Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 may have been released back in September, but it shows no indication of slowing the flow of content. Keeping near-constant communication with players, the teams behind the game recently shared what would be in store for players in the near future. That includes a new weapon to play with and some more general balance changes to weapons overall. Aside from the preview, Space Marine 2's developer, S??aber Interactive, took some time to respond to frequent player suggestions the studio has alrea?dy received.

Space Marine 2 outlined its plans for live service even before it was released, promising additional content, new weapons, and more cosmetic options. So far, the title has made good on those promises, first adding a sparring ??arena and takin??g care of some quality-of-life fixes before turning to a more substantive new Operation. While there was a brief period of community upset after some nerfs, the team quickly pivoted to retract the changes and announced test servers to avoid similar mistakes in the future. With the most recent communication about the game, players have even more context about where Space Marine 2 will go next.

The Neo-Volkite Pistol is inbound

In an October Community Update, the Space Marine 2 team formally introduced players to the Neo-Volkite Pistol. This weapon will be available as a Secondary option for Assault, Bulwark, and Vanguard players. The Neo-Volkite Pistol looks like a ray gun in action, emit??ting a super-heated orange beam to melt through foes. The team described the weapon, saying, "The Neo-Volkite Pistol is a thermal weapon with accumulative damage. Its heat rays have a deadly impact on organic matter, incinerating flesh into ash with explosive force and jets of flame. A weapon of choice against Tyran?ids!" Alongside the Neo-Volkite Pistol, the team promised that other firearms would also see some buffs, though more specifics weren't given.

Volkite technology in the Warhammer 40,000 universe is old, dating well back before the Horus Heresy, during the Age of Strife. The weaponry used to be pretty commonplace, but a combination of its complexity to produce and barbarity when used on organics led to the weapons eventually falling out of favor. It was primarily replaced by Bolt weaponry, and by the 41st millennium, original Volkite weaponry is exceedingly rare. That said, t??he Neo-Volkite Pistol is the first attempt to bring the devastatin??g weapon into the franchise's modern age.

The October communication si?mply noted that the Neo-Volkite Pistol and the other firearms buff would arrive soon. However, the team then detailed that Dark Angel cosmetics would arrive afterward in an update targeted for early December. With that info in tow, it stands to reason that players will be getting their hands on the Neo-Volkite Pistol and retuned weapons sometime this month.

Saber Interactive responds to player suggestions

Aside from the exciting news that players will soon have a new toy to play with, the Community Update also puts some focus on the community. Namely, it listed some of the frequent questions or suggestions the team receives about Space Marine 2 and set to answer them. The first suggestion tackled was players' constant ask for more melee weapons. Saber responded by a??cknowledging that new melee weapons would indeed be nice and that it's something the studio will consider when the time is right. That said, the work is time and resource-intensive, so it's not currently planned.

More campaign missions were the next ask from fans, which is no surprise considering the stellar outing already within the base game of Space Marine 2. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this is a priority for Saber Interactive. Responding to the suggestion, the studio noted, "We're currently not thinking about adding new campaign missions in Space Marine?????????????????????????? 2. We rather focus on creating new Operations and Eternal War content."

PvP players have been clamoring for more options, specifically for larger party sizes. Saber notes that it's actively working on customer PvP lobbies that will support tinkering with features like Class limit, score, time, and more. Also on the side of multiplayer, fans have asked for some kind of incentive for queuing up for quickmat??ch. The studio responded that it was already considering it for a future update.

Due to lore and IP preservation concerns, Saber Interaction is unwilling to make PvP's Chaos-driven Heretic Astartes available in PvE Operations. On the bright side, the team has heard players' desire?? to experience the game's prologue again. While Saber notes that it's not a priority, it may add a way to replay the opening.

Customization is its own game

In addition to tackling players' questions about the game itself, the Community Update had a whole section dedicated to responding to queries about Space Marine 2's customization options. Leading the discussion was an update about colored lens options for helmets. The minor details are incredibly important to the Warhammer 40K community, so Saber reports that the feature is ready to be deployed alon??gside the upcoming Dark Angels Chapter Pack.

The studio also confirmed a few other customization tweaks are in development, including skin color customization. Deathwatch iconography will also be able to be placed on the right shoulder, eventually. Lieutenant helmet customization is coming, and Saber notes that it wants to make helmet customization a more robust feature but that it will take some time over the life of Space Marine 2. Generally speaking, the studio also noted that it wa??nts to continue to add more customiza?tion options, likely as DLC.

Outside of what Saber has been able to confirm is either being worked on or considered, there are a few things that the studio notes might be outside the expected scope of post-launch support. Namely, adding more customization slots isn't something Saber intends to work on, as the team would rather build out more impactful features. Players have also called for the option to recolor and customize cloth and tabards. While it's something Saber might consider later on, the work required to produc??e a worthwhile version of the feature would impede the development of existing plans.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has confirmed that Public Test Servers are to b??e added to the game in a future update.

In a messa??ge spearheaded by Game Director Dmitriy Grigorenko, it was confirmed that thi??s will allow players to "try out major balancing updates and make your voices heard before they are pushe??d onto public branches."

Space Marine 2 rolls back balance changes, Public Test Servers confirmed

Last week, Space Marine 2 released its 4.0 patch, and to say players weren't happy is an understatement. Unpopular weapon nerfs and a higher difficulty curve all around? ?had gamers up in arms, leading some to take to the virtual streets in a form of protest as old as time: Steam review bombing.

Space Marine 2 fans can officially put down their pitchforks; the new 4.1 update to the game rolls back those controversial changes, with Grigorenko claiming he "forgot that once the game comes ?out, it's no longer a dev's game. It's yours first and foremost."

To avoid repeating the mistake with future balance updates, Saber Interactive confirmed that the aforementioned Public Test Servers will be coming to Space Marine 2 in?? "early 2025." However, no ?further timeline has been given for this as of yet.

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Mere days after Helldivers 2 finally figured out how to make its players happy (by making guns and gear powerful, generally), Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has pushed out its patch 4.0, w?hich has the community up in arms. Spoiler alert: it ??has to do with the amped-up difficulty systems.

To be clear, patch 4.0 does include some genuinely good and exciting additions to the game, such as a new Operation, Photo Mode, and various assorted QoL improvements. The problem lies in the balancing aspect of the update, whic??h not only comes with the all-new "Lethal" difficulty mode but also a series of serious nerfs. A prime example is the frankly massive nerf to the Fencing weapons' perfect parry window, which brings them in line with Balanced weapons.

Space Marine 2 players are not keen on the new 4.0 patch

The thing about Space Marine 2's Operations mode is that it was downright punishing at times. To begin with, the game's progression and weapon modification s??ystems are built around nudging the player into ever-higher difficulties. At the same time, ?a surprising number of "chaff" melee enemies can tank shots while ranged attackers shred the Marines' armor in mere seconds.

Bumps in difficulty were softened a tad with the previous Patch 3, though it appears to have gone beyond Saber Interactive's plans: "With Patch 3 we have noticed that Operations mode became noticeably easier, especially Chaos operations," says the comment on the latest patch notes. "We are happier with what we have right now compared to what we had on release, because before Patch 3 Chaos m???issions were unpopular. Still, we think that currently Operations mode is a bit too easy."

Patch 4's nerfs were, however, on the more egregious? side of the balancing horseshoe:

I would argue that Space Marine 2's Operations Mode was a fair bit more hardcore by default than Helldivers 2 was, even before the latter's 60-day patch fixed things up. This means the community was more willing to accommodate Sab??er's attempts to balance things out and keep Operations on a knife's edge.

Patch 4 has intro??duced a whole series of problems, regrettably:

• Armor tether forces players to stay extremely close to one another, and it goes against the Sniper and the Vanguard's gameplay mechanics.
• Lethal difficulty is generally overtuned across the board.
• Nerfs to Melta Charges and Fencing melee make both questionable to use in action.

It's not hard to see wh??y this might lead to an increase in negative reviews and a general sense of unease in the community.

The not-too-bad thing to consider here is that most of the difficulty changes Saber pushed out with Patch 4 can be ??avoided or at least lessened by sticking with lower difficulties. Most players seem to currently agree that Lethal Difficulty isn't worth playing as the rewards are purely cosmetic, but still.

It will be interesting to see what takeaway Saber Interactive takes from this situation. There are only two ways forward, and as we've seen with Helldivers 2, it's a very questionable road?? for a ?co-op PvE game to take.

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After a praise-worthy launch, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 shows no signs of slowing down. The game already teased a new PvE Operation for October, and now players can get their first glimpse at what the Space Marines will be facing down on Kadaku: a fearsome Hierophant Bio Titan. But alongside a preview of the Ultramarine's next outing, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive rea?ffirmed plans for the year ahead.

Space Marine 2 offers a cooperative PvE mode called Operations. Each Operation is like a campaign mission, but players level custom Space Marines and are encouraged to group up. The game launched with six Operations available, but Space Marine 2 laid out re?spectable plans for live-service content updates over time. Now, with the first piece of new content on the horizon, players can get an idea ?about how they'l?l be serving the Emperor over the next 12 months.

That Hierophant Bio Titan is one big bug

The Tyranids are already a terrifying adversary who can consume and reconstitute biomass to overcome any obstacles encountered. That biomass reconstitution can take any form the Xenos requires, including a massive monstrosity. Hierophant Bio Titans are literally enormous hazards on the battlefield, towering over other Tyranid bioforms and enemies alike. Often, a Hierophant Bio Titan will be used to draw an enemy's heavy fire or support whi??le smaller Tyranid bioforms break through enemy lines and wreak havoc.

In the Post Launch Overview shar??ed by Focus Entertainment, the team said, "Gather your three-player squad and deploy back on Kadaku to? face the biggest and most terrifying Tyranid yet: the Hierophant Bio Titan." The clip then showed the massive scale of the enemy, looming over a clash between Tyranid and human forces. It also looks like the players' usual arsenal may not have cut it, as it appeared as though the shown Space Marine was damaging the creature with automated defenses of some kind.

Lethal difficulty, new weapons, and the year ahead

While the sneak peek at the new Operation is enough to get most Space Marines ready to don their power armor, Focus Entertainment had more to share. Space Marine 2 will soon receive a new Lethal difficulty, taking the optional challenge even higher than is currently possible. The team a?lso promises a new weapo??n: the Neo-Volkite pistol. 

Looking beyond the immediate free content, Focus Entertainment reminded Season Pass holders that they would receive a complete set of cosmetic options themed around the Dark Angels Chapter. This includes new weapon skins for the Auto Bolt Rifle, P??lasma Pistol, and Power Sword, on top of a unique look for the Bulwark Class. It sounds like there will also be some ??options for Dark Angels' successor Chapters.

For 2025, the team doesn't have anything tangible to show, but it promises new PvE Operations, PvE Prestige Ranks, PvP modes and maps, Tyranid and Thousand Sons enemy types, weapons, cosmetic Space Marine Chapter options, and even a horde mode. The amount of substantial free content planned for Space Marine 2 is staggering, and Focus Enter?tainment promises to stay in touch with the community along the way.

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Saber Interactive has teased a first peek at what players can expect from future Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 content. The deve??loper offered a look at an upcoming PvE Operation that is set to arrive sometime this October. While there wasn't a ton of information provided, we ??did get a screenshot of the locale and a briefing on where the mission would take players.

Though Space Marine 2 is primarily a single-player game, it offers a cooperative PvE mode called Operations beyond its campaign. It functions almost like a second campaign, following a squad of Space Marines working in tandem with Titus, Gadriel, and Chairon. Saber Interactive previously noted that it had plans to add Operations and additional content to Space Marine 2, and now we're seeing the first fruits of t?hat labor.

Back to Kadaku

In a Community Update posted on Steam, Saber Interactive noted that a new Operation was due to arrive in October and that it would take place on the planet of Kadaku. The team also offered a fluffy mission briefing along with the shar??ed screenshot.

"The Tyranid invasion of Kadaku is ending. The planet's organic material is being transformed into biomass, and Tyranid Capillary Towers stretch high into the skies above, where the Hive Ships wait to taste their victory. The Cadian forces have made a valiant attempt?? to push back against the Tyranids. A team of Space Marines arrives on Kadaku with a simple mission: help the Cadians destroy the towers. The Tyranids may win the planet, but the Imperium will make it as painful as possible for them."

The Tyanid Capillary Towers in quest??ion are massive organic structures akin to straws. They allow the behemoth creatures ??that make up the Hive fleet to consume biomass collected during a Tyranid invasion and then reconstitute it into new bioforms or creatures as conflict dictates. Players' quest to destroy these Capillary Towers won't be like toppling a simple emplacement; it'll mean breaking the physical grasp Tyranids have on Kadaku and severely impacting the Xenos' ability to recuperate losses.

Through the current Operations on offer, player Space Marines put an end to the Tyranid threat on Avarax. It appears that this upcoming Operation will see the Astartes put the final nail in the coffin for the Xenos on the jungle world, too. Of course, there's always room for future Operations to expand players' reach beyond the three planets featured in the campaign, but Saber Interactive has remained tight-lipped on what that future content might entail.

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If you've already played through Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's campaign, you're likely starting to explore ?the cooperative PvE Operations mode. But how far can you take a Space Marine in any given Class? What's the level cap for PvE Operations, and what do you get for reaching it?

Space Marine 2 features a cooperative multiplayer PvE mode called Operations. Like the campaign, players still set out on mission-based excursions to complete objectives or hunt down particularly dangerous Xenos or Heretic targets. After you've chosen an Astartes Class and played an Operation or two, you'll find yourself leveling up. The first few levels come quickly, but then each starts to require more and more time investment into the Class.

The Operations mode currently features four difficulty options, and higher tiers suggest Space Marines at higher levels. Operations completed at higher difficulties reward more experience and higher-tier weapon upgrade materials. If players want to conquer their foes on these higher difficulties, they'll need to level their Space Marine up and take full advantage of the ??valuable experience receiv?ed.

Space Marine career development

The current level cap in Space Marine 2 is 25. Naturally, each level becomes more challenging to achieve than the last, so players will have to push into higher-difficulty Operations as they grow in strength progressively. Thankfully, the payouts are worth the extra effort, rewarding players with sizable XP gains and the opportunity for even more if they can manage to co?mplete the Operation without getting downed while carrying a hidden Gene S?eed.

While Space Marine 2's developer, Saber Interactive, has confirmed ??more Opera?tions and higher difficulty options are coming, there hasn't been any definitive word on whether that would also mean the level cap would be ?increased. For now, the 25 levels already provide enough of a journey to get through, especially if players want to max out multiple characters to experience the different Space Marine playstyles.

What does leveling do for you?

As players level up a Space Marine Class, they'll earn points to invest in a tiered skill tree. Some nodes contain powerful passive effects, while others strengthen abilities or gear players already possess. Each Cl??ass has access to a different skill tree, which complements the Class' abilities, gear, and gameplay. As players progress in level, they'll earn access to other options, mixing and matching active ones to best suit tastes.

These skills open up another layer of mastery for the Space Marine Class and add the extra oomph needed to tackle Operations at higher difficulties. That might come in the form of damage resistance when Armor is depleted for the Bulwark or just straight-up buffing primary weapon damage at the cost of secondary weapon power for the Tactical Class.

In addition to the progressive power gain, players will also unlock access to different cosmetic armor opt?ions as they level. While these don't add any gameplay effects, it's hard to argue against decking yourself in some rightly-earned armor before heading back to serve the Emperor in another Operation.

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The Warhammer 40,000 universe is full of heroic factions like the Ultramarines and terrifying alien threats like the Tyranids, but that's only a fraction of the whole picture. As seen featured in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, t??he Thousand Sons are a group of Chaos-corrupted Space Marines with a penchant for magic and the occult. However, the Thousand Sons are more than just evil wizard marines. Their past is marked by tragedy and the fickle hands of fate, truly showing that the road to hell is paved with good intent?ions.

Undoubtedly, one of the most significant and influential forces in the Warhammer 40K universe is Chaos. It manifests in various forms, from daemons summoned ?through ritual to heretic?? Adeptus Mechanicus members creating diabolical homunculi of steel and flesh. However, the most iconic representation of Chaos is the heretic Astartes. Each warband can trace its lineage back to one of the traitor Legions from the Horus Heresy civil war, and most have willingly surrendered to the ruinous powers, seeking a share of their dark might.

The Thousand Sons were one of the Legion??s marked as traitors during the Horus Heresy, but it's not as cut and dr??y as the other heretics. While there is no excusing the vicious actions of the group in the lore's current standing, for quite a while, the Thousand Sons were acting in the best interest of the Imperium.

A tragic past

Like all Adeptus Astartes, the Thousand Sons started out as loyal members of the Imperium. Their Primarch, a demi-god genetically cloned from the Emperor, Magnus, grew up on the Psyker world of Prospero, where he sharpened his already potent psychic abilities. He ?soon surpassed all his teachers and set about advancing civilization on Prospero, making Warp study a primary focus.

Magnus was repeatedly warned about the perils of the Warp and the entities that dwelt within, both from his teachers and the Emperor after the two were reunited. Despite this, Magnus frequently projected his psyche into the immaterium to scour its depths. Following the Primarch and Emperor's reunion, the Space Marines that would become known as the Thousand Sons were Magnus' to command. Like him, each bore a natural gift for Psyker arts and a fascination with ??the Warp. However, his genes proved unstable when applied to his son??s.

The Space Marines tended to become afflicted with something known as the "flesh change," which would see them mutate into mindless abominations. While some called for the Legion's disbandment and ??destruction, Magnus pleaded for the chance to save his sons. Eventually, after many attempts to plumb the Warp for a cure, Magnus seemingly found what he was looking for. The Primarch saved those he could, leaving only around a thousand of his Legion unaffected, earning the Space Marines the name the Thousand Sons.

The Council of Nikaea

While the Thousand Sons proved as effective as any other Astartes Legion, the other Primarchs and their sons looked on with dread. As the Imperium pushed further into the galaxy, it encountered vile alien species that used Warp magic, much like the Thousand Sons. Psychic abilities became taboo, and Magnus' Legion wa?s perceived as skirting too close to those ruinous powers. The issue culminated in what became known as the Council of Nikaea, where the Emperor called a meeting between all Primarchs and other trusted advisors. The righteousness of Psykers would be put on trial.

Though Magnus did have some voices in his corner, the events at Nikaea did not go in his favor. Except for Navigators and Astro??paths, needed for space travel, the Emperor decreed that Psykers were not permitted to practice. Magnus begrudgingly accepted his father's ruling, but it wouldn't be long before he'd break his promise. The Primarch would foresee the Horus Heresy and all the ruin it would bring. Desperate to warn his father as quickly as possible, Magnus used as??tral projection to traverse the Warp and reach the Emperor directly.

Just before reaching Terra, Magnus found his path barred by some kind of seal. At this time, a voice reached out to him ?in the Warp, promising to help the Primarch overcome the barrier. Seeing no other option, Magnus accepted the help and crashed through the obstacle right into the Emperor's throne room. The Emperor put the seal in place to keep daemonic forces from reaching Terra, and now they were invading through the hole Magnus had created. The events also de?stroyed the Emperor's Webway project, which would have allowed humanity to discontinue its use of Warp travel.

Prospero falls, Chaos rises

When Magnus returned to his physical body, the mysterious voice revealed itself as Tzeentch, the Chaos god of change and sorcery. The entity told Magnus that he and his sons were destined to serve Chaos, one way or another. Meanwhile, the Emperor order?ed the Space Wolves and their Primarch, Leman Russ, to bring Magnus and the Thousand Sons back to Terra to answer for their crimes. This order was intercepted by the now-corrupt Horus and was changed to see the Space Wolves decimate Prospero and the Thousand Sons.

Magnus fully realized that he had become a pawn to Chaos and opted for inaction. He bel?ieved that any further struggle would play right into the hands of Chaos, and he was ready to allow his Legion and himself to fall for his folly. However, after watching the destruction start to unfold and believing that he had been in the right trying to warn his father, he took to the field to deny his Legion's execution. That ultimately led to a confrontation between brothers as Leman Russ and Magnus faced each other in battle.

Russ eventually overpowered Magnus and, in one swift blow, broke the sorcerer Primarch's back over his knee. Completely without hope, Magnus heard the voice of Tzeentch again. It offered to save him and his remaining sons if he swore allegiance to the dark power?. Seeing no alterative to save his sons, Magnus agreed. The Primarch and the Thousand Sons were transported to a world within the Eye of Terror known as the Planet of the Sorcerors.

The Rubric of Ahriman

After the events of the Horus Heresy played out, the Thousand Sons would be part of another Legion-defining event. Though the Thousand Sons were now sworn to Chaos, the Legion's rampant mutations re?tur??ned. Azhek Ahriman, Magnus' trusted advisor, was unwavering in trying to find a cure. In secret, he formed a cabal of sorcerors hoping to unlock the secret to ridding the Legion of its mutations, but it ultimately backfired.

Ahriman completed a ritual that saw the "flesh change" cured, but it ravaged those in the Legion without a strong psychic connection. Sorcerors were unharmed, but everyone e??lse was reduced to little more than dust sealed in power armor. The Space Marines were still alive in some sense, but only their souls remained under the armor to power the new automaton. Needless to say, Magnus was furious when he realized what Ahriman had done to his sons. 

Though the Primarch wanted to kill Ahriman, ??Tzeentch intervined and noted that the sorcerer was still ??valuable for furthering Chaos' will. To that end, Magnus let Ahriman live but sentenced him and any of his collaborators to exile.

Sorcerous tactics

Being Chaos Space Marines with a history steeped in the occult, it should be no surprise that the Thousand Sons favor psychic abilities and magic. The heretics are just as comfortable summoning daemons to do their bidding as they use Warp-infused weapo?nry. That's not to say that they don't use similar gear a??nd weaponry as other Astartes factions, but some kind of psychic might almost always supports them.

Like their patron Chao?s god, the Thousand Sons enjoy twisting schemes and meticulous planning. That could come in the form of an attack planned at precisely the right time, as certain celestial bodies align, or a long game of corruption for unsuspecting Imperium citizens. The Legion's goals can often be obscure or seemingly irrelevant until a later revelation announces t?rue intentions.

While the Thousand Sons' fall from grace was tragic, there is ??no redeeming the Legion now. It has committed itself to the dark forces of the Warp and as an enemy of the Imperium. And while the Thousand Sons carry out countless acts of heresy and damnation, Magnus still contemplates his hatred for the father he believes betrayed him.

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When you're done with the campaign in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, t?here's still a lot of work for you to do. Every class has a skill tree to unlock perks at every level using experience gained from PvE and PVP activities. But you can speed the process up.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things you need to level up in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. Not only do you need to level up classes to unlock new perks and customization options, but you've got t?o grind their weapons too, so you can open up stronger ones with more interesting skins. However, it doesn't need to feel like a marat?hon because there are a few ways you can optimize your levels and experience gained.

How to level up fast in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

Below, I've listed the best ways I've come across that will help you level up quickly in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. The most important thing is to have fun. So, if any o?f these options don't feel fun to you, try something different because there's no point having a terrible time in a game like this.

10. Follow the advised level progression in Operations mode

This is the most important tip in the entire article. Ope?rations mode has an advisory level range for every difficulty. While you gain more currencies from higher-difficulty missions, you'll have a terrible time doing them if you're under-leveled. The difficulty level ranges are as follows.

• Minimal: Level 1-5
• Average: Level 5-10
• Substantial: Level 10-15
• Ruthless: Level 15+

Note that this is the level your class must be at for the missions. I had the worst? time pushing into a mission on a difficulty that I wasn't ready for, and it took forever just to lose it in the end. Hitting missions within your level range will ensure you always finish the missions and get the ??XP you're after.

9. Change classes regularly

Changing classes between missions will ensure you're always trying something fresh. I often find that I need to change my class when I jump into a mission anyway because one of the other players in the sq??uad is already running it.

While yes, it's nice?? to grind out one class after the oth??er, and you can definitely do that if you want to, this practice will make leveling up easier overall. A helpful team player is a better team player, and you don't want to be the Heavy hog.

8. Use the weapons you're comfortable with until they're maxed out

Don't stress yourself out by grinding multiple weapo?ns and reaching each level cap simultaneously. Weapons change per class, and yo?u can alter yours as you select a new class on the go. It's easier to roll with the default weapons first, level them up to their maximum, and then start tweaking builds so you're still making meaningful progress. You need time to learn each weapon, so make things straightforward, and don't worry too much about changing up your guns every single time.

7. Opt for Quick Match Operations missions

Q??uick Match is a godsend for grinding out experience. Just select your difficulty level and matchmake into someone else's mission. You'll get all the XP from a successful completion, and you won't need to set up everything every time you want to play. This helps out other players, too, so it's a win-win.

6. Jump into one PvP match every two Operations missions completed

PvP in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is an acquired taste. It's not easy by any stretch, but it's a different mode that will break up the monotony of Operations mission after mission. Hit a PvP match every now and then so you don't get bored by repeating missions, and yo??u'll give yourself another way to earn some additional XP.

If you end up enjoying PvP more than Operations, you could even shift your grind over to this mode entirely. There's definitely something t?o be said for getting good at PvP because prestige levels are on the way at some point over the game's first year of ??updates.

5. Keep an eye out for Gene-Seeds in Operations mode

Gene-Seeds are additional items you or anyone else in your team can pick up in Operations mode. The goal is to hold it an?d take it to the end of the mission without dying. If someone drops it, someone else needs to pick it up. These provide extra XP for mission completion, so they're well worth keeping an eye out for.

4. Play the objective and don't go for every execution

It's easy to want to go in for every execution you can get in Operations mode. However, this won't net you as much XP for your weapons because you're just not using them as often. Unless you're running a class like Vanguard or Assault, stick back and do what your class does best.

Snipers are best at killing from afar, Heavy is great for laying down and suppressing fire, a??nd every other class has its strengths that utilize weapons ove?r melee as well. If your goal is to gain more XP, stay back and blast those Xenos.

3. Equip perks and upgrade weapons with every level you gain

Give yourself a break from playing missions and head to the Armory to equip yourself with the perk?s you've unlocked every time you gain a level. It's only a small thing, but it'll make each class you level up stronger as you grind, and the stronger you are, the eas?ier it is to play more missions and grab all that XP you're after.

2. Stick with a team for as long as you can

Once an Operations mission ends, you don't need to head off and matchmake again. You'll stick with the same team for as long as they don'?t quit or kick you. I find that it's better to try to keep with the same team for as long as possible because you'll find that you gel well together after understanding how everyone plays.

Of course, the best team to play in is one with your friends, but I've had the best time playing with randoms too. As long as everyone is doing their part and you're having fun flying thr??ough missions, there's no need to quit and matchmake again.

1. Pick a Chapter cosmetic to unlock, then pick another, and then another

This last tip is one that's incredibly important for your mindset. It's so easy to get bogged down in the numbers for your weapons and how many perks you've unlocked for your favorite class. However, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has pre-set Chapter customization options for every class that you can purchase once you've earned enoug??h Armory Data.

Open these options and pick on?e that you like because of the colors or because of that Chapter's values in the wider lore. Then, once you know which Chapter you want to pick up first, play until you've unlocked it for every class. Then repeat this process until you've got every Chapter unlocked.

It's such a small thing in the great scheme of the g??ame, but it'll help you pull back from the numbers and focus on something that's a lot more fun to grind for. If you're focused on earning just a little more Armory Data instead of a set amount of XP, you're more? likely to hit your goal. It just so happens that this goal will also net you a tonne of XP.

The post 10 tips to level up fast in War??hammer 40K: Space Ma??rine 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Adeptus Astartes of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have an assortment of weapons to play with. However, in Space Marine 2's PvE Operations mode, players will need to upgrade their gear if they w?ant to keep pace with t?uned-up difficulty options.

While higher difficulty settings offer more significant rewards, they also impose some of the most formidable challenges in the game. That s??aid, the path toward improving weaponry ?isn't exactly straightforward.

Space Marine 2 offers cooperative PvE in the form of its Operations mode. It currently contains six difficulty-adjustable missions, with plans to add more. As players ramp up the difficulty, XP and the chance for better rewards increases, but it also means basic bolters and chainswords won't cut?? it.

Master your arsenal

The Armory is where the Ultramarines can tinker with their equipment between missions. A quick visit to the Armory allows players to access a menu where all available gear can be equipped, upgraded, and have cosmetics applied. While players can unlock additional wea?pons as they level up, they can start upgrading the ones they already have right from the start.

The first thing players will need to do to upgrade the weapon of their choice is to use it. As players complete Oper??ations and earn XP or Gene Seed, they'll also earn progress toward mastering the current iteration of ?their weapon. Once the gun or melee armament has been used enough, players will earn a Mastery Point to upgrade the weapon family further.

Don't forget the Armory Data

However, before that Mastery Point can be used, players will first need to upgrade the quality of their chosen weapon. This is done by expending the Armory Data required to unlock the next tier. The Data itself&??nbsp;can be earned in each Operation, rewarded for finding hidden Servo Skulls within the PvE missions.&nb?sp;

There are three variations of Armory Data: Master Crafted (green), Artificer (purple), and Relic (yellow). The quality of Armory Data found depends on the difficulty of the Operation, so Relic upgrades will naturally only come from the highest ti?er of difficulty. In that same vein, as players upgrade a weapon family, it will ask for the corresponding quality Armory Data.

How to spend Mastery Points

Once players have earned Mastery Points and have unlocked the next tier of their weapon, they can spend the Points to improve how the weapon family performs. You can access the Perk Tree tab by viewing the weapon i??n the Armory, and that's where upgrades will be available. The number of available Perks coincides with the number of variants in the weapon family, so don't worry; extra work will be rewarded.

Pushing into Artificer and Relic tiers, players will need t??o master multiple variations of the weapon, with each successful variant bringing players closer toward ov?erall mastery for the next weapon tier. These weapon variants can be changed at will by visiting the Armory and switching via the Versions tab on the weapon.

The post How to upgrade weapons in Space Marine 2’s PvE Operations appeared first on Destructoid.

Publisher Focus Entertainment has responded to dozens of the questions that Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 fans have been asking since the game??'s release. Chief among the answers are details of changes coming to Veteran difficulty and PvP spawn camping, though many more are listed.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is an incredibly solid title that blew fans away when it was initially released. Over 2 million players jumped in within the first week, and it doesn't feel like things have slowed down since. Focus Entertainment has been welcoming questions from fans when it comes to requesting features and feedback, and the publisher has now answered a lot of these in a massive Q&A session on Steam.

Soon, Chaos won't be able to track our spawns

The most impactful responses from Focus Entertainment that I've noted are for difficulty and PvP. Veteran difficulty for the game's campaign is going ??to be adjusted in the future because it's just too challenging when playing solo. Part of the problem is that the AI bots aren't as useful as they coul?d be, but this is by design because developer Saber Interactive doesn't want the bots to take all the glory and focus from the real players.

This is something Focus Entertainment goes into great detail on because a fair few players have called out the bots for not being as good as them in each missio?n. The same goes for certain weapons, or every weapon that isn't the Melta Gun, that feel as tho?ugh they're underpowered. This is being looked at and changes are on the way, but there's no date on when.

The fix that I think is the most important is a fix for spawn camping in PvP. You can walk around to the enemy team's spawn point with a Heavy class and annihilate them for more than a minute before the spawn resets to the opposite side of the map. Thankfully, spawn protection is coming in a future update, after which I think ?PvP will be in a much better state.

There are loads of other tiny fixes on the way that'll make Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 feel even better as we play it for doz??ens more hours while unlocking every perk and cosmetic. While we won't be getting Chaos Space Marine armor, it does look like XP sharing for kicked players, new class?es, and more melee weapons are definitely on the cards.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 really delivers the Warhammer 40K fantasy in video game form. There's so much to do in it already, and with features like PvP prestiging and more Operations missions on the way, there's never been a better time to dedicate your life to the Emperor ??????????????????????????and join in.

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If you want to succeed in the Operations mode in Space Marine 2, you must?? upgrade your weapons to the Artificer tier and u??pward. These are much more powerful and provide more perks than the base versions.

Hereâ€??™s what you need to know how to get to that tier and abov?e.

How to get Artificer tier weapons in Space Marine 2

To upgrade your weapon tier from Standard or Master-Crafted up to Artificer (??purple), you will need to start playing Operations at difficulty Threat: Substantial. As you progress through new tiers of weapons in their respective trees, you need the same matching Armoury Data chip.

For example, we consider the Power Sword to be one of the better weapons in the? game. Upgrading it from Standard to Master-Crafted will require a green Armoury Data chip, which can be earned from defeating ??bosses or finding them in a “Threat: Averageâ€?difficulty mission. You’ll also need the weapon’s? XP to be at max.

You’ll know when you’re ready to upgrade your weapon to the next tier when the tab reads “Unlock for 1 (Armoury Data) or higher� Now apply this by upgrading from green (Mas??ter-Crafted) to purple (Artificer).

The Substan??tial difficulty? in Operations mode is going to be a lot tougher but will help unlock new weapon tiers once you find the Armoury Data chips.  

Why aren’t the Artificer tier weapons unlocking?

Another common problem you may run into is that the XP bar isn’t full despite having mastered all the weapon variations in your current tier. This may happen simply bec?ause you ?paid to master a variant of a weapon to skip the XP grind. 

What you still need to do is make up for the XP you did not gain when you ?skipped that mastery. As long as you’re using weapons within the previous tier (Master-Crafted), you’re building up that bar to unlock Artificer. 

Once you hit that tier, you shou?ld finally see a prompt to unlock that tier, but as previously mentioned, you will have to start playing on the Substantial difficulty. All you need is one chip and you now have access to the third tier of weapon upg?rades (as long as you have the credits for them).

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Saber Interactive, the developer of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, has recently acquired a significant equity investment from two leading equity firms. The investment has allowed the developer to pay off i?ts debt to holding company Embracer G??roup, pending an additional amount in late 2024/early 2025.

Aleph Capital Partners and Crestview Partners made the investment in Saber Interactive. These are leading equity companies based in London and New York, respectively. The exact amount each company invested hasn't been disclosed, but it must be quite a lot for the developer to be able to pay off Embracer Group, which acquired it in 2020. With this new investment, Saber Interactive has more control over what it makes and how it makes it because it's outside of an umbrella company, which bodes well for its future, especially off the back of the success of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.

Almost independent

It's so easy to get lost when trying to understand what this sort of news means, so I'll try to explain it without all the business jargon. First, it's important to note that Saber Interactive was acquired by Embracer Group back in February 2020. Saber Interactive was, of course, paid as part of this deal.??

The period from 2020 to 2021 was immensely successful for video games in large part because of worldwide lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. As those lockdowns lifted, people started going outside again and playing games for less time as a result. It's no secret that Embracer Group has been laying staff off and closing entire? studios since that time.

While Saber Interactive has several successful titles under its belt, including World War Z, SnowRunner, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, and Insurgency: Sandstorm, it ??has felt like one wro??ng move could cause a studio to shut down.

That's why this investment in Saber Interactive is so exciting for the developer. Embracer Group explained in a press release? how the studio has received an e??arly payment for the sale of assets in the studio.

What's actually happen?ed is that Aleph Capital Partners and Crestview Partners have acquired a chunk of equity in the developer in exchange for a large sum of money. Saber Interactive has used that money to pay off Embracer Group. This means that Saber Interactive now owns more of its own shares and is closer to being an independent studio than it has been for four years.

It's hard to belie??ve that Saber has been in business for nearly a quarter of a century. While we have grown to over 3,000 developers across the globe, we still feel like a startup with tremendous opportunity for rapid gro??wth.

Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive

However, as I mentioned, Aleph Capital Partners and Crestview Partners now own equity in Saber Interactive, which likely means they each own a percentage of the company's shares??. Without going into the weeds on this, the result is that Jamie Rahamim, Managing Director and Head of Media at Aleph, and Brian Cassidy, President and Head of Media at Crestview, now sit on Saber Interactive's Board of Directors.

They're not alone?, though. Saber Interactive's Andrey Iones, Chief Operating Officer, and Matthew Karch, CEO, are also on the Board of Directors. While the number of shares each party owns, the investors and Saber Interactive, dictates who has the most power, equity companies likely won't be elbowing in on any development decisions Saber Interactive makes.

Aleph Capital Partners and Crestview Partners?? are interested in seeing their investment and the shares they own bear fruit. This will come in the form of dividends and share value increases as Saber Interactive's turnover and repu??tation as a developer grow.

Considering how popular Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is already, and the plans the developer has for post-launch content, it's in a very safe position. However, these equity companies? now have some level of influence, so if things take a turn in the future, Saber Interactive may be forced to make tough choices.

There's no denying that Saber Interactive is now in a much better position than it was when it was under Embracer Group. It has more ?control over how it operates and, from the sounds of things, shouldn't be forced into making layoffs or canceling games. Instead, it can forge its own path forward with the financial freedom afforded by these recent investments.

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With Space Marine 2 in full swing for all players, the Zoanthrope has bec??ome public enemy number one in PvE modes. It’s that dreadful flying enemy with the red tail hanging below, often lobbing things at you, lasering you, or making your screen go haywire with its psychic blasts.

Flying enemies in horde shooters are often the bane of players�existence because they distract you from what can come up to you on foot. You’re equipped to deal w??ith grounded units, but with these thrown in the mix, it’s do?-or-die stuff.

The community for this game has voiced its frustrations with?? how difficult handling these enemies can be. There’s a popular Zoanthrope “hate thread�on Reddit where many players expressed their grievances and also offered ways to help get rid of this big nasty before it becomes a problem.

As mentioned earlier, it has a lot of ranged tools to mess up your run. Fair enough, there’s counterplay against us. However, with this is how often their defensive abilities are up, especially when there are two present at the same time, they ar??e a serious issue.

Since they?? can shield their allies, a pair of Zoanthropes become so hard to kill that they can end an Operations run or keep you stuck at a checkpoint in the campaign. They’ll constantly shield each other, meaning you’ll have to wait for an opening between the two while dodging all the orange attacks.

Unfortunately, players who like to play exclusively at close-quarters range, like the Bulwarks, Assaults, and Vanguards, will have a hard time. It sucks, especially for Vanguards who think they can use the Grapnel Launcher to ??dive-kick these wretched flyers. This strategy does not work.

“Krak Grenades are definitely a mu?st-use against these bastards,�a user commented in the thread. This is quite spot on. While we’re so focused on the gunplay?? and melee, many people will often overlook the other tools the game gives us to even the odds.

Many players highly overlook the Krak Grenades. We?? may often flock to shocks or normal frag grenades for simple mobbing but never really focus on the other gadgets that are much mo?re lethal and designed to take out single, lethal targets.

This also highlights the importance of a versatile team setup in cooperative modes. Snipers, Tacticals, and Heavies can fare against these just fine. It’s just a matter of practicing good resource management if a big nasty like this c?omes up. Don’t use all your heavy firepower against trash mobs and easy majoris enemies. 

Lastly, if all else fails, you ??can always just run away. It may not be the way of the Marine, but there’s always a chance you can find an ammo cache or a random batch of nades to turn the tide in an instance like this.

The post The Zoanthrope is the most hat?ed enemy in Space Marine 2 (and rightfu?lly so) appeared first on Destructoid.

The Space Marine 2 campaign takes players through various iconic Warhammer 40,000 locale?s, from Imperium te?mples to Adeptus Mechanicus facilities to treacherous jungles. However, one site may offer some hints as to where the game can go next.

Spoilers follow for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

We already know Space Marine 2 will continue to receive content through 2025, so could it be that future Operations and updates introduce? the Necrons?

The Necrons are an ancient robotic civilization that quite literally conquered its own gods. The fearsome and advanced mechanical faction used to be organic but gave up their flesh and souls in the name of power. Millions of years ago, the Necrons began a long hibernation on their Tomb Worlds, waiting for the perfect moment to reemerge and take command of the galaxy. Unfortunately, there's a chance our ac?tions in-game may l??ead to some of these god-slayers waking up.

Why would the Necrons wake up?

During the climax of Space Marine 2, it's exposed that yo?ur Adeptus Mechanicus ally, Leuze, was being manipulated by a Thousand Sons sorcerer to continue something called the Aurora project. As it turns out, Aurora is an Adeptus Mechanicus archeological site that unearthed a Necron Tomb World ben??eath the burial world of Demerium.

Leuze believes?? Aurora has the power to repel the forces of Chaos and close The Great Rift, but when activated, it appears as though the Thousand Sons are empowered. The Chaos Space?? Marines hail a Greater Daemon and start summoning their forces en masse. The thing is, Leuze's interpretation may not be so far from the truth.

While Space Marine 2 doesn't specify how Aurora works, Necrons have a history with a substance called Blackstone and structures called Blackstone Pylons. Blackstone itself has the ability to nullify or amplify the Warp, and the Pylons are Necron Blackstone constructs that typi?cally repel the Warp on a planet or region in space. It seems pretty likely that Leuze was tricked into deactivating or inverting the polarity of a Blackstone Pylon or similar device, allowing the Thousand Sons?? a chance for victory.

Of course, to correct this, we head back through the Tomb World,?? activating several sites that shoot a powering beam to a large central... pylon. With each activation, the relic we interact with changes from a Chaos-aligned color, like purple or orange, to the Necrons' signature hue of green. Maybe the Necron tech was asleep before or malfunctioning somehow; who knows? Now, however, it seems clear th?at we've reactivated it.

This background storytelling seems like the perfect setup for a Necron Dynasty to wake up and terrorize Demerium. Time will tell how Space Marine 2 is built upon, but at first sight of silver and green, star??t preparing for Necrons.

The post Did Space Marine 2’s campaign give us a sneak peak at future enemies? appeared first on Destructoid.

A huge part of the Warhammer 40K tabletop miniatures game is building and painting the units for your armies. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 replicates this with customiza?tion options for eve??ry Ultramarine class, including some rare ones like Macragge’s Chosen DLC.

You can get a few exclusive cosmetic items in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, depending on which edition of the game you purchase. While not available for all your Ultramarine classes, these customization options give you a way to stand out and bring some of the flair from the tabletop miniatures game into what co?uld well be the m??ost popular video game to be made for the setting. However, some of these customization options, like the M?acragge’s Chosen DLC, aren't available to everyone.

How to get Macragge’s Chosen DLC in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

To get the Macragge’s Chosen DLC in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you must have pre-ordered the game ahead of release. If you purchased a physical copy, you'll need to use the code for the DLC ??that came with the game. If you purchased a digital copy, the DLC should be automatically downloaded.

You'll need to head to the armory to find the skins you get with t??he Macragge’s Chosen DLC. For weapons, you'll need to tap the Appearance button after selecting them to find all the skins you have unlocked. The Macragge’s Ch??osen DLC skins will have a small DLC banner across the top left-hand corner.

The same goes for the armor pieces from this DLC. You'll need to customize your armor and go into the Pauldrons tabs to find the DLC pieces that you can equip. Note that Macragge’s Chosen DLC items can be used in the campaign and in all multiplayer modes for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, so you should have no trouble finding it.

If you can't see the DLC in your game, it's possible that it hasn't been downloaded. Check the storefront from which you pre-ordered the game to see if you can locate and download the DLC. If not, you might need to reach out to Focus Entertainment's support.

I've seen players report that restarting their game caused the DLC to show up. For others, though, they simply didn't realize that this was a pre-order bonus. Even if you own the Ultra Edition of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you ca??n't get the Macragge’s Chosen DLC unless you pre-ordered the game ahead of its release.

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The Tactical class in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is considered to be the “standard??-issue�role, but it’s very strong with the right build. To get started, these are the weapons,?? variations, and perks to use for this class.

Best Tactical build in Space Marine 2

First, we’ll break down the weapons you should use for this build. Do not worry if you haven’t gotten to the later tiers of weapons yet. The base weapons t?hemselves with earlier?? upgrades will do fine, but you should work your way towards the Relic tier.

Weapons

Stalker Bolt Rifle - Gathalamor Crusade

Perks:

• Fast Reload
• Adamant Reload
• Fast Regeneration
• Head Hunter (x2)
• Agile Hunter
• Fast Reload
• Great Might

The Stalker Bolt Rifle is already one of the better weapons in the game, so with this variant, it’ll have very high singl??e-target damage which is great for Majoris-level enemies and higher.

The Galthamor Crusade varian?t will drastically increase the damage output and give you more ammo reserves. Resources are more scarce? in higher difficulties, so having more ammo with you will help if you can’t find any.

Bolt Pistol - Ophelian Liberation - Alpha

Perks:

• Great Might
• Retaliation
• Iron Grip
• Divine Might
• Extended Magazine
• Rapid Health
• Extended Magazine
• Divine Might

Since there are no other weapons in this category, the Bolt Pistol and its final variant will do. This weapon as a sidearm can still put in work, ??though. With well-placed shots in vulnerable areas, this can match the damage of a primary weapon.

Though, very similar to the Stalker Bolt Rifle, you’re going to pick the variant that give??s you extra magazine capacity and ammo reserves. This will help you with resource management.

Chainsword - Aquilan Dedication

Perks: 

• Perpetual Strength
• Swift Recovery
• Perpetual Strength
• Saw Blade
• Tyranid Slayer
• Minoris Slayer
• Full Throttle
• Extremis Slayer
• Kill Streak

Lastly, for the Chainsword, it's best to choose the Fencing defense mode. You don’t utilize a shield like the Bulwark. Plus, pa??rrying at??tacks will greatly benefit you if you ever get swarmed. The invincibility window is a lifesaver.

Best Tactical Perks in Space Marine 2

• Core: Kraken Penetrator Rounds, Relentless Pursuit, Final Shot
• Team: Aligned Aim
• Gear: Vital Data, Improved Efficiency, Expert Timing
• Signature: Signal Jammer

With this setup for your Tactical??, you’re boosting damage for your guns along with total damage for your teammates with your Auspex Scan ability. The playstyle will still be very similar whe??re you can switch roles on the fly when needed, just with more utility overall.

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The patch notes for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2's latest patch, Hotfix 2.1, have revealed that developer Saber Interactive is working on some of the game's most-requested features. The??se additions will ar??rive in a larger update later in 2024.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Hotfix 2.1 provides a series of fixes for bugs and potential crashes that were the source of a few gripes with players. Beneath the patch notes for this Hotfix is a selection of features Sab??er Interactive is aiming to bring to the title in a future update, including ultrawide monitor support, a sparring arena in the Battle Barge, and private PvE lobbies.

Praise the Emperor for ultrawide support

I have been thoroughly enjoying Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 on PS5 without any real issues outside of the infinite loading screen error. However, some fans have clearly been making their requests known to the ?game's developer because we now have three highly-requeste??d features on the way.

Ultrawide monitor support is one of the things I've seen talked about most on the Space Marine subreddit. I completely understand the desire to have?? it because the environments in the game are gorgeous. Being able to see more as you stomp through the campaign, Operations, or battle it out in Eternal War, would be glorious.

While I don't mind random lobbies for O?perations mode, the PvE multiplayer mode, I can s??ee why others would want it. A sparring arena in the Battle Barge, though, that feature took me by surprise. I think being able to duke it out with other players in a safe environment would make the transition from the campaign to PvP much easier, so I'm hopeful that's what it achieves when it's added.

Hotfix 2.1 includes fixes for a crash that could halt you right as you start the game, a rare crash that could stop the game in the opening cutscene, and a few rare bugs that could soft-lock players during the campaign. It also optimizes CPU performance on PC to make the game run better on high-end rigs. Even on PS5, I've noticed a little stuttering. So, hopefully, now the developer is in the woods on this sort of fix, console players will see improvements in? the future.

There's still so much that Saber Interactive has planned for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. With 2 million copies sold mere days a??fter its official launch, the future looks bright for the game, especially with features like these high on the update priority list.

The post Ultrawide support, private PvE lobbies & ?sparring are coming to Warhamm?er 40K: Space Marine 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

When you fire up Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 for the first time, you may be confused about how and when you can pick and change your class in the game.? So, ??to eliminate any confusion on the matter, this is what you need to know.

How to pick your class in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

To pick your class in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you must complete the tutorial mission. Once you get through the ropes of the game and get to the Battle Barge for the first time, you should receive a message tha??t says ?“Online play is available now�

With that message, you can now go to the Strategium which is where you’d talk to Acheran i?n the Campaign. You can also go to the Launch Bay if you're not here. At either place, you can interact? with the console which will bring up the Battle Map. 

If you switch to either Operations or Eternal War, you will be shown a menu asking if you want to switch modes, simply say ??yes. You’ll then be told to choose a class you want to play. Don’t worry, you are not locked into your class by picking any of these.

Some classes may be unavailable based on when you join a lobby. If you join a lobby in progress, some classes may already be chosen. Be wary of that if you’re maining a particular? class.

How to change class in Space Marine 2

If you want to change your class in Space Marine 2, head over to the Armouring Hall room. You can fast-travel here before mission selection a??nd when a mission is set. 

While you’re customizing your Marin??e in this room, your last selected class will ??be the one you will equip. 

For example, if you want to run the Bulwark class, hit back while on this menu. When you’re finished customizing your armor and loadout, do ?not switch to another class or you will swap to them when you exit the customization.

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Publisher Focus Entertainment has revealed that Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has sold 2 million copies worldwide. The game is clearly incredibly popular with newcomers an?d fans of the franchise from the tabletop game, and players love that it's hit such a big milestone so early.

I don't think it's surprising that Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 ha??s managed to sell 2 million copies just a couple of days after its official r??elease date of September 9, 2024, and about a week after its early access launch on September 5, 2024. The game is a phenomenal translation of its tabletop miniatures source material into an engrossing video game, and fans are praising the Emperor of Mankind that it's so popular so early. After all, more players means more fellow Ultramarines and Chaos Space Marines for its multiplayer modes.

2 million Ultramarines and counting

Focus Entertainment made the announcement on Twitter. To celebrate, Clive Standen, voice actor for the game's protagonist Titus, recorded a few brilliant new voice line?s that sound exactly like what his character would say in-game.

The fan base is ecstatic that the game has sold so well. Over on the Warhammer 40K: Space Marine subreddit, they're discussing how this is quite possibly the biggest moment for the franchise bre??aking into the mainstream.

User ZeroCuddy puts it quite well. "By far and away the biggest 40K game that's ever released. This is a good sign for the future of the game, sequels/spin offs, and longer term support which saber already had a decent track record with with games 1/4 of the size of this. People always talk about big watershed moments where 40K breaks into the mainstream but with this and the upcoming Amazon series with a 40K specific episode this truly is that moment? if the?re ever was one."

Of course, as you'd expect from the Warhammer 40K community, there's plenty of "2M total player around the world playing at the same time? Or 2M copies so??ld? Oh where are my manners PRAISE THE EMPEROR!" and "FOR THE OMNISSIAH! (It’s 2 mil sold in total I believe, but I’m sure that number will go up by a lot over the weekend)."

Developer Saber Interactive did a fantastic job of keeping its previous title, World War Z, updated with new content over time. This included new missions, cosmetics, classes, and enemies, which is exactly what it has planned for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2's future.

With 2 million copies sold already, the game's future looks bright. Outside of some slow matchmaking and one infinite loading screen error, there aren't any major bugs to speak of. Provided the ongoing support for the title continues to garner a positive response from fans, this could be the biggest video game ever made for the Warhammer 40K franchise.

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If you’re looking to go through the entirety of the Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 campai??gn to prepare yourself for multiplayer, here’s what to exp?ect in terms of missions. 

How many campaign missions are in Space Marine 2?

There are a total of six campaign missions in Space Marine 2. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but each one is fairly lengthy due to cutscenes, dialogue, and potential restarts from deaths. Th??is is the order by planet, operation, and mission:

Kadaku

• Operation I: 

  • Skyfire

• Operation II: 

  • Severance

Avarax

• Operation III: 

  • Machinus Divinitus
  • Servant of the Machine

• Operation IV: 

  • Voidsong

Demerium

• Operation V:

  • Dawn’s Descent

You’re looking at about ei?ght to ten hours in this campaign if you’re playing it on the Easy or Normal modes. If you’re playing on Veteran or higher, the campaig?n may take longer depending on skill.

However, aside from the main ??campaign where y?ou assume control of Titus and his squad, the Operations mode is a supplement to the story. Each mission in this mode conveniently happens parallel to the current mission Titus is taking on in the base campaign.

The game also recommends playing a mission and then switching over to Operations to get the scoop on what happens on the other side. That being said, here? is the list of Operations missions to partake in:

• 01: Inferno
• 02: Decapitation
• 03: Vox Liberatis
• 04: Reliquary
• 05: Fall of Atreus
• 06: Ballistic Engine

These m??issions are also fairly long and are a lot more replayable compared to the campaign ones. With different classes and weapons to level up, you’ll be coming back to this a lot more. 

Enemy spawns differ each time and this mode is a lot more punis??hing compared to the campaign. You can fail these missions and have to start all over compared to the story where you just go back to a previous checkpoint.

In total, you have six campaign missions and six Operations missions to get the full story of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. You’re looking at a good 15 to 20 hours for a full exp?erience for lower difficulties and a bit more as you progress into the tougher difficultie?s.

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Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 brings the Warhammer 40K universe to life in glorious, blood-soaked detail. This game puts you into the heart of the action in a major conflict with a story that has all the twists and turns of any good galactic incursion in humanity's Imperium. While there are a few issues here and there, it's a triumph of a translati??on of the miniatures tabletop game into a video game that feels like it has something for everyone.

In Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you shoot, rip, and shred your way through a chunky 10-12 hour solo campaign that's a rush or ridiculously meaty combat and iconic encounters from start to end. It also packs in PvE and PvP multiplayer modes that, together, do a great job of easing you into the core mechanics? before asking you to go out and master them for what you'll undoubtedly end up calling "glory for the Emperor."

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Released: September 9, 2024
MSRP: $59.99

Give me a worthy adversary

The campaign in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 goes hard. You play as Titus, a disgraced Space Marine who rejoins the Ultramarines to help defend a system from a?? Tyranid invasion. This nasty foe descends on a world using sports and evolves quickly to defend itself from whatever strategies its enemies are using, before liqu?ifying all organic matter and moving onto the next world.

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment have done a great job of taking what they learned from the swarms of zombies in World War Z and using it to make the Tyranids a ??formidable threat. The smaller Xenos a??mong the Tyranid ranks rush toward you and explode in satisfying bursts of blood, while the larger warriors among their ranks work their way through the gore and provide a real challenge.

This is where Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 feels very different from World War Z, which surprised me a lot, but it suits the source material much better. You can only gun your way through so many enemies before you've? got to pull out whatever melee weapon you have? equipped, preferably a Chainsword, and cut through them and fight until you wear the stronger foes down to a weakened state. From there, you can trigger an execution for a grotesque and glorious finisher, of which there are dozens to discover.

Executions reward armor recharges and health, and by the end of the campaign, you'll have mastered the careful dance between staying back and hammering enemies with gunfire, and getting stuck into the hordes with nothi??ng but a Power Sword.

Your melee weapon is also important for parrying those pesky enemies who leap the crowd and dig into your armor. Parrying is an essential skill you must learn to deal with bosses and minor enemies alike, ensuring that on higher difficulties, you don't get mauled before you're even at?? the tricky part.

I have to say, I didn't expect this level of complexity from the game's combat, but it fits really well. If the game was all big guns and the occasional execution, it would be dull. The combination and refined combat that's been developed h??ere both feels and looks so good that I could play for hours without ever feeling fatigued.

Missions have great checkpointing, which always means you'll have enough ammo and grenades, but you never feel safe because you have too much. Bosses stretch you to your limits, especially the Lictor Tyranid ear??ly on, but you'll grow to understand exactly how to defeat them with the game's unique blend of gun and swordplay before too long.

When I say the story goes hard, I really do mean it. At one point, you're in the belly of a Forge World when the power goes out, and your character can hear Tyranids in the walls. Later in the campaign, you hoist a flag high and stand your ground among other Ultramarines against impossible odds, making for the most Warhammer 40K scene I think I've ever come across in a game.

Between missions, you'll return to a Battle Barge to get new intel and refit Titus with weapons you've unlocked. The thing that stuck out for me here, and in other quieter moments on the three major worlds you play across, is the chatter between NPCs. Listening to characters discuss topics such as a human toolbox recalibrating their eyes or watching a sermon to the Emperor, to which mighty Space Marines kneel and listen, felt amazing. It's as if I was transported into the world of Warhammer 40K, something I've been tryi??ng to achieve since I first start?ed painting a Necron army when I was ten years old.

Even something as? simple as walking feels brought to life with the weight an Ultramarine should be, sparks flying from his boots on metal and small objects shattering as he walks through them with the arrogance a space warrior should have. The dialogue feels like several people polished it because it feels like it's been pulled from the universe. Every line is deliberate, with no embellishment or over-explanation. You understand more?? from these words than you do in some entire paragraphs from other games, and I think that helps gel every other element together to make newcomers feel at home in this far-flung futuristic version of our galaxy.

I don't want to spoil the game's midway twist here, but suffice it to say that it feels like it was ripped right out of the pages of White Dwarf or the Black Library. You begin the game knowing nothing and having only one objective, and end it doing something else entirely with a set of revelations weighing heavily on your s?houlders. It's incredible to experience as a fan of the universe, and it's thrilling even for those who aren't because of the regularly occurring epic moments that are impossible not to be pulled in by.

The other side of the story

The second of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2's three game ??modes is a multiplayer companion to the campaign. In Operations mode, you'll tackle missions that fill out parts of the story you see in the cam??paign, but don't get to play through. This is where you understand how a Hive Tyrant took so long to kill, or what was going on when the vox blackout occurred.

The missions themselves are short and very replayable. I couldn??'t put the game mode down once I'd started, thanks to the balanced rewards you get for every mission and the exhilarating risk of hopping into a mission you know so well on a slightly tougher difficulty level.

There are a few new mechanics in Operations missions that make them?? stand out, such as regular enemies who can now call in reinforcements and puzzles that you need to solve while also fighting back against the hordes of enemies every mission throws at you. For the most part, though, they're designed to be pure multiplayer fun, and that's exactly what they are.

While yes, there's definitely some point to seeing the other side of these stories, the real reason to play is to experiment with different Space Marine classes, weapons, abilities, and earn XP. This mode is where I saw all the multiplayer elements from World War Z bleed through, and that's an extremely good thing for any? game to have.

Each class offers a unique experience in-game, with various special abilities such as healing and an overpowered melee attack for a short t??ime, a Jump Pack, or even a shield that can protect you and your allies. Each class has a huge skill tree that you'll earn perks in and can purchase to unlock their benefits over time to craft the best builds for the toughest missions on the highest difficulties.

Every weapon also has levels to grind, unlocking more perks and making you a more efficient killing machine with every hour you sink into Operations. Of course, the biggest draw of multiplayer in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is unlocking new cosmetics. You can't craft your own Chapter (a company of Space Marines) without first gaining access to every color and part to customize, and then y??ou can go nuts making the most obscene or beautiful warriors the galaxy has ev??er gazed upon.

Stem corruption

The final part of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2's offerings is a PvP mode called Eternal War. It plays into all the same progression systems as Operations mode, but is solely focused on PVP. I didn't know what to expect going into this mode, part of m?e really thought it wouldn't ?work, but it's thoroughly enjoyable and fits well within the universe.

One team plays Space Marines, generally seen as the forces of (relative) good, and the other is Cha?os Space Marines, who are bad by all accounts. There are only a few modes to play around with, but it's the combat that saves this game mode. Player health has been tweaked to meet weapons in the middle, so you're not obliterating one team with a single class.

Just like in Operations and the campaign, you need to use melee, grenades, and long-ranged weapons to win. However, I noticed a spawn camping ??issue while I was playing. For some reason, the game took too long to shift where my team was spawning from, so we lost a lot of points to two Heavy Space Marines who simply fired at roughly where we'd appear for a minute or so.

Eternal War is definitely the weakest mode in a game that sets the bar incredibly high. There's something to love here, and it's a nice distraction from all the PvE missions you'll be grinding, giving you somethi??ng else to master and a rea??son to mess around with your builds and cosmetic styles in the Battle Barge before returning to a harder mode in the campaign.

In both Eternal War and Operations, I experienced server issues in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. These came and went, and might just have been down to the player base being limited to those who have an early access edition of ??the game. I did see the developer reaching out to fans explaining th?at it's working on the server issues, so I feel that these are likely more prevalent but are something that could be fixed with time.

I've seen Saber Interactive take World War Z and foster an amazing community around its PvE missions, with new content added regularly based on player feedback. Based on what I've seen from the developer so far, I have no doubt that it plans to do the same with this game but kick things up a notch. We already have a roadmap for season 1 that includes things like new enemies and a hord?e mode, which I can't wait to see, as well as even more fancy cosmetics to unlock.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a great game in its own right, and it will only get better with ongoing support. But you can get a lot out of the title without ever engaging with the online?? elements. The story and lore on show in the campaign are a great reason to get this game alone, and everything else is just a giant, Battle Barge-sized cherry on top.

I can't praise this game enough. It's as if the Emperor himself oversaw its development, pulling on the threads of time and space to bring the right people together at the right time to make it. There are flaws, sure, but it's a damn good game and a flipping fantastic Warhammer 40K game. If you even remot?ely enjoy the universe, this will blow your mind. As I mentioned at the top, though, you can go into this game with no prior knowledge and still have the best time with it because the experience is solid, the world is completely realized, and the gameplay is ?highly engaging.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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While working your way through the Operations in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you're going to end up battling the Tyranid horde's Hive Tyrant. This monster controls every Tyranid on the planet and keeps them workin??g together, so it needs to?? go down.

The Hive Tyrant is the one who keeps every Tyranid in the swarm, working in unison towards a single goal. In Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2's campaign, this means that the only way to pre??vent the Tyranids from working to stop all Space Marine objectives is to take the leader out. You'll face it in the later Operations missions, but it's a tough fight you won't be able to win unless you persevere, so I've got some tips to h??elp you do just that.

How to defeat the Hive Tyrant boss in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

You'll encounter the Hive Tyrant soon after crushing it under a huge statue late in the Operations side missions. It's weakened but still a formidable opponent. The monster has the ability to get up close and slash away with its scythes in close combat, but it can also make life quite difficult with ranged attacks??.

From the very start of your battle with the beast, start and keep firing at it for as long as you can. Prolonged gunfire fro?m the Heavy class is particularly effective, but any and all damage you can deal with early on is great.

After working the boss's health down to about halfway, Tyranid reinforcements will show up and start trying to distract you. ??Take these enemies down quickly while keeping the Hive Tyra?nt at bay. It's best to split your focus here and just have one player kite the boss away while the other two focus on clearing out any other enemies.

When the Hive Tyrant's health hits zero, it's going to let? out a massive scream that will knock you over and could even cause damage. Just after that, its health will regenerate, and you'll need to fight it all over aga??in.

This second phase is much more of a challenge than the first. In m??y encounter, I had to deal with more psychic attacks from the Hive Tyrant, including more damaging screams, and dodge away from even more attacks because it comes after everyone at this point.

Keep up the damage, throwing grenades and whatever else you have at it to deal damage and take it out once more. When you've depleted its health bar for the second or third time, depending on the difficulty, the boss should be dead. Th??is ends the mission, but you never truly feel like you can relax because it tricked you the first time.

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The Bulwark is one of the two melee classes you can build in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and if you want the best setup, here’s what you can use.?? 

Best Bulwark build for Space Marine 2

The ??build will be broken down into what weapons you should use along with perks. Note that these may be unavailable to you if you’re a ??new player given that you need to level up quite a bit and play higher difficulties to earn better weapon tiers and Mastery Points.

Weapons

Plasma Pistol - Ophelian Liberation

Perks: 

• Fast Venting
• Rampage
• Supercharged Shot
• Great Might
• Plasma Collection
• Efficient Charge
• Retaliation
• Fast Venting (Relic)

This Plasma Pistol build is used mostly for ranged targets ??if ??you need to do so. It’s also used for bossing since there aren’t many reliable ways to get armor back in the event that you take damage. 

If you do not have this variant of the pistol yet, don’t worry. The weapon ??itself even at base level is very capable of dealing lots of damage.

Power Sword - Gathalmor Crusade

Perks: 

• Armored Strength
• Master of Offence
• Perpetual Strength
• Momentum Gain
• Fencing Blade
• Chaos Slayer
• Hard Target
• Reeling Blow
• Majoris Slayer
• Terminus Slayer
• Speed Restoration

With this build, you focus on light ??attacks, stance switching, parrying, and finishers. Light attacks will make you considerably tanky?? as parries and finishers keep your armor up. 

This is assuming that you are consistent with performing parries and finishers since this weapon will b??enefit greatly mo?stly from crowd control.

Best Bulwark Perks

• Core: Forward Momentum, Armor of Contempt, Armor Reinforcement
• Team: Effective Formation
• Gear: Focused Strength, Purity of Purpose, Inspiration
• Signature: Armored Advance

With this setup for your Bulwark, you’re getting a lot of damage reduction and damage output increase. Paired with the other weapons, you’ll be able to take on any level in Operations? Mode with ease. You’ll also be the one to tank a lot of the intended damage while your other teammates can help you from afar. 

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One of the cooler parts of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is that you can customize your character regarding looks and build. However, it won’t be readily available until a cert??ain point ??in the game.

If you want to know how to get started,? this is what you need to know.

How to customize your character in Space Marine 2

To customize your character in Space Marine 2, you first ??need to complete the game's tutorial ??mission. This will then lead you to the Battle Barge, better known as your base of operations. 

Here, you’ll still be assuming control of the protagonist of the campaign, Titus. Once you get through the necessary dialogue and cutscenes with characters to? progress the campaign forward, you will then be able to roam around this area.

Find the room called the Armouring Hall and this is where you can start customizing. What you customize will be differe??nt based on which character you use. This part will get confusing, so here’s what you need to do next.

How to switch and customize character loadouts between modes in Space Marine 2

If you want to change your loadouts for your characters in the PvE or PvP sections of the game, head over to ??the Launch Bay. Here, you can choose if you want to play Operations ??(PvE), Campaign, or Eternal War (PvP).

Whichever you choose will change your character to the loadout of that mode. For first-?timers, you’ll have a basic blue marine with the default l?oadout. Make sure that you cancel matchmaking as you switch modes so you won’t get interrupted.

Finally, go back to the Armouring Hall and interact with the terminal. Here, you can edit your loadout for the s??ix classes in the game like weapons and cosmetics. For the PvE mode, Operations, you can also edit you?r Perk Tree to better suit your playstyle.

Cosmetics won’t be readily available to y??ou if you’re starting a new ac?count since you’ll need credits. Your weapons loadouts will also be locked in PvP until you level up further in that mode.

It’s best to start customizing after a few matches in each game mode so you have currency and levels to ge?t you started.

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If you’re planning on refining a melee build in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, y??ou may see that there are three defense types such as block, balance, and fencing. 

The former two are?? straightforward, so what is fencing? We’ll break this down below and compare it between the other two types.

What is fencing in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2?

Fencing is a defense type on melee weapons that i?s primarily focused on performing parries. T?his is one of the stronger options if you’re trying to maintain your health and armor upkeep. 

It requires better t??iming when you see a blue enemy circle indicating they’re about to attack. In?? other cases, you can still parry attacks that don’t appear with the indicator as long as it isn’t the lethal red one.

Fencing compared to block and balance

Fencing is a high-risk, high-reward playstyle compared to the other two defense types. Your timing has to b??e good. Otherwise, you’ll suffer a lot of damage and possibly go down, especially wi??th higher difficulties.

With balance, you can play defensively or use parrying. This is if you want to still parry but also block i?f you get overrun or you’re still practicing on your timing.

Lastly, the block defense type lives up to its name. It focuses on blocking attacks and having massive damage reduction over performing reversals. If your timing is bad or you are going to rely on other players to take out ?big, this is going to be more up your alley.

Is fencing the best defense type?

Technically, this would be the best type, but it’s dependent on your skill. Performing a parry m??eans that you’ll be pe??rforming finisher attacks more often on enemies. 

During these finisher animations on enemies, you’re completely invulnerable. So, performing these back-to-back will make you even more tanky and an excellent bait for other players t??o take out hig?h-priority targets like Majoris and Extremis-level enemies.

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If you’re looking to use the best weapons in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 for PvP or PvE, these are some you need to use. Depending on ??class restrictions and levels, you may not have these read??ily available.

Best weapons in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

The following weapons will be shown based on ?what classes can use them.

Primary weapons

Stalker Bolt Rifle - Tactical, Sniper

This semi-auto rifle can be used at mid to long range and packs way more of a punch compared to its other bolt-style rifl?e counterparts. All you need is a few well-placed shots into your enemies and they should go down. It complements the playstyles of teammates who prefer playing close quarters.

Plasma Incinerator - Tactical

As a semi-automatic weapon, this thing can mak??e work of smaller fries very easily. When charged, it can destroy or incapacitate stronger targets with a few shots. There’s also a small AoE blast on a charged shot so it’s good when enemies are bunched up. 

The icing on the cake is that, as long as you don’t ove??rheat the weapon, this essentially never really needs to reload.

Melta Rifle / Multi Melta - Tactical / Heavy

The normal and heavy variants of the Melta Rifle are incredibly powerful shotguns with punch-through and strong area damage. You can mow down waves of enemies and blast tougher targets in just a few shots.&nbs?p;

As long as you’re within close range, you can quite literally melt anything in your path. The only downside is th??at the firing rate is quite slow.

Las Fusil - Sniper

This is basically a better version of the starting Bolt Sniper ??Rifle for this?? class. Once you unlock this weapon for your ranged class, there’s no going back.

Secondary weapons

Plasma Pistol - Bulwark, Heavy

This is the best pistol in the game, hands down. The Pl??asma Pistol is just the Plasma Incinerator as a sec?ondary. Semi-automatic fire is good for small targets while the charged shot can kill elites, bosses, and other players with ease. 

Melee weapons

Power Sword - Bulwark

The Power Sword is just a better version of the Chainsword. It has better cleaving potential and more range because of the waves it sends out in its charged stance. Since the Bulwark is the only class ??that ?can use this right now, it’s uncontested between the other available melees.

Thunder Hammer - Assault

While not as fast as other melee weapons, the Th?under Hammer makes up for it with lots of area damage and hard-hitting swings. Being the signature weapon for the Assault class, you can get out of harm’s way with the jump pack and come in shaking the ground and all those affected in that slam attack.

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Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a game consisting of three main parts. You have the campaign, PvE, and PvP multiplayer modes that will keep you engrossed for dozens of hours. But i??t's definitely worth knowing how long the campaign will ?take you.

I believe that the campaign is the best place to start with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. It'll teach you the basic mechanics while also giving you an epic story to experience that blew me away and continues to do so every time I replay a mission. However, it's a time commitment, and you're going to need to make sure you've got enough to get thr??ough it before you can even contemplate exploring the wider multiplayer offerings.

How long is the Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 campaign?

The campaign in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is between 10 to 12 hours long. It took me 11 hours to get through on Normal difficulty while exploring every area and listening to all the conversations between NPCs. It would definitely take less time if you play on the easiest difficulty m??ode and blast through every mission and cutscene. However, if you crank the difficulty up, you're likely in for a 20-hour campaign.

That's far from all Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has to offer you, though. The game's PvE multiplayer Operations mode is packed with classes that all have perks and weapons that you can only level up with experience ear?ned from completed missions. This will add dozens of hours to your time with the game, and that's without even touching the PvP multiplayer mode?.

?Eternal War is the PvP multiplayer mode. All experience earned here also levels up your classes and weapons and helps you build up your collection of cosmetics. This is easily the toughest mode to master, because no matter how powerful your classes are, it's skill that will help you rise to the top of the PvP lobbies.

Finally, developer Saber Interactive has post-launch content planned for the game that includes new modes, enemies, and even Prestige ranks for PvP. This is just the first four seasons too. There could be more down the road as all the conten??t for the first season is added to the game. You could pour hundreds of hours into the game if you want to see everything it has to offer, and given the way it feels to play, I think that's exactly what I'll be doing.

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The final boss in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a rematch with Imurah, but he's brought a friend with him. A portal to the? Warp has been opened, and than?ks to it, a Chaos Demon can join this fight at full strength.

After besting Imurah earlier on in the Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 campaign, I thought the second battle with him would be tough but pretty much the same. I couldn't have been more wrong because th??is bos fight features the biggest foe you'll directly fight in the game, a Chaos Demon of epic?? proportions. So not only do you need to defeat a Chaos sorcerer, but you've got to do it while taking a hammering from an ancient god-like creature.

How to defeat the Imurah and Chaos Demon final boss in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

The first part of the fight against Imurah and the Chaos Demon in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 will see you f??ight it out against the Chaos Space Marine. He's pretty tricky to hit because he darts and teleports around the arena. He also has a habit of summoning Thousand Suns into the arena, whom you'll need to dispatch pretty fast if you don't want to get overwhelmed.

After you've damaged Imurah enough, he'll teleport Titus to a dark realm. There is no ammo or heal??th here. It's just a place where you must defend yourself from attacks from Imurah. After a few successful parries, ??you'll be transported back to the arena, but now a Chaos Demon will show up.

This Chaos Demon has a few different attacks that you can't do anything about. You've got to dodge than and make it through each phase to fight Imurah once more. The att??acks I saw included multiple black holes opening and firing balls of electricity, an attack with walls of light that rush toward you, and an attack where the Chaos Demon slams its spear to generate a shockwave that you must dodge through.

Towards the end of the fight, the Chaos Demon will appear with a glowing red eye a??nd start causing the arena to explode under your feet. You must shoot the red eye until it's damaged enough that the Chaos Demon retreats to stop this attack and move into the next phase.

Imurah will become more aggressive with every phase of the fight. He's going to get up close and personal, so do?n't be afraid t?o use your Special Tactics to hit him with a few overpowered melee attacks of your own for massive damage.

I found that parrying was the best approach for this section of the fight. If you dodge, Imurah just pulls?? out a red attack that you can't block or parry. By parrying his blue attacks, you prevent Imurah from firing off red ones and get a few cheeky countershots in on him, too.

Finally, after a brutal fight, Imurah will transport you and your team to the same location as Calgar. This dark place isn't dangerous. You've just got to walk through it. Shoot the Thousand Suns who appear to turn them to dust. Every sorcerer you encounter will be killed by Calgar as he approaches the??m.

The ending of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 wi?ll play out after you reach the glowing light, and it's glorious. There's so much to take in, so skip through the credits if you don't want to watch all of them and get to the good stuff at the end??.

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The Hellbrute is a colossal boss you must defeat in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. It's the Chaos version of a Space Marine Dreadnought. All twisted Warp Metal on the outside with a corrupted Space ??Marine trapped and forever enraged on the inside.

You'll face the Hellbrute after working your way beneath the Forge World to which the Tyranids have been laying waste. There are secrets down there that I won't spoil here, but as you reach the point when you believe you're about to save everyone, you quickly realize something has gone horribly wrong. The Hellbrute is your punishment, summoned by Imurah, and there's no? way to escape other than smashing it to pieces.

How to defeat the Hellbrute boss in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

To defeat the Hellbrute boss in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you've got to keep your wits about you, dodge, and hit. This monster is all rage and melee attacks, and it'll cha??se you down to smash your head into the arena in which you fight??.

When I fought it, I had to dodge several times in a row just to get out of range. From there, I could get in some ranged shots to keep working awa??y at its health. If you dodge at just the right moment, you'll get a free counter shot, which does deal some damage, but don't worry too much if you miss out on this.

After you've dealt enough damage to knock the Hellbrute's health to the halfway point, it's going to pull out some new attacks. First is a new melee attack that sees it hammer the ground to cause an explosion of Warp energy that'll send you flying even if you're outside of the main circle. Y??ou've got to dodge away from it fast and wait until the explosion is over to get back to shooting the beast.

The second new attack is a plasma blast that the Hellbrute will shoot four of in a row. Again, stop shooting and focus on dodging the attacks until they're over. Th?en, you can head back into the fray and take the monster down.

Keep dealing damage until the Hellbrute is on its knees. At that point, you'll be able to pull off an epic execution that's probably the most satisfying in the game outside of the Lictor's. Pay attention to t??he story that follows from the end of this battle because it's essential for understanding the next few missions.

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Whether you dove in during early access or you’re waiting to begin playing after general release, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has a long list of achievements that can be earned. If you’re trying to get 100%, I’ve ?got you covered. 

It doesn’t matter which platform you’re playing on; the available achievements remain the same. There are a total of 50 achievements to go after, and?? some are a whole lot more challenging than others, but here’s how to get them all. 

All achievements in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

Story related achievements

There are 11 achievements that are gained simply through progressing the main story of Space Marine 2, and it’s impossible to miss them.  

Gameplay related achievements

These achievements are gained through completing certain objectives while completing the main campaign of Space Marine 2. 

Operations related achievements

These achievements are obtained through Space Marine 2’s Operations Mode. 

Eternal War related achievements

The following achievements are obtained through the Endless War mode, the multiplayer mode of Space Marine 2.

Other achievements

These achievements are completed across all of Space Marine 2’s different modes,? so you’ll ne??ed to vary your gameplay to unlock them.

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