This Darktide Havoc guide in short: Havoc is the hardest mode, with ranks from 1 to 40. A win raises your rank, a loss costs a charge, and losing every charge drops you down. Most players get there by leveling a class to 30, mastering Auric Damnation and Maelstrom, then climbing Havoc with a steady squad.
What is the state of Darktide in October 2026?
Fatshark has kept Darktide busy this year. Three free updates changed what endgame players do each week, and the October hotfix keeps Havoc and the new mission in good shape.
| Update | Date | What it added |
|---|---|---|
| Beyond the Hive | March 17, 2026 | Expeditions, a timed extraction mode |
| Skitarii class | June 23, 2026 | The seventh class |
| Depths of the Damned | September 29, 2026 | The Spillway mission, the Prophet of Decay boss and new weapons such as the Huntsman's Shotgun |
| Hotfix 1.13.4 | October 23, 2026 | Fixes plus the Arcane Ruin live event |
Steam averaged about 5,900 players in September 2026, so finding a squad is easy at most hours.
Which classes are there and how fast do you reach level 30?
There are seven classes: Veteran, Zealot, Psyker, Ogryn, Arbites, Hive Scum and Skitarii. Each character levels to 30, and the full talent tree only opens at 30. Leveling comes from mission experience, so higher difficulties level you faster once you can clear them.
Treat 30 as the starting line for endgame. Before Havoc, you want a build that fits your role, weapons with useful blessings, and a clear idea of which enemies your class should handle.
How do Havoc ranks, charges and campaigns work?
Havoc is a separate ladder of missions harder than Damnation. Ranks go from 1 to 40, and each rank adds modifiers that make enemies tougher or the mission harsher.
- Winning: a win raises the rank of everyone in the squad whose Havoc rank is at or below the mission's rank.
- Losing: a failed run costs a charge. Lose all your charges and your rank drops.
- Campaigns: the mission pool and modifiers rotate with each Havoc campaign, so a build that worked last campaign may need changes.
The practical lesson is to climb with the same squad when you can. Mixed groups fail more often, and every failure costs charges. Most players stall somewhere in the 20s or 30s, where the modifiers punish weak team play.
What are Auric Damnation and Maelstrom?
Auric missions are the hardest standard missions, built on Damnation with extra modifiers. Auric Maelstrom stacks more conditions on top and pays better rewards. They are the usual bridge between normal Damnation and Havoc.
If you can finish Auric Maelstrom without carrying your squad, you are ready to start Havoc at a low rank. If you still lose runs to specials and ambushes, stay in Auric for a while.
How do Expeditions work?
Expeditions, added in March 2026, are timed, roguelike extraction runs. Your squad scavenges a map for Tech-Remnants, then extracts before time runs out. Extracting with Tech-Remnants opens new map nodes and counts toward Expeditions penances and cosmetics.
The key choice in every run is greed versus safety. Staying longer finds more, but a failed extraction loses the run. Agree on a rule before you start, such as leaving at a set time.
What is in Depths of the Damned?
Depths of the Damned launched on September 29, 2026. It added the Spillway mission as the finale of a short story campaign, the Prophet of Decay boss, new weapons and a live event. The Spillway is a long mission, so bring a balanced squad and save your stronger tools for the boss.
New to the game? Start with our Darktide beginner guide, which covers the classes, modes and difficulty levels.
When does a carry or coaching help?
Help makes sense when you know what you want but lack time or a steady squad. Self-play runs let you play every mission yourself alongside experienced players. Coaching is best when you keep failing at the same rank and want to know why. Read our guide to coaching vs boosting if you are not sure which fits.
What does Darktide Havoc help cost?
Boosting Games sells fixed-price Darktide services. Prices below are the starting prices at the time of writing (October 2026), and the exact price for your option shows before checkout. Every service is listed on the Darktide services collection.
| Service | What you get | How you play | Price | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darktide Havoc Rank Boost | We run Havoc missions with you or for you until your assignment rank reaches the target. | Self-play or piloted | From $29 | 1–6 days |
| Darktide Auric Damnation and Maelstrom Runs | Our team clears Auric missions on the hardest standard difficulty. | Self-play or piloted | From $17 | Same day to 3 days |
| Darktide Damnation Mission Clears | We clear Damnation missions with you, including the new Spillway mission and its Prophet of Decay boss. | Self-play or piloted | From $12 | Same day to 2 days |
| Darktide Expeditions Runs | We run Expeditions and extract with Tech-Remnants to open new map nodes and work toward Expeditions penances and cosmetics. | Self-play or piloted | From $15 | 1–3 days |
| Darktide Penance Completion | We finish the penances you pick, from mission goals to tough class challenges, by playing them out. | Self-play or piloted | From $5 | 1–4 days |
| Darktide Coaching | A high-Havoc player plays with you or reviews your recording. | Coaching | From $19 | Scheduled within 1–2 days |
Honest risk note: The Darktide EULA forbids sharing or giving anyone access to your game account and bars playing on another person's account to boost its level or rank. Self-play is the lower-risk choice; piloted orders carry account risk you accept. Self-play and coaching keep your login with you and carry less risk than piloted orders. Read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell Plasteel, Diamantine, Ordo Dockets, Aquilas, specific weapons or blessings, accounts, mods that cheat or exploits. Materials and loot you earn during an order stay on your account.
Get help with Darktide
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow every session on your private order page.
See Darktide servicesAsk Boost Up AIRelated reading: What Is Darktide? Co-op Missions, Havoc and How to Win (2026), and our general guide to whether boosting is bannable.
Darktide FAQ
What is the max level in Darktide?
Each character levels to 30. Reaching 30 opens the full talent tree for that class. After that, progress comes from gear, blessings, penances and Havoc rank rather than levels. Many players keep several characters, one per class, so leveling a new class such as the Skitarii is a common first step. Expect the climb to 30 to take several hours of missions per class.
How does Havoc ranking work?
Havoc is the hardest mode, with ranks up to 40. A win raises everyone in the group whose rank is at or below the mission's rank. A loss can cost a charge, and losing all charges drops your rank. Missions and modifiers rotate with each Havoc campaign, so the challenge keeps changing.
What is Auric Maelstrom?
Auric missions are the hardest standard Damnation missions, with extra modifiers. Maelstrom stacks more conditions on top and pays better rewards. They are the usual stepping stone before Havoc. Our runs clear them with you or on your account, and the rewards always go to your character. If Auric still feels too hard, more Damnation practice is the better step.
What came in Depths of the Damned?
The free Depths of the Damned update launched September 29, 2026. It added the Spillway mission as the finale of a short story campaign, the Prophet of Decay boss, new weapons such as the Huntsman's Shotgun, and a live event. It followed the Skitarii class from June. The update was free for everyone who owns the game.
Do you sell Plasteel or Diamantine?
No. We never sell crafting materials, Aquilas, specific weapons, blessings or accounts. We only play missions, Havoc and Expeditions with you or on your account. Any materials or loot that drop during an order stay with you, but we do not take orders to farm them. Crafting resources always come from your own play.
How long does it take to reach Havoc rank 40?
It depends on your squad far more than on your hours. A coordinated group with geared characters can climb steadily, while mixed groups lose charges and slide back. Most players need many sessions across more than one campaign. Our Havoc orders to the top ranks typically take several days, and we tell you up front which ranks need a stronger build.
Sources: Darktide: Havoc dev blog, Fatshark: Beyond the Hive and Expeditions, Patched: Depths of the Damned live event, SteamCharts: Darktide.