How fatal difficulty works in WH40K: Space Marine 2

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2 added a fifth level in the October patch, the first major PvE update we've received since launch. This difficulty level pushes your Astartes to their limits, throwing a bunch of Majoris and Extremis-class forces your way with limited ammo reserves and restrictive combat mechanics.

Clearing a Deadly Operation is a difficult task, but doing so will reward you with tons of XP and progress towards a unique cosmetic. In this guide, we explain how Lethal difficulty works, how the new combat mechanics work, and show you the cosmetic rewards you can get by clearing all seven Operations in Lethal.

What is Deadly Difficulty?

Lethal is the fifth difficulty level for PvE Operations that was added in the October update. There are no prerequisites for this difficult stage, but it is intended for level 25 level players. Although you can play alone in Lethal Operations, it is very difficult to beat them without the help of other players.

In terms of difficulty, it is similar to Ruthless but with a few additional modifiers. The HP value is the same, but the enemy damage seems to have increased. Combat opponents are more aggressive, ammo drops less often, and Extremis enemies spawn in groups.

Not the same as ruthless

• Armor no longer rises when your team splits. You must be within 15m of at least one member to receive weapons.
  • When you're separated, you can't get the weapon at all. This includes the restoration of weapons from Minoris parries, executions and benefits.
  • This also means you can't recover armor if your ally dies. Be careful.
• Stronger enemies are more common. At least two generate each wave of reinforcement, sometimes three.
• Majoris enemies are angry with low HPmaking them safe to travel.
• Waves of confirmation are no longer telegraphed.
• Enemies deal more damage and are slightly more aggressive.
• Spaced bands are more accurate.
• The ammo cache has limited uses. You can only use the supply cache three times before it dries up.
  • This change applies to Ruthless difficulty in the October patch.

How Armor Works in Ruthless

The biggest change in the difficulty of Ruthless is Narrow design. If your team is within 15 meters of each other, you can charge your weapons as normal. Go too far with your team though, and your build meter will be cut off. This means you can't return the armor at all unless it comes from a consumable Armor Boost.

We're not just talking about passive armor upgrades here. Chasing Minoris, killing enemies, and even the perk of armor recovery will no longer work. You must stick closely to your team in Ruthless if you want to survive. The worst, if your ally dies, it is impossible to recover your armor because they are not technically near you. This may be a bug and will hopefully be fixed in a future update. Until then, take these missions slowly.

The best class for Lethal

Each team wants a Tactical Marine for this difficult process. Auspex Scan triples your team's DPS against tougher enemies, which is very useful for taking down Terminus class units and other difficult enemies. Also, any class with high DPS weapons will work well here, such as Sniper and Heavy.

Unfortunately, due to the change in armor in Ruthless, we do no Recommend playing Vanguard or Assault. Pushing your team ahead is heavily penalized in this style, which is a favorite playstyle of both classes. That doesn't mean you can't beat Ruthless in a class; you can do it. But doing so will be more difficult than playing as a Tactical or Sniper.

Reward Deadly Difficulty

Your main incentive to beat Lethal difficulty is to get the Covered by Survivor for all classes. This is a dry variant of the standard Primaris helmet with visible cracks and a broken visor. You have to win every Operation on deadly difficulty to unlock this helmet.

Aside from cosmetics, the only reason to farm Lethal is for weapon XP. Effective light gives about 2,800XP, close to neutral light with Gene seeds. However, we are no Recommend playing Lethal for XP farming only. Races are slower due to increased enemy aggression and Extremis power. If you need to level up a new class, play Substantial or Ruthless.