Tier 1 Talents

DH2 Ambidextrous Ag 30 Weapon Skill Ballistic Skill Reduce penalties for using two weapons.
DH2 Blind Fighting Per 30 Perception Fieldcraft Eliminates melee combat penalties for obscured vision.
Beyond Bodyguard Agility 35 Agility Defence Take an attack that would hit an allly.
DH2 Catfall Ag 30 Agility Fieldcraft Reduce falling damage.
Clues from the
DH2 Fel 30 General Social Can re-roll a test made to gather information froma group.
Crowds
DH2 Die Hard WP 40 Willpower Defence Test Willpower to avoid Fatigue from Blood Loss.
DH2 Disarm Ag 30 Weapon Skill Defence Force opponent to drop weapon.
DH2 Double Team — General Offence Gain additional +10 for outnumbering opponent.
DH2 Enemy † — General Social An organization or group particularly despises the character.
Within Flagellant Willpower 30 Offence Toughness Gain fatigue to gain +10 bonus to willpower based tests.
Ferric Lure
Implants,
DH2 Ferric Summons Willpower Tech Can summon larger metallic objects.
Mechanicus
Implants
DH2 Frenzy — Strength Offence Enter psychotic rage to gain combat bonuses.
Without Grenadier Ballistic Skill 35 Ballistic Skill Finesse Reduce the distance scattered up to half BS bonus.
DH2 Iron Jaw T 40 Toughness Defence Test Toughness to overcome Stunning.
DH2 Jaded WP 40 Willpower Defence Ignore mundane horrors.
DH2 Keen Intuition Int 35 Perception Social Can retry Awareness test once with –10 modifier.
DH2 Leap Up Ag 30 Agility General Stand as a Free Action.
Agility 35, Dodge
Without Leaping Dodge Agility Defence May use dodge instead of agility against spray weapons.
+10
Operate+10 or
Ballistic Skill / reduces any penalty for making corresponding attacks (Melee or Ranged)
Within Mounted Warrior † Survival+10, BS or Offence
Weapon Skill from a moving vehicle or mount by 10.
WS 30
DH2 Nowhere to Hide Per 30 Perception Offence Can add DoS from the attack to reduce armour value of cover.
DH2 Peer † Fel 30 Fellowship Social Character has good reputation amongst chosen group.
DH2 Quick Draw — Agility Finesse Draw weapon as Free Action.
DH2 Rapid Reload — Agility Fieldcraft Reduce reload time.
DH2 Resistance † — Toughness Defence Gain +10 bonus to particular resistance test.
Without Skilled Rider Operate+10 Agility Fieldcraft Allows for agility test to Mount or Dismount a vehicle as a FA.
DH2 Sound Constitution — Toughness General Gain an additional wound.
DH2 Takedown — Weapon Skill Offence Make special attack to stun opponent.
DH2 Technical Knock Int 30 Intelligence Tech Un-jam gun as Half Action.
Psy Rating,
DH2 Warp Sense Psyniscience, Per Perception Psyker Allows Psyniscience test as Free Action.
30
Tech Use +10, Int
DH2 Weapon-Tech Intelligence Tech Increase potency of advanced weaponry.
40
DH2 Weapon Training † — General Finesse Use Weapon Group without penalty.

Tier 2 Talents
Ambassador Fellowship 35, Reduces penalty's and allow re-rolls to Interaction skill tests for dealing with
Without Perception Social
Imperialis Intelligence 35 xenos.
Allow re-rolls at -10 on Scholastic Lore or Forbidden Lore test when utilizing
Without Archivator Int 40 Knowledge Perception
sources of recorded information.
Int 35, Tech-Use,
DH2 Armour-Monger Intelligence Tech Increase the efficacy of physical armour.
Trade (Armourer)
DH2 Battle Rage Frenzy Strength Defence Parry while frenzied.
DH2 Bulging Biceps S 45 Strength Offence Remove bracing requirement from Heavy weapons.
Willpower 45, Iron
Beyond Bulwark of Faith Defence Willpower When you pass a fear test against a daemon it take 1 damage.
Faith
DH2 Combat Master WS 30 Weapon Skill Defence Opponents get no bonus for outnumbering the character.
Int 35 or Per 35, Can use Per or Int instead of Ag for Initiative rolls, and rolls two dice (picking
DH2 Constant Vigilance † Perception Defence
Awareness +10 higher) for the result.
DH2 Contact Network Cover-Up, Int 35 Fellowship Leadership Use Fellowship instead of Influence for Requisition tests.
S 40 or WP 40,
Coordinated +10 bonus to all Interrogate tests, additional +5 for others who also have
DH2 Clues from the Intelligence Social
Interrogation Coordinated Interrogation.
Crowds
DH2 Counter Attack WS 40 Weapon Skill Defence May attack after successful Parry.
DH2 Cover-Up Int 35 Intelligence Knowledge Can reduce Influence by 1 to gain 1d5 Subtlety.
Forbidden Lore
Re-roll failed Awareness and Psyniscience Tests againts deamons attacks
Beyond Daemonhunter (Daemonology), Offence Willpower
agianst daemons gain Proven (3).
Willpower 40
 Psy rating 3,
Willpower 45,
Beyond Daemonologist Psyker Willpower +10 bonus to the Focus Power test against daemons.
Forbidden Lore
(Daemonology)
DH2 Deny the Witch WP 35 Willpower Defence Can use Willpower to Evade against psychic attacks.
DH2 Devastating Assault WS 35 Weapon Skill Offence A successful All Out Attack grants a second attack.
Two-Weapon
DH2 Double Tap Finesse Offence Successful first attack grants bonus to second attack.
Wielder
Exotic Weapon
DH2 — Intelligence Finesse Gain proficiency with one exotic weapon type.
Training †
Fel 35, Clues from
DH2 Face in a Crowd Fellowship Social Can use Fellowship instead of Agility when Shadowing.
the Crowds
Ballistic Skill or
Weapon Skill 40 When using called shots the character may use Forbidden Lore (Xenos) skill,
Ballistic Skill /
Without Field Vivisection † Forbidden Lore Knowledge he makes a Medicae (WS) or Medicae (BS) test in place of the normal Weapon
Weapon Skill
(Xenos–Any), Skill or Ballistic Skill test.
Medicae +10
DH2 Hard Target Ag 40 Agility Defence –20 to hit character when he Charges or Runs.
Willpower 35, 10
Beyond Hardened Soul Defence Willpower When gaining Corruption exchange up to have with insanity.
Corruption
DH2 Hardy T 40 Toughness Defence Character always heals as if Lightly Damaged.
DH2 Hatred † — Weapon Skill Social Gain +10 bonus to attack hated creatures.
DH2 Hip Shooting BS 40, Ag 40 Ballistic Skill Finesse Characters may shoot when moving.
Operate+10 or
Without Hotshot Pilot Agility Tech Take fatigue to reduce or increase DOS on Operate Tests.
Survival+10
Independent
DH2 BS 40 Ballistic Skill Finesse Fire at multiple targets more than 10 metres apart.
Targeting
BS 40 or WS 40, Per Ballistic Skill / Attacker imposes penalty on DoS from Evasion test equal to DoS his initial
DH2 Inescapable Attack † Finesse
35 Weapon Skill attack.
Beyond Inspiring Aura Halo of Command Leadership Willpower Can use the command skill on all allies.
Resistance (Fear),
Beyond Iron Resolve Defence Willpower Re-roll failed fear and pinning with a -10 modifier.
Jaded
DH2 Killing Strike WS 50 Weapon Skill Offence Spend Fate point to make melee attacks unavoidable.
Linguistics (Any)
Without Lexographer Intelligence Knowledge Treats all unlearned languages as basic untrained skills.
+20
Luminen
Capacitors,
DH2 Luminen Shock Weapon Skill Tech Character can discharge energy in melee attack.
Mechanicus
Implants
Maglev Coils,
Maglev
DH2 Mechanicus Intelligence Tech Character can hover for longer periods of time.
Transcendence
Implants
DH2 Marksman BS 35 Ballistic Skill Finesse No penalties for firing at long or extreme range.
Mechadendrite Use Mechanicus
DH2 Intelligence Tech Gain ability to use certain Mechadendrites.
† Implants
Without One-on-One Weapon Skill 40 Finesse Weapon Skill Gain half WS bonus on successful WS tests.
Psy rating, Strong
Within Penitent Psyker Minded, Willpower Psyker Defence Gain fatigue to gain bonus's to opposed willpower tests.
40
Ballistic Skill /
DH2 Precision Killer † BS 40 or WS 40 Finesse No penalty to making Called Shot in either Ranged or Melee Combat.
Weapon Skill
Autosanguine
Implants,
DH2 Prosanguine Toughness Tech Test to heal 1d5 damage.
Mechanicus
Implants
Within Purity of Hatred † Hatred (Any) Offence Willpower Gain Vengeful (9) against those you hate.
Common Lore
(Imperial Creed)
Once per round as a half actions the character can causes daemons to suffer -
Beyond Rites of Banishment +10 or Forbidden Offence Willpower
10 to their willpower tests.
Lore
(Daemonology)
WP 30, Resistance
DH2 Strong Minded Willpower Defence May reroll failed WP tests to resist psychic powers.
(Psychic Powers)
DH2 Swift Attack WS 30 Weapon Skill Finesse May make multiple melee attacks.
Psy rating,
Within Tainted Psyker Psyniscience +10, Knowledge Psyker Gain corruption in exchange for bonus's to Focus Power tests.
10 Corruption
Two-Weapon Ballistic Skill /
DH2 — Finesse May fight with two weapons.
Wielder † Weapon Skill
 Ambidextrous, Ag When fighting unarmed, attacks hit as Deadly Natural Weapons and user can
DH2 Unarmed Specialist Strength Offence
35, WS 35 re-roll damage.
Psy Rating, Strong
DH2 Warp Conduit Willpower Psyker Spend Fate point to add 1d5 to psy rating.
Minded, WP 50

DH2 Whirlwind of Death WS 40 Weapon Skill Finesse Make one attack for each melee opponent.
Forbidden Lore
Within Witch Finder (Psykers) +10, Knowledge Perception Gain the Psyniscience skill.
Willpower 45
Forbidden Lore
Without Xenosavant Intelligence Knowledge Treats all unlearned Forbidden Lore (Xenos) as basic untrained skills.
(Xenos–Any)+20

Tier 3 Talents
Jaded, Resistance
DH2 Adamantium Faith Willpower Defence Reduces DoF from failed Pinning and Fear tests.
(Fear), WP 45
Shared Destiny,
This character and allies can reduce corruption gained by 1 or
Within Aegis of Contempt Shield of Contempt, Defence Leadership
spend a fatepoint to gain 0 corruption.
Hatred (any)
DH2 Assassin Strike Ag 40, Acrobatics Weapon Skill Fieldcraft After melee attack, test Acrobatics to move.
Psy Rating, Strong
DH2 Bastion of Iron Will Willpower Psyker Gain bonus for Opposed tests against psychic powers.
Minded, WP 40
WS 30, Weapon
DH2 Blademaster Training (any Weapon Skill Finesse Reroll missed attack, once per round.
Melee)
DH2 Crushing Blow WS 40 Weapon Skill Offence Add half WS bonus to damage inflicted in melee.
Bane of the
Daemonic Creatures with Warp Instability trait roll on test for Warp Instability, after a
Beyond Daemon, Willpower Willpower General
Disruption successful attack.
50, Untouchable

Hardened Soul, 20 When gaining a mutation due to corruption, the character may choose to
Beyond Dark Soul Toughness Willpower
Corruption points pass.
DH2 Deathdealer † BS 45 or WS 45 Perception Finesse Add Per bonus to damage inflicted in combat.
Fel 50,
Delicate Reduce Subtlety loss by 1d5 when conducting an
DH2 Coordinated Intelligence Finesse
Interrogation investigation.
Interrogation
Ballistic Skill 45,
Within Divine Protection General Finesse Spray attacks do not harm allies.
Willpower 35
Spend 1 Fate point to increase damage and
DH2 Eye of Vengeance BS 50 Ballistic Skill Offence
penetration.
DH2 Favoured by the War WP 35 Willpower Psyker Roll twice for Psychic Phenomena and choose result.
Int 40, Contact
Network,
DH2 Flash of Insight Perception Knowledge Spend 1 Fate point to reveal a clue.
Coordinated
Interrogation
DH2 Halo of Command Fel 40, WP 40 Fellowship Leadership Affect NPCs within 100xFelB metres with Social skills.
DH2 Hammer Blow Crushing Blow Strength Offence Make a thunderous strike with a melee weapon.
Operate+10 or
Without Hull Down Agility Fieldcraft Vehicle gains decreases size by 1 and gains cover against attacks.
Survival+10
DH2 Infused Knowledge Int 40, Lore (any one Intelligence Knowledge Know a little bit about everything.
Instrument of
Beyond Willpower 50 Offence Willpower Increase damage by double your willpower against Daemons.
his Will
Adamantium Faith,
If the inquisitor passes a fear or pinning test, allies and
Into the Jaws Halo of
Within Leadership Willpower servants reduce their degress of failure on the same test
of Hell Command, Will of
by the inquisitors fellowship bonus.
the Inquisitor
Shared Destiny,
Strength through
Indomitable This character and allies can reduce Insanity gained by 1 or
Within Conviction, Leadership Willpower
Conviction spend a fatepoint to gain 0 insanity.
Resistance (Fear),
Jaded
Beyond Iron Faith Iron Resolve Defence Willpower Grants immunity to the effects of the Baneful Presence trait.
DH2 Lightning Attack Swift Attack Weapon Skill Finesse Character may make many melee attacks with single roll.
 Luminen Shock,
Luminen
DH2 Luminen Blast Capacitors, Ballistic Skill Tech May discharge stored energy as a ranged attack.
Mechanicus
Implants
DH2 Mastery † Rank 4 in selected sk Intelligence Knowledge May spend Fate point to succeed on test.
DH2 Mighty Shot BS 40 Ballistic Skill Offence Add half BS bonus to ranged damage rolls.
Ignore penalties from Critical damage by spending Fate
DH2 Never Die WP 50, T 50 Toughness Defence
point.
DH2 Preternatural Speed WS 40, Ag 50 Agility Offence Double speed when charging.
Operate+10 or
Without Push the Limit Perception Tech Once per round, the character may add +20 to an Operate test .
Survival+10
Daemonologist,
Favoured by May spend a fatepoint to negate psychic phenomena when
Beyond Sanctic Purity Psyker Willpower
the Warp, using Sanctic Daemonology powers.
Willpower 50
Ambidextrous,
Beyond Shield Wall Defence Weapon Skill Re-roll one failed Evasion test to Parry an attack per round.
Weapon Skill 40
DH2 Sprint — Agility Fieldcraft Move more quickly in combat.
DH2 Step Aside Agility 40, Dodge or PAgility Defence Can make additional Dodge or Parry attempt.
Superior
DH2 Rank 2 in Medicae skIntelligence Fieldcraft Gain +20 to Medicae tests, bonuses to first aid tests.
Chirurgeon
DH2 Target Selection BS 50 Ballistic Skill Finesse May shoot into melee without penalty.
DH2 Thunder Charge S 50 Strength Offence Break enemies with armoured charge.
DH2 True Grit T 40 Toughness Defence Reduce Critical damage taken.
Ag 45,
Ambidextrous, BS
Two-Weapon No penalties when fighting with two single-handed
DH2 40 or WS 40, Two- Finesse Offence
Master weapons.
Weapon
Wielder
Psy Rating,
DH2 Warp Lock Strong Minded, WP Willpower Psyker Ignore Psychic Phenomenon once per session.
50
Without Weapon Intuition Exotic Weapon Train Intelligence Finesse reduce the penalty for using a untrained weapon by 10.
Aegis of Contempt
The Inquisitor wards his mind and soul to withstand the
influence of the Archenemy of Mankind. Just as his
Acolytes help him to guard Mankind against such
damnation, so does he guard them, strengthening their
resolve with benedictions of hatred and cleansing prayers.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Shared Destiny, Shield of Contempt, Hatred
(any)
Aptitudes: Defence, Leadership
Effects: Whenever this character or an ally within 10
metres gains Corruption, reduce the amount gained by 1
to a minimum of 0. In addition, an ally within 10 metres
can spend a Fate point to gain 0 Corruption instead. These
effects do not stack when there are multiple characters
with this talent within range.
Adamantium Faith
The Acolyte has become inured to horrors that would
cripple lesser men. This might come from years of facing
incoming fire, staring down the terrors of the Warp, or
simply his absolute faith in the Emperor.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Jaded, Resistance (Fear), Willpower 45
Aptitudes: Willpower, Defence
Effects: He can subtract his Willpower bonus from his
degrees of failure on a failed Fear or Pinning test. If this
reduces the result to zero or less, he counts as having
passed the Fear test with 1 degree of success.
Ambassador Imperialis
Whether from serving in the fleet of a Rogue Trader or
dealing with xenos mercenaries on frontier worlds, the
Acolyte is experienced in dealing with alien and the most
divergent of non- Imperial cultures, able to avoid the
subtle faux pas that can so easily cause a negotiation to
deteriorate into bloodshed.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Fellowship 35, Intelligence 35
Aptitudes: Perception, Social
Effects: The character reduces any penalty to Interaction
skill tests for dealing with xenos or non-Imperial NPCs by
20. In addition, once per encounter, he can reroll a failed
Interaction skill test when interacting with such an NPC.
Ambidextrous
This talent does not represent true ambidexterity so much
as sufficient training with both hands to make the
distinction moot.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Agility 30
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill
Effects: When combined with Two-Weapon Wielder talent,
the penalty for making attacks with both weapons in the
same turn drops to –10.
Archivator
Whether through years of experience or specialized
training, the Acolyte is a master of mining information
from the Imperium’s countless archives. From delving into
deep info-crypts to searching moldering librarium stacks
and deciphering ancient tech-slabs, the Acolyte can
uncover knowledge thought long lost.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Int 40
Aptitudes: Knowledge, Perception
Effects: When making a Scholastic Lore or Forbidden Lore
test utilizing sources of recorded information of any sort,
such as cogitators, tomes, info-nets, and data-slates, the
character can re- roll a failed test once with a –10 penalty.
In addition, tests to perform research or find information
in these circumstances take half the usual time.
Armour-Monger
The Acolyte is a skilled armourer, and constantly tinkers
and improves his armour, or keeps it in pristine shape by
repairing the slightest damage it sustains. With years of
training, he has even learned to enhance the protection
afforded by his armour and how to use it to its optimum.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Intelligence 35, Tech-Use, Trade (Armourer)
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Tech
Effects: The character gains an extra amount of Armour
points equal to his Intelligence bonus, which he can
distribute to any locations that his armour would normally
cover, as long as he has at least an hour each day to clean
and repair it or make minor modifications. This bonus
applies only to armour when the Acolyte is wearing it, as it
combines his training with his skill at armoury.
Assassin Strike
The character’s natural agility and graceful martial form
turn him into a dervish of death in combat.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Acrobatics, Agility 40
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Fieldcraft
Effects: After making a melee attack, a successful
Challenging (+0) Acrobatics skill test allows the Acolyte to
move at half rate as a Free Action. He may only make this
move once per round, and the character’s opponent does
not receive a free attack resulting from this move.
Bastion of Iron Will
The Acolyte’s sheer willpower and psychic focus have
become one and the same, over years of practice and
training, such that their combined use is second nature.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Psy rating, Strong Minded, Willpower 40
Aptitudes: Willpower, Psyker
Effects: He adds 5 x his psy rating to any Opposed test he
makes when defending against psychic powers.
Battle Rage
Long experience and indomitable will have allowed the
character to master the beast within, directing its rage
while keeping his head, despite the howling bloodlust in
his mind.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Frenzy
Aptitudes: Strength, Defence
Effects: The Acolyte can Parry while Frenzied, and can re-
roll a failed test to snap out of Frenzy or resist entering
Frenzy if he so chooses.
Blademaster
The Acolyte’s mastery of bladed weapons and their martial
disciplines has no peer.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 30, Weapon Training (any
melee)
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Finesse
Effects: When attacking with any bladed weapon,
including chainswords, axes, and power swords, he can re-
roll one missed attack per round.
Blind Fighting
Years of practice and development of his other senses
allows the Acolyte to fight in close combat without the
benefit of sight.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Perception 30
Aptitudes: Perception, Fieldcraft
Effects: He ignores all penalties for fighting with a melee
weapon while suffering from obscured vision, permitting
him to fight in fog, smoke, or darkness more effectively.
See page 229 for a full list of normal penalties based on
lighting and vision. Note this talent only improves his
chances to hit with melee weapons, and has no effect on
ranged weapon attacks.
Bodyguard
The Acolyte has trained to protect his allies or superiors,
prepared to even throw himself in the way of a bolt shell
or whirring chain blade if necessary.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Agility 35
Aptitudes: Agility, Defence
Effects: After an enemy makes a successful attack against
an ally, the character may use a Reaction to move up to his
Half Move distance in order to interpose himself between
the attacker and target. The attack is then resolved against
the character instead of the original target. In the case of a
melee attack, the character may also attempt to Parry the
attack as part of his Reaction.
Bulging Biceps
Whereas a weaker man might be sent flying by the recoil
of a heavy weapon, this Acolyte’s strong physique allows
him to remain standing.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Strength 45
Aptitudes: Strength, Offence
Effects: He can fire a heavy weapon using Semi- Auto Burst
or Full Auto Burst without bracing the weapon, and does
not suffer the –30 penalty for failing to brace it. In addition,
whenever he uses the Heft special use of the Athletics skill
(see page 98) he can add +20 to his Athletics skill test to
reflect his powerful musculature.
Bulwark of Faith
The Acolyte’s faith is both a shield and a weapon. So filled
with righteous fervor is he that Daemons recoil from the
blinding light of his faith, their unholy forms sundered.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Willpower 45, Iron Faith
Aptitudes: Defence, Willpower
Effects: When the character passes a Fear test caused by a
Daemon, the Daemon suffers 1 Energy damage ignoring
armour and Toughness bonus for each degree of success
on the Fear test.
Catfall
Gymnastic ability and natural balance enables the Acolyte
to fall great distances without harm.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Agility 30
Aptitudes: Agility, Fieldcraft
Effects: He automatically reduces the effective distance of
all falls by a number of metres equal to his Agility bonus,
ignoring this distance as if it did not exist. He also adds +20
to his Acrobatics skill tests when using the Jump special
skill use, as it pertains to reducing damage from falling.
Clues from the Crowds
It is often difficult to extract information from groups such
as hive gangs or Administratum scribes, as often numbers
can bolster recalcitrance to questioning. A veteran Acolyte
knows that such groups can hold critical information to
complete an investigation, and can throw more effective
nets when interrogating groups and reveal valued clues.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Fellowship 30
Aptitudes: General, Social
Effects: Once per day, he can re-roll a test made to gather
information from a group of people.
Combat master
The Acolyte’s weapon seems to be everywhere at once,
keeping many more opponents at bay in close combat
than would seem possible.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 30
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Defence
Effects: Opponents fighting him in hand-to-hand combat
gain no bonuses for Ganging Up (see page 229)
Constant Vigilance
From years of surviving ambushes and surprise attacks,
the Acolyte is always ready for battle. His subconscious is
alert to the slightest footstep or activation of a lasgun pack,
and he acts often before he is fully aware of the threat.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Awareness +10, Intelligence 35 or
Perception 35
Specialisations: Intelligence, Perception
Aptitudes: Perception, Defence
Effects: When this talent is taken, the character selects the
Specialisation that matches the prerequisite (Perception or
Intelligence) used in purchase. He can use the
characteristic that matches that Specialisation when
rolling for Initiative instead of his Agility value, and rolls
two dice for the roll (picking the highest of the two for his
score).
Contact Network
Acolytes rely on a web of relationships, favours, debts, and
obligations that can range from within a hab-block to
spanning an entire system. Developing and exploiting this
network properly allows them to gain access to weapons,
travel berths, personnel, and other resources when
needed; those who maximize their connections can ensure
they are well-armed and well-prepared as they face a new
heresy.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Cover-Up, Intelligence 35
Aptitudes: Fellowship, Leadership
Effects: An Acolyte with this talent can use his Fellowship
characteristic in place of his Influence when making
Requisition tests (see page 142).
Coordinated Interrogation
A trained Acolyte, especially when working in conjunction
with fellow veteran Acolytes, can induce cooperation from
even the most hardened of suspects and captured heretics.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Clues from the Crowds, Strength 40 or
Willpower 40
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Social
Effects: He gains a +10 bonus to all Interrogation tests, and
gains an additional +5 for each other character
participating in the interrogation who also has
Coordinated Interrogation. This counts as test assistance,
and thus also gains the standard assistance bonuses as per
page 25.
Counter Attack
The Acolyte’s lightning ripostes are things of deadly
beauty; swift and invisible as the wind.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 40
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Defence
Effects: Once per turn, after successfully Parrying an
opponent’s attack, this character may immediately make a
Standard Attack action as a Free Action against that
opponent using the weapon with which he Parried. The
character suffers a –20 penalty on the Weapon Skill test
for this attack.
Cover –Up
Even the slightest whisper of the Inquisition’s presence
can be enough to scatter suspected heretics and drive
cults into hiding. To prevent the growth and spread of
rumours, Acolytes use combinations of well-placed bribes,
dire threats, and other means to keep their activities as
secretive as possible.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Intelligence 35
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Knowledge
Effects: At the GM’s discretion, the character can reduce
his Influence to increase his group’s Subtlety. For every
point of Influence lost in this way, the Acolyte increases
his warband’s Subtlety by 1d5.
Crushing Blow
The Acolyte has the ability to focus his entire body into
close combat attacks.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 40
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Offence
Effects: He adds half his Weapon Skill bonus (rounding up)
to damage he inflicts with melee attacks.
Daemonhunter
Through years of experience and countless encounters
that would blast the sanity and soul of a lesser man, the
Acolyte has honed his abilities to uncover and destroy the
Daemon wherever it may be found. He knows and
recognizes the spoor of the Daemon, and his righteous
anger ensures that his blows land squarely on the unholy
adversary.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Forbidden Lore (Daemonology), Willpower
40
Aptitudes: Offence, Willpower
Effects: The Acolyte may re-roll failed Awareness and
Psyniscience tests to detect the presence of Daemons. In
addition, his attacks against Daemons gain the Proven (3)
quality.
Daemonic Disruption
The Untouchable’s very presence is anathema to Daemons,
and only the strongest can threaten him. Creatures of the
Warp that lay claw upon the Untouchable must struggle to
maintain their hold in reality, lest mere contact hurl them
back into the Immaterium.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Bane of the Daemon, Willpower 50,
Untouchable elite advance
Aptitudes: Willpower
Effects: Whenever a creature with the Warp Instability
trait makes a successful attack test against this character,
it must immediately test for Warp Instability after
resolving the attack.
Daemonologist
The Acolyte is practiced in the dark arts, and
knowledgeable in the strengths and vulnerabilities of
Warp creatures. He is especially skilled at banishing
Daemons—or harnessing them—through the use of his
psychic abilities.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Psy rating 3, Willpower 45, Forbidden Lore
(Daemonology)
Aptitudes: Psyker, Willpower
Effects: When the character takes the Focus Power action
and the target of the psychic power is a Daemon, he gains
a +10 bonus to the Focus Power test. At the GM’s
discretion, this bonus may apply to other tests, such as
rituals to summon or bind a Daemon.
Dark Soul
Whether through devotion to the Emperor, sheer
willpower, single-minded dedication to his duty, or the
blessing of some dark power, the Acolyte’s internal
corruption remains outwardly invisible. With no mutations
to mark him as accursed, the Acolyte can continue his
radical work without detection.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Hardened Soul, 20 Corruption points
Aptitudes: Toughness, Willpower
Effects: When the character would test to gain a mutation Devastating Assault
as a result of increasing Corruption, he may choose to The Acolyte launches a furious attack on his foe, the rage
automatically pass the test. If he does, he also gains a of the Emperor powering his assault.
Malignancy and increases his Corruption total by 1d10. Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2

Deathdealer Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 35

Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Offence
The Acolyte can place his hits where they inflict maximum Effects: Once per turn, after resolving an All Out Attack
harm, such as gaps or joints in armour. action that successfully hits, the character may make a
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB second All Out Attack action against the same target as a
Tier: 3 Free Action, with the same bonuses and penalties as the
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 45 or Weapon Skill 45 first.
Specialisations: Ranged, Melee
Aptitudes: Perception, Finesse
Effects: When this talent is taken, the character selects the Die Hard
Specialisation that matches the prerequisite used in Through either mental resolve or sheer stubbornness, the
purchase (Melee with Weapon Skill, Ranged with Ballistic Acolyte refuses to fall.
Skill). When the character’s attack in that combat type Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
inflicts Critical damage, he adds his Perception bonus to Tier: 1
the damage result. Prerequisites: Willpower 40
Aptitudes: Willpower, Defence

Delicate Interrogation Effects: When this character would suffer a level of

Questioning suspects and witnesses is always a necessary
part of any investigation. Such sessions must remain
secretive or obscured, however, lest others learn of the
Inquisition’s interest, and a variety of subterfuges,
deceptions, and outright threats come into play to aid this
effort.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Coordinated Interrogation, Fellowship 50
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Finesse
Effects: Whenever the Acolyte would decrease his
warband’s Subtlety due to an interrogation, the amount of
Subtlety lost is reduced by 1d5. If this results in a negative
number, the Acolyte’s skilled efforts increase the
warband’s Subtlety by 1.
Fatigue due to the Blood Loss condition, he makes a
Challenging (+0) Willpower test; if he succeeds, he does
not suffer a level of Fatigue.
Disarm
The Acolyte can wrest weapons from his opponents’ hands
through practiced technique or brute force.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Agility 30
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Defence
Effects: As a Full Action, the character may make an
Opposed Weapon Skill test against one target with whom
he is engaged. If the Acolyte wins the test, the enemy
drops his weapon to the ground. Should the Acolyte score
three or more degrees of success, he can take the enemy’s

Deny the Witch weapon from him.

The Acolyte draws on his faith and mental fortitude to act

as his shield against those tainted by the Warp. Double Tap
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB The Acolyte is practiced in making dual attacks, and can
Tier: 2 almost subconsciously tell when his hits strike to best
Prerequisites: Willpower 35 effect.
Aptitudes: Willpower, Defence Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Effects: The character may use his Willpower Tier: 2
characteristic when making an Evasion Reaction against Prerequisites: Two-Weapon Wielder
ranged or melee attacks against him made with psychic Aptitudes: Finesse, Offence
powers. When successfully evading an attack with an area Effects: When making a second ranged attack action in the
of effect, the character does not move but instead is same turn against the same target, he gains a +20 bonus
simply unaffected by the psychic power.
to the attack test if his first attack scored one or more
successful hits.
Double Team
The Acolyte has experience of fighting in paired teams that
work together to take down their enemies.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: General, Offence
Effects: When Ganging Up on an opponent, he gains an
additional +10 bonus to Weapon Skill tests. If both the
characters that outnumber the enemy have this talent,
then both gain an additional +10 bonus, for a total of +20.
This bonus is in addition to the normal bonus gained from
Ganging Up on an opponent (see page 229).
Divine Protection
Those who hunt the witch and mutant often prefer to use
cleansing ire to purify their unclean enemies. As if to
further demonstrate the cleansing power of lame, some
such blessed warriors even use flamers and similar
weapons when their allies are in the line of ire, yet
miraculously leave them unaffected. If a supposed ally
does succumb to the lames, surely that is only evidence of
concealed heresy.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 45, Willpower 35
Aptitudes: Finesse
Effects: When the Acolyte attacks using a weapon with the
Spray quality, it only strikes enemies within the area of
effect; the attack does not harm allies.
Enemy
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Specialisations: Any listed in the sidebar The Powers of
Askellon above and others at GM’s discretion
Aptitudes: General, Social
Effects: The opposite of Peer (see page 130); the Acolyte is
particularly despised and possibly hunted by a specific
social group or organization, heretical cult, or xenos race.
He suffers an additional –10 penalty to Fellowship and
Influence tests when dealing with this group, and the GM
can use them to complicate his life from time to time.
Unlike other talents, Enemy does not cost any xp to
purchase and cannot be taken as an advance. Instead the
GM and player can agree to award it when appropriate to
the adventure or campaign. It can be removed with the
approval of the GM, if the character has redeemed himself
with the group in question. The Enemy talent can be
awarded multiple times for the same group, in which case
it should be listed as Enemy (X), with X equaling the
number of times the talent has been awarded. This can be
used to represent groups who particularly hate the
Acolyte and want to see him dead. In game terms, the
penalty to Fellowship tests increases to –10 times X.
Exotic Weapon Training
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: None
Specialisations: Each different exotic weapon
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Finesse
Effects: The Acolyte is trained to use a particularly obscure
type of weapon, such as a graviton gun or needle pistol.
Weapons requiring this unique talent are noted in their
armoury descriptions. Unlike other kinds of weapons
training, this talent applies only to a single weapon type
and not a class of weapons. Note that an Exotic weapon
with the Heavy class would also require the Weapon
Training (Heavy) talent as well as Exotic Weapon Training
in that specific weapon.
Eye of Vengeance
The Acolyte can focus his intent on where it is likely to do
most damage to his enemy and then strike his foe down
with a single shot.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 50
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Offence
Effects: Before making a ranged Standard Attack action, he
can spend a Fate point. If he does so, he adds the number
of degrees of success scored on the attack test to both his
damage and penetration for the hit.
Face in a Crowd
A successful investigation often involves trailing suspects
without their knowledge, the better to follow them to
hidden dens of heretical worship or criminal activity. With
training, the Acolyte can ensure none notice his presence,
through careful replication of a crowd’s mannerisms or
even joining gatherings while still keeping a careful eye on
his quarry.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Clues from the Crowds, Fellowship 35
Aptitudes: Fellowship, Social
Effects: When employing the Shadowing special use of the
Stealth skill, he can use his Fellowship characteristic
instead of his Agility.
Favoured by the Warp
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Willpower 35
Aptitudes: Willpower, Psyker
Effects: Whenever this character rolls on Table 6–2:
Psychic Phenomena (see page 196), so long as he does not
receive the Perils of the Warp result, he may roll a second
time and choose which result he receives.
Ferric Summons
The Acolyte has trained himself in better use of his Ferric
Lure Implants (see page 182).
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Ferric Lure Implants, Mechanicus Implants
Aptitudes: Willpower, Tech
Effects: He can summon to his hand an unsecured metal
object weighing up to 2 kilograms per point of his
Willpower bonus, and can summon such objects up to 40
metres distant.
Field Vivisection
The Acolyte is well-versed in the blasphemous anatomy of
his xenos foes, and uses this knowledge to utmost effect,
both in the laboratorium and on the battlefield.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill 40, Forbidden
Lore (Xenos–Any), Rank 2 in the Medicae skill
Specialisations: Ranged, Melee
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill, Knowledge
Effects: Each time this talent is taken, the character selects
the Specialisation that matches the Characteristic and
Aptitude pair (Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill) used in
purchase. When using the Called Shot action with a melee
or ranged attack (depending on the Specialisation) against
a target for which the character has the appropriate
Forbidden Lore (Xenos) skill, he makes a Medicae (WS) or
Medicae (BS) test in place of the normal Weapon Skill or
Ballistic Skill test.
Flagellant
The Acolyte knows that pain is cleansing, and regularly
mortiies his own flesh to atone for his sins.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Willpower 30
Aptitudes: Offence, Toughness
Effects: As a Full Action, the character can inflict some
suitable punishment on his own body, suffering 1d5–2
levels of Fatigue (to a minimum of 1). He then gains a +10
bonus on Willpower tests to resist Fear, Pinning, psychic
powers, or suffering Corruption, for one hour or until the
end of the current encounter. If the Acolyte also possesses
the Frenzy talent, he can enter a Frenzied state as a Free
Action while under the effects of this talent.
Flash of Insight
Despite steady application of logic and careful analysis,
some conundrums remain insoluble, but inspiration could
come from outside sources, such as reading patterns from
wisps of lho smoke or even making direct appeals to the
Emperor for guidance. An Acolyte who has trained his
mind to process such lateral data can leap to conclusions
that direct thinking cannot provide, and thus quash even
the most hidden of heresies.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Contact Network, Coordinated
Interrogation, Intelligence 40
Aptitudes: Perception, Knowledge
Effects: When stuck in an investigation, he can spend one
Fate point to reveal a single clue or lead to aid in the
progression of his efforts.
Frenzy
The Acolyte’s temper and passion boil just below the
surface of his psyche, mostly held in check by his rational
mind, but easily released when needed.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: Strength, Offence
Effects: If he spends one full round fuelling his anger—by
flagellation, drugs, or other means—on the next round, he
goes into an uncontrolled rage, gaining a +10 bonus to
Weapon Skill, Strength, Toughness, and Willpower, but
suffering a –20 penalty to Ballistic Skill, Intelligence, and
Fellowship. Note that characteristic penalties are different
from characteristic damage (see page 188), and cannot
reduce a characteristic below 1. While Frenzied, the
character must attack the nearest enemy in melee combat
if possible. If he is not engaged with the nearest enemy, he
must move towards that enemy and engage it if possible.
He will not take obviously suicidal actions such as leaping
off a building in order to engage someone on the ground,
but he will take any actions that offer a reasonable
opportunity to engage in melee with the nearest enemy.
While Frenzied, he is immune to Fear, Pinning, Stunning
effects, and the effects of Fatigue; he cannot Parry, retreat,
or flee. He remains Frenzied for the duration of the
combat, and cannot use psychic powers while Frenzied.
After combat ends, or if there are no more eligible enemy
targets for the character to attack, he can make a
Willpower test to snap out of his Frenzy. If he fails, he
must continue to attack, favouring NPCs over PCs. Each
successive round, however, he can make another
Willpower test, with a cumulative +10 bonus to return to a
stable state of mind and come out of Frenzy. After
Frenzying, he cannot Frenzy again for at least an hour, as
he recovers his mental and physical strength.
Halo of Command
The Acolyte has trained himself to better to lead and sway
others, either motivating or terrifying those around him to
greater levels.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Fellowship 40, Willpower 40
Aptitudes: Fellowship, Leadership
Effects: When targeting friendly NPCs through skills that
have either the Social or Leadership Aptitudes (such as
Charm, Command, and Intimidate), he can affect those
within 100 times his Fellowship bonus in metres rather
than 10 times that number.
Grenadier
The Acolyte knows that grenades and other explosives are
amongst the most effective ways to bring down
marauding alien beasts, or to quickly thin out hordes of
lesser xenos monstrosities.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 35
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Finesse
Effects: When the character misses with a thrown weapon
or weapon with the Blast quality, he may reduce the
distance it scatters by a number of metres up to half his BS
bonus.
Hammer Blow
The Acolyte strikes a single blow with such focus and force
that it breaks armour and pulps flesh as it strikes.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Crushing Blow
Aptitudes: Strength, Offence
Effects: When he uses an All Out Attack action to make a
single melee attack, he can add half his Strength bonus
(rounded up) to the weapon’s penetration. The attack also
counts as having the Concussive (2) weapon quality, to
represent the shocking force of the blow’s impact.
Hard Target
Light on his feet, the Acolyte dodges and weaves as he
moves, skills learned from long years in the line of fire.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Agility 40
Aptitudes: Agility, Defence
Effects: When he performs a Charge or Run action,
opponents suffer a –20 penalty to Ballistic Skill tests made
to hit him with ranged attacks. This penalty continues until
the start of his next turn.
Hardened Soul
The Acolyte knows that he must sacrifice his own salvation
in order to safeguard humanity, but that he must resist the
corruption for as long as possible. Through practiced
meditation, self-flagellation, prayer and fasting, force of
will, or even sorcerous rites, the character staves off the
effects of his growing corruption, delaying the inevitable.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Willpower 35, 10 Corruption points
Aptitudes: Defence, Willpower Effects: Whenever the
character would gain Corruption points, he may reduce
the amount gained by half (rounded up) and gain Insanity
points equal to the amount reduced.
Hardy
The Acolyte’s constitution allows him to rebound quickly
from shock or injury.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Toughness 40
Aptitudes: Toughness, Defence
Effects: When undergoing medical treatment or healing
from injuries, he always recovers damage as if Lightly
Damaged, regardless of the level of damage he sustained.
Hatred
A group, organization, or race has wronged the character
in the past, fueling this animosity.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: None
Specialisations: Chaos Space Marines, Daemons, Mutants,
Psykers, Xenos (specific), others including groups from the
sidebar The Powers of Askellon on page 94.
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Social
Effects: When fighting opponents of that group in close
combat, the Acolyte gains a +10 bonus to all Weapon Skill
tests made against them. He also finds it difficult to back
down from a fight with his hated foe, and must make a
Challenging (+0) Willpower test to retreat or surrender
when fighting them, unless suicidality outnumbered or
outclassed.
Hip Shooting
The Acolyte’s prowess with ranged weapons is such that
he can still fire accurately without his eye behind the
sights.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Agility 40, Ballistic Skill 40
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Finesse
Effects: As a Full Action, he can both move up to his Full
Move rate and make a single attack with a ranged weapon.
This attack can only be a single shot, and so cannot be a
semi- or full-automatic ranged attack for example.
Characters with the Two-Weapon Fighting talent can use
this talent with Hip Shooting to make two single shots, if
they are armed with a ranged weapon in each hand.
Hotshot Pilot
Effects: When the situation calls for it, the operator
stretches the bounds of his abilities, displaying impressive
feats of maneuvering. This experience has also taught the
Acolyte how to recover from what might become fatal
mishaps for a less skilled operator attempting such
maneuvers.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Rank 2 in Survival or any Operate skill,
Agility 35
Aptitudes: Agility, Tech
When the Acolyte succeeds on an Operate test (or Survival
test in the case of a living steed), he may voluntarily suffer
1 level of Fatigue to add a number of degrees of success
equal to half of his Agility bonus. When the Acolyte fails an
Operate test (or Survival test in the case of a living steed),
he may voluntarily suffer 1 level of Fatigue in order to
reduce the degrees of failure by an amount equal to his
Agility bonus, to a minimum of 1.
Hull Down
The Acolyte remains aware of his foes at all times in
combat, carefully angling his vehicle or steed at each
moment to present a narrower silhouette to all attackers,
as well as taking the best advantage of any intervening
terrain to gain cover.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Rank 2 in Survival or any Operate skill
Aptitudes: Agility, Fieldcraft
Effects: When the character takes a vehicle combat action
with the Movement subtype, his vehicle or steed counts
the value of its Size trait as being one lower for purposes
of attack modifiers and the benefits of cover until the start
of his next turn.
Independent Targeting
The Acolyte has developed his situational awareness to a
point where he can fire in two directions within a split
second.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 40
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Finesse
Effects: When firing two weapons as part of a single action
(using the Two- Weapon Fighting talent, for example), the
character does not need his targets to be within 10 metres
of each other.
Inescapable Attack
The Acolyte can anticipate his opponent’s reactions, and
ensures his hits strike no matter how a foe tries to avoid
them.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 40 or Weapon Skill 40,
Perception 35
Specialisations: Ranged, Melee
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill, Finesse
Effects: This talent applies to Melee or Ranged attacks,
depending on the Speciality chosen. After making a
successful attack test of the appropriate type as part of an
All Out Attack, Called Shot, Charge, Standard Attack, or
Stun action, the character imposes a penalty on all evasion
attempts (Dodge or Parry tests) made against this attack
equal to 10 times the total degrees of success scored on
the attack test.
Infused Knowledge
The Acolyte has been imbued with a great breadth of lore,
either through punishing noetic techniques or by arcane
methods kept secret by the guardians of technology and
learning.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Intelligence 40, Lore (any one)
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Knowledge
Effects: He counts as having all Common Lore and
Scholastic Lore skills at rank 1 (Known)—basically, he
knows something about everything. If he wishes to later
improve his Lore skills, these advances must be bought
using experience points (from rank 1) as normal. He also
adds one degree of success to any successful Common or
Scholastic Lore tests, due to his ingrained training.
Inspiring Aura
The Acolyte’s strength of will inspires those under his
command and his comrades in equal measure. Looking to
his faithful example, his allies can overcome their own fear
in order to do the Emperor’s work.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Halo of Command
Aptitudes: Leadership, Willpower
Effects: The character can affect allies of any kind—not
only subordinates—with the Terrify special use for the
Command skill (see page 101 of the Dark Heresy Core
Rulebook 2nd Ed). This need not represent threats and
intimidation, but might represent inspiring words,
encouragement, or sheer steadfastness in the face of
terrifying foes.
Instrument of his Will
The Acolyte strikes down daemonic foes with holy fury, his
blows landing as if guided by the hand of the Emperor
Himself. The keen edge of his faith and hatred presents
the true threat to the Daemon, not his physical strength or
the potency of his weapon.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Willpower 50
Aptitudes: Offence, Willpower
Effects: After making a successful attack against a Daemon
(this can include striking it with a psychic power), the
character may spend a Fate point to increase the damage
of the first hit he inflicts as part of that attack by an
amount equal to twice his Willpower bonus. This
additional damage ignores armour and Toughness bonus.
Into the Jaws of Hell
The Inquisitor’s strength of conviction and faith in the
Emperor— or perhaps the fear of his retribution—inspires
those at his side to fight on, even in the face of
overwhelming odds and the terrors of the galaxy.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Adamantium Faith, Halo of Command, Will
of the Inquisitor
Aptitudes: Leadership, Willpower
Effects: Servants and allies within 10 metres can subtract
the Inquisitor’s Fellowship bonus from their degrees of
failure on a failed Fear or Pinning test, so long as the
Inquisitor passes the test. If this reduces the degrees of
failure to 0 or less, a character counts as having passed the
test with 1 degree of success. The effects of this talent
apply to Acolytes in the Inquisitor’s warband and to other
servants of the Imperium fighting under the Inquisitor’s
orders, as well as others at the GM’s discretion.
Indomitable Conviction
An Inquisitor must often share a part of his burden of
knowledge and understanding with those who serve
alongside him. Although some Acolytes might succumb to
madness and despair, those who undergo such mental
trials with their sanity intact come out stronger for it. An
Inquisitor can also benefit from such an experience,
drawing strength from his comrades and renewing his
faith in his duty to Mankind.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Shared Destiny, Strength through
Conviction, Resistance (Fear), Jaded
Aptitudes: Leadership, Willpower
Effects: Whenever this character or an ally within 10
metres gains Insanity, reduce the amount gained by 1. In
addition, an ally within 10 metres can spend a Fate point
to gain 0 Insanity instead. These effects do not stack when
there are multiple characters with this talent within range.
Iron Faith
The Acolyte’s faith is as unyielding as plasteel, and it
protects him against the unnatural aura of the daemonic.
With the strength of his conviction, he faces down the
otherworldly terrors of the Warp the way a lesser man
might look down the barrel of a lasgun.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Iron Resolve
Aptitudes: Defence, Willpower
Effects: The character is immune to the effects of the unavoidable with the Dodge and Parry skills until the end
Baneful Presence trait. of the round. Other means of avoiding or stopping attacks
(such as displacer fields or alien protective devices) are

Iron Jaw unaffected.

The Acolyte has taken blows from Orks and given back as Leap Up
good as he got, bouncing back from most strikes without A combination of athletic ability and speed allows the
ill effects. Acolyte to spring to his feet in virtually any circumstance.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1 Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Toughness 40 Prerequisites: Agility 30
Aptitudes: Toughness, Defence Aptitudes: Agility, General
Effects: Whenever this character becomes Stunned, he Effects: He can stand up as a Free Action.
may make a Challenging (+0) Toughness test as a Free
Action to ignore the effects.
Leaping Dodge
Jaded The Acolyte has become practiced at escaping weapons
that cover an area to deadly effect, from flamers to
The Acolyte’s wide travels have shown him both wonders strange xenos devices.
and horrors beyond the ken of most. The galaxy has Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
thrown its worst at him and he has yet to flinch. Tier: 1
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB Prerequisites: Agility 35, Rank 2 in the Dodge skill
Tier: 1 Aptitudes: Agility, Defence
Prerequisites: Willpower 40 Effects: When he would make an Agility test to avoid
Aptitudes: Willpower, Defence attacks from weapons with the Spray quality, he may
Effects: Mundane events, from death’s horrific visage to make the test using his Dodge (Ag) skill instead.
xenos abominations, do not force him to gain Insanity
points or make Fear tests. Daemons, Warp manifestations,
and other unnatural effects still affect him normally. Iron Resolve
The Acolyte is inured to the terrors of both combat and

Keen Intuition the Warp, knowing that he must control his fear in order
to face foes that threaten both body and soul. When
The Acolyte has trained extensively to notice objects that confronted with the machinations of heretics, threats to
seem out of place or hidden. This can bring the smallest life and limb, and even the otherworldly creatures of the
irregularity to prominence, revealing the heresy festering Warp, the Acolyte stands firm.
beneath the surface. Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB Tier: 2
Tier: 1 Prerequisites: Resistance (Fear), Jaded
Prerequisites: Intelligence 35 Aptitudes: Defence, Willpower
Aptitudes: Perception, Social Effects: After failing a Fear or Pinning test, the character
Effects: After failing an Awareness skill test, the character can re-roll the test with a –10 modifier.
can re-roll the test with a –10 modifier.

Killing Strike
With expert precision, the Acolyte can land blows which
defy his opponent’s ability to counter, slicing through
defenses as surely as a powerblade cuts flesh.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 50
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Offence
Effects: At the beginning of each of his turns, the character
may spend a Fate point to make his melee attacks
Lexographer
From years poring over dusty tomes and examining
ancient ruins on forgotten worlds—and perhaps even
speaking face-to- face with inhuman beings—the Acolyte
has become an expert in deciphering lost human
languages as well as those of xenos.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Rank 3 in Linguistics (Any)
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Knowledge
Effects: The character can attempt any Linguistics skill in
which he is not trained as an untrained skill test as if it
were not a Specialist skill.
Lightning Attack
The Acolyte’s speed with weapons is unmatched, allowing
him to launch flurries of attacks in melee.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Swift Attack
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Finesse
Effects: He can make the Lightning Attack action (see page
222).
Luminen Blast
The energies charged in the Acolyte’s Luminen Capacitors
can be expelled in a ranged attack.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Luminen Shock, Luminen Capacitors,
Mechanicus Implants
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Tech
Effects: The character always counts as being equipped
with a Pistol weapon with a 10m range. This can only be
used in single shot mode, and deals 1d10 plus twice his
Willpower bonus in Energy damage, with Pen 0 and the
Shocking quality. The character always counts as having
Weapon Training for this weapon and after making an
attack with it, he must pass a Toughness test or suffer 1
level of Fatigue.
Luminen Shock
The energies charged in the Acolyte’s Luminen Capacitors
can be expelled by touching a foe.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Luminen Capacitors, Mechanicus Implants
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Tech
Effects: The character always counts as being equipped
with a melee weapon that inflicts 1d10 plus his WPB in
Energy damage, with Pen 0 and the Shocking quality. He
always counts as having Weapon Training for it and after
making this attack, he must pass a Toughness test or suffer
1 level of Fatigue.
Maglev Transcendence
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Maglev Coils, Mechanicus Implants
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Tech
Effects: The Acolyte has learned how to better use his
implanted maglev coils, and can hover for a number of
minutes equal to 1d10 plus twice his Toughness bonus. He
can move his Run speed when making a Half Move action
and suffers no damage from falling if the coils are active.
Each use drains half the power stored in the coils
(therefore he can use the coils twice before recharging
them).
Marksman
The Acolyte’s steady hand and eagle eye allow him to keep
crosshairs steady on any target, regardless of range.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 35
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Finesse
Effects: Distance is no protection against the character’s
marksmanship, and he suffers no penalties for making
Ballistic Skill tests at Long or Extreme range.
Mastery
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Rank 4 in selected skill
Specialisations: Any skill
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Knowledge
Effects: The Acolyte has mastered a single skill. He can
spend a Fate point to automatically pass a skill test with
his chosen skill, provided the final modifier to his skill test
is Challenging (+0) or better. He scores a number of
degrees of success equal to the characteristic bonus of the
skill’s associated characteristic. This talent may be taken
more than once, each time for a different skill.
Mechadendrite Use
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Mechanicus Implants
Specialisations: Weapon, Utility
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Tech
Effects: The Acolyte is trained in the use of a particular
kind of mechadendrite (see page 183) in much the same
way as Weapon Training allows the use of weapons.
Though there are many different types of mechadendrites,
this talent divides them into two broad categories: •
Weapon: Mechadendrites of this type end in either ranged
or close combat weapons, and have the supplemental
power supplies and mechanical support necessary for
combat. • Utility: Including such varied types as
Manipulator, Medicae, Utility, Optical, and countless
others, these generally require less hardy mountings, but
all function in a similar manner.
Mighty Shot
The Acolyte knows the weak points in every type of
armour and material, and has the skill to ensure that his
shots land exactly where they can do the most damage.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 40
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Offence
Effects: He adds half his Ballistic Skill bonus (rounded up)
to damage he inflicts with ranged weapons.
Mounted Warrior
Hard-won experience fighting from the saddle or seat of a
vehicle has trained the Acolyte to adjust for the motion of
mounted combat, moving with the vehicle instead of
fighting against it.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Rank 2 (Trained) in any Operate skill or Rank
2 (Trained) in Survival skill, Ballistic Skill 30 or Weapon Skill
30
Specialisations: Melee, Ranged
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill or Ballistic Skill, Offence
Effects: When a character purchases this talent, he selects
the specialisation that matches the characteristic
prerequisite and aptitude used in purchase. He then
reduces any penalty for making corresponding attacks
(Melee or Ranged) from a moving vehicle or mount by 10
for each time the talent has been purchased in that
specialisation. This applies to both ordinary attack actions
and vehicle combat actions, such as Hit and Run.
Never Die
The Acolyte’s will or devotion to the Emperor can sustain
him when his mortal body fails.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Willpower 50, Toughness 50
Aptitudes: Toughness, Defence
Effects: He may spend one Fate point to ignore the effects
of injury (such as those from Critical damage), Fatigue, and
Stunning for a single combat, so long as they would not kill
him immediately. This talent does not prevent the damage,
but allows him to temporarily ignore its effects for the
duration of the combat. Once the encounter ends, the
effects trigger as normal.
Nowhere to Hide
The Acolyte’s keen eye ensures he can spot soft points
even in the most impregnable of protective cover.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Perception 30
Aptitudes: Perception, Offence
Effects: When he damages cover (see page 229), the
character adds his degrees of success from the attack to
the reduction of the cover’s Armour value. If using a
weapon that does not require a skill test, he adds 1
instead.
One-on-One
The Acolyte is a master of single combat. Without the
distractions of multiple opponents, he fights at his best,
taking every opening and leaving none.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 40
Aptitudes: Finesse, Weapon Skill
Effects: When fighting a single enemy in melee combat,
the character scores extra degrees of success on successful
Weapon Skill tests equal to half of his Weapon Skill bonus
(rounded down).
Peer
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Fellowship 30
Specialisations: Any listed in the sidebar The Powers of
Askellon (see page 126), others at GM’s discretion
Aptitudes: Fellowship, Social
Effects: The Acolyte knows how to deal with a particular
social group or organisation, or even xenos race. He gains
a +10 bonus to all Fellowship and Influence tests when
interacting with this chosen group, and at the GM’s
discretion can sometimes call upon them for favours. The
GM and player may agree to award this talent when
appropriate to the adventure or campaign, though the
character must still pay the experience cost for the Talent
as normal. This talent can be awarded multiple times for
the same group, in which case it should be listed as Peer
(X), with X equalling the number of times the talent has
been awarded. This can be used to represent groups who
particularly like the character and may even be staunch
allies. In game terms, the bonus to Fellowship tests
increases to +10 times X. Additionally, when the character
acquires this talent, he increases his Influence by 1.
Penitent Psyker
Psykers are hated and shunned throughout the Imperium,
and even those psykers who serve the Emperor often
struggle with their curse. Whether a rogue psyker taken
under an Inquisitor’s wing or a sanctioned psyker whose
faith condemns his abilities, such an individual might
develop the ability to act as a kind of psychic lightning rod,
sacrificing his own flesh in order to protect his allies from
the Warp-spawned powers of the witch and wyrd.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Psy rating, Strong Minded, Willpower 40
Aptitudes: Psyker, Defence
Effects: When the psyker or an ally within 10 metres
becomes the target of a psychic power, the psyker may
voluntarily suffer any number of levels of Fatigue. Each
level of Fatigue suffered grants the target a +10 bonus on
any Opposed test to resist the power or Evasion test to
avoid its effects. If the target’s test to resist or avoid the
power results in a roll of doubles, the psyker generates
Psychic Phenomena, just as if he had used the Focus
Power action.
Precision Killer
The Acolyte’s eye, hand, and weapon act seamlessly
together, place his attacks exactly where he intends.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 40 or Weapon Skill 40
Specialisations: Ranged, Melee
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill, Finesse
Effects: When this talent is taken, the character selects the
Specialisation that matches the Characteristic and
Aptitude pair (Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill) used in
purchase. When making a Called Shot (see page 219) with
a melee or ranged attack (depending on the Specialisation),
he does not suffer the usual –20 penalty.
Preternatural Speed
The Acolyte is a swift-moving bringer of death, a living,
bloody scythe before whom foes die like corn before the
reaper.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 40, Agility 50
Aptitudes: Agility, Offence
Effects: When making a Charge action, he doubles his
normal Charge movement (for instance, if he has an Agility
bonus of 3 and thus a Charge movement of 9 metres, his
movement is then doubled to 18 metres with this talent).
Prosanguine
Through the Acolyte’s iron will, he is able to speed the
function of his Autosanguinator.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Autosanguine Implants, Mechanicus
Implants
Aptitudes: Toughness, Tech
Effects: He must spend 10 minutes in meditation and
make a Tech-Use test. If he succeeds, he removes 1d5
points of damage. If he rolls a 96 or higher, he loses the
ability to use his Autosanguinator for one week.
Purity of Hatred
The Acolyte has honed his hatred to a razor’s edge, pure
and unsullied by mercy or doubt. When facing the object
of his hatred, whether it be the witch, mutant, heretic, or
traitor, the Acolyte is an instrument of the Emperor’s Will,
dispatching His judgement upon the enemies of humanity
as if guided by His very hand.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Hatred (Any)
Specialisations: Any group for which the character
possesses the Hatred talent
Aptitudes: Offence, Willpower
Effects: When selecting this talent, the character chooses
one specific group for which he possesses the Hatred
talent. Against opponents of this group, the Acolyte’s
attacks gain the Vengeful (9) quality. If the Acolyte’s
weapon or attacks already possess this quality, decrease
the value by one (to a minimum of 1).
Push the Limit
Whether through study, practice, or sheer intuition, the
Acolyte is aware of the limits of his vehicle or steed, and
knows how to push it to those limits and beyond. Although
overtaxing a beast or executing wheel-tearing turns can
provide a great advantage in combat or pursuit, a single
wrong move can prove catastrophic, injuring the pilot or
even ripping his vehicle apart.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Rank 2 in Survival or any Operate skill, Tech-
Use
Aptitudes: Perception, Tech
Effects: Once per round, the character may add +20 to an
Operate test (or Survival test in the case of living steeds);
however, if he fails the test by 4 or more degrees of failure,
immediately roll 1d5 on Table 7–32: Motive Systems
Critical Hit Effects on page 257 of the Dark Heresy Core
Rulebook 2nd Ed and apply the result. If he is riding a living
mount, roll 1d5 on Table 7–18: Impact Critical Effects – Leg
on page 239 of the Dark Heresy Core Rulebook 2nd Ed and
apply the result.
Quick Draw
The Acolyte has practiced so frequently with his weapons
that they practically leap into his hands in response to a
simple thought.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: Agility, Finesse
Effects: As a Free Action, the character may draw and
ready a Pistol or Basic weapon, or a one-handed Melee
weapon.
Rapid Reload
The firing ranges and weapon drill chambers are the
Acolyte’s constant abode. Hours of reloading countless
magazines or power cells means that he can replace them
without looking and without thinking, even in the middle
of combat.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: Agility, Fieldcraft
Effects: He halves all reload times, rounding down. Thus, a
Half Action reload becomes a Free Action, a Full Action
reload becomes a Half Action, and so on.
Resistance
The Acolyte’s background, experience, training, exposure,
or plain stubbornness has developed a resistance within
him.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Specialisations: Cold, Fear, Heat, Poisons, Psychic Powers,
Radiation, Vacuum, Other
Aptitudes: Toughness, Defence
Effects: Each time he selects this talent, choose one area
of resistance. He gains a +10 bonus when making tests to
resist effects of this type. The GM can require approval for
certain choices, or justification based on the Acolyte’s past.
Rites of Banishment
In battle against the daemonic, the Acolyte ceaselessly
intones sacred rites and invocations against the Daemon,
calling on the Emperor to cast the abominations back into
the Warp. These holy words disrupt the Daemon’s hold in
the material universe, weakening its malefic form.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Common Lore (Imperial Creed) +10 or
Forbidden Lore (Daemonology)
Aptitudes: Offence, Willpower
Effects: Once per round as a Half Action, the character
may speak the litanies and invocations to disrupt Daemons.
Until the beginning of his next turn, Daemons within a
distance equal to twice the character’s Willpower bonus in
meters suffer a –10 penalty to Willpower tests.
Sanctic Purity
Sanctic Daemonology is often considered the most pure of
psychic disciplines. Practitioners can seem beyond the
dangers of the Warp that all too often plague other
psykers. Such mastery is taxing, but an experienced
Daemonologist can resist the influence of the Warp where
other psykers would succumb.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Daemonologist, Favoured by the Warp,
Willpower 50
Aptitudes: Psyker, Willpower
Effects: When the character triggers Psychic Phenomena
when manifesting a power from the Sanctic Daemonology
discipline, he may spend a Fate point in order to negate
the result entirely.
Shield Wall
The Acolyte is a master of the art of weapon-and-shield
combat. Forgoing the offensive abilities of a second
weapon or the advantages of ranged weaponry, he proves
the superiority of this most ancient and honourable of
fighting styles. His shield seems to always be in the right
position to block his foe’s strike, leaving his target open for
the inevitable counter.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Beyond
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Ambidextrous, Weapon Skill 40
Aptitudes: Defence, Weapon Skill
Effects: When armed with a shield, the character can re-
roll one failed Evasion test to Parry an attack per round.
Skilled Rider
Often, the best way to overcome the heretic is with
merciless speed, and so many Acolytes make extensive use
of vehicles and mounts in their pursuit of humanity’s
enemies. Whether the character has used his prized bike
until it feels like an extension of his own body, or he has
the experience necessary to instantly adjust to the strange
mounts and vehicles found across the Askellon Sector,
moving to or from the saddle or pilot’s seat is second
nature.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 1 Prerequisites: Rank 2 in any Operate skill
Aptitudes: Agility, Fieldcraft
Effects: Whenever the character would be thrown from or
tossed about within his vehicle, he makes an Ordinary
(+10) Agility test. If he succeeds, the character may choose
to either land safely on his feet or retain in his original
position in the vehicle. In addition, once per round the
character can attempt an Ordinary (+10) Agility test to
Mount or Dismount a vehicle as a Free Action.
Sound Constitution
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: Toughness, General
Effects: The Acolyte gains an additional wound. He can
purchase this talent additional times up to twice his
Toughness bonus. When he gains this talent multiple times,
note the number of times it has been taken after the
talent, such as Sound Constitution (3).
Sprint
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: Agility, Fieldcraft
Effects: The Acolyte moves at great speeds, and when
taking a Full Move action can move an extra number of
metres equal to his Agility bonus. Additionally, whenever
he takes a Run action, he may move double the normal
distance. If he did so in the previous round, however, he
suffers 1 level of Fatigue.
Step Aside
Swaying his body out of the path of an attack, the Acolyte
causes the shot to pass through thin air, or turns his blade
mid-swing to deflect a blow.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Agility 40, Dodge or Parry
Aptitudes: Agility, Defence
Effects: He can make an additional Evasion attempt (either
a Dodge or a Parry) once per round. In effect, this gives
him a second Reaction that can only be used for Dodge or
Parry attempts, allowing two Dodges, two Parries, or a
Dodge and a Parry in each turn. However, he can still only
attempt a single Dodge or Parry against each individual
attack.
Strong Minded
The Acolyte’s mind acts as a fortress against psychic
attacks.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Resistance (Psychic Powers), Willpower 30
Aptitudes: Willpower, Defence
Effects: He can re-roll failed Willpower tests to resist any
psychic powers that affect his mind. This talent does not
affect psychic powers that have a physical effect, such as
Smite or Assail.
Superior Chirurgeon
The Acolyte’s advanced medical training enables him to
knit flesh with deft mastery, essential for treating combat
casualties. His exceptional education in use of the
Narthecium, Med-Slate, and supplemental drugs give his
patients an enormous advantage.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Rank 2 in the Medicae skill
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Fieldcraft
Effects: He gains a +20 bonus on all Medicae skill tests.
When providing first aid, he ignores the penalties for
Heavily Damaged patients and only suffers a –10 penalty
for those suffering Critical damage.
Swift Attack
The Acolyte’s ability with weapons is legendary, allowing
him to attack with amazing speed in melee.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 30
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Finesse
Effects: He can make the Swift Attack action (see page
225).
Tainted Psyker
Though all psykers draw their power from the Warp, the
Scholastica Psykana teaches that the Warp is something to
fear. Some psykers ignore these warnings, whether wyrds
who escaped the Black Ships, scholars of maleic lore, or
even sanctioned psykers fallen from grace. Such tainted
psykers embrace the true potential the Warp offers, and
even heed its denizens’ whispered promises of greater
power.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Psy rating, Rank 2 (Trained) in Psyniscience
skill, 10 Corruption points
Aptitudes: Knowledge, Psyker
Effects: When making a Focus Power test, the character
may gain a number of Corruption points up to his psy
rating. For each point he gains in this way, he gains a +10
bonus to the Focus Power test but adds +5 to rolls on
Table 6–2: Psychic Phenomena (see page 196 of the Dark
Heresy Core Rulebook 2nd Ed).
Takedown
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Offence
Effects: When making a Standard Attack or Charge action,
the Acolyte can declare that he is attempting a takedown
his target. He then rolls to hit (using his Weapon Skill) as
normal, applying all the regular modifiers for the attack
action. If the character hits and would have done at least 1
point of damage (after reduction for Armour and
Toughness), no wounds are caused. Instead, the opponent
must make a Challenging (+0) Toughness test or be
Stunned for 1 Round and knocked Prone. In addition,
when performing a Stun Action, the character does not
suffer the normal –20 penalty to his Weapon Skill.
Target Selection
The Acolyte’s dread gaze marks out his chosen victim, and
not even the riotous confusion of close combat interferes.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Ballistic Skill 50
Aptitudes: Ballistic Skill, Finesse
Effects: He can shoot into melee with no penalty. If he also
makes an Aim action beforehand, he prevents any chance
of hitting friendly targets as well.
Technical Knock
Either through the ease of long practice, or the proper
ritual to appease a weapon’s machine spirit, the Acolyte
can clear stoppages with a simple knock or solid smack of
his hand to a weapon.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Intelligence 30
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Tech
Effects: Once per round, he may attempt to unjam a gun
(see page 224) as a Half Action rather than a Full Action.
He must touch the weapon to make use of this talent.
Thunder Charge
The Acolyte charges into combat using his body as an
additional weapon. Driven by his rage and momentum, the
impact of such a charge can knock foes flying or bring
them to their knees.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Strength 50
Aptitudes: Strength, Offence
Effects: When he makes a Charge action, he can barrel
through enemies to get to his target. The character makes
an Opposed Strength test against each foe in his way
(those who his movement would take him past or
through). Each foe that loses the Opposed test is knocked
Prone. After resolving these Opposed tests, the character’s
Charge action resolves against his original target as normal.
True Grit
The Acolyte is able to shrug off wounds that would fell
lesser men.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Toughness 40
Aptitudes: Toughness, Defence
Effects: Whenever he suffers Critical damage (after
reduction for Armour and Toughness), reduce the amount
by his Toughness bonus (to a minimum of 1 damage).
Two-Weapon Master
The Acolyte has mastered the difficult ability of wielding a
weapon in each hand, making him deadly both in personal
and short- ranged attacks.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Agility 45, Ambidextrous, Ballistic Skill 40 or
Weapon Skill 40, Two-Weapon Wielder (Melee, Ranged)
Aptitudes: Finesse, Offence
Effects: When armed with two single-handed weapons
(such as a pistol or sword in either hand), he ignores the –
20 penalty for Two-Weapon Fighting (see page 228).
Two -Weapon Wielder
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: None
Specialisations: Melee, Ranged
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill or Ballistic Skill, Finesse
Effects: Intensive training allows the Acolyte to use a
weapon in each hand when needed. When armed with
two one-handed weapons (ether melee or ranged
weapons), after making a Half Action attack (this can be a
Single Attack, a Swift Attack, or a Lightning Attack with a
melee weapon, or it can be a single shot, semi-auto burst,
or full auto burst with a ranged weapon), he can make a
single additional Half Action attack following the same
restrictions with the other weapon as a Free Action. In
effect, this allows him to attack twice in a round, once
from each of his weapons. Both of these attacks count as
being part of the same Half Action, and both tests made to
attack with the weapons suffer a –20 penalty. This talent
can be taken twice, each time with a different
specialisation (melee or ranged). If he possesses both
talents, then he can fight with one melee and one ranged
weapon. When this talent is taken with the melee focus it
counts as having the Weapon Skill and Finesse aptitudes,
and when it is taken with the ranged focus it counts as
having the Ballistic Skill and Finesse aptitudes.
Unarmed Specialist
After extensive training, the Acolyte has made his body as
dangerous as any Munitorum-issued weapon.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Agility 35, Ambidextrous, Weapon Skill 35
Aptitudes: Strength, Offence
Effects: He gains the Deadly Natural Weapon trait (see
page 135), and counts as armed even when facing
weapon-wielding opponents while barehanded. While
fighting barehanded, he can also re-roll the damage he
inflicts.
Warp Conduit
The sheer power of the Acolyte’s mind allows him to
channel vast amounts of Warp energy when he chooses.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Psy rating, Strong Minded, Willpower 50
Aptitudes: Willpower, Psyker
Effects: When Pushing (see page 194), before rolling his
Focus Power test the character may spend one Fate Point
to add an additional 1d5 to the effective psy rating of the
power. Channeling such vast amounts of power is
dangerous, however, and so he adds +30 to rolls on Table
6–2: Psychic Phenomena when he makes as a result of this
talent.
Weapon Intuition
In the prosecution of his duties against the alien, the
Acolyte wields the most arcane and rare weapons the
Adeptus Mechanicus can craft, and perhaps even takes up
the very armaments of the xenos to better combat it.
From years of experience, the character can quickly
discern the firing mechanisms and balance of even the
strangest weapons, regardless of its origin.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 3 Prerequisites: Exotic Weapon Training (Any)
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Finesse
Effects: The character reduces the penalty for using a
weapon without the proper training by 10.
Warp Lock
The Acolyte has learned to swiftly cut himself off from the
Warp to protect himself from harm.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 3
Prerequisites: Psy rating, Strong Minded, Willpower 50
Aptitudes: Willpower, Psyker
Effects: Once per game session, he may ignore the Psychic
Phenomena he has rolled (including the Perils of the Warp
result on Table 6–2: Psychic Phenomena, see page 196),
completely negating its effects. Such rapid dislocation
from the Warp, though, is stressful and traumatic to his
mind. He suffers 1d5 Energy damage to the Head location
(not reduced by Armour or Toughness) as a result, and
cannot make any Focus Power tests or sustain other
psychic powers until the beginning of his next turn.
Warp Sense
The Acolyte’s senses have evolved to perceive the Warp in
parallel with the physical world.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Perception 30, Psy rating, Psyniscience
Aptitudes: Perception, Psyker
Effects: The character can use the Psyniscience Skill as a
Free Action instead of as a Half Action. He can also
passively detect psychic effects and entities without the
need to actively seek them out. Whenever the character
could detect such a Warp signature or a creature, the GM
can allow him to make a Psyniscience skill test to detect it,
in the same way he could use Awareness to spot an
ambush without knowing it is there.
Weapon-Tech
The Acolyte calls upon the blessings of the Omnissiah,
channeling his faith into his weapon and performing
armament rituals to more readily smite his foes.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: Intelligence 40, Tech Use +10
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Tech
Effects: Once per combat encounter, as a Free Action, this
character may enhance any Melta, Plasma, Power, or
Exotic weapon he is personally wielding. This increases the
weapon’s damage and penetration by an amount equal to
the character’s Intelligence bonus until the end of the
round.
sign and spoor of the psyker. Although some are
themselves psykers, or employ the services of such, others
train their own senses and mind to detect even the
subtlest traces of psychic activity.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Within
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Rank 2 (Trained) in the Forbidden Lore

Weapon Training (Psykers) skill, Willpower 45

Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 1
Prerequisites: None
Specialisations: Bolt, Chain, Flame, Heavy, Las, Launcher,
Melta, Plasma, Power, Low-Tech, Shock, and Solid
Projectile
Aptitudes: General, Finesse
Effects: The Acolyte can use all weapons with Class: Pistol,
Basic, Melee, Throwing, and Vehicle within the group he
has selected with this talent. When a character attempts
to use a weapon he does not have the correct Weapon
Training talent for, he suffers a –20 penalty to any relevant
Weapon Skill or Ballistic Skill test. The character can only
use weapons with Class: Heavy without suffering the –20
penalty if he has both Weapon Training in the appropriate
group and Weapon Training (Heavy). This talent can be
taken more than once, each time with a different
Specialisation. Note that a character without the Weapon
Training (Low-Tech) talent operating a weapon that
functions as a Low-Tech weapon in certain circumstances
does not suffer this penalty, so long as he has the
applicable Weapon Training talent for the weapon (Power
for a power sword, for example).
Aptitudes: Knowledge, Perception
Effects: The character counts as possessing the
Psyniscience skill at Rank 1 (Known), even though he is not
a psyker. Note that he cannot spend experience to gain
additional ranks in the skill.
Xenosavant
In his study and prosecution of the xenos threat, the
Acolyte has become well-versed in the ways and forms of
the myriad alien races that menace humanity.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd Without
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Rank 3 in Forbidden Lore (Xenos–Any)
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Knowledge
Effects: The character can attempt any Forbidden Lore
(Xenos) test in which he is not trained as an untrained skill
test as if it were not a Specialist skill.

Whirlwind of Death
When facing massed opponents in close quarters, the
Acolyte becomes a streak of blows, moving, hacking,
gutting, and beheading his enemies with ceaseless fury.
Book: Dark Heresy 2nd CRB
Tier: 2
Prerequisites: Weapon Skill 40
Aptitudes: Weapon Skill, Finesse
Effects: As a Half Action, the character may make one
Standard Attack action (see page 224) with a melee
weapon against a foe, plus one additional Standard Attack
action with the same weapon targeting each other foe
also engaged in melee combat with the character beyond
the first (to a maximum number of attacks up to his
Weapon Skill bonus).

Witch Finder
In order to root out the witch, wyrd, and sorcerer, an
Inquisitor or Acolyte must be able to detect and follow the