Fighting hordes of Tyranids and other horrors of the galaxy inWarhammer 40,000:Space Marine 2won’t be easy, but those who want to seek further punishing challenges for electrifying victory and reward can certainly do so thanks to the multiple difficulty options available to them.Space Marine 2features 4 distinct difficulties in terms of threat levels, changing the ferocity of enemy spawns, equipment drops, and Mortal Wounds.
The different difficulty options will prove that each Ultramarine that faces the challenge is worthy of Guilliman himself, and upholding the ideals of the Emperor is for the strongest among theSpace Marine 2community thatseeks punishment and violencein equal parts.
How to Change Difficulty in Space Marine 2
Whilst difficulty is selected at the start ofSpace Marine 2’s campaign, players will have the option to change it if they find it too punishing or not hard enough for their bloodlust. To change the difficulty ofSpace Marine 2, players need to head to the Battle Barge and venture to a terminal, where they can access it to see in the top left of the screen their threat level. Selecting this option will allow players to scroll through the four difficulty levels depending on whether they are active in Operations or Campaign since both PvE modes have their own difficulties to select from.
Only the Squad Leader can change the campaign mode, which basically means whoever is hosting the session.
All Campaign Difficulties in Space Marine 2
Heading into the main campaign to follow the journey of Titus and his brotherhood, players will have the option to choose between four difficulties. Each of these will vary in gameplay challenge, enemy aggression, and discovered resources. Whilst there are no bonuses to be earned through harder difficulty, it will certainly up the intensity and immersion of a Space Marine battling an army of Tyranids with 2 brothers.
Easy
Space Marine 2features an easy mode for players who want to better experience the story through a narrative lens filled with winnable action, without fear of losing. Easy mode allows players to immerse in the Ultramarines Chapter without risk of death, and it’s nice to see a more accessibleoption for those who aren’t well experiencedor lack the confidence and skill to master a third-person shooter and hack-and-slash without ridiculing them.
Normal
The most common way to playSpace Marine 2’s campaign will most likely be through the Normal mode, which will offer a fair fight for players who want to fight alongside battle-brothers without feeling too overwhelmed, or too powerful. Everything is available in moderation with the Normal difficulty, and it’s the standard way to play the game for those familiar with action games since it won’t hold every gamer’s hand, but it will provide them with a few tools to ensure victory is within their grasp.
Veteran
The veteran difficulty is described as the intended way to play, so some players should take the leap and enjoy the bravery of being an Ultramarine against overwhelming adversaries. Ammo is more scarce, but not finite, and the dangerous enemies that Ultramarines face will put their skills to the test to weed out the weak and ensure that the Emperor’s finest are left standing. It’s a great experience for those familiar with this style of gameplay, even if it’s a tad intimidating.
Angel of Death
The hardest difficulty in the main campaign will be Angel of Death, which will be truly punishing, but extremely fun due to its large skill gap. This is a mode that won’t be friendly to newcomers, and it might even serve players well to attempt this violent mode with friends or strangers to have a tactical advantage over bots. Enemies are unrelenting, and the fights that players encounter will not be easy.
All Operations Difficulties in Space Marine 2
Once players access the Operations page on the Battle Barge, they have more versatility in playstyle and mission selection. There’s good reason for that, as Operations act as PvE missions where players will face the horrors of the galaxy with friends or strangers, and each Ultramarine has a specific Class that they need to master if they are to withstand the relentless threats that await them, and victory and reward are granted to the heroes that deserve it.
Threat: Minimal
Optimized to benefit new recruits to experiment with the 6 available Classes, the Minimal threat will serve as the easiest difficulty on Operations, as players will have a generous supply of equipment throughout the missions, and enemies may still be deadly, but they are certainly held back in this mode. The Minimal threat difficulty is great to start with, but players are encouraged to be brave and enter further difficulties if they want to progress their Class and weapons.
Threat: Average
A recommended choice for experienced Space Marines, the Average threat will maintain the bloodlust of Ultramarines for a time, and it can still be rather challenging as is. Players in this mode will come up against some deadly enemies, and the fact that medical stims will be less effective and equipment rates are reduced means that death lingers, but with experienced players, it will never come.
Threat: Substantial
The start of true threats, the Substantial difficulty ups the ante and provides an intense challenge for skilled warriors by making it so that a second down is a certain death, and players must wait 60 seconds before respawning. If all other Ultramarines are also down, then it’s a failure. Enemies are tough, providing heightened aggression and harder hits, all whilst medical stims heal even less. Yet, it’s a great difficulty to add challenge and players should check it out to further evolve their Class, but a competent team is recommended.
Threat: Ruthless
Reservedfor the heroes that want punishment and reward, the Ruthless threat holds up to its name by providing near-endless waves of enemies that just won’t quit. The Relentless difficulty is tied to just one achievement inSpace Marine 2, but if players want to earn Relic armory data, then this is essential. Space Marines should only try this mode once they hit past Level 15, as their builds and mastery of their Classes will need to be of the highest caliber to even attempt survival in a mode where respawn times are increased, medical stims are near pointless, and enemies are absurdly deadly.
Threat: Lethal
Patch 4.0 came with the Lethal Difficulty, which will add even more challenge variety to the game. Communication is going to be essential in Lethal, as allies must stick together if they want to recover their armor and ensure that they stay in the fight and reach victory. Those brave enough to fight in Lethal will obtain unique rewards, but just remember that it’s not going to be easy due to the limited ammo capacity.
