Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2has a short campaign, but that doesn’t mean the game lacks content. Quite the opposite, in fact. Space Marine 2 features not one but two additional modes in the form of Eternal War and Operations. The former is your typical PvP mode while the latter is a co-op PvE mode consisting of six missions that tie into the main story.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Unlock Armory Data in Operations
Armory Data is essential for upgrading weapons and unlocking new weapon perks.
Operations is arguably the most popular mode of the bunch, and it’s easy to see why. In addition to allowing you to play as one of six distinct classes, the mode also offers a ton ofcustomization optionsalong with a robust progression system. The only downside is that some of the classes are significantly stronger than others in this mode, particularly if you’re playing on higher difficulties. Keep reading to find out how Space Marine 2’s classes stack up against each other in Operations mode.
Death From Above
TheAssault classsounds amazing on paper, but it’s not as powerful as you might expect in practice. The class is a bit of a one-trick pony that relies too heavily on itsJump PackandThunder Hammercombo. This combo is devastating against groups of small enemies, but cannot be used often and requires Assault Space Marines to jump headlong into the fray. The Assault class doesn’t have a lot of defensive options, so jumping in the middle of a bunch of enemies isn’t necessarily a great idea unless you’re certain that you can take out most of them with your initial attack.
Another drawback of this class is that its special ability is next to worthless in confined spaces. Assault Space Marines perform best in outdoor areas where they can make full use of theirJump Pack, however, pretty much every map features at least a couple of sections where you have to fight in narrow corridors or tunnels. The class can always fall back on theThunder Hammerwhen forced into close-quarters combat, but you have to make sure you time your blows properly because, although powerful, this is a painfully-slow weapon. As far as long-range options are concerned, they’re almost non-existent for the Assault class. Unless you really love melee combat and constantly being within an inch of death, the Assault class is probably not the best pick for you.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Ace Every Assault Class Trial
Follow these tips & tricks to get gold on every Assault class Trial.
One Shot, One Kill
TheSniper classcan be powerful in Operations, but you need the right team composition to get the most out of this class. In stark contrast to Assault Space Marines, Snipers excel at long-range combat but are nearly helpless when engaged in melee. Aside from their primary weapon, Snipers only have a basicBolt PistolandCombat Knifeto fall back upon when things get hairy. Both of these weapons are bad at clearing waves of enemies, so you better pray your Battle-Brothers are there to help you if you get surrounded because you won’t last long otherwise. Especially if yourCamo Cloakis on cooldown.
The Sniper is effective at taking down high-value targets like aTyranid Warrior (Sword and Whip)or aScarab Occult Terminators (Melee). A well-placed headshot with theBolt Sniper RifleorLas Fusilis guaranteed to incapacitate almost any enemy, with their projectiles being powerful enough to penetrate through multiple opponents. The downside is that you’ll be constantly looking for ammo because these weapons have minuscule magazines. The other two weapons can hold a lot more ammo, but they’re nowhere near as powerful, so it’s a bit of a trade-off. If you’re in a party with people who can keep enemies off your back, you can have a lot of fun playing as a Sniper. Otherwise, you may want to consider trying a different class instead.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Ace Every Sniper Class Trial
Follow these tips & tricks to get gold on every Sniper class Trial.
Come At Me, Bro!
True to their name, Bulwarks are hardy Space Marines tasked with protecting their brothers and acting as a sort of bullet sponge. At least that’s how theyshouldfunction. In reality, though, theBulwark classis mainly responsible for buffing and reviving its squad mates while also contributing crowd control. Bulwarks don’t have a taunt ability and can’t really act as tanks unless their squad mates agree to stay behind them at all times. Unfortunately, this rarely happens even when you do try to coordinate with other players simply because enemies will do their best to surround your team every chance they get.
Even though Bulwarks tend to fail at their intended purpose of protecting others in Space Marine 2, they’re good at keeping themselves alive. The class has many Perks that increase its survivability and can use its shield to negate almost all forms of ranged damage. As far as its offensive capabilities are concerned, they’re not impressive. Their signature weapons, thePower SwordandPlasma Pistol, aren’t bad, but they can’t hold a candle to many of the weapons wielded by other classes. Some kind of taunt ability and a better way to parry would instantly catapult the Bulwark to the top of this list, but for now he’s just okay.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Ace Every Bulwark Class Trial
Follow these tips & tricks to get gold on every Bulwark class Trial.
High Risk, High Reward
The Vanguard is a highly-mobile class that excels at close-quarters combat while also being capable of holding its own during long-range engagements.Grapnel Launcher, theVanguard classspecial ability, is surprisingly powerful and can easily stagger or incapacitate high-value targets. Using theGrapnel Launchertends to leave you vulnerable to melee attackers, but that’s generally not a huge issue since Vanguards happen to be good duelists. Assuming you grabbed the right Perks, you can go toe-to-toe with almost any enemy and win just by using parries and gun strikes.
Vanguards are squishy due to their light armor, but they have a number of Perks that can help them stay alive either by reducing incoming damage or restoring small amounts of health. It’s worth noting, however, that a lot of them do rely on you being good at parries and landing lots of finishers. The Vanguard does have a couple of good ranged options for Space Marines who prefer to fight from afar but, for the most part, the class is designed for high-risk, high-reward playstyles and performs best in the hands of players who enjoy close-quarters combat.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Ace Every Vanguard Class Trial
Follow these tips & tricks to get gold on every Vanguard class Trial.
Bring in the Big Guns
The sole purpose of theHeavy classis to unleash utter devastation on the enemies of the Imperium. To that end, the class gets access to some of the most ridiculously-overpowered weapons in Space Marine 2. TheMulti-Melta, in particular, can completely trivialize many encounters even on higher difficulties. Meanwhile, theHeavy BolterandHeavy Plasma Incineratorare not to be underestimated either, although they do come with nasty drawbacks at lower levels. Combine any of Heavy’s primary weapons withIron Haloto turn yourself into a juggernaut that can mow down entire waves of enemies without breaking a sweat.
As you might expect from a class that focuses entirely on firepower, the Heavy is not very good in melee. In fact, this is the only class in the game that doesn’t have a melee weapon. That’s not a major issue if you’re using theMulti-Melta, but if you’re using one of the other two heavy weapons or run out of ammo, you’ll struggle a lot in close-quarters, even more so than the Sniper. Heavies have good synergy when paired with melee-focused classes like Assault or Bulwark, but can struggle when they don’t have anybody to protect them from melee attackers.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Ace Every Heavy Class Trial
Follow these tips & tricks to get gold on every Heavy class Trial.
Jack of all Trades
The Tactical is easily the most versatile class in Space Marine 2, at least as far as ranged combat is concerned. TheTactical classgets access to no fewer than seven primary weapons, including heavy hitters like thePlasma Incinerator,Melta RifleandHeavy Bolt Rifle. Whether you need to snipe an Extremis level enemy, mow down groups ofHormagauntsor contribute serious firepower to a boss fight, the Tactical class has a weapon for every occasion. Tactical Space Marines can also use theChainswordto get out of sticky situations that involve fighting lots of melee attackers.
While seemingly underwhelming at first glance, the Tactical’s special ability,Auspex Scan, can provide a lot of value in certain situations. Scanning enemies causes them to take more damage for a few seconds and pairs extremely well with hard hitting weapons like theMulti-MeltaorLas Fusil. In addition,Auspex Scanalso reveals hidden enemies, which comes in handy when fighting aLictororRaveners. At higher levels, the ability can also be used to restore equipment charges or prevent enemies from calling for reinforcements. Tactical Space Marines may not be as bombastic as some of the other classes in the game, but they’re arguably the most efficient of the bunch, capable of handling any situation with flying colors.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How to Ace Every Tactical Class Trial
Follow these tips & tricks to get gold on every Tactical class Trial.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Saber Interactive’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2011 original game. Featuring a combat system that blends third-person shooting with hack and slash elements, Space Marine 2 can be enjoyed in single-player or co-op, and it also features PvP.
