The Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developers have made a bold gameplay decision that would likely earn the Emperor's approval - granting the Bulwark class access to the mighty Thunder Hammer, purely because it's an awesome concept.
Rule of Cool Trumps All
Saber Interactive's Siege Update (Patch 8), currently on Public Test Realm for PC, introduces this controversial but exciting change. While Thunder Hammers were previously exclusive to Assault classes for obvious two-handed requirement reasons, Bulwarks can now wield this iconic weapon - with one major tradeoff.
The brutal catch? Choosing the Thunder Hammer means sacrificing the Bulwark's signature Storm Shield, along with all related abilities like Shield Bash. This fundamentally alters the class's tank-oriented playstyle.
What makes this change particularly noteworthy is Saber Interactive's refreshingly honest explanation:
"We're doing this simply because it's incredibly badass and unfair that only one class gets to smash xenos with Thunder Hammers." The developers promise more Bulwark gameplay enhancements are coming soon.
Siege Mode Arrives With Brutal Battles
The major PvE addition is Siege Mode - an endless wave survival challenge set across three fortress locations on Kadaku. Players will face increasingly difficult Tyranid and Chaos Space Marine assaults with brief strategic breathers between waves.
Key features include:
- Dynamic side objectives providing critical resources
- The ability to summon elite reinforcements (even a Dreadnought!)
- Specialized shop system for upgrades between waves
- Brutal boss fights every fifth wave
- True endless mode after surviving fifteen waves
Customization & Balance Changes
Beyond the headline features, Patch 8 brings significant updates:
- Major customization overhaul preview (coming later)
- Substantial Bulwark perk reworks to accommodate Thunder Hammer
- Absolute Difficulty gets much tougher with enhanced Terminus enemies
- Numerous weapon and class balance adjustments
- Quality-of-life combat improvements
The update goes live June 26 alongside new Season 4 content including White Scars Chapter cosmetics. While this patch focuses on Siege Mode, Saber confirms more significant updates are planned including a new class and PvP mode.
This comes despite the surprise reveals that work has already begun on Space Marine 3 - proving Saber's commitment to supporting this installment alongside future projects.
