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- Fencing stat – extends parry window in exchange for lower weapon stats
- Balanced stat – a balance between perfect parry windows and weapons stats
- Blocking stat – removes all perfect parry opportunities and replaces them with better weapon stats
Fencing, Block, and Balance are stats that affect melee weapons in Space Marine 2, showing up in the armoring hall. These stats point to a weapon’s preferred blocking method. Fencing is for players who prefer to pull off perfect parries, while Balance offers a more moderate blocking style and Block removes parrying entirely. All three change the way you counter enemies. Here’s a closer look at the Balance vs Block stats in Space Marine 2.
Block, Balance, Fencing in Space Marine 2
| Defense type | Effect |
|---|---|
| Balance | Normal perfect parry window with Gun Strike follow-up |
| Fencing | Extends perfect parry Window with Gun Strike follow-up |
| Block | No perfect parry window and no Gun Strike follow-up |
It’s important to distinguish between these because the perfect parry window is what enables the Gun Strike mechanic (bar some CC knockback effects like the Assault Crash Landing). Parrys are openings represented by blue circles when enemies attack you with leap attacks or heavy attacks. Hit the block button just as the hit is about to land to perform a perfect parry, blocking the attack and staggering the opponent. Larger Extremis enemies and the like allow you to follow-up a perfect parry with a Gun Strike. Swarm-like enemies are insta-killed from a parry follow-up execution animation.
Fencing increases the length of the window to perform perfect parries, essentially giving you more time to react but lower weapon stats. Balanced has less room for landing a perfect parry in favour of a regular parry window, akin to the window you have in the campaign, but improve weapon stats. Blocking, on the other hand, completely negates damage and does not offer any chance for a perfect parry nor a Gun Strike follow-up. However, Blocking weapons have better raw stats – Strength, Speed, and Cleaving Potential.
You lose the Gun Strike on the weapon, but you get dramatically different stats compared to the Fencing version. Captured by VideoGamer VideoGamer.
Fencing has less stats than the Block version, but you can perfect parry and Gun Strike. Captured by VideoGamer.
There are certain class and weapon perks that award bonuses for parrying, too:
| Class or weapon | Perk |
|---|---|
| Assault | Armour Reinforcement – Non-Finisher Gun Strikes also restore Armour. |
| Bolt Carbine | Gun Strike Reload – Reloads the weapon instantly after performing a Gun Strike. |
| Bolt Pistol | Gun Strike Reload – Reloads the weapon instantly after performing a Gun Strike. |
| Bolt Pistol | Iron Grip – After a Gun Strike, Recoil is reduced by 35% for 5 seconds. |
| Bulwark | Armour Reinforcement – Non-Finisher Gun Strikes also restore Armour. |
| Bulwark | Defensive Advantage – A perfectly timed Parry creates a Chock area for 5 seconds. The cooldown is 30 seconds. |
| Bulwark | Defensive Mastery – A perfectly timed Parry instantly incapacitated a Majoris or Extremis-level enemy. Cooldown 120 seconds. |
| Bulwark | Intimidating Aura – A perfectly times Parry deals AOE damage within 5 meter radius. |
| Heavy Bolt Pistol | Gun Strike Reload – Reloads the weapon instantly after performing a Gun Strike. |
| Heavy Bolt Pistol | Iron Grip – After a Gun Strike, Recoil is reduced by 35% for 5 seconds. |
| Tactical | Battle Focus – A perfectly timed Parry gives the parried enemy a mark of Auspex Scan. |
| Tactical | Relentless Pursuit – After a Gun Strike, Ranged Damage increases by 25% for 5 seconds. |
| Vanguard | Duellist – Perfect Parry window increases by 50% |
| Vanguard | Thrill of the Fight – After a perfectly timed Pary or Dodge, you take 15% less Health Damage for 3 seconds. |
There’s a perfect dodge feature, with weapons having perfect dodge synergy, too. The weapon defense styles don’t affect perfect dodges.
The Bulwark and Vanguard are the two classes specialised and attuned to the perfect parry. The Assault class is also well suited to performing Gun Strikes via perfect parries. Make sure to run Balanced or Fencing weapons if you select any of the parry-boosting perks.
Block vs Fencing in Space Marine 2
Certain weapon perks affect the defense stats of a weapon. For example, The Warden Blade – Alpha version of the Power Sword changes the defense type to Block. You’ll find it has dramatically better stats than any other version of the weapon on the same tier. You’ll want to consider whether you want better raw stats with a melee weapon or to combine weapon or class perks using a Balanced or Fencing weapon.
The option is entirely preferential. However, if you have Gun Strike or perfect parry perks on your weapon or class, it’s better to take a Fencing or Balanced weapon to make the most of the build combos you can do.
About the Author
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Action
