The enormous fourteenth update for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has dropped, bringing with it a massive set of changes to the games PvP game mode.
For those who enjoy PvP within Space Marine 2, you can jump straight into the action with some fun additions:
- Two new PvP arenas: Sanctum and Facility, Eternal War’s sixth and seventh playable maps.
- New Weekly PvP rewards & Ordeals: Earn Accolades and cosmetics rewards by playing Eternal War matches and completing Datavault challenges.
But perhaps for those that bounced off the PvP mode initially, there is a pretty astonishing change hidden in the depths of the change log. You see, the Eternal War mode had a progression system that would see new weapons and wargear unlocking as your gained experience and levelled up – with the agonising truth being that every loss would give you a downright paltry amount of experience. So the winners got the shiniest toys well before you did, and in reality the wargear options within Space Marine 2 are hardly casual sidegrades, some of those things stomp a proper amount of arse.
Well, to perhaps energise and invigorate the PvP options for all, Saber has made the following change – outlined in the Forum Post from the Focus discussion boards:
Removed progression in PvP
All weapons and equipment are available from Level 1.
That is an enormous change. I actually leapt into the PvP right after the game launched, and had a wonderful time doing some grimdark biffo with other new players. Hell, I enjoyed it so much I made a short video trying to communicate that it wasn’t a bad time:
However, within a day or two I found that my losses had stacked up. Many familiar names were now coming at me with scarier weapons than I could ever dream of. All because I dare to have a full-time job and children.
Well, they weren’t the only reasons, but it was a truth: People who played more had better stuff.
So the dramatic change to bin the whole unlock system sounds like a huge win to me. People who have honed their craft in the PvE mode can now grab their weapon of choice and sling their litany of death against other players. Hell, I have struggled to convince mates to play the PvP by sheer virtue of them asking “Can I use my favourite gun? No? Well then I pass.”
Even if those same mates are still staunchly opposed to spilling human blood, there’s a bunch of not-PvP related goodies in the update as well, including:
- New Terminus enemy: A new special baddie stomps onto the field in the form of the Thousand Sons’ Scarab Occult Terminator Sorcerer joins the fray, a heavily armoured spellcaster that is happy to cause a few headaches
- Six Heroic weapon variants: A new Melta Rifle variant, a new Chainsword, a Bolt Carbine Combi-Flamer, a new Power Fist with integrated Meltagun, a Deathwatch-inspired Stalker Bolt Rifle, and the Executioner’s Axe variant for the Thunder Hammer can be unlocked via accolades
- Three new Heroic armour pieces: Including a snazzy Ultramarines pauldron and two Deathwatch cosmetics
- Salamanders Champion Pack 2 brings a new champion skin for the Heavy class with a matching Multi-Melta skin
- Raptors Cosmetic Pack arrives to allow your favourite space-barbies to take on a sneaky flair
Speaking of space barbie dress up, the folks over at Saber continue to tweak and make their dressing room the best it can be – implementing the following changes:
- Added robes for Assault and Tactical classes to be unlocked with new Ordeals.
- Added tabards for Assault class to be unlocked with new Ordeals.
- Added Mark X Pristine Aquilla to Refinement and Redemption shop.
- Added free Raptors knee decal.
- Black Templar Champion backpack split into 2 parts. Skeleton part is now a part of a wargear slot and can be used on Heavy class.
The backpack skeleton friend can finally be used on the Heavy Class! This is the best news for those of us that love out high-calcium bone buddy.
Of course, this is just the wrap-up of Space Marine 2’s Year 2 content. Year 3 is slated to kick off in September, with the roadmap still showing off a tasty set of teased goodies that are yet to be fully revealed – including a new class. It’s definitely making the wait for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 a pleasant one.
We want to hear from you. Are you ready to give Space Marine 2 PvP a shot? Ready for another enormous year of Space Marine 2 content? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
