Space Marine 2 Vanguard Class Guide & Best Loadout

The Vanguard class is Space Marine 2’s dedicated psychopath (especially if you play as the World Eaters). It’s an incredibly fun class to play, and although it definitely has its specific moments it’s useful. If you’re struggling to pick up the class, this Vanguard class guide will teach you everything there is to know about the class.

The Ideal Loadout For the Vanguard Class

The Vanguard class is the dedicated melee specialist of Space Marine 2 (along with the Assault that is). But because of the Vanguard’s unique ability, you have to play him a bit differently than you would the other classes. That extends to his loadouts too.

In PvE, always go for the Melta Rifle, it’s one of the best weapons in Space Marine 2 for a reason. Your other two primary weapon options are carbines, both of which are sub-par at even the best of times. For melee, choose the Chainsword, as it has the most cleave potential and it’s quite formidable against bosses as well.

In PvP it’s a bit trickier to choose the ideal weapon loadout as weapons tend to unlock much later than they would in PvE. Thankfully, you get the Combat Knife right from the get-go. The Combat Knife should be your primary weapon from there onwards as it’s generally the best melee weapon for PvP engagements.

How to Play the Vanguard Class in PvE

To play the Vanguard class efficiently in PvE you have to learn how to chain-stun enemies effectively. Both the Combat Sword and the Chainsword have a few attack combos that can stun enemies. As a Vanguard, always go for the beefier enemies and leave the mobs to your allies.

Remember, when fighting against Tyranids, killing a warrior will automatically kill any Gaunts nearby. It’s a similar case when fighting against Chaos. Always aim for the Chaos Space Marines and especially the Chaos Sorcerers, as those can revive fallen enemies indefinitely.

The Krak Grenade is the grenade type that pairs best with the Vanguard, as you can easily close the distance and stick it onto the larger foes. Even when using the Melta Rifle, always close the distance as much as you can before firing as that’s when you’ll do the most damage.

Another thing worth mentioning about the Vanguard in PvE is that it’s one of the best classes to practice parrying with. Not only will you always be in melee when playing the Vanguard, but you also have perks that increase your parry window. Parry timing is one of those skills that transfer over to any class, so make sure to get a feel for it as soon as possible.

How to Play the Vanguard in PvP

Playing the Vanguard in PvP is a whole nother ball game compared to playing it in PvE. For starters, the time to kill is significantly lower in PvP, and considering how the Vanguard is already one of the squishier classes, you’ll have to compensate by adapting your playstyle.

Never take fights in open spaces as the Vanguard, this just leaves room for the enemy team to take you out with ranged fire. In addition to that, never take enemies head-on unless they’re a Sniper or a Heavy, as those are the two weakest classes in melee.

Before jumping into PvP, play some rounds of PvE. Get accustomed to parrying as a Vanguard, as that is the most useful skill you can have for PvP. Because of how hectic combat is in PvP, most players don’t even bother with parrying. Parrying will be your saving grace instead of your armor, so learn it well.

The last tip for playing as a Vanguard in PvP is flanking. Always try to flank your enemies before hitting them with your ability. The Vanguard takes out enemies with a flurry of blows, if the enemy can anticipate that flurry then you effectively become a sitting duck.

General Tips for Playing as the Vanguard in Space Marine 2

The more you play around with the Vanguard the more apt you’ll become with him. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind and even incorporate into your play style.

• Use the Grapple Launcher to get away from melee. It’s just as efficient a tool for disengaging as it is for engaging enemies.
• When in combat, use dodges to move around. Whenever you dodge you get invincibility frames. Use this tactic especially when you get swarmed.
• Learn which moves give you invincibility frames and how to trigger them.(Executions, Dodging, Shooting the enemy after parrying.) Not only will these save you but they’ll also restore part of your armor.
• In PvP, whenever an enemy enters your combat range—start dodging. You don’t have the armor to win a shootout, so make yourself harder to hit as you close the distance.

And that’s everything there is to know about the Vanguard class in Space Marine 2. Don’t forget to check out our Space Marine 2 guides hub for the latest guides regarding SM2.