Warhammer 40,000: Darktide: Guide to Displayed Attack Icons

The icons appear in order of left-click function on the left (light attacks), left-click-hold function in the middle (heavy attacks) and the weapon special key on the right

Vanguard is equivalent to linesman in vermintide as a damager modifier.
Vanguard attacks are really good for doing damage to horde but sometimes lack enough cleave to control all the horde mobs aggroed to you effectively, they are a good go to attack until things start to get a little too dense. Which is when pushes come in. A good main attack for horde damage, but not as good as relentless usually.

Relentless is equivalent to tank in vermintide as a damage modifier.
Usually has higher damage/stagger cleave, meaning it hits a lot of dudes and will give you decent control as long as you can dodge a stray swing here and there. Usually a good main attack for horde damage

Assassin is equivalent to ninja fencer in vermintide as a damager modifier.
Usually low cleave, high headshot damage. Usually on mobile weapons. They would be ineffective at clearing horde quickly or controlling it, since its more single target focused but you’d usually have enough mobility for dodges to be effective tools to help you not get overwhelmed. Good for horde if you dont have relentless or vanguard.

Strikedown is equivalent to smiter in vermintide as a damager modifier.
Generally for single target, usually low cleave but decent damage and usually the attacks have some armour penetration. Mostly used for armour and singular enemies. Would only use for horde if there’s no other option.

For horde: Relentless > Vanguard > Assassin > Strikedown

Armoured enemies you should usually opt for the strikedown type attacks, heavies always some type of armour piercing even if its something like a vanguard swing.
So heavies = good, strikedown = good. heavy strike down > light strikedown > heavy non strikedown

If an icon says the light attack (left most icon) is relentless, that means that it is the most occurring and possibly the soonest in an attack chain. For example a 2h powermaul with relentless – strikedown – vanguard – relentless, as its attack chain will have a relentless icon for the light attack. same applies to heavy attacks (mid icon)

Melee bash on alt fire, usually some type of stagger focused attacks. Usually the right-most icon. Appears on ranged too.

Acts as a riposte, does damage. Caps stam cost of non overhead attacks to two bars

Upon pressing performs a special action like revving a chainsaw. Usually the right-most icon.

Similar to a bash but meant to do damage. Usually the right-most icon.

The first icon is the left-click function, the second icon is the right-click function and third icon is the weapon-special-key function.

Hipfire and type of fire rate you have during hipfire (semi-automatic, burst, fully-automatic, shotgun, projectile). As well as a lasgun variant that has charging levels as you hold left click.

Aim down sight and type of fire rate you have during ADS (semi-automatic, burst, fully-automatic, shotgun, projectile). As well as a lasgun variant that has charging levels as you hold left click.

Similar to ADS but for more close rangey type weapons, more accurate but not super accurate. (semi-automatic, burst, fully-automatic, shotgun, projectile)

Force staff left-click, hipfire with attack type.

Force staff right-click.

Changes the ammo shot in some type of way, for example for shotgun it changed the spread of the shells to be flatter and less close together ideally better for non-packed groups of enemies. Usually the right-most icon.

Melee bash on alt fire, usually some type of stagger focused attacks. Usually the right-most icon. Appears on melee too.

Gives an additional bright flashlight source. Usually the right-most icon.

Vents heat on something like a plasma gun

psyker added with credit to Sir Rolin, will still have to experiment to better describe the functions xd

A whole other guide. Will do a traits one “eventually” TM
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2892028185