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Space Marine 2 features six classes for players to choose from as they take on the the Tyranids and Chaos to stand up for the Imperium of Man. Our Space Marine 2 best class tier list will focus on what classes you should consider playing for all all game modes.
Due to some clever design and balancing, all classes are viable and stand the test in the Campaign, Operations PvE, and Eternal War PvP, so even the lowest tiered class is up to the job. Don’t feel you shouldn’t play a class that you like just because it isn’t as popular among other players. Some classes may falter a little in some situations and when used for certain playstyles, so think of the rankings below as laws of averages detailing how and where each class performs the best.
Class | Overall Tier | Operations PvE | Eternal War PvP |
---|---|---|---|
Heavy | S | S | S |
Tactical | S | S | S |
Sniper | A | A | S |
Vanguard | B | B+ | S |
Bulwark | B | A+ | B+ |
Assault | C | B | A+ |
C-Tier – Assault
- Highly Disruptive
- Niche support playstyle
- Strong mobility
- Strong AOE damage for Operations
- Melee is weak in PvP
- Prone to being swarmed and caught out
The Assault class is all about the melee, dishing out huge slamming damage and AOE while still having solid mobility. Assault mains lean on the Thunder Hammer, making them hit-and-run specialists who can pick out key targets. In Operations, the Assault class is more at risk since they often slam into swarms or elites. Poor timing can take some of the sting out of the class, but more often than not it performs well for those key burst moments in outdoor areas. Throw in some of the debuff penalties the class applies to enemies in Operations and it becomes a strong niche class.
In PvP the Assault has some strange moments. You typically need to harass with your secondary before going into melee. Furthermore, players are more cautious of jetpack attacks and can shoot you down. Melee is generally weak in PvP, so if you fail to break armor with your landing attack, the enemy will likely point blank land easy headshots and kill you instead. The Assault in PvP is harder to master and will require learning maps, where and when to flank, and how to disupt enemy attacks.
B-Tier – Bulwark
- Counters ranged classes or enemy types
- Strong defenses
- The Power Sword is one of the most viable melee weapons in PvP
- Strong team buffs
- Countered by mobile classes like Vanguard and Assault
- Lacks ranged damage to be a reliable threat in Operations or PvP
The Bulwark is Space Marine 2’s tank class. It’s an effective class for holding the line with its armor and shield banner. Placing its shield up counters a lot of the ranged Tyranid Warriors. There are a lot of options for the Bulwark to control key areas in Operations and act as a line of defense. It can also be fine-tuned to be tankier or lean more towards melee-oriented DPS, both of which are highly effective.
For PvP, the Bulwark is a great class for holding down key objectives and areas of the map. It will likely need support against mobile classes like the Vanguard or Assault, but the Bulwak can pressure and deny most ranged classes. Map knowledge is the key decider of a Bulwark’s effectiveness in PvP.
B-Tier – Vanguard
- The Melta Rifle stagger is OP
- Grapnel Stuns are strong in PvP and PvE
- Strong health regeenration weapon perks
- Strong class for flanking
- Poor durability in PvP if caught out
- Melta builds are meta, but damage falls off dramatically in higher diffuclty Operations against elites
The Vanguard is all about closer range combat and jumping onto targets. The Hook Shot pulls them towards danger, where can use swing melee or close-range weapons to push back enemies. In Operations, the Vanguard is reliable boss killer or Swarm-melter. Equipped with weapons like Melta Rifles, this class chews through Swarms or bosses, but be careful of your low base armor value of 2 especially against dense swarms on harder difficulties.
In PvP, the Vanguard is a class that counters a lot of enemy types when played well. The Hook Shot can deny a lot of classes, and allow the Vanguard to close gaps on ranged foes. Moving around tactically helps here to avoid repeated deaths. When you learn a map correctly, the class absolutely shines. In poor hands, the Vanguard can be the worst class, but in smart hands, it can be one of most effective classes.
A-Tier – Sniper
- Strong against Elites in PvE
- Stealth allows this class to be a real menace in PvP
- Strong utility thanks to ressing allies
- Squishy when caught
- Higher skillcap class
The Sniper is designed to assassinate key threats in swarms. The playstyle makes the class very bursty, and so, naturally, it’s the best out there against big targets. The Sniper has a role in any team taking down annoying sniper enemies, Sorcerers, charging Elites with their guards down, and other large enemies. However, the class does suffer when dealing with Swarms and bosses, but you can deal with both hordes and bosses with a solid team composition that includes a Sniper.
In PvP, Snipers is one of the best classes, though it is countered by Assault and Bulwark players. However, a Sniper with strong map and opposition awareness can easily pop an Assault before it comes crashing down on them. Playing the right map objectives is also a strong way to mitigate Sniper mistakes. Secure spots with aerial cover and watch key map areas to get the most out of the class. Learn to use camouflage correctly to avoid being caught and reposition based on opposition team movement around the map to place real pressure on enemies.
S-Tier – Tactical
- Aux Scan is extremely strong
- Highest damage modifers in both Operations and PVP
- Bolters are strong in PvP
- Stong horde control and elite killling options
- Long Cooldowns without the right build
- Lacks defensive tools when caught out
The Tactical class is the most adaptable class in Space Marine 2. In Operations, you’ll find that you can use any weapon your composition might be missing as a Tactical. Need close range? Go for the close-range SMG Bolter. Need more burst? A Heavy Rifle Bolter works a treat. Perhaps you like swarm killing? Grab the Grenade Launcher Bolt Rifle. Want to smash bosses to pieces? Go for the Plasma. Throw in build modifiers to grant longer Aux Scan with higher damage modifiers and you’ll eliminate Majoris enemy types and above easily. It’s an exceptionally strong class for Operations.
In PvP, this adaptability just as well. That flexibility and ability to adapt to different maps and enemy types helps the Tactical feel, well, tactical. However, their defensiveness is lacking as they have no tools to escape. Consider running Shock Grenades in your loadout to survive pushes.
S-Tier – Heavy
- All class weapons are strong
- Strong tanky defensive perks
- Great cooldown synergy
- Strong Barrier is a real threat in both PvP and PvE
- Needs to leave heavy stance to counter, parry, or dodge
- Weak to Shock Grenades and flanks from the Assault and Vanguard classes in PvP
The Heavy class is a fantastic choice and the key to success in all game modes. The Heavy Bolter does its job of holding hordes back, or ploughing into Swarm elites. You can also tweak the class loadout to suit boss maps, with the likes of Multi-Meltas able to absolutely burst through bosses like the Hive Tyrant. Most maps have drop pods that offer loadout switches, especially before key objectives. Switch your weapon and watch as you shred bosses.
In PvP, a Heavy class player can equip any weapon they want and do decently. The ability to deny ranged attacks is also handy for countering Tacticals and Snipers. Just be careful: melee classes counter Heavy players hard. The long wind-ups of the Bolter and Plasma weapons are easily beaten by well-timed Assault or Bulwark players. Most of the time, Bulwarks can tank your damage with their shield.