This is a guide for the Skaven, allowing you and your fellow rats to bring the verminous horde into the world of Mordhau.
This guide is a rundown of loadouts and the gameplay style of being a Skaven in Mordhau, and a simple explanation of the lore behind different aspects of the builds.
Skaven Guide
The Mindset
Skaven are selfish and violent. Honor and respect are not a concept that the Skaven familiarize themselves with. They will cooperate only in the presence of a common enemy, or if they are in the same clan. All of these aspects of the Skaven are to be reflected in-game. No tactic is too scummy to pull off, as your own survival is all that matters. If the enemy is too strong to beat, you will simply find others to ally yourself with, and overwhelm your foe. This will likely end with you being despised by all but other Skaven, but in the end what does that truly matter?
- Show respect only to your Clan.
- Remember that no skill should be left unused in war.
- Provide to your enemy no chance to claim victory.
The Perks
The perks that you use as a Skaven should be dependent on your build. Perks such as Brawler, Rat (of course) and Dodge are useful, but your choice is up to you. They should fit the build that you have decided to use, and it is best to pick what best suits your play style.
No perks are mandatory unless stated in the description of the loadout you’re using.
The Loadouts
There are a few essentials that are common among all loadouts listed here. A very important aspect of this is the Hounskull Helmet, using Metal Tint #5, and having the Metal Roughness slider to the max.
Skavenslave
The majority of the Skaven population, Skavenslaves are weak, with stunted growth and weak weapons, if given weapons at all. They are portrayed by this guide as a weak support class.
This is the only build in the guide that is designed to be next to useless. This build requires the use of the Dwarf and Tank perk. Support items such as Medic Bags, Smoke Bombs and Fire Bombs are to be carried. If desired, a weapon such as a Dagger, Cleaver, or other small, fittingly weak weapons may be used. Remaining points can be used for additional perks, although there is really no way to make this build effective. Consider direct combat a last resort when using this.
Clanrat
The most basic form of Skaven warrior to be described in this guide is the lowly Clanrat. In most situations, it would be rare to see a singular Clanrat on the battlefield, as their less than adequate weapons and armor make them inefficient as individuals. Even when fighting in groups, they usually have little use more than cannon-fodder to overwhelm the enemy with.
This build is much more effective when attacking as a group than in a duel. Weapons that fit this build well are the Falchion (Reverse blade, if possible,) the Billhook, and the Battle Axe. Any points that are left over after picking a weapon may be spent on other perks, and if given the chance, throwable items such as Rocks, Smoke Bombs, or Throwing Knives. If using a one-handed weapon, a Heater Shield (Footman’s Shield skin, if possible,) could be added instead of throwables.
Armored Clanrat
Clanrats that survive longer than others may eventually find themselves with higher quality equipment. Unlike their less fortunate counterparts, Armored Clanrats are much more capable both in groups, and as individual combatants. The additional equipment will, in most cases, allow a Skaven to adopt a much more aggressive fighting style when it becomes easier to shrug off attacks.
The Armored Clanrat Build is to be considered the upper class of the Skaven, and is now likely much more useful in duel scenarios. The most accurate weapon combination would be the Messer (Sharkfin Blade, if possible,) and the Heater Shield (Footman’s Shield skin, if possible.) For the sake of variety, the same weapons as the unarmored Clanrat may be used.
Stormvermin
The Stormvermin are the heavily armored Skaven warriors that aren’t to be spoken lightly of. Heavily armored and well-armed, the Stormvermin are to be called upon when subtlety is no longer needed, and a powerful solution is necessary. Tough armor and heavy weapons are the main selling points of this loadout.
Using heavy Head and Torso armor, this is a slow, but much more forgiving build. This build requires the use of the Tank perk. Weapons that fit well are the Bardiche (Brute skin, if possible,) the Polehammer and the Halberd. Although this build leaves little points to spare, they may be spent on additional perks.
