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Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has today received a huge free update alongside the Skitarii class DLC.While fans will be most excited about the arrival of the $11.99 Adeputus Mechanicus unit to the first-person action game, the free update makes a number of important changes to go alongside it. The headline here is the addition of new enemies, the Scab and Dreg Vanguards. These are human melee bruisers who use breakable shields. The Scab variant has a harder more durable shield that will last longer, but comes in more scarce numbers, while their Dreg are more numerous but only equipped with scrappy handmade shields that are more prone to breaking.There's also a new event, starting today, in which players can join missions with the ‘Relics in Ruins’ modifier to recover relics from the cultists. Once back in the Mourning Star, visit Sire Melk to deliver your recovered relics, and choose which faction to give them to (each gives the player a different buff). Rewards include Ordo Dockets, Plasteel, Diamantine, and a brand new Portrait Frame.As for balance changes, with the release of the Vanguards, developer Fatshark has ‍reduced the amount of Bulwarks throughout the missions. Patch notes, courtesy of the Darktide website, are below.While Darktide got off to a rough start when it came out on PC in 2022, it is now in great shape, and continues to receive meaningful updates. The thing to note about Darktide is it does not let you play as a Space Marine, Warhammer 40,000’s famous genetically enhanced super soldiers. Instead, you pick a class lifted from other factions within the setting. The aforementioned Skitarii, for example, is from the Adeptus Mechanicus (tech priest) faction. You can even play as an Ogryn, an enormous abhuman from the Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) faction.Warhammer 40,000: Darktide update 1.12.0 patch notes:EnemiesNew Enemies - Scab Dreg VanguardsA new threat approaches…Human melee bruisers equipped with breakable shields, these new enemies will bolster the enemy hordes and make them tougher to crack!The Scab variant is equipped with a harder more durable shield that will last longer, but comes in more scarce numbers, while their Dreg equivalents are more numerous but only equipped with scrappy handmade shields that are more prone to breakingEven without the shield, these vanguards are stronger than their non-shielded counterparts.Balance changesAs part of our ongoing balance commitment continuing on from the previous reduction to Ogryn enemies (and at the time, specifically the Crusher), with the release of the Vanguards we’ve reduced the amounts of Bulwarks throughout the missions.PackmasterThe Packmasters have moved beyond the wastes of Atoma to reinforce their brethren in TertiumPackmasters will now appear outside of Expeditions, across the other gamemodes starting from Heresy level difficulty and up.Improved mobility: the Packmasters will now have an easier time keeping up with a retreating playerThe amount of Pox Hounds spawned with the Packmaster has been changed to be based on the difficulty, with an increase of the armoured version at higher difficulty levels.Plasma Gun Mk IIIA brand new Mark has been added to the Plasma Gun, the Mk III! Available to the Veteran class and the (releasing today!) Skitarii class, this Plasma Gun variant has less focus on piercing through enemies in favor of devastating explosive power. Give it a try!Expeditions UpdateThis update also sees an injection of new content into the Expeditions game mode, as well as various quality of life changes and reworks of certain systems!New time of day: DawnNew Expeditions level content, including:New Scavenge ZoneNew Sites of Interest, with electric hazards!New Deadsider Sanctuary.Reworked how Tech-Remnants are shared.Players no longer have a personal Tech-Remnant pool. Instead, Tech-Remnants picked up by a member of the strike team are added to the team’s shared pool.Whenever a player dies (does not apply to bots), the team’s pool is reduced by 25%.This only happens if the team has more than 100 Tech-Remnants.50% of this value is dropped at the spot where the player died.The team can retrieve the remaining 50% of the deducted value if they rescue the player that died.If a hog-tied player is teleported to a Deadsider Sanctuary, the Tech-Remnants attached to them are lost.For each alive player missing from the Valkyrie at the moment of extraction, 25% of the pool is reduced in the End of Round screen.Improvements to the Auspex:Sites of Interest, Scavenge Zone exits, and extraction points can now be marked on the Auspex by up to four players.Data Reliquaries show up on the Auspex once they’ve been picked up for the first time.Hog-tied players are displayed on the Auspex.Pressing the equip button for the Auspex while already equipped will now switch back to the previously equipped weapon or item.The Auspex map does not start in focused mode if the player is moving while equipping it. You can unfocus the map by sprint or dodging.Added more respawn points to all Scavenge Zones.Improved Ordo Docket and Experience rewards for failed runs.Features TweaksGeneral ChangesThe Title awarded for completing the Prologue can now be equipped by all Classes.The displayed title will change according to the Class it's equipped on:The original classes keep Reject Arbitrator displays Deputy Hive Scum replaces the current Reject with Juve Skitarius displays Tech-Warrior Poxbursters:Changed targeting behaviour to make them more predictable. They should no longer be able to change targets while in their lunge state.They should now always enter their explode state after being staggered by a Push from a Melee Weapon, even if they weren't in their lunging state.Poxburster explosions triggered by navigation issues (e.g. failing to climb over terrain), or other non-player related events, should no longer cause damage; they will still knock players away if caught in them however.Poxbursters will only initiate their lunge when facing the player, to prevent poxbursters jumping around cornersInstances of Cyber-Mastiff terminology in the Operative view have been changed to use the term Companion .Ogryn Borovian Mk III Delver's PickaxeSprint will now be allowed during the windups for the Light 3 and Heavy 2 attacks.Blaze Force GreatswordThe weapon Special 'Warpshock Slash' projectile can now trigger the 'Blazing Spirit' weapon Blessing.Reframed the camera used to preview Accessory cosmetics to better show the top of them.Slightly reframed the camera used to preview Head cosmetics to better show taller headgear (especially belonging to Arbitrators).Updated the posing and framing of cosmetic icons and player portraits to center and straighten the head of the character.Updated the camera framing and positioning and added support for Zooming when inspecting Companion cosmetics.Smoke Grenades - Veteran BlitzUpdated the visual effects of the smoke cloud to be less obscuring and to more clearly show the affected area.Updated item notifications to present item type in addition to rarity, and to align the visuals with item names and rarities presentation in the inventory.Ogryn - Point-Blank Barrage Max Cooldown 80s - 60sWeapon Blessing ChangesOgryn RippergunsChanged the calculation for on continuous fire Blessings to give a stack for each 8% of Magazine spent instead of 10%.Affects the following Blessings:Blaze AwayInspiring BarrageCavalcadeDev NoteThis is to avoid these Blessings counterintuitively having a stronger effect on lower Ammo stat values, due to the scaling of the magazine size.Bloodletter BlessingChanged behavior so that Bleed stacks will be now applied on each damage instance of Special active attacks, instead of only the initial hit.Affects the following weapon families:Heavy EvisceratorsAssault ChainswordsAssault ChainaxesDev NoteThe Heavy Eviscerator version of this Blessing has a lower Bleed stacks value due to the Cleave properties of its Special active attacks, allowing it to spread Bleed on multiple enemies. This however caused the Blessing to be less effective in delivering its bonus when actually ripping into an enemy. Note that the total Bleed stacks are still cappedTenderiser BlessingUpdated the bonus from general Strength to Melee Strength, and changed the value scaling from +10/15/20/25% to +15/20/25/30%Affects the following weapon familyOgryn CleaversQuality of Life changesAdded two new controller button layouts (Alternative 6 and Alternative 7), with access to the Special input on bumper/shoulder buttons.Added a new feature to Zoom Out when inspecting your Weapon while on a mission. This lets you view your character in Third Person. Added the info for past Live Events to the events tab in Sire Melk menu.The party invitation notification now requires the player to hold the button and confirm the party request to be able to accept an invitation during a mission.Changing keybindings now notifies the player if the new binding key is already in use, and asks for confirmation before setting the binding.Commodore's Vestures now uses a category and sub-category selection to better handle navigation and different store pages.Updated all items acquired externally to show their source, similar to items from Penances, Class DLCs, Commissary, and Commodore's Vestures.Updated the character selection screen to correctly show the actual selected height for each character.FixesGeneral FixesExpeditions:Dead players will no longer respawn until the Deadsider Sanctuary is reached if the exit event has been started or if the timer has run outBlocked off out of bounds areas in some Scavenge ZonesPlayers and enemies now drop loot on their last ground position if possible, to avoid it getting lost in pits, being stuck in air, etc.Data Reliquaries dropped on the ground in the Valkyrie during extraction now correctly count for the penance gainFixed an issue that caused Medicae stations in Expeditions to display as empty even though they had full chargesFixed an issue that caused Medicae stations to consume Scrap from the wrong playerFixed an issue where more than four players could be displayed inside the Valkyrie in mission intro loadingsFixed an issue in which lightning strikes could damage players during the extraction cinematic.Dark Communion - Fixed an issue where sound would not propagate correctly through the archway leading to the end event cathedral area.Clandestium Gloriana - Fixed an issue where enemies could appear covered in snow/frost effects also in the initial Void areas.Tenderiser Blessing - Fixed an issue where the HUD icon for the Blessing would not appear in server-hosted environments, and added a counter to the icon displaying the remaining empowered attacks.Tweaked handling of Loadout presets under specific cases to avoid having a preset deselected due to mismatch when opening the inventory.Fixed an issue that could display an incorrect last wave in Mortis Trials if a player joined mid-match.Fixed an issue where the Personality Scourge would return an error by wrongly detecting no changes when modifying an Arbitrator character.Fixed an issue in the Expedition Map Selection screen where the Play Button sometimes would show as being disabled when selecting an unlocked node while Private Game is enabled.Fixed an issue where the ‘Enemies Within, Enemies Without’ Zealot talent would fail to display the correct number of stacks.Fixed an issue where the 'Power Up' Psyker Penance would not count kills from 'Kinetic Flayer'.Fixed an issue where the 'Perfectionist' talent could refund Cooldown multiple times on the same attack.Fixed an issue where players could get instantly downed or killed by a Captain's Shield exploding.Fixed issue where the 'Penetrating Flame' Blessing would show incorrect values in its description.Fixed an issue where the bash animation of Dual Autopistols could play twice if transitioning to braced during a bash.The ‘Long Bomb' Veteran penance can now be completed only using the intended Frag Grenade.Fixed an issue where bots sometimes would remain stuck in crouching state.Fixed an issue where the Data Interrogation minigame in Power Matrix HL-17-36 would not stop the alarm sound when finishing the minigame.Fixed an issue where the Talent Tree tooltip for the selected Blitz, Ability and Aura could clip through the bottom of the screen.Fixed an issue in the start area of Dark Communion where bots would not help players when in a hangledge.Updated the description for the ‘Inspiring Barrage’ and ‘Cavalcade’ weapon Blessings with more accurate valuesFixed an issue where enemies would attack the player when leaving the Meat Grinder.Fixed an issue where the 'No respite' weapon Blessing would not apply its damage bonus.Fixed an issue where the player could get stuck in a hangledge or fall onto a part of the ceiling below without dying in the Theatre of Castigation in Mortis Trials.Fixed an issue in the character creator where the camera would snap to a new position when changing height.Fixed a rare crash that could occur if a character would not have a height defined.Fixed an issue that caused multiple people to be able to interact with the same Data Interrogation minigame.Multiple minor bugfixes in Adventure Mode:The following missions have had player collision added or adjusted:Excise Vault Spireside-13Comms-Plex 154/2fChasm Station HL-16-11Smelter Complex HL17-36Hab Dreyko, Chasm LogistratumSilo Cluster 18-66/aVigil Station ObliviumMagistrati Oubliette TM8-707Relay Station TRS-150Enclavum BarossDark CommunionFixed unreachable items and chests in the following missions:Excise Vault Spireside-13Warren 6-19Comms-Plex 154/2fConsignment Yard HL17-36.Cosmetic FixesMunitorum Issue Mk III Command Cap - Fixed hair masking for when these cosmetics are equipped.Reduced clipping on Smiter Power Maul.Zealot Hooded Krieg Mask (Rictus) - Added missing voice effect.Ogryn Vostroyan Hat - Fixed visual bug where the neck clipped through the headgear.Heavy Battlegear (Moebian 110th, Greysteel XXXXL) - Fixed an issue where armour clipped through the character’s shoulders.Krieg Greatcoat (With Psykana collar) - Fixed baked shadowing behind the leather pouch.Fixed headgear masking for Human Hair Style 7.Blessed Memento Mori - Fixed offset to players back other visual bugs.Detio's War Plate - Fixed backpack offset.Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Here in the UK, it's been absolutely sweltering for the past couple of days. It's even got to the point where schools and other institutions are shutting down, with red weather warnings popping up around the country. I have to say, even working from home in this heat can be quite the challenge — but there's something you can do to make your life a lot easier: snap up a shiny new misting fan. That's right, I recently got my hands on the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S, and it's been an absolute lifesaver. This affordable device has kept me cool, even at the hottest times of day. It's mess-free, has a number of different speed settings, can oscillate, and there's even a turbo mode if you need to get a real blast of cold.I'll include more details about the fan below, as well as a few alternatives to keep you nice and cool, whether you're in the UK or beyond.Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — US best priceOver in the US, you can grab the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S for less than $100, which is a great price considering its talents. It's a desktop fan with mess-free misting, various control modes, 12 speed settings, and Turbo cooling tech that's sure to keep you chilled on the hottest of days.View DealDreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — UK best priceThe Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S is a great desktop fan that will keep you nice and chilled in the sizzling summer sun. It has 12 speed modes, Turbo cooling tech, mess-free misting, and can oscillate to catch every angle. At less than £100, it's well worth the investment.View DealIn my recently published Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review, I raved about the model's excellent misting effect, which never creates excess water build-up, as well as its wide variety of control options — including app and voice assistant compatibility — and its generally quiet performance in use.Does it have massive coverage or the most striking airflow you'll experience? No — it's a desktop fan first and foremost. But given its relatively compact size, it performs very well indeed, and its generous 1.3L water tank means you won't have to refill it too often. As a result, it gets my full recommendation.Still, a lot of misting fans are selling out pretty quickly in the UK, and more generally, you may fancy checking out a few other options. As a result, I've found a few alternatives that you can check out. Just scroll down to see a few more options for fending off excessive heat this summer.More fans to check out — USThe Shark 3-in-1 ChillPill received a fantastic 4.5 stars in our recent review. It's a great performing fan with effective misting, and it's an excellent alternative to the Dreo if you've got a little more wiggle-room in your budget.View DealIf you really want to take things up a notch then I've got yet another Shark fan that could be ideal for you: the FlexBreeze Pro Mist. This one's fantastic for indoor or outdoor use, and has a 24 hour battery life too, although it can be plugged in and used if you run dry. View DealMore fans to check out — UKShark's 3-in-1 ChillPill earned a solid score of 4.5 stars in our recent review. Now, only one colourway is on sale right now, and they did inflate the list price to make it look like a big deal, but the actual offer of £10 off on a brand-new product that mists, cools, and fans is still pretty neat.View DealThe Pro Mist is the most hardcore option in the FlexBreeze lineup, because it comes with the mister attachment and an integrated water tank included. That means it's all set up to envelop you in a cooling cloud whenever and wherever you want.View Deal