Space Marine 2has a wide arsenal of weapons for the Emperor’s faithful to use in their crusade against xenos and heretics. Each weapon is crafted to deliver the Imperium’s wrath and is designed to smite your foes in ways that suit your playstyle and class.
You start off with all weapons of Standard rarity, and after each XP milestone, you may spend Armory Data to upgrade their stats and rarity, all the way to Relic. The only way to earn weapon XP is through level grinding in the game’s PvE Operations.
While there is a myriad of weapons to choose from, grinding XP is a tedious task.Each Operation takes at least 20 minutes (less if you have excellent teammates) to complete, and it would take at least 10 Ruthless missions to max out each weapon.
Of course,not everybody has that kind of time, so we’ve compiled a list of weapons that we recommend you prioritize in your crusade against the Imperium’s enemies.
We’re looking at each weapon entry with the assumption that we’re using them in Ruthless–the highest difficulty, and we will be recommending the Relic versions. Don’t worry: the specific versions of these Relic weapons have lower rarities. As for PVP, check out the9 Best Weapons in PvP on our sister site Game Rant.
All melee weapons featured also have Fencing as their defense trait, which increases a weapon’s perfect parry window. They’re a lifesaver in any melee brawl.
10Bolt Rifle
The Space Marine’s Swiss Army Knife
Weapon Type
Burst damage, ammo economy
Perks to Consider
Increased Capacity,Extended Magazine
You might be wondering why the Bolt Rifle–one of the first weapons you acquire in the game–ranks so low in the list. It’s versatile, has a high ammo count, and is decent at clearing hordes.
That’s because it is a ridiculously weak weapon in the Standard and Master-Crafted tiers. The Bolt Rifle truly shines in the Artificer tier and beyond.
Starting at the Master-Crafted tier, you have the option to attach an auxiliary Grenade Launcher to the Bolt Rifle, exchanging the zoom-in feature for massive firepower.With six grenades, you can really dish out some heavy damage on single targets and groups of enemies.
Combined with the Tactical’s skill “Emperor’s Revenge,” where you restore a magazine after killing a Majoris enemy or higher (with a generous 30-second cooldown), you’ll never run out of explosives. Even enemies in Ruthless difficulty don’t stand a chance against your rampage.
9Heavy Bolter
Hands Off My Gun!
Ranged mob slaying and sustained fire
Increased Capacity,Heavy Might,Heavy Precision
When playing the Heavy class, your job is to lay down as much sustained fire as you can to support your teammates, and the Heavy Bolter is a deliverer of a hail of bullets.
I’ve invested enough points in both this weapon and my Heavy skill trees that I have hadat least 800 rounds of ammunition to kill xenos and heretics.
The Heavy Bolter is meant to be used to pepper your foes in a hail of bullets in concert with the Heavy’s frontal Iron Halo shield, absorbing enemy fire while dishing out your own. The Relic version I would recommend is theHeavy Bolter (Gathalamor Crusade - Beta). It has a base Firepower of 9 and 525 rounds in Magazine Capacity.
With the right perks, you can shoot for a long time before it has to cool down.
I also recommend investing in any perks that focus on Venting Speed and ammo count, since perks that increase damage while in Heavy Stance (aiming) and ammo capacity play into the power fantasy of hunkering down and sending out a neverending volley of bullets. Accuracy isn’t really that important as long as you’re in range of your targets.
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8Stalker Bolt Rifle
Put That Scope To Good Use
Tactical, Sniper
Ranged damage
Long Shot, Reloaded Restoration
While the Sniper Bolt Rifle and Las Fusil deal more damage but have less ammunition, the Stalker Bolt Rifle is a middling compromise for those who want to deal serious critical damage while still having enough ammunition to survive.
I found that the Stalker Bolt rifle plays similarly toDestiny 2’sScout Rifles, relying on consistent, precise shots rather than spraying and praying. As for the weapon version, I recommendStalker Bolt Rifle (Ophelian Liberation - Beta)for its high damage potential, but if you’re not confident in your accuracy , you could also chooseStalker Bolt Rifle (Gathalamor Crusade).
The Stalker Bolt Rifle isn’t meant to clear hordes of enemies, but rather to pick off stronger units that pose a bigger threat. Its Relic perk, “Reloaded Restoration,“refunds 50% of the number of enemies hit.
Not only that, “Long Shot” is an excellent starting perk, as you deal 10% more damage to enemies who are more than 20 meters away. By investing your Mastery Points on ammo capacity and headshot damage, you may pop your enemies' heads from a safe distance.
7Thunder Hammer
Meginjord Sold Separately.
Close range mob slaying and single damage
Shattering Impact,Minoris Slayer
The Thunder Hammer is by far the strongest melee weapon in the game, but also the slowest due to its weight. This cumbersome weapon is perfect for sweeping the floor with Tyranid grunts, and charged attacks can bring most Majoris enemies to heel with one strike.
Dealing massive damage with one fell swoop is what the Thunder Hammer excels at, andhitting any Minoris enemy with a Light Attack makes it vulnerable to a Gun Strike
While it hits hard, swinging this weapon can leave you vulnerable to attacks, so we recommend investing in the bottom skill tree, as its perks prioritize hitting as many things as possible and as quickly as possible.
“Shattering Impact” increases the Ground Slam area-of-effect by 50%, and “Minoris Slayer” can let you clear hordes faster so you can focus on the bigger enemies.
This weapon is my favorite melee weapon. The finishing moves have so much oomph, which makes crushing my foes all the more satisfying.
The Thunder Hammer hits like a truck in the hands of a good Assault player, and theThunder Hammer (Ophelian Liberation - Beta)is a great choice and can make you essentially become an unstoppable force.
6Power Sword
Knighthood Exemplified
Style switching between single damage and add clearing
Minoris Slayer, Power Restoration
The Bulwark is the knightly tank of the bunch, and with the Power Sword and his shield combined, it makes him a force to be reckoned with. Bulwark players favor the Power Sword not just for its medieval aesthetic but also for its incredibly versatile playstyle.
The top skill tree focuses on dealing damage, while the bottom focuses on clearing Minoris enemies. Since you’ll be consistently in the thick of close combat, I recommend the latter.
“Power Restoration” restores 100% more Contested Health while in Power Style, so you’ll be consistently topped up on health while surrounded.
Keep in mind that Speed Style and Power Style deal the same amount of damage, but are used for different situations.
Speed Style is used for damaging isolated targets with quick thrusts and cuts, while Power Style cleaves through Minoris enemies with wide swings, leaving them vulnerable to Gun Strikes. Just ensure to use the right style for the right situation.
Parrying feels incredibly satisfying with the Power Sword, and even though it doesn’t deal as much damage as other Melee Weapons, it’s still as useful as it is awesome to look at.
5Las Fusil
Penetrates through targets for multikills and single target headshots
Head Hunter,Perpetual Velocity
Compared to its rival, theBolt Sniper Rifle, theLas Fusiltrumps it in every way, even though it only has less ammunition and a lower rate of fire. Charging the round gives you time to line up or cancel your shots, and its beams can over-penetrate multiple targets, similar toDestiny 2’slinear fusion rifles.
Because of its usefulness in higher difficulties, the Las Fusil is the go-to for any Sniper.The only drawback with the Las Fusil is that charging the shot shakes like an earthquake, making aiming slightly harder than other scoped weapons.
You can headshot a Majoris enemy while killing any unfortunate Minoris enemy standing in front or behind it. If you invest in the lower skill tree, you can even widen the radius of your beams, but that’s only useful if you want to use it to get multi-kills. I didn’t find it very useful when Tyranids surrounded me.
But the Las Fusil works best as a sniping weapon, soLas Fusil (Ophelian Liberation - Beta)would be the top choice to farm for, as it boasts one of the highest ranged damage profiles in the game. Happy hunting.
4Plasma Pistol
Turn Them To Goo
Bulwark, Heavy
High ammo count, fully charged shots deal high damage
Plasma Collection,Efficient Charge
ThePlasma Pistol (Gathalamor Crusade)is a mid-range pistol that can be charged to fire potentially devastating shots at your enemies.
While its ordinary shots don’t do much damage compared to the Bolt Pistol, charged shots explode upon impact, taking out enemy clusters.A well-placed headshot at a tougher enemy can also stun it and interrupt calls for reinforcements from a distance.
Even though the Plasma Pistol requires no reloading, it can be overheated, forcing you to rely on other avenues of destruction. While you can wait until it slowly cools, pressing the reload button can preemptively and quickly cool the weapon.
Charged shots are immensely powerful. Each costs 10 common shots but overheats the weapon much faster. Even with max ammo capacity, you can easily run out of ammunition. “Efficient Charge” decreases the cost of Charged Shots from 10 energy to 8, which makes the ammo economy much laxer.
While each Charged Shot costs 10 rounds, it doesn’t mean that you have to have 10 or more to charge it; you’re able to still fire a Charged Shot if you have 1 bullet in the chamber.
3Melta Rifle
Burn The Xenos Scum
Tactical, Vanguard
Close-range add clearing and DPS
Extended Magazine,First Shot
Space Marine 2’s answer to the shotgun. TheMelta Rifleis a thermal weapon that spews a wave of fire, burning anything directly in front of you. It might even join theshotgun Hall of Fame.
As a close-range weapon, it can deal burst damage to a single target, while also capable of clearing multiple foes at a time.It’s also great at interrupting enemies, calling for reinforcements. In Tyranid focused missions, I prefer to stand near a ledge and shoot at them while they attempt to pile up, netting me dozens of kills at a time.
This weapon has a low fire rate, an agonizingly slow reload speed, and a low ammo count. My recommendation is to focus on perks that compensate for those issues. “First Shot” is an excellent perk for the Melta rifle, as the first shot of a fresh magazine deals increased damage.
While the Melta is a great damage dealer for just about any type of Operation, note that it’s practically useless against enemies you’re able to’t reach.
Enemies like theZoanthropeandNeurothropecan still be damaged if you upgrade the Melta Rifle’s range or you get uncomfortably close to them, but the Helldrake boss will just laugh at you.
2Chainsword
The Doomslayer Might Like This
Tactical, Vanguard, Bulwark, Assault
Close-range damage, versatile combos
Reverberating Impact,Trampling Stride
Synonymous with the Space Marines, theChainsword (Aquilan Dedication)is one of the most iconic weapons in theWarhammer 40kfranchise. It’s an intimidating and deadly weapon in the hands of an Astartes, spewing blood and gore with each rev of the engine.
The Chainsaw has a variety of combos, as you can execute them by performing a heavy attack after a specific number of light attacks. These combos range from kicks to powerful AOE stomps, allowing you to engage smaller enemies even when you’re targeting an elite.
The most powerful combo is the Stomp attack, a heavy attack you can execute after three light attacks.Despite the relatively slow buildup, it’s great for maintaining personal space when you’re surrounded.
“Reverberating Impact” and “Trampling Stride” enhance this heavy attack, increasing the Stomp’s area-of-effect and giving you an extra stomp.
It’s also the most accessible melee weapon, used by every class except for the Sniper and Heavy, so grinding levels is much easier, giving you more time to get used to the melee combat.
1Bolt Pistol
A Powerful Side-Arm
Every Class
Backup ranged weapon
Iron Grip,Extended Magazine
Don’t underestimate theBolt Pistol. It is an extremely reliable weapon capable of popping the heads of smaller enemies and harassing larger elites.
Even though it doesn’t have an amazing range or stopping power, it boasts an incredibly fast reload speed and ammo capacity and can last you multiple encounters before you have to resupply.
It’s a perfect weapon for picking off stragglers.I often find myself using this sidearm when I encounter small groups of minor enemies, popping their heads with a clean headshot without having to waste my primary ammo.
It is a true sidearm through and through, and the ol' reliable should you run out of options. Every class uses this weapon, so leveling it up is quick compared to the other weapons.
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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
WHERE TO PLAY
A third-person shooter/stomper set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, putting you in the boots of the Space Marine Cpt. Titus as he takes on the Tyranid threat.
