Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is Saber Interactive's third-person action game where you ARE the weapon — a genetically enhanced Ultramarine fighting hordes of Tyranids and Chaos forces. The combat seamlessly blends ranged shooting with brutal melee through gun strikes, parries, and execution finishers that heal you. The campaign supports 3-player co-op, and the Operations mode provides replayable endgame missions with six PvE classes to level. With swarms of hundreds of enemies on screen channeling Dynasty Warriors-scale battles in the Warhammer 40K universe, it delivers on the fantasy of being a Space Marine.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt Rifle | S | Tactical class, all-around combat, Operations learning | The standard Adeptus Astartes weapon with balanced rate of fire, damage, and accuracy. |
| Chainsword | A | Melee combat, executions, Vanguard and Tactical classes | The iconic melee weapon with fast combo chains and satisfying Tyranid-shredding animations. |
| Thunder Hammer | A | Assault class, AoE melee, boss staggering | Slow but devastating melee weapon exclusive to the Assault class. |
| Power Fist | B | Vanguard class, single-target melee, satisfying executions | A massive armored fist that delivers crushing blows. |
| Stalker Bolt Rifle | B | Sniper class, long-range, priority target elimination | Scoped Bolt Rifle variant for the Sniper class. |
S-Tier: Bolt Rifle
The standard Adeptus Astartes weapon with balanced rate of fire, damage, and accuracy. The gun strike melee combo is smooth from this weapon. Effective at all ranges. Upgrades increase magazine size, damage, and reload speed.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Tactical class, all-around combat, Operations learning |
| Key Mechanic | gun strikes (melee-ranged hybrid) |
| Recommended Role | Tactical |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Bolt Rifle: Pairs naturally with Tactical thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Chainsword
The iconic melee weapon with fast combo chains and satisfying Tyranid-shredding animations. The three-hit combo ends with a wide sweep for crowd control. Execution kills with the Chainsword are the most visually spectacular in the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Melee combat, executions, Vanguard and Tactical classes |
| Key Mechanic | execution healing |
| Recommended Role | Assault |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Chainsword: Pairs naturally with Assault thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Thunder Hammer
Slow but devastating melee weapon exclusive to the Assault class. Each hit staggers enemies and the charged swing creates a small AoE shockwave. Combined with jump pack slam, it's the highest burst damage melee weapon.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Assault class, AoE melee, boss staggering |
| Key Mechanic | tethering system |
| Recommended Role | Vanguard |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Thunder Hammer: Pairs naturally with Vanguard thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Power Fist
A massive armored fist that delivers crushing blows. Slower than the Chainsword but each punch deals significantly more single-target damage. The execution animation involves literally punching through Tyranids. Available to Vanguard.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Vanguard class, single-target melee, satisfying executions |
| Key Mechanic | operations co-op |
| Recommended Role | Sniper |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Power Fist: Pairs naturally with Sniper thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Stalker Bolt Rifle
Scoped Bolt Rifle variant for the Sniper class. Semi-automatic with high per-shot damage. Headshots deal massive bonus damage and can one-shot Tyranid Warriors on lower difficulties. The zoom scope makes it less effective at close range.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Sniper class, long-range, priority target elimination |
| Key Mechanic | class leveling |
| Recommended Role | Heavy |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Stalker Bolt Rifle: Pairs naturally with Heavy thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Kadaku
- Chainsword → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Thunder Hammer → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Bolt Rifle → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Execute every stunned enemy you can — this is your PRIMARY healing mechanic; playing defensively actually gets you killed
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Guides
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Overview
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Best Builds
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Tier List
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Walkthrough
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Beginner's Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Tips & Tricks
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Combat Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Boss Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Maps & Locations
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Crafting Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
