Warrior Build Guide – Rogue Trader

Playing as a Warrior archetype was always tempting for me in Rogue Trader, as it left me to bullrush enemies head-on. I will give you the best Warrior build guide I found to work under all circumstances.

Updated: December 28, 2023

This build is current to the 1.0.88 patch!

Best Warrior Build in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Here is a list of Rogue Trader features you will want to take for your Warrior main character while leveling him from level one to 16. In game terms, this particular build will serve you until the end of the first act in the game. And remember, you can always respec if you feel like something's not right with your character or if you prefer a particular playing style.

Keep in mind, however, that certain character aspects, such as your name and your origin traits, won't be possible to respec, so choose wisely. The best Homeworld for Warrior Build in Rogue Trader would be the Death World due to its innate +5 Toughness bonus that you get from it. Moreover, Brutal Hunter will go a long way in this particular build due to the critical hit bonus it provides, which is always good to have in melee engagements.

Related: Officer Build Guide – Rogue Trader

Best Warrior Origin in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

The best Warrior Origin in Rogue Trader would be either of the following:

• Crime Lord: Providing an initial +WS boost, along with Sure-Fire Plan as a main feature, will go a long way, especially if you intend to respec later on into an Assassin sub-class.
• Astra Militarum Commander: Great for gaining Regimental Tactics. If you're planning to go for a predominately ranged team, choose this origin, as it will benefit your Suppression Fire! and Timely Rescue Talents.

Best Warrior Characteristics in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

To properly play Warrior in Rogue Trader, here are the most important characteristics to pick when leveling him:

• Weapon Skill: Directly increases his combat proficiency and ability to parry.
• Toughness: Abelard is primarily a melee character, which usually makes him the first to be hit, especially when using Taunt. Toughness will allow him to withstand more damage and stay alive.
• Agility: Additional points in Agility will go a long way toward making your Warrior become more nimble and maneuverable, going well with other Talents from this build like Enrage.

Best Warrior Skills in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Your Warrior should have high conversational skills since he will be the one doing most of the talking as the main character. Here are some of the best Skills for your Warrior character:

• Athletics: Makes your Warrior more nimble in combat, allowing him to fight more effectively.
• Carouse: Represents the ability to resist negative effects. It will provide your Warrior with additional dialogue options when available.
• Coercion: Represents a character's ability to manipulate others through intimidation, threats, and pressure during dialogue. If you want a Warrior who can not only fight but also dominate through force of personality, Coercion can be a valuable tool.

Best Warrior Talents in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

This is the list of best Talents for your Warrior in Rogue Trader:

• Contempt: Gives your Warrior more tankiness and toughness, enabling him to take even more beating in combat. It's an essential Talent for this build.
• Enrage: If you're picking up Toughness and Agility Characteristics. It raises a Critical hit chance on your Warrior once he has less than 50% Wounds, making him go berserk in the fight when sustaining heavy damage. And who doesn't want an occasional Khorne action every now and then?
• Desolation: It's a solo killer Talent, so take it, especially if you're planning on going for the Assassin sub-archetype later on in the game. Moreover, this Talent excels at killing large single targets, which is always good to have in a boss fight.
• Athletics: Raising this stat will give your Warrior more agility, making him more proficient in melee combat. You should always take this Talent when it is available for upgrade on your Warrior.
• Combat Master: Eliminates the melee superiority bonuses that enemies might have against your Warrior, preventing them from gaining an advantage when they surround him. It's a crucial selection in the talent tree and should be prioritized as soon as it becomes available.
• Rigorous Training: Goes rather well with the Charge ability, making your Warrior more efficient when rushing down the battlefield into the fray.

Best Warrior Abilities in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Here are the best Abilities to take on your Warrior while leveling him in Rogue Trader:

• Endure: The most basic defensive spell in the entire Rogue Trader. Until your Warrior's next turn, all incoming damage is reduced by minus in Toughness, and the Warrior gains a temporary wounds bonus depending on his Toughness level. This allows him to soak up a little bit more damage. It works especially well when combined with Sworn Enemy.
• Sworn Enemy: When you want to take a tough opponent down, this ability lets your Warrior designate a specific target, acquiring both increased armor and bonus melee damage based on their strength when attacking that target. If, during the same round, the marked target launches an attack against the Warrior, the Warrior gains an additional +1 AP (limited to once per round).
• Charge: Your Warrior lunges several boxes to your enemies and launches a melee attack against any target in his way. This does not count toward the attacks per turn limit the warrior has, making it a must-have in any build.
• Daring Breach: This is your Warrior's main talent and an ultimate. It's one of the best in the game, in my opinion. your Warrior will immediately restore all AP and MP, gaining +Agility MP until the end of the turn. He won't lose MP after performing attacks. He also won't have a limit on melee weapon attacks this turn.

Related: Heinrix Build Guide – Rogue Trader

Best Warrior Items in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Here's a compilation of the best items to acquire in the early stages of Rogue Trader, tailored perfectly for this Warrior build:

1. Armor: Opt for the Radiant chestplate, as it provides respectable protection in the early game. It will serve you well until you unlock Heavy Armor Proficiency and come across Heavy Armor, which typically occurs towards the conclusion of Act I.
2. Weapon: Consider wielding a Greatsword, offering substantial melee damage without any associated drawbacks. I opted for this choice over the Laspistol since the latter doesn't allow simultaneous charging and firing, similar to the tabletop version.
3. Ranged Weapon: If, on occasion, you wish to employ your Warrior as a ranged hero, a Shotgun is an excellent choice for its remarkable area-of-effect (AOE) damage potential.

How to play Warrior in Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader

Positioning your Warrior in battle should follow a straightforward approach. Given his role as a tank, he should consistently lead the vanguard of your company, spearheading the assault. In addition to absorbing enemy attacks, you should maximize his use of Charge, as that's his bread-and-butter ability and several other talents in this build revolve around it. Here is a list of key points to keep in mind:

• Charge: Prioritize initiating the Charge ability before engaging in regular melee attacks. Failing to do so may expose your Warrior to enemy attacks of opportunity, potentially causing him harm or ensnaring him in a prolonged combat encounter that he cannot resolve within a single turn, thereby squandering the opportunity to employ Charge.
• Sworn Enemy: For optimal results, consistently pair this with Endure. This combination will require 2 AP and reduce the AP cost of Charge by 1, resulting in a total cost of 3 AP for all three abilities. This leaves you with an extra AP to allocate towards a regular melee attack, which provides a remarkable advantage.

Looking for more interesting Rogue Trader articles to survive the perils of the Warp? Look no further as Pro Game Guides is your Iron Halo! Have a look at All Rogue Trader difficulty levels, explained.