Summary
Space Marine 2’s first year of content is almost all released, but the game still has plenty more iconic weapons it could add to make the experience feel complete. TheWarhammer 40,000universe is packed full of strange and deadly weapons to pick from, such as dazzling Lightning Claws, and crushing Grav-Guns. With theWarhammerSkulls showcasehappening soon, and Horde Mode around the corner, having some new tools to take on waves of xenos and Chaos would really help to add more longevity to the game.
Another area that would benefit from some new weapons is PVP, as player populations have been declining in the mode due to the limited content offering. That could change soon, though, as Saber’s first year roadmap will soon be ending, and PVP might get the attention it deserves. With so many opportunities for some new stuff, it’s worth looking at what new weaponsSpace Marine 2should add, as some of these are likely to be community favorites.
Space Marine 2 Should Add These Iconic Weapons
Lightning Claws
One of themost iconicWarhammer 40,000weaponsis the Lightning Claw. Often, but not always, based on the chassis of a Power Fist, Lightning Claws feature rows of Adamantine blades, surrounded by powerful energy fields that tear apart even the most armored targets at a molecular level. They’re most commonly used in pairs, either by Terminators or Vanguard Veterans, and are preferred by the Raven Guard chapter and Night Lords legion as they suit the style of rapid assault employed by those forces.
A pair ofLightning Clawscould be an interesting addition forSpace Marine 2, as they might be the only weapon combination to not feature a pistol since they are not always compatible with each other. Saber might choose to let Lightning Claw wielders use pistols, though, as some enemies can be almost impossible to fight without one. Naturally, the Assault class would benefit the most from Lightning Claws, but Vanguards, Bulwarks, or even Snipers shouldn’t be ruled out from using them. It’s possible they would be fairly high-skill weapons, skewed toward offensive action over remaining protected, but manySpace Marine 2players would surely love a paired weapon to master.
Pyreblaster
Some players might prefer to revel in some pyromania instead of slashing away with their claws, and a Pyreblaster would be just the thing.Warhammer 40,000has a long history of turning garden flamethrowers into mighty weapons of war, even mounting some enormous flamers on Warhound Titans. They’re a favorite weapon of chapters like the Salamanders, who prefer their enemies on the crispier side, but they have often found wide use in plenty of other chapters, with theBlood Angelsnotably mounting a Flamestorm Cannon onto a Baal Predator.
Introduced inSpace Marine 2’s campaign, the Pyreblaster was only a gimmick weapon used for scaring off Rippers. As the asset is already in the game and functional, it feels like the easiest weapon to add to the current sandbox. A Pyreblaster would perfectly suit Tacticals and Vanguards in PVE, giving both classes sustained horde-clearing potential that plays differently to the Melta Rifle by scorching areas. In PVP, a Pyreblaster could provide a unique zoning tool, locking down tight corridors and clearing out capture zones.
Chainaxe
One of the more disappointing discoveries upon the game’s release was that World Eater Vanguards didn’t get Chainaxes. It’s hard to overstate how important the connection betweenWorld Eaters and Chainaxesis, as together the two blend into one and the same weapon, much as they blend their foes. Brutal weapons, Chainaxes operate with belts of spinning teeth, either made of metal or taken from the jaw of a particularly tough alien, and are favored by many Khorne-worshipping Chaos warriors.
The Chainaxe does not have to be exclusive to Chaos either. InSpace Marine 1, the Power Axe and Chainaxe were synonymous with one another, representing loyalist and traitor sides respectively. Slower than a Chainsword but faster than aPower Fist, a Chainaxe/Power Axe would be an excellent way to quickly dispatch armored infantry like Tyranid Warriors, while retaining fast enough swings for the smaller enemies. No matter how good they are in PVP, once added, it’s highly likely most Chaos Vanguards would never equip any other weapon again, such is their symbolic importance.
The Warhammer 40K Universe is Full of Weapons Perfect for Space Marine 2
Grav-Gun
Staying on the theme of brutal weapons, Grav-Guns are very good at making a mess from a distance. Favored amongTechmarines and chapters aligned with the Adeptus Mechanicus, a Grav-weapon uses its enemy’s weight against them, collapsing them under their own armor. A Grav-Gun will do very little to a Gretchin, but point it at a Meganob, and soon there will only be a pile of scrap.
A Grav-Gun could fill an interesting niche forTacticals and Heavies, giving them a ranged option that scales up in damage according to how big the target is. Where a Hormagaunt might take a while to go down, it could do significant chunks of damage to a Neurothrope, perfect for taking revenge against those mission-ending bosses. As they come in all kinds of varieties, Tacticals could take the middle-weight version, with Grav-Cannons on Heavies and Grav Pistols for multiple classes. Perhaps they could come with actual gravity-defying AOE mechanics, something the tabletop game is physically incapable of representing.
Power Lance
Possibly a sleeper pick, Power Lances and Spears aren’t in the arsenal of every chapter, but there are a few notable exceptions.The Emperor’s Spearsand Minotaurs are particular fans of these weapons, with Asterion Moloch’s spear and shield combination being particularly iconic. Similar to Swords, Power Lances use a charged energy field, but they get an extra kick out of the wielder’s momentum, dealing a punishing blow on the charge.
A Power Lance would be a natural weapon for Assaults and possibly Bulwarks, and adding them to the game would be a great excuse to include some newMinotaurs-themed cosmeticslike ancient Greek-styled armor. A Power Lance could have a playstyle around running attacks, doing huge damage on the first strike. They could present an interesting option in PVP too, paving the way for an entirely new Assault playstyle.
Storm Bolter
Not to be forgotten is the simple but lethal Storm Bolter. Essentially two Boltguns in the same housing, Storm Bolters are most commonly wielded by Terminators, although power armored infantry can use them. They aren’t particularly associated with any chapter, but theSisters of Battleare known to use them extensively in Celestian squads.
If Saber ever wanted to put a Terminator class inSpace Marine 2, then a Storm Bolter would be the perfect weapon to add alongside. With the Bolt Carbine taking the rapid-fire role the Storm Bolter had inSpace Marine 1, it could instead be used as something of a mid-range sustained fire option, similar to how it is depicted inDawn of War 2. There are a lot of Bolt weapons in the game at this point, so arguably, a Storm Bolter is low on the list of priorities, but it would help to round out the arsenal. Plus, it could be a suitable weapon for a number of classes, including Tactical, Sniper, Vanguard, and Heavy as a ubiquitous workhorse weapon.
