In mid-October, Focus Entertainment released the Patch 4.0 update toWarhammer 40000: Space Marines 2, rolling out with a new PvE Operation and tons of tweaks and changes to the game.
Most excitingly, devs implemented the new Lethal difficulty, intended to be the pinnacle of PvE content.
LikeDestiny 2’sGrandmaster Nightfalls, Lethal operationsextract a heavy toll from players; enemies are deadlier, fewer items drop, removed warnings, and you can even encounter up toTHREE EXTREMIS enemies!
If you waltz into Lethal missions unprepared, you’re bound to wipe before you even get to the halfway point.
But those who have the willpower and skill can earn the highly coveted Survivor’s Helm helmet after completing all missions on Lethal difficulty.
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10Equip Your Best Loadouts
Weapon Perks And Class Perks
Like any co-op game, succeeding inSpace Marine 2is all about using loadouts that benefit both you and your teammates. Whether you choose to follow the meta or stick with your comfort zone, you should prioritize Team Perks that focus on survivability and Ability Charges.
Here are three example team perks that could make you an indispensable Battle Brother:
Big numbers are also important. Relic-tier weapons deal the most damage out of their archetype, and anything less harms your damage output.
Of course, grinding levels for guns and classes can take a while, so check out our list of10 Best Weapons to level upto help you get started. Oh, andplease, please, please, if you have melee weapons, use one with a Fencing trait. Parries are lifesaving.
9Max Out Levels
Nothing Less Than Peak Condition
Maxing out at level 25 doesn’t give you any benefits in damage output or health, but it does give you full access to all the perks you need to tinker with your build.
It also proves to you AND your teammates that you have grinded enough to be prepared for the highest difficulty.
Too often have I encountered random teammates in solo queues where they choose low level characters for Ruthless and Lethal, only to get killed immediately or barely rack up any kills. Lethal is for players who know what they’re doing.
While it’s not absolutely necessary, I would highly recommend having at leasttwo classes maxed outbefore you try Lethal. In case your friend or a random player insists that they want to play the same class you are, you can just switch to your backup class.
8Know Your Enemy
Sympathizing Is Heresy
Familiarize yourself with what you’re up against–are you going up against hordes of Tyranids, or maybe engaging in a gunfight against the forces of Chaos?
Knowing what to expect will not only help you strategize wisely, but also inform your team composition and loadouts.You should also consider the type of Terminus and Extremis enemies that might appear.
If you’re considering Lethal difficulty,you should have enough battle experience to learn their behaviors and weaknesses so that you don’t get caught off guard.Here are some examples:
How will you prepare for an encounter against a Lichtor, a Hellbrute, or a Neurothrope? Consider the potential threats and make sure your team comp reflects that.
7Know Your Class
Serve The Emperor With Foresight
This ties neatly with my previous point. While all classes are viable for any type of mission, studying their advantages and disadvantages can help you decide whether it’s the best for a particular encounter.
Consider a team composed of a Bulwark, an Assault, and a Vanguard. They would suck against the Helldrake in the mission Reliquary, but they could be a viable composition in Tyranid-focused missions like Decapitation or Ballistic Engine.
Find what your class is best suited for and choose appropriately. You also need to know what triggers certain buffs and be aware of cooldowns.
6Tactical Is A Must-Have
A Versatile Powerhouse
In my article ranking the best classes, I placed Tactical in fourth place, mostly because I found it boring. But boring does not equal useless.
After some experimenting and wanton destruction, it’s safe to say that theBolt Rifle (Gathalamor Crusade with Grenade Launcher)combined with the perkEmperor’s Vengeancemakes the Tactical a demolitions expert.
Because Emperor’s Vengeance refills your magazine after you execute any enemy that isMajorisor stronger, you’ll never run out of grenades, as this perk has a relatively short30-second cooldown.
And this isn’t the only perk that makes the Tactical a monster.If you sacrifice your Auspex Scan’s range and duration, enemies caught in the scan take an extra 175% damage, and Marked For Death lets you instantly kill any pesky elite (which can make twin-Zoanthropes almost harmless).
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5Stay Alert
Open Your Eyes And Ears
This might go without saying, butkeep your eyes and ears peeled.
Familiarize yourself with the environment and potential spawns of Guardian Relics and Gene Seeds,and be sure to be on the lookout for destructible boxes that might contain useful items.
Taking advantage of the environmental hazards can also help you score plenty of kills without wasting unnecessary ammo.
But most importantly, being able to tell what you’re about to face based on audio cues alone is a useful skill inSpace Marine 2,especially when the HUD doesn’t tell you what enemies are ahead in Lethal.
Pay attention to these cues, and you won’t get caught off guard: Incoming waves make a blaring alarm;Extremisenemies have a very specific ringing when they spawn; andTerminusenemies enter the battlefield with a distinct roar or shriek.
4One For All
All For One
Even afterthe “Tight Formation” system was removed in Patch 4.1, sticking together and having each other’s backs are essential to your survival. Unless you are a confident Assault or Vanguard,DO NOT GO OFF ON YOUR OWN. (seriously, you’ll get torn to pieces)
And don’t be selfish. I know it’s tempting to justyoinkand take an ammo box, stim pack, or even a Guardian Relic, but be conscientious of your teammates' needs.
Anunspoken rulefor playing Bulwark: unless offered by your teammates, you mustALWAYSlet your teammates pick up stims and Relicsbecause your class can self-heal.
Look out for each other;Mortal Wounds are deadly.The Heavy and Bulwark aresupport classesand are capable of topping off everybody’s health with the right perks.
3Coordinate With Teammates
Communication Is Key!
Verbally communicate with your teammates, because you’ll most likely need to time your team shots or strategize with your squad mates.
It’s possible to complete Lethal missions with random teammates (I somehow managed it), and if you do find yourself in that kind of match-up, remember to be helpful and communicate with them via pings; pointing out items of interest, alerting them to specific enemies, or even expressing your gratitude are very much appreciated.
I would also suggest being observant of your teammates. Too often do I see random players treat it like a solo experience, where they steal lifesaving executions and items, or speedrun through encounters. Work together, and synergize with your teammates when possible.
2Slow And Steady
It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint
Take Breaks! If years of playing endgame content in PvE games likeDestiny 2has taught me anything, is that nothing is more important than your health. Seasoned gamers among you might already havecoping strategies to avoid tilting.
Lethal will be, well, lethal, so even if you lose miserably a few times, understand that frustration is only a part of the process.
Get up, drink some water, stretch, and get back into it. Getting angry at the game won’t solve anything, but instead will make playing the game more tedious than enjoyable.
Remember: the whole point is tohave fun.No sense in grinding your teeth just because of a game.
1Commit To The Mission
See It Through To The End
This might be the most important tip: Commit. Often, I’ve seen people leave halfway through without a word just because they get frustrated or for some inscrutable reason. Don’t be that guy. You’re here to reap the rewards of your hard work.
Instead, fight like hell. Unless you and your teammates explicitly agree to leave early, don’t give up just because the mission is scuffed. Lethal throws everything the game has at you to test you, so study up and ace it.
If you die, your respawn timer isfive minutes, but killing Majoris and stronger enemies shaves down that time. And who knows? You might even have some insanely heroic final stands before your squadmates respawn.
Your fight isn’t over until you see a Defeat screen.
The Emperor Protects.
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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.
