Darrius Build Guide – Rogue Trader

While it is fun to build a character at the start of Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader, taking a preset build is equally viable. If you’ve settled on Darrius, read on for my full build guide.

All the background decisions are made for you when choosing Darrius, which adds up to bonuses to Strength (+5), Toughness (+5), Agility (+5), Weapon Skill (+5), and Perception (+5). You’ll also have the excellent Sure-Fire Plan skill (see below), bonuses to Awareness (+5) and Logic (+10), but -5 to Intelligence and Fellowship, as well as the Carouse skill. The only real downer here is the Int loss, but you can soon make up for that.

Updated: January 13, 2024

This build is current to the 1.0.93 patch!

Best Darrius Build in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

You’ll have a big choice of skills, talents, characteristics, and abilities to choose between each time you level up. I’ve put together a full list of choices below that will create a Darrius build that can both buff your companions and debuff enemies, as well as deal out solid support ballistic damage. Remember, if you change your mind later, it is easy to respec.

Related: Hecata build guide – Rogue Trader

Best Darrius Characteristics in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

There are two key stats you’ll want to concentrate on when building Darrius, while two more will prove useful to improve if you get the chance (through items, etc).

• Perception: Two of your key abilities throughout the game will be Analyse Enemies and Expose Weakness, both of which improve with higher Perception. 
• Intelligence: As with Perception, key abilities such as Sure-fire Plan and Analyse Enemies are strengthened via your Intelligence bonus, so upping it is a key to your Operative’s success.
• Ballistic Skill: Buffs and debuffs make up your main support role, but you’ll also want to attack every round. Upping your Ballistic Skill will increase your hit chance with both pistols and rifles. 
• Agility: You can’t offer much support if you’re dead on the ground, so taking the occasional opportunity to increase Agility is with the effort. It will raise your dodge chance as well as your initiative score, helping you act early in combat.

Best Darrius Abilities in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

These abilities make you unique, helping Darrius stay alive and deal out more damage. Be sure to learn how they work and exploit them at all times.

• Dismantling Attack (Ultimate): While only usable once per battle, Dismantling Attack gives every enemy in combat an Exploit. You then get a guaranteed hit on any target. Whatever you target also gets a permanent debuff to dodge and Armor.
• Analyse Enemies: You inflict one Exploit (which stack) on every enemy in your line of sight at the start of your turn. If you hit one of these enemies, you get a Perception-based damage bonus. It is higher for each extra stack, but all stacks are removed on a hit.
• Sure-Fire Plan: You start with 3 stacks of this ability. Use one to deal Bonus Damage, gain bonus Parry and Dodge, or debuff an enemy’s Damage. 
• Expose Weakness: Remove all Exploits on a target to defuff its Dodge, Parry, and Armor for one turn (the amount reduced is improved with high Perception).
• Precise Attack:  On your next attack, as long as your target has an Exploit, you’ll reduce their Cover Bonus and have a higher Hit Chance (both bonuses are based on Perception).
• Tactical Knowledge: Remove a total of 4 Exploits from each enemy in a 5m radius (or all on one enemy) to give all allies an Armor buff. You also gain a Damage bonus for the rest of the battle.

Best Darrius Talents in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

This build starts by leaning on your unique Crime Lord background, then your Operative profession, before adding some more general talents that increase your movement, weapon skills, and survivability.

• Contingency Plan: If you don’t have any Sure-Fire Plan at the start of your turn (see abilities above), gain 1.
• The Last Plan: The first time you die in a battle, instead Heal for 5x your current Sure-Fire Plan total (only works if you have any Sure-Fire Plan). 
• Tide of Excellence: Gain a Damage and Armor Penetration buff (lasts the whole battle and stacks) whenever you trigger an Exploit.
• Weak Body, Weak Soul: Expose Weakness also debuffs Toughness and Willpower.
• Instant Exposure: Expose Weakness doesn’t use any AP.
• Tenacity: The first time you would be Stunned, Blinded, or Immobilised in a battle, you ignore it and gain some temporary Wounds. 
• Trusty Weapons: You get a 10 percent Crit Chance bonus with Las Weapons, Hammers, and Axes.
• Improved Tactics: Tactical Knowledge needs 3 Exploits, not 4, and you will do extra damage.
• Swift Movements: You always have +2 Movement Points

Best Darrius Skills in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

You’ll want to share the skills around your team of companions, as you only really need one to specialize in each. These are the best ones for Darrius but concentrate on the ones the rest of your team is weak on.

• Logic: Based on Intelligence, this helps you pass Cogitator skill checks as well as picking up on inconsistencies when talking to NPCs.
• Tech Use: A vital skill (again Int-based) for using and fixing tech such as doors, cogitators, and containers.
• Awareness:  Using Perception, this skill helps you spot secret passages, traps, hidden objects, and more.

Related: Operative Build Guide – Rogue Trader

How to play Darrius in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Thanks to his mix of Operative skills and Crime Lord background, Darrius is the ultimate non-healer support companion. Keep out of melee range and use your buffs and debuffs to either beef up your allies or weaken your foes, depending on the circumstances. 

Managing your Sure-Fire Plan stacks and Exploits is the key to success, and don’t forget to use your Dismanting Attack against bosses or other tough opponents.  

Best Darrius Weapons & Items in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Look for anything that gives bonuses to Perception and, to a lesser extent, Intelligence. I  stick with Light Armor, such as Synskin, relying on your Dodge to avoid damage.

As you’ll get a Las Weapon bonus, it's best to stick with a Las Rifle and Las Pistol for your two weapons. Unless another companion can make better use of it, Darrius can make good use of the rare Longlas rifle (Starport quest, in the Sewers, found on the Herald of Tzeentch). At close range, look out for the Elite Blast Pistol. 

For more on Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader, check out Best Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader Mods and our Secret Ending Guide – Rogue Trader right here at Pro Game Guides!