Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II offers players a limited but rewarding amount of customization. When choosing between the six space marine classes, the Assault class stands out with advanced mobility. No matter the type of enemy Assault marines will face, Tyranid or Heretic, they must stay aggressive in the fight. But optimizing the build depends on whether you’re playing Operations Mode or Eternal War.
Is the Assault class right for you? That depends on the play style. If the marine wants to be at the center of the fight, then Assault is a great option. While any class can be effective with fully upgraded weapons and optimal perk selection, not all classes are made equal. The Assault class has access to unique weapons, perks, and a jetpack for its special ability.
The Best Heavy Class Build Relies On Savvy Movement And Well-Timed Strikes
Melee Combat Is Useful For PvE, But Leaves Players Disadvantaged In PvP
Creating the best Assault class build in Space Marine II depends on how resources like veterancy and requisition are spent on upgrades. Optimizing a build should be focused on primary weapon selection. Unfortunately, the Assault class is prohibited from equipping a primary weapon, instead forcing builds to emphasize melee upgrades.
Luckily, this class rewards melee proficiency with a couple of unique weapons. The 
Thunder Hammer is a slow but punishing armament that pairs nicely with the jetpack ability. For this reason, resources are best spent on maxing out the Thunder Hammer.
First, the good news. The Assault class is quite useful for cooperative missions. In Operations Mode, when the squad is facing Tyranid swarms, a charged Thunder Hammer attack will clear out groups of enemies quickly. Additionally, against elite enemies, the Thunder Hammer can deal substantial damage when timed correctly.
Now for the bad news. Assault builds are significantly disadvantaged in PvP due to the lack of primary weapons and a quick time-to-kill. Fear not, though, as skillful play combining secondary weapon damage output with jetpack mobility will allow the Assault class to contribute to team objectives in Eternal War.
Best Secondary Weapon: Heavy Bolt Pistol
Assault Builds Will Need To Rely On Secondary Weapons
Whether playing Operations or Eternal War, Assault marines will frequently rely on the 
Heavy Bolt Pistol. When parrying incoming Tyranid attacks or waiting for the jetpack special ability to charge, this sidearm is your best friend. It has a slower fire rate than the standard 
Bolt Pistol but deals more damage.
Also, it provides range damage where the build’s melee weapon cannot (apart from the special ability). Most importantly, swinging a melee weapon in PvP is a death sentence. Assault marines need to shoot the pistol often and use the jetpack to evade enemy fire.
|
Heavy Bolt Pistol Perks |
Perk Tier |
Perk Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Great Might |
Standard |
Extra range damage against terminus enemies |
|
Death Strike |
Master Crafted |
Boosts damage after melee kills |
|
Close Combat |
Master Crafted |
Increased damage at close range |
|
Perceptual Precision |
Master Crafted |
Reduced weapon spread |
|
Perceptual Penetration |
Master Crafted |
Increased armor damage |
|
Gun Strike Reload |
Master Crafted |
Automatically reloads weapon after gun strike |
|
Head Hunter |
Artificer |
Headshots deal more damage |
|
Adamant Hunter |
Relic |
When health is low, deal increased headshot damage |
|
Extended Magazine |
Relic |
Increased ammunition |
In PvP, wield the heavy bolt pistol as a primary weapon while waiting for the jetpack ability to charge. Time-To-Kill is fast, so rushing into combat with a melee weapon is not advisable.
Best Melee Weapon: Thunder Hammer
Become Thor With The Thunder Hammer To Attack Enemies From The Air
If you’re looking for a reason to choose the Assault class in Space Marine II, it’s the Thunder Hammer. A unique weapon to this class, the Thunder Hammer is a powerful crowd-clearing tool. While it might be slow in swing speed compared to melee counterparts like the 
Chainsword, its high damage output is punishing. The coolest part? It pairs with the jetpack special ability.
When fully charged, launch into the air to deliver a thunderous blow to unlucky enemies. However, don’t expect to get away with blind swinging in PvP, where guns reign supreme. Not without its drawbacks, the Thunder Hammer is still one of the most satisfying weapons to use in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II.
|
Thunder Hammer Perks |
Perk Tier |
Perk Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Perpetual Strength |
Standard |
Increased melee damage |
|
Fast Preparation |
Master Crafted |
Aftershock charge reduced |
|
Perpetual Strength |
Master Crafted |
Increased melee damage |
|
Shattering Impact |
Master Crafted |
Increased Radius for ground slam |
|
Seizmic Chain |
Master Crafted |
grants follow-up attack after ground slam |
|
Perpetual Strength |
Artificer |
Increased melee damage |
|
Armored Strength |
Artificer |
Increased melee damage at full armor |
|
Hard Target |
Artificer |
Take less ranged damage when performing light attacks |
|
Chaos Slayer |
Artificer |
Increased damage against chaos marines |
The PvP parrying window is not forgiving and more difficult to pull off against enemy players in Eternal War. You’re better off using a secondary weapon, since assault class defaults to an increased
perfect dodge
window.
Best Perks: Assault Class
Select Perks To Maximize Heavy Bolt Pistol, Let The Thunder Hammer Do The Rest
Fully upgrading the Heavy Bolt Pistol and the Thunder Hammer is ideal for this class. Yet, there is still more to do. Selecting the right perks will optimize this build for viability in PvE or PvP environments. It’s particularly crucial for the latter, given how disadvantaged assault builds can be in Eternal War.
Boosting the Heavy Bolt Pistol is your priority. In either game mode, the Assault build’s lack of primary weapon power means relying on the sidearm for range damage. The Heavy Bolt Pistol’s damage, range, and ammo capacity should be maxed out.
|
Assault Class Perks |
Perk Tier |
Perk Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Armor Reinforcement |
Core |
Gun strikes restore armor |
|
Auxiliary Arsenal |
Core |
Increased ammunition |
|
Knowledge of the Enemy |
Core |
Increased melee damage to elite enemies |
|
Proven Efficiency |
Team |
Squad deals increased gun strike damage |
|
Hammer of Wrath |
Gear |
Eliminate stagger after ground slam |
|
Zealous Blow |
Gear |
A ground pound kill partially restores jetpack charge |
|
Manoevuerablility |
Gear |
Jetpack charges faster |
|
Pride and Duty |
Gear |
After ground pound kill, deal increased damage |
|
Ample Ammunition |
Signature |
Increased ammunition after using jetpack |
Even with the right perk selection, knowing when to launch an aerial attack takes awareness and skill to ensure the ground slam is successful.
Challenge & Reward
The Satisfaction Of The Thunder Hammer Makes The Assault Class Worth Playing
Accept the challenge of optimizing the Assault class for a satisfying combat experience. Without a primary weapon, understand how to make the most of the tools at your disposal. Since Assault marines are expected to play aggressively, they get the benefit of having a jetpack. Use the jetpack to dodge or initiate encounters.
This build is viable for both PvE and PvP, but play style is fundamentally different between modes. Once you feel the power of a max Assault build, it will be hard to equip anything but the Thunder Hammer in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II.
Source: Legacy Gaming/YouTube
