Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 difficulties explained & which one you should start with

In Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you’ll be thrown into the rich lore of Warhammer 40K to rip apart a Tyranid invasion with iconic weapons from the tabletop game. However, no matter your knowledge of the world, you aren’t ready for the hardest difficulty on day one.

When you first start your game in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, you must choose which difficulty you want to play on. I really thought that I was pretty good at video games before playing this one, especially because I love World War Z, which is from the same developer and uses the same engine. I was so wrong, though, and I want to stop you from making the same mistakes I did so you have a good time with the game.

All difficulties in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 explained

Below, I’ve outlined all four difficulties in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 and how they change the game for your playthrough. I’ve also added my recommendation towards the end of this article, which I suggest you read if you’re planning to hop into the game and try to run through the story quickly.

• Easy: This mode is balanced to let you work through and enjoy the story. The enemies are less aggressive and you’ve got much more health and armor. Perfect for those who don’t want to die too often and want to experience everything the story has to offer without too much of a challenge.
• Normal: In this mode, you’ll face a decent gameplay challenge with moderately aggressive enemies and resources that you’ll need to manage as you go. It’s not going to push you too hard, but you’ll have to work to get through each mission.
• Veteran: While this is said to be the intended experience, I’d beg to differ. Enemies are brutal and will almost certainly cut you down all the time if you don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve got to make use of every in-game skill, from parrying to critical shots and executions, just to finish missions alive.
• Angel of Death: This is a serious challenge for when you’re bored of every other mode. Recovery after a mistake is slower, and enemies are overly aggressive and deadly. You need to never miss a beat if you’re playing on this game mode.

Which difficulty mode should you start with in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2?

I recommend that you start on Normal difficulty for your first playthrough of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. The game has a meaty story with side missions to work through, but you also want to soak in the universe. If you don’t play many video games but still want to enjoy this one, go for Easy mode.

Veteran and Angel of Death are game modes you should reserve for second and third playthroughs. The Tyranids are no joke and will give you one hell of a time, even in Normal mode. So chill out, get through the story once, and then go back for more.