Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Update Adds New Ordeals and Gameplay Adjustments

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By Terry Oh

Contributing editor

July 29, 2025
10:54 pm
16 min read

DATAVAULT UPDATE

New Ordeals for Siege mode
New Datavault reward screen, with updated UX
New entity Trygon in the Tyranids tab in the Datavault
Datavault UI and internal unlock logic are being adjusted for future expandability, ensuring new entries don’t affect existing rewards.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.

GAMEPLAY AND BALANCING TWEAKS

Assault Ground Pound Damage:
- Chainsword and Power Sword ground pound damage increased to match Power Fist and Thunder Hammer’s. This aims to add more variety to Assault’s class builds beyond Thunder Hammer or Power Fist.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.

PVE MELEE WEAPONS

PvE Melee Weapon Progression Update:
- All melee weapon versions have been reworked to streamline progression.
- Relic tier weapons will now always have better stats than Artificer ones.
- Stats distribution principles:
  - Balanced weapons: Moderate damage and moderate speed.
  - Fencing weapons: Fastest speed but lowest damage.
  - Block weapons: Slowest but highest damage.
- This is a massive overhaul and may make some popular versions less effective, and vice versa. Further adjustments will be made if necessary.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.

PVE FIREARM WEAPONS

Focus on actual weapon version balance, increasing stats difference to make choices more meaningful.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.
Master-Crafted Bolt Rifle (02):
- Spread reduction increased from 15% to 30%.
- Recoil reduction increased from 20% to 40%.
- Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
Salvation of Bakka Artificer Bolt Rifle (03):
- Spread reduction increased from 30% to 45%.
- Recoil reduction increased from 40% to 60%.
- Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
Gathalamor Crusade Relic Bolt Rifle (04):
- Spread reduction increased from 55% to 70%.
- Recoil reduction increased from 60% to 80%.
- Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
Drogos Reclamation Artificer Bolt Rifle Alpha (03b):
- Clip size increased from 30 to 40 rounds.
- Reserve ammo increased from 150 to 280 rounds.
Ophelian Liberation Relic Bolt Rifle Alpha (04b):
- Clip size increased from 32 to 45 rounds.
- Reserve ammo increased from 160 to 315 rounds.
Drogos Reclamation Artificer Bolt Rifle Beta (03c):
- Base damage coefficient increased from 1.4 to 1.5 (~7%).
Ophelian Liberation Relic Bolt Rifle Beta (04c):
- Base damage coefficient increased from 1.8 to 1.9 (~7%).
Stalker Bolt Rifle Versions:
- Master-Crafted Stalker Bolt Rifle Beta (02a): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 2 to 2.3 (15%).
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Stalker Bolt Rifle (03a): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 2 to 2.3 (15%).
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Stalker Bolt Rifle Alpha (04a): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 2 to 2.3 (15%).
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Stalker Bolt Rifle Beta (04b): Rate of fire increased from 180 to 220 shots per minute.
Bolt Carbine Versions:
- Master-Crafted Marksman Bolt Carbine (02a):
  - Spread reduction increased from 15% to 30%.
  - Recoil reduction increased from 20% to 40%.
  - Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Marksman Bolt Carbine (03a):
  - Spread reduction increased from 30% to 45%.
  - Recoil reduction increased from 40% to 60%.
  - Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Marksman Bolt Carbine (04a):
  - Spread reduction increased from 55% to 70%.
  - Recoil reduction increased from 60% to 80%.
  - Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Marksman Bolt Carbine (03c):
  - Clip size increased from 20 to 30 rounds.
  - Reserve ammo increased from 140 to 270 rounds.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Marksman Bolt Carbine (04c):
  - Clip size increased from 20 to 35 rounds.
  - Reserve ammo increased from 140 to 315 rounds.
Occulus Bolt Carbine Versions:
- Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine Alpha (02): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Occulus Bolt Carbine Alpha (03): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Occulus Bolt Carbine Alpha (04): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 2 (~33%).
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Occulus Bolt Carbine (03b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.4 to 1.5 (~7%).
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Occulus Bolt Carbine Alpha (04b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.8 to 1.9 (~7%).
Meltagun Versions:
- Master-Crafted Melta Rifle Alpha (02): Influence of Damage efficiency over distance increased from 1 meter to 3 meters.
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Melta Rifle (03): Influence of Damage efficiency over distance increased from 2 meters to 4 meters.
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Melta Rifle (04): Influence of Damage efficiency over distance increased from 3 meters to 5 meters.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Melta Rifle Beta (04b):
  - Rate of fire increased from 50 to 60 shots per minute.
  - Base damage reduced by 12.5%.
Las Fusil Versions:
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Las Fusil (03b): Influence of charging speed reduction increased from 15% to 40%.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Las Fusil Beta (04b): Influence of charging speed reduction increased from 30% to 55%.
Bolt Sniper Rifle Versions:
- Master-Crafted Bolt Sniper Rifle Beta (02a): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 2.5 to 2.7 (8%).
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Bolt Sniper Rifle Alpha (03a): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 2.5 to 2.7 (8%).
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Bolt Sniper Rifle Alpha (04a): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 2.5 to 2.7 (8%).
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Bolt Sniper Rifle Beta (03b): Rate of fire increased from 60 to 80 shots per minute.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Bolt Sniper Rifle Beta (04b): Rate of fire increased from 70 to 100 shots per minute.
Instigator Bolt Carbine Versions:
- Master-Crafted Instigator Bolt Carbine Alpha (02): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 1.8 (20%).
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Instigator Bolt Carbine Alpha (03): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 1.8 (20%).
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Instigator Bolt Carbine Alpha (04): Headshot damage coefficient increased from 1.5 to 1.8 (20%).
- Master-Crafted Instigator Bolt Carbine Beta (02a):
  - Clip size increased from 27 to 30 rounds.
  - Reserve ammo increased from 162 to 210 rounds.
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Instigator Bolt Carbine Beta (03a):
  - Clip size increased from 30 to 36 rounds.
  - Reserve ammo increased from 180 to 252 rounds.
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Instigator Bolt Carbine Beta (04a):
  - Clip size increased from 32 to 42 rounds.
  - Reserve ammo increased from 192 to 294 rounds.
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Instigator Bolt Carbine Alpha (03b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.4 to 1.5 (~7%).
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Instigator Bolt Carbine (04b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.8 to 1.9 (~7%).
Heavy Bolter Versions:
- Master-Crafted Heavy Bolter Beta (02a): Clip size increased from 475 to 525 rounds.
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Heavy Bolter Beta (03a): Clip size increased from 500 to 550 rounds.
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Heavy Bolter Beta (04a): Clip size increased from 525 to 575 rounds.
- Master-Crafted Heavy Bolter Gamma (02b):
  - Influence of heating speed reduction increased from 10% to 30%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 10% to 30%.
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Heavy Bolter (03b):
  - Influence of heating speed reduction increased from 20% to 40%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 20% to 40%.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Heavy Bolter Alpha (04b):
  - Influence of heating speed reduction increased from 30% to 50%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 30% to 50%.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Heavy Bolt Rifle Beta (04c): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.8 to 1.9 (~7%).
Heavy Meltagun Versions:
- Master-Crafted Multi-Melta Alpha (02): Influence of Damage efficiency over distance increased from 1 meter to 3 meters.
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Multi-Melta (03): Influence of Damage efficiency over distance increased from 2 meters to 4 meters.
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Multi-Melta (04): Influence of Damage efficiency over distance increased from 3 meters to 5 meters.
- Master-Crafted Multi-Melta Gamma (02b):
  - Rate of fire increased from 40 to 50 shots per minute for blind shot.
  - Rate of fire increased from 80 to 90 shots per minute for minizoom shot.
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Multi-Melta Beta (03b):
  - Rate of fire increased from 44 to 55 shots per minute for blind shot.
  - Rate of fire increased from 87 to 100 shots per minute for minizoom shot.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Multi-Melta Beta (04b):
  - Rate of fire increased from 47 to 60 shots per minute for blind shot.
  - Rate of fire increased from 94 to 110 shots per minute for minizoom shot.
Plasma Incinerator Versions:
- Master-Crafted Heavy Plasma Incinerator Alpha (02):
  - Heating per common and charged shot decreased by 20%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 20% to 40%.
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Heavy Plasma Incinerator Alpha (03):
  - Heating per common and charged shot decreased by 20%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 40% to 60%.
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Heavy Plasma Incinerator Alpha (04):
  - Heating per common and charged shot decreased by 20%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 60% to 80%.
- Master-Crafted Heavy Plasma Incinerator Gamma (02b): Charge speed reduction effect increased from -0.15 sec to -0.3 sec.
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Heavy Plasma Incinerator (03b): Charge speed reduction effect increased from -0.3 sec to -0.45 sec.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Heavy Plasma Incinerator (04b): Charge speed reduction effect increased from -0.45 sec to -0.6 sec.
Bolt Pistol Versions:
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Bolt Pistol Beta (04b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.8 to 1.9 (~7%).
Heavy Bolt Pistol Versions:
- Drogos Reclamation Artificer Heavy Bolt Pistol Beta (03b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.4 to 1.5 (~7%).
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Heavy Bolt Pistol Beta (04b): Base damage coefficient increased from 1.8 to 1.9 (~7%).
Plasma Pistol Versions:
- Master-Crafted Plasma Pistol Alpha (02):
  - Heating per common and charged shot decreased by 20%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 15% to 30%.
- Salvation of Bakka Artificer Plasma Pistol (03):
  - Heating per common and charged shot decreased by 20%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 30% to 45%.
- Gathalamor Crusade Relic Plasma Pistol (04):
  - Heating per common and charged shot decreased by 20%.
  - Influence of venting speed increase increased from 45% to 60%.
- Ophelian Liberation Relic Plasma Pistol (04b): Charge speed reduction effect increased from -0.2 sec to -0.35 sec.
Inferno Pistol:
- Master-Crafted – Alpha (02): Reserve ammo increased from 18 to 27 rounds.
- Salvation of Bakka (03): Reserve ammo increased from 21 to 30 rounds.
- Gathalamor Crusade (04): Reserve ammo increased from 24 to 33 rounds.

CLASS PERKS UPDATE

Assault Perks Update:
- “Winged Fury”: Reworked. New version: Damage from Melee Attacks executed while sprinting or dashing increases by 100%. Deals area-of-effect Damage within a 7-metre radius. Cooldown is 5 seconds. (Note: AoE is not working properly, to be fixed in next patch).
- “Defense Mechanism”: Reworked. New version: Contested Health fades 50% more slowly.
- “Act of Attrition”: Damage increased from 10% to 15%.
- “Smiting Angel”: Damage increased from 10% to 25%.
- “Hammer of Wrath”: Reworked. New version: After using Jump Pack, you take 30% less Ranged Damage, do not lose control upon taking Heavy Hits, and cannot be knocked back for 15 seconds.
Heavy Perks Update:
- “Thermal Boost”: Reworked. New version: When a Ranged Weapon is 50% Overheated or you have 50% ammo in Magazine, Ranged Damage increases by 15%.

FIREARMS (PVE ONLY)

Aux Grenade Launcher: Increased the amount of grenades received for the grenade launcher from pickups from 50% to 75%.
Inferno Pistol:
- Base Damage increased by 15%.
- Gun Strike damage increased by 20%.
- Gunstrike damage and knockback radius increased by 100%.
- Fixed typo in “Motivated Melee” perk description (perk triggers if magazine is empty, not when ammo reserves are empty).
- The aim is to make Inferno Pistol a dedicated crowd control weapon, rather than a Gun Strike damage dealer.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.
Bolt Pistol: Gunstrike damage increased by 25%.
Neo-Volkite Pistol: Contested health recovery has been greatly increased and is now in line with other pistols.

COMBAT – QUALITY OF LIFE

Added Anti-Stunlock Heavy Hit Diminishing Features: Duration of second heavy hit reduced to 80%, third and subsequent heavy hits reduced to 60%.
Assault is now invulnerable during his ground pound “landed” animation.
Assault class has received multiple buffs. The developers acknowledge Assault’s weakness, especially against Chaos, which will be addressed in the next content patch.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.
Fixed several issues Power Sword stance changing during certain animations. Behavior should be close to pre-patch 8, though not 1:1 due to bug fixes and new functionality.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.
Charge progress of Plasma Incinerator will no longer reset when Heavy enters heavy stance.
Lots of minor improvements to general responsiveness of controls in combat.

SIEGE MODE

Siege Mode Shop Balance Tweak:
- Guardian relic cost reduced 300 -> 200.
- Armor Kit cost reduced 60 -> 30.
- Dreadnought cost reduced 1500 -> 1250.
- Guardsman cost reduced:
  - Tier 1: 100 -> 100
  - Tier 2: 125 -> 125
  - Tier 3: 150 -> 150
  - Tier 4: 200 -> 175
  - Tier 5: 250 -> 200
Increased Guardsmen HP and Damage:
- +50% for Normal difficulty.
- +100% for Hard difficulty.
Dreadnought time increased 3 min -> 5 min.
Streamlined Terminus enemies spawn logic after 16th wave:
- Every 3rd wave can spawn 1-2 Terminus enemies.
- Every 5th wave can spawn 2-3 Terminus enemies.
- This change aims for more predictable difficulty.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.
Fixed multiple issues with enemy spawns.
Fixed multiple issues with enemies getting stuck at their spawns.
Fixed multiple issues with not being able to progress to the next sector.
Fixed a lot of minor issues with Siege level geometry and collision.
Completing waves as Assault class will now unlock Inferno Pistol skins.

PVP

PvP Extended List of Available Weapons:
- Tactical: Combat Knife | Plasma Pistol | Heavy Bolt Pistol
- Assault: Power Sword | Plasma Pistol
- Sniper: Instigator Bolt Carbine | Heavy Bolt Pistol | Marksman Bolt Carbine
- Vanguard: Marksman Bolt Carbine | Heavy Bolt Pistol | Bolt Carbine
- Support: Heavy Bolt Pistol
PvP Progression:
- XP Recalculated – Experience required to earn rewards has been reduced for faster progression.
- New Levels Added – Max level expanded to 44.
Lots of minor fixes for private lobbies gameplay modificators.

AI

Fixed: Neurothrope dealing too much damage with its beam attack in some rare cases.
Fixed: Lictor can spawn invulnerable in some rare cases.
Fixed: Cultist Sniper firing twice in some rare cases.
Lots of minor animation fixes for various enemies.

CUSTOMISATION

Reverted fix that made it impossible to put a decal under geometry on the knee pads.
Lots of other minor fixes for customizations of armour parts and emblems.

GENERAL FIXES

Fixed: Gun Strike prompt may not appear after a perfect parry in some rare cases.
Fixed: Battle Focus perk is not triggered by perfect block or perfect parry in some rare cases.
Fixed: Blocking weapons do not apply “increased damage taken after perfect parry” debuff on enemies in some cases.
Fixed: VFX of explosions and smoke displayed to players in the form of large orbs in some rare cases.
Fixed: The bots displayed on the loading screen do not match the bots that appear on stage.
Lots of minor animation fixes for player.
Some PvP Private Lobby fixes.
Minor UI and sound fixes and improvements.
Localisation fixes.

TECH

Crash fixes and general stability improvements.
Matchmaking and network stability fixes.
The top server crash in Siege mode is still being investigated and is a top priority for the next fix.
- — Dmitry Grigorenko, Game Director.
Minor performance and memory optimisations.
Improvements to game modding capabilities.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is an online multiplayer title that was released on Sept. 9, 2024. The game is currently on sale on Steam with a 40% discount until July 10 and has sold over 7 million cumulative copies.