A Complete Starter’s Guide to ‘Space Marine 2’ PVP
Do you want to become the deadliest Space Marine in PVP? Look no further for the ultimate Space Marine 2 PVP starter’s guide.
After years of anticipation, Space Marine 2 is finally here. By all accounts, Saber Interactive has packed the game with content. From the campaign to the competitive PvP ‘Eternal War’ mode to the cooperative PvE Operations missions, the game is getting a lot of buzz. But if you’re just getting started, you might be overwhelmed by what to play first.
Now, with dozens of hours in the game over the last two weeks, we have some core tips for the game across the modes, how to approach PvP and PvE, and where to start when you jump in.
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What to Play First in Space Marine 2
When you begin Space Marine 2, you want to start off with the campaign. It sounds obvious, but this is the best place to get acquainted with the game’s combat, its parrying system, and how to approach the battles with swarms of Tyranids chomping at the heels of your armor.
The campaign introduces you to all of the game’s weapons throughout its five acts and 10-or-so hour length. It also lets you try out the jetpack, which is available for the Assault class in Operations and Eternal War. About halfway through the campaign, you will get pushed towards completing an Operations mission, as these take place with other Space Marine crews that join you in completing objectives throughout the story.
But, we would suggest to ignore that and switch back to the campaign to finish it off. That’s because the Operations missions have a whole separate loadout system, progression tree, and mission structure. They can be tricky to get a handle on at this point.
Once You’ve Wrapped the Campaign
When you wrap up the campaign, you then want to head into Eternal War. This Space Marine 2 PVP mode allows you to easily try out all the classes and find the one you like, rather than being locked into a 30-45 minute-long Operations mission.
More on the classes in a bit, but generally The Assault is the most mobile. That’s thanks to its jetpack. Meanwhile, the Sniper is built for long-range fights, struggling to handle engagements up close. The Vanguard acts as an all-around class that’s great for beginners. Then, the Bulwark is more advanced, requiring you to place a banner to properly support your time by regenerating their armor.
The Heavy is the most enjoyable class since you can just spray enemies down in PvP and PvE with a Heavy Bolter. The Tactical is also enjoyable for those who like to play from the back of their squad and provide their team with information. After you’ve found your class, you can then continue with Eternal War for competitive action or jump into the Operations to start earning some more powerful weapons for PvE.
For The Newcomers
If you are new to Space Marine 2 or action games, then the best class options for newcomers are the Vanguard and Tactical. As mentioned, the Vanguard’s all-around loadout. Primary, secondary, and melee allows you to play the game like any other shooter really. The Grapnel Launcher ability lets you get out of danger or pull yourself towards an enemy player or Tyranid boss.
The Tactical should be your choice if you like that kind of gameplay flow but want something a little slower that relies less on your ability to deal damage and land kills. You can sit back more with the Tactical. Pick enemies off whether you are fighting swarms of them in Operations or defending an objective in Eternal War.
Which Space Marine 2 Classes are Best for Veterans?
If you have played the original Space Marine or are well-acquainted with action games, then the Assault or Heavy classes are the best for veteran players. The Assault is by far the most flexible, thanks to its mobility. The class, as well as the Heavy, have the most damage potential thanks to their powerful melee weapons and Heavy Bolters.
A well-placed slam attack from the air from an Assault can catch a team off guard or distract enemies while another ally guns them down from a distance, whether it’s PvE or PvP.
When it comes to the Heavy, the extra protection on offer from its Iron Halo class ability is unparalleled. Nothing comes close to the damage resistance and damage output the Heavy has.
How Do I Upgrade Weapons?
Operations is the only mode that has upgradeable weapon variants that come with boosted stats, like damage and range. But finding out how to get the colored currency (Armory Data) needed for these isn’t easy at first glance.
Simply put, Armory Data in Space Marine 2 can be found upon completing Operations missions (depending on the difficulty you select). You can also find the hidden Servo Skull within these missions. Armory Data comes in three rarities depending on which difficulty you select:
- Master-Crafted Data (green) – Minimal and Average difficulty
- Artificer Data (purple) – Substantial difficulty
- Relic Data (gold) – Ruthless difficulty
Each tier of Data can then be used to unlock the weapon variants of that same tier. So, Relic Data can be used to unlock a Relic tier Bolt Pistol. As for the Servo Skulls, these are hidden inside areas and corners within an Operation. However, you can only hold one if you have a slot available. You’re potentially sacrificing Armoury Data you find in the level or healing items.
With that, you should be more than ready to get to grips with each mode in Space Marine 2. Plus, you’ll have a headstart on how to succeed in Eternal War and Operations.
How are you enjoying the game? What’s your favorite mode?
