The Best Builds for All Classes in Space Marine 2 (Latest Patch)

The latest patch for Space Marine 2, version 13.0 and hotfix 13.1, brought quite a few changes that might have slightly shifted the meta on what the best builds are for all of the classes.

Some weapons got pretty noticeable changes to their Perk selections, as well as some classes getting a bit of a shake-up directly. Are these changes enough to change the meta, though? In some cases, yeah!

In this guide, I’ll give you the recommended best builds for each class in the game.

Best Builds for All Classes | Space Marine 2 – Version 13.1

Tactical

Weapons

• Primary – Ophelian Liberation (Pyreblaster)
  • Perks: Improved Fast Venting, Eternal Flame, Potent Flame, Flame of Ascension, Potent Flame, Flash Burn, Increased Capacity, Flame of Purification.
• Secondary – Retribution’s Request (Heavy Bolt Pistol)
  • Perks: Divine Might, Perpetual Penetration, Increase Capacity, Extended Magazine, Death Strike, Great Might, Discipline, Strong Finish, Head Hunter, Gun Strike Reload, Tactical Precision.
• Melee – Argent Edge (Combat Knife)
  • Perks: Armoured Strength, Sharp Impact, Perpetual Strength, Combined Onslaught, Tide of Battle, Shoulder Bash, Reeling Blow, Shadow Stab, Terminus Slayer.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Balanced Distribution, Relentless Pursuit, Emperor’s Vengeance.
• Team – Secure Stockpile.
• Gear – Vital Data, Precise Calibration, Concentrated Fire.
• Signature – Radiating Impact.
• Prestige Perks – Acuity, Skilled Supplier, Resilience, Fortitude.

First of all, let me address the elephant in the room! Yes, Acuity’s Headshot bonuses do still trigger with the Pyreblaster. This has not been patched out as of version 13.1.

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That is one of the main reasons this build is so strong, as well, as it allows you to melt everything with ease with your Pyreblaster. So, continue enjoying it while it lasts!

Other than that, this is a pretty straightforward build that’s focused primarily on using the Pyreblaster. It’s your bread-and-butter, and your damage with it will be incredible after using Auspex Scan.

The Heavy Bolt Pistol is for anything that’s outside your range, though it also does great damage if you trigger Death Strike via Executions. Don’t ignore it!

As for the Combat Knife, it is frankly just there for parrying. You won’t be doing much melee combat yourself, since your Pyreblaster will be your main source of damage in close-quarters.

All in all, an easy-to-play and effective build if you just want to support your team by burning down all opposition!

Assault

Weapons

• Secondary – Ophelian Liberation Beta (Plasma Pistol)
  • Perks: Plasma Collection, Rapid Cooling, Efficient Charge, Divine Might, Blast Radius, Perpetual Velocity, Plasma Collection, Efficient Charge, Perfect Cooling.
• Melee – Aggamedes’s Gift Gamma (Power Fist)
  • Perks: Perpetual Strength, Heavy Preparation, Perpetual Strength, Perpetual Strength, Focused Intention, Tide of Battle, Strength of Will, Following Blow, Combo, Majoris Slayer.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Overcharger, Consecutive Execution, Knowledge of the Enemy.
• Team – Strategic Strikes.
• Gear – Furious Strikes, Wings of Flame, Aerial Grace.
• Signature – Commitment.
• Prestige Perks – Unyielding Oath, Fortitude, Practiced Aim, Hammer of Wrath.

This is a build that’s focused on making the most out of the Assault’s intended playstyle. That is, being a melee-focused brawler at all times!

Your Power Fist is your main focus here, and that’s what the Perk selection overall aims to complement. Unyielding Oath, Hammer of Wrath, and Commitment are all aimed at keeping you in melee combat as much as possible.

The Plasma Pistol, on the other hand, is mainly a backup tool. You’ll use it when dealing with enemies outside your range, as well as for helping you maintain Contested Health when needed.

Lastly, do note that this build is best played with perfectly timed Dodges. Thanks to Commitment and Perfect Cooling, proper dodging will keep your Jump Pack and Plasma Pistol charged at all times!

Vanguard

Weapons

• Primary – Gathalamor Crusade (Melta Rifle)
  • Perks: Decisive Reload, Rapid Health, Trick Shot, Great Might, Divine Might, Extended Magazine, First Shot, Retaliation, Perpetual Fire.
• Secondary – Retribution’s Request (Heavy Bolt Pistol)
  • Perks: Divine Might, Perpetual Penetration, Increase Capacity, Extended Magazine, Death Strike, Great Might, Strong Start, Able Damage, Honed Precision, Gun Strike Reload, Tactical Precision.
• Melee – Relic Gamma (Power Axe)
  • Perks: Perpetual Strength, Coup de Grace, Perpetual Strength, Perpetual Strength, Counterattack, Riposte, Hard Target, Tactical Retreat, Power Wave, Cleaver.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Upper Hand, Conviction, Consecutive Execution.
• Team – Unmatched Zeal.
• Gear – Restless Fortitude, Zone of Impact, Thrill of the Fight.
• Signature – Tactical Prowess.
• Prestige Perks – Battlefield Awareness, Fortitude, Launch Restoration, Restoration.

This build is focused on being able to get into the midst of combat and being able to survive with ease. It’s why Thrill of the Fight is one of the best Perks, for example, as it gives you nearly constant Damage Reduction.

The Melta Rifle here is your main weapon, but it isn’t great for killing enemies. Thanks to Perks like Rapid Health and Trick Shot restoring Health and Armor, it’s also absolutely invaluable for keeping you alive.

The Heavy Bolt Pistol is mainly decked out to focus on Gun Strikes, which will be its main use for the Vanguard. Able Damage is the most notable Perk here, as you can easily maintain it active.

As for the Power Axe, its main use is for doing Power Backsteps. They’ll get you in the proper range for using your Grapnel Launcher, which is particularly great for killing off foes when paired with Tactical Prowess and Zone of Impact.

All in all, this is a fantastic build that will have you easily surviving in combat as you zip around with your Grapnel Launcher!

Bulwark

Weapons

• Secondary – Ophelian Liberation Beta (Plasma Pistol)
  • Perks: Plasma Collection, Rapid Cooling, Efficient Charge, Divine Might, Blast Radius, Perpetual Velocity, Plasma Collection, Efficient Charge, Perfect Cooling.
• Melee – Aggamedes’s Gift Gamma (Power Fist)
  • Perks: Perpetual Strength, Heavy Preparation, Perpetual Strength, Perpetual Strength, Focused Intention, Tide of Battle, Strength of Will, Following Blow, Combo, Majoris Slayer.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Intimidating Aura, Scrambled Targeting, Steel Within.
• Team – Focused Restoration.
• Gear – Purity of Purpose, Invigorating Icon, Merciless Resolve.
• Signature – Offensive Mastery.
• Prestige Perks – Resilience, Overcharge, Powerful Shot, Masterful Defence.

As a close-quarters tank class, the Bulwark’s weapons in this build are pretty much the same as the ones for the Assault. Both weapons focus on melee and close-range combat, after all!

That said, what defines this Bulwark build is the focus on survivability, mostly thanks to perfectly-timed Parries.

Your perfectly-timed Parries will deal AoE damage around you with Intimidating Aura, for one. But they’ll also be incredible for dealing with larger threats, as Defensive Mastery allows you to stun Majoris and Extremis enemies on a perfect Parry.

Aside from that, you also want to have your Chapter Banner up as much as possible. With this build, it will deal damage to enemies and heal allies’ Contested Health, on top of its usual benefits.

All in all, this is a build that can be hard to master due to its focus on perfectly-timed Parries. But it’s quite rewarding, as you’ll offer a lot of utility and survivability to your entire team.

Sniper

Weapons

• Primary – Wrapped (Bolt Sniper Rifle)
  • Perks: Remote Threat, Survival Instinct, Adamantine Grip, Finisher Reload, Unwavering Resolve, Head Hunter, Increased Capacity, Strong Start, Cleaving Fire, Recoupment.
• Secondary – Honourific Relic (Bolt Pistol)
  • Perks: Great Might, Retaliation, Iron Grip, Gun Strike Reload, Divine Might, Extended Magazine, Head Hunter, Elite Hunter, Head Hunter.
• Melee – Power Gladius (Combat Knife)
  • Perks: Perpetual Strength, Kinetic Energy, Perpetual Strength, Heavy Onslaught, Tide of Battle, Shadow Stab, Reeling Blow, Shoulder Bash, Terminus Slayer.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Melee Mastery, Adaptability, Iron Grip.
• Team – Marksmanship.
• Gear – Renewal, Targeted Shot, Lingering Concealment.
• Signature – Pattern of Excelence.
• Prestige Perks – Emperor’s Grace, Versatile Precision, Conviction, Exacting Focus.

The Sniper is all about the Headshots, and that is exactly what this build seeks to aim for. Your Primary and Secondary are built for that, while your Melee is primarily a defensive tool but can also deal great damage.

With the Wrapped rifle, you’ll obviously want to go for Headshots as much as possible. You especially want to trigger Recoupment to restore Armor Segments and the innate Replenishing Hit perk for automated reloads.

As for the Bolt Pistol, it’s primarily here to trigger the Pattern of Excellence Perk. Use the burst fire to land 3 quick Headshots and get 1 Equipment Charge back, that’s all there is to it.

Don’t ignore the Power Gladius with this build, however. You’ll be able to dish out incredible damage with it after reloading with low ammo or using your Camo Cloak!

When played optimally, this build has you dealing fantastic damage with Headshots to recharge your Camo Cloak. When the Camo Cloak is charged, use it to go into melee range and shred your foes. Rinse and repeat!

Heavy

Weapons

• Primary – Chains of Duty (Heavy Bolter)
  • Perks: Fast Venting, Perfect Cooling, Increased Capacity, Head Hunter, Heavy Immunity, Adamant Restoration, Heavy Might, Heavy Might, Discipline, Fast Venting, Perpetual Cooling, Divine Might.
• Secondary – Ophelian Liberation Beta (Plasma Pistol)
  • Perks: Plasma Collection, Rapid Cooling, Efficient Charge, Divine Might, Blast Radius, Perpetual Velocity, Plasma Collection, Efficient Charge, Perfect Cooling.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Restoration, Fortitude, Overwhelming Power.
• Team – Encompassing Aegis.
• Gear – Consecutive Execution, Power Regulator, Brute Force.
• Signature – Offensive Capability.
• Prestige Perks – Auxiliary Reload, Conviction, Indomitable Spirit, Reverberating Impact.

The main focus of this build is allowing you to get into Heavy Stance and survive as long as possible while dishing out insane damage.

First of all, the Heroic Perk on the Chains of Duty deserves a shoutout. It gives you a 50% larger Perfect Parry window, and also allows you to instantly cool down the weapon after a Gun Strike. This is massively helpful for your survivability!

The build also incorporates Heavy Immunity, which primarily voids knockback and losing control from Heavy Hits while you’re in Heavy Stance.

Aside from that, you also have a lot of Perks to help you with your ammo management, such as Adamant Restoration and Auxiliary Reload.

The Plasma Pistol primarily serves to make up for the Heavy Bolter’s weak spots. You can use it for Contested Health recovery and staggering enemies more easily, primarily.

Lastly, you want to make sure to use Iron Halo as much as possible. It’ll give you and your team a lot of survivability and damage, thanks to the Perks selected!

All in all, this is a perfect build if you want to be a walking fortress. Extremely resilient and capable of dishing out lots of damage.

Techmarine

Weapons

• Primary – Deathwatch (Heavy Bolt Rifle)
  • Perks: Head Hunter, Adamant Hunter, Fast Reload, Able Reload, Head Hunter, Tactical Precision, Great Might, Increased Capacity, Recoupment, Rapid Health, Perpetual Penetration, Divine Might.
• Secondary – Ophelian Liberation Beta (Plasma Pistol)
  • Perks: Plasma Collection, Rapid Cooling, Efficient Charge, Divine Might, Blast Radius, Perpetual Velocity, Plasma Collection, Efficient Charge, Perfect Cooling.
• Melee – Argent Edge (Combat Knife)
  • Perks: Perpetual Strength, Kinetic Energy, Perpetual Strength, Heavy Onslaught, Reeling Blow, Shadow Stab, Tide of Battle, Shoulder Bash, Terminus Slayer.

Class Perks & Build Overview

• Core – Precision Enhancement, Omnissian Axe Deflection, Long-Range Barrage.
• Team – Battlefield Repairs.
• Gear – Inexorable Salvo, Replenishing Salvo, Fortifying Salvo.
• Signature – Lethal Perimeter.
• Prestige Perks – Chained Headshots, Stimm Boost, Defensive Stance, Unflinching Focus.

First of all, the Deathwatch. In this case, the Recoupment and Rapid Health Perks are your most important tools. They help you recover Armor Segments and Health to offset the Techmarine’s squishiness when out of armor.

The Plasma Pistol, as always, is mainly here for Contested Health recovery and stagger. The Argent Edge is mostly a fantastic and versatile defensive tool, thanks to the staggers on Perfect Parry.

As for the class Perks themselves, they’re mainly aimed at making your Servo-Gun help with survivability. It’ll focus on stronger enemies, while also replenishing Equipment Charges and Armor Segments when killing or incapacitating enemies.

Thanks to Lethal Perimeter, you’ll also have some control over where the Servo-Gun aims. This comes with improved energy efficiency, so it’s all worth it!

Ultimately, this build should help make up for some of the Techmarine’s weak spots while improving on its strengths! What else could you ask for, right?

That’s the end of our list of the best builds for all classes in Space Marine 2 as of the latest patch, version 13.1. By the way, have you not gotten around to collecting all Dataslates in the game yet? Check out our guide on where to find them.