Before you pick an archetype’s specialization, Dark Heresy asks where your acolyte came from. Origins and homeworlds are the character’s history; they shape skills, dialogue and some combat options.
The four origins
| Origin | Flavor | Likely strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Underworld contacts, a life outside the law | Social skills, shady access, streetwise dialogue |
| Astra Militarum | Imperial Guard veteran | Combat training, military dialogue, discipline |
| Imperial Noble | Scintillan nobility | Authority, wealth, noble reactions |
| Sanctioned Psyker | A licensed warp-user | Warp powers, psychic talents, suspicion from others |
Owlcat’s beta overview confirms the four origins and that Sanctioned Psyker is an origin, not just an archetype. That means any tier-1 archetype can take it and dip into psychic abilities, while the Mystic archetype is the dedicated psyker path.
The three homeworlds
Owlcat confirms three homeworlds but has not published the full names and bonuses in the beta material. Expect homeworlds to change starting skills and some dialogue, the way origins do. Treat specific homeworld claims on other sites as beta data until Owlcat publishes the list.
What origins change
- Starting skills — what your acolyte is good at before class training.
- Dialogue options — Criminal, Noble and Guard backgrounds unlock different lines.
- Character reactions — companions and NPCs react to your background.
- Build options — the Sanctioned Psyker origin opens psychic talents that other origins do not.
Origin + archetype combinations
Because origins and archetypes are separate, the interesting combinations are cross-cuts:
- Criminal Operative — underworld access plus precision combat; the classic infiltrator.
- Astra Militarum Soldier — the most straightforward military build.
- Imperial Noble Officer — authority plus command; the social commander.
- Sanctioned Psyker Mystic — the dedicated psyker.
- Sanctioned Psyker Warrior — a melee bruiser who can also cast; the beta explicitly supports this kind of dip.
For the archetypes themselves, see archetypes. For build directions, see builds.