“Why do those guns just look like normal earth glocks?” Our Senior Editor, Robin, muses as I share a video showcasing my exploits with the Hive Scum’s ‘Dual Stub Pistols’. While they may not embody the most extravagant weaponry of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, they certainly fulfill a specific fantasy: envisioning myself as John Wick, an unstoppable force navigating the chaotic streets of Tertium Hive. Picture this: a stimm-hopped gunslinger, darting and sliding at 30 mph, leaving a trail of heretic brains splattered across the walls.
Hive Scum Class Overview
The new Hive Scum class has proven to be quite formidable. In the preview build I experienced, prior to Fatshark’s understandable adjustments to its ranged capabilities, it was undoubtedly the most powerful ranged class in the game. It overshadowed the Veterans so significantly that one could almost imagine Creed spinning in his grave—or perhaps in the pristine packaging Trazyn has preserved him in.
Equipped with enhanced dodges, melee immunity while sliding, and complete immunity on ranged critical hits, the real game-changer lies in a singular ability—Enhanced Desperado. This ability allows players to enter a state where they are immune to all ranged attacks, gain increased sprint speed, and reload without consuming ammo. The HUD highlights nearby targets in blue, and successfully eliminating them extends this state, enabling a rapid-fire rampage through corridors and tunnels.
Initially, the cooldown for this ability was a mere 30 seconds, allowing for an almost absurd duration of invincibility provided you kept dispatching those blue-marked foes. Although the cooldown has now been adjusted to 45 seconds and the ability to prolong it has been significantly nerfed, it remains a robust feature. While I will miss the exhilarating, game-breaking thrill it once offered, I appreciate that Fatshark is mindful of potential power creep, especially following the Arbites, which felt undeniably superior.
Combat Mechanics and Support Potential
Despite the nerfs, the Hive Scum still exhibits power creep in various aspects. Their Rampage! ability, combined with the Adrenaline Frenzy keystone, transforms them into formidable melee combatants, particularly when paired with their enhanced dodges. They also possess notable support capabilities through their Stimm Supply and the ability to inflict Chem Toxin on enemies.
Each Hive Scum character has access to a dedicated ‘Stimm Lab’ tree, providing an unlimited stimm on cooldown that can yield powerful effects at maximum level. Some of the stimm options include:
- Kalma: +50% cooldown regeneration
- Spur: +20% attack speed, +50% weapon swap speed, -50% stamina cost, grants stun and slowdown immunity
- Barrage: -16% damage taken, +100% toughness regeneration, replenishes 25% toughness
At max upgrade level, these abilities typically have a cooldown of 44 seconds, but beyond that, you can utilize this stimm as frequently as desired. The Stimm Supply ability allows players to deploy a Medicrate that replicates the equipped Stimm Lab effects for the entire team, creating a customizable support option, albeit with less damage reduction compared to the Arbites’ Nuncio Aquila or the Psyker’s Force Dome.
Cosmetics and Customization
The Hive Scum class also introduces a variety of new hairstyles, full-body tattoos, and face paint, allowing players to choose their allegiance to one of Tertium’s gangs: The Water Cartel, Tread Lightlies, Iron Riders, or The Show. Each gang is associated with a distinct region of the hive and boasts its own color scheme, reflected in the Hive Scum cosmetics. However, I must admit that the cosmetics feel somewhat basic.
While the intention may be to allow players to represent their chosen gang, the designs often resemble generic Fallout raiders, which is disappointing given the unique backstories of each gang. For instance, The Show, hailing from a carnival background, could benefit from more flamboyant aesthetics, while the Iron Riders, known for their mag-lev train escapades, might inspire a more industrial look. It feels like a missed opportunity for Fatshark to enhance the role-playing experience with distinctive cosmetic elements that highlight each gang’s identity.
As I reflect on the Hive Scum class, I find myself pleasantly surprised. While it may not match the aesthetic or thematic strength of the Arbites, it offers a wealth of build potential and a highly mobile gunslinger archetype that defies initial expectations. The Hive Scum is far from the doom and gloom dreg class many anticipated; rather, it presents an exciting new avenue for gameplay within the Warhammer universe.
