixed various talents appearing incorrectly in the Tactical Overlay
- Fixed Veteran ‘Demolition Stockpile’ buff showing the wrong timing for grenade replenishment when using Krak Grenades
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Integrated Refraction Emitter’ being active while grabbed by a Daemonhost or eaten by Beast of Nurgle
- Fixed a crash that could happen when switching talents in the Meat Grinder while ‘Advanced Combat Doctrines’ ability was active.
- Fixed ‘Advanced Combat Doctrines’ giving the wrong number of ‘Power Overload’ keystone stacks through the ‘Powerdrive’ keystone upgrade. Now it gives stacks when the ability is deactivated based on the total charges consumed while the ability was active.
- Fixed a crash that could happen if a player disconnected while in the middle of Arbites ‘Break the Line‘
- Fixed a crash that could happen if a latching attack was interrupted right as it hit an enemy
- Fixed ‘Overcharge Transfer Lattice’ not showing its cooldown time in the HUD when it activates.
- Fixed inconsistencies with ability charges not being given when their cooldown ended
- Fixed a crash that could happen in Expeditions if a Skitarii would try to target a Vortex when generating an Arc through abilities or weapons.
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Redline’ keystone upgrade ‘Advanced Power Management’ not interacting with the ‘Advanced Combat Doctrine’ ability
- Fixed a crash that could happen if an ‘Arc Grenade’ explosion happened while the player that threw it was dead
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Integrated Refraction Emitter’ crashing in Expeditions at the end of a mission or loading transition
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Ammunition Deposit’ aura effect staying active in the Meat Grinder when switching auras
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Redline Capacitors’ and ‘Static Capacitor Drain’ Capacitance generation bonuses not being applied to Capacitance gains other than base generation over time
- ‘Advanced Combat Doctrines’ now always aims towards the body of Pox Hounds and Armored Pox Hounds
Dev note: Due to their small profile and speed, prioritizing the head often resulted in misses during active gameplay.
- Fixed ranged weapons performing the rest of an interrupted Reload sequence when wielded after ammo was added via the ‘Gunsmith’ talent while it wasn't wielded.
- Fixed Veteran ‘Always Prepared’ keystone upgrade not preventing the Reload sequence from playing after the ammo was replenished upon using ‘Executioner's Stance’ while on an empty clip/magazine.
- Fixed an issue where the ‘Chordclaw’ ability could enter an infinite attack action loop due to an incorrect interaction with the ‘Purgator Servo-Skull’ Blitz
- Fixed Skitarii ‘System Shock’ talent not triggering from the Shock Maul Electrocution effect on staggering hits.
- Fixed Arbites ‘Break The Line’ melee switch not triggering the ‘Terminus Warrant’ keystone
- Fixed an issue where the ‘Arc Grenades’ explosion radius was not matching the description of the ‘Enhanced Arc Grenades’ talent
- Fixed ‘Slice and Dice’ not refreshing its duration when getting new stacks
- Fixed an issue where the syringe of the ‘Medicae Servo-Skull’ could appear into screen when playing on a ultrawide with high FoV
- Fixed an issue where button callouts could fail to appear in the character creation menus.
- Fixed a crash caused by the Valkyrie Grenade in Expeditions.
- Fixed an issue where the Skitarii ‘Servo-Skull Blitz’ activation could be interrupted when bound to the mouse scroll wheel.
- The Blitz UI input is now hidden when Blitz cannot be activated (e.g. when the Skitarii ‘Artificer Servo-Skull’ talent is equipped).
- Kills attributed to a Skitarii Servo-Skull will now be always displayed in the Kill Feed.
- Health will now stop to be drained for an incapacitated ally while being revived by the Skitarii ‘Medicae Servo-Skull’.
- Fixed an issue where Skitarii Servo-Skull attacks could be blocked by allied abilities or Blitzes (e.g. Psyker Telekine Shield and Veteran Smoke Grenade).
- Fixed an issue where the Skitarii Servo-Skull could sometimes fail to be usable for Data Interrogations.
- Fixed an issue where Mutant and Chaos Spawn grabs did not take Dodge Linger times into account in their hit detection.
- Fixed an issue where the ‘Puncture’ Blessing could be triggered by hits caused by sources different from the secondary weapon, as long as the weapon was being wielded.
- Fixed transition fade overlay in character creator not showing correctly when switching between Skitarii voice and name or Hive Scum / Skitarii home planet and appearance
- Fixed an issue where changing your height at the Barber-Surgeon as a Skitarius would make you appear shorter than your selected height until loading into a mission or re-entering the Mourningstar.
- Fixed an issue where sprinting would be interrupted when pressing the Wield input while having the Skitarii ‘Servo-Skull’ or ‘Artificer Servo-Skull’ Talents equipped
- Fixed an issue where particles from attacking with the Shock Maul or Arc Maul would not be removed when unwielding the weapon
- Fixed an issue where rapidly changing between background selection and character appearance in the character creator would show a darkened overlay
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Corpuscarian Disciple’ Penance not tracking electrocution effects from Arc discharges
- Fixed Skitarii ‘Flensing Fury’ Penance mission time including time prior to players spawning, making its unlock harder than intended
- Expeditions - Fixed an issue that caused player deaths to count multiple times. It would show an incorrect death count in the end of round screen and cause teams to lose Tech-remnants multiple times.
- Expeditions - Fixed an issue that caused team members rescued with the use of a Servo-skull not to get their Tech-remnants back
- Fixed a crash that could happen when a player was kicked while loading into an Expedition mission
Cosmetic Fixes
- Fixed missing pattern on Veteran ‘Chem-Safe Rebreather (Sun Scorch Camo)’
- Fixed missing arm guards in first-person view on Torg's Battle Gear
- Intra-Cranial Implant - Fixed Hive Scum Deluxe hairstyle displays distorted
- Fixed an issue where starting cosmetic items would not be added to the player's inventory after a Personality Scourge
- Fixed an issue where applying both a weapon skin and weapon trinket change would not apply both changes at the same time to the weapon
- Items are now properly updated in the player character in the inventory after a weapon cosmetic change takes place
- Mk III Brute Ironjaw (Stainless) - Fixed beard displaying incorrectly
- Mordian Dress Jacket - Fixed collar not being attached correctly
- Penitent's Type 5 Pressure Helmet - Fixed eyebrows not being visible
- Crude Ocular Implant - Fixed clipping and skin tone issues on implant
- Medicae Port - Fixed clipping and skin tone issues on implant
- Scripture Headband - Fixed parchment clipping through the character body
- Scholastia Psykana - Fixed sleeve being displayed during attacks
- Intra-Cranial Implant - Tattoos are no longer visible on metal parts of the headgear
- Fixed a typo with the Enlightener’s Shroud headgear
That’s all for today!
We’ll see you on the Mourningstar.
– The Darktide Team
Sources
Stay on top of every update — find all the latest patch notes and gaming news at XP Gained. Join our Discord for live patch note alerts and discussion.
Written by
Nathan LeesGaming journalist and founder of XP Gained. Covering patch notes, breaking news, and updates across 160+ games.
Related Posts
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Hotfix 1.12.2 - Patch Notes (1st July 2026)
The latest hotfix tunes the Skitarii class and makes Vanguard enemies less shield-reliant, while dramatically cutting penance grind.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Hotfix 1.12.1 - Notes (25th June 2026)
Darktide's latest hotfix tackles Skitarii cosmetic availability and several crash bugs affecting the new class.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Free Update - Patch (23rd June 2026)
The long-awaited Skitarii class drops later today alongside a massive patch that reworks Expeditions, adds shield-wielding enemies, and kicks off a new live event.