Boltgun 2 guide: Malum vs Nyra, Chaos factions and tips
Boltgun 2 guide: pick Malum Caedo or Nyra Veyrath, learn how the four Chaos factions fight, plan the branching campaign and see the Oct 20 patch changes.
Checked against Oct 20, 2026 patch on 7 Nov 2026. We re-test every guide after major updates; if something changed, tell us.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is a fast, retro-styled boomer shooter where you choose between the Ultramarine Malum Caedo and the Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath and carve a path through a branching campaign of Chaos-infested worlds. This Boltgun 2 guide explains which character to pick, how the four Chaos factions fight, how the branching campaign works, and what the latest patch changed, using the developer's own posts.
What Boltgun 2 is
Boltgun 2 picks up directly after the end of the first game and was developed by Auroch Digital, with Big Fan Games and Devolver Digital as publishers. It released on 14 October 2026 and costs $24.99 on Steam. The game runs on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and Auroch Digital confirmed it is Steam Deck Verified. If you missed the original, the Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun article is a handy refresher, though the sequel is easy to jump into on its own.
The developers describe the pitch as more enemies, more weapons and new ways to purge. The campaign is single-player and branching, you can take on more than 30 levels across never-before-seen worlds, from the heights of a hive city to jungle swamps and the heart of the Ark of Omen. If you are new to the series, think of it as a modern take on classic fast shooters, where constant movement matters more than cover.
Malum Caedo or Nyra Veyrath?
The biggest decision happens before the first level. Each character has a separate kit, so this choice defines how you play. The developer's recap of the two:
| Malum Caedo | Nyra Veyrath | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Sternguard Veteran of the Ultramarines | Sister of Battle Celestian |
| Signature weapon | Boltgun and Chainsword | Power Sword and Bolt Pistol |
| Movement | Chainsword launches him toward heretics; Obliterating Charge | Fervent Slide for vertical and horizontal agility |
| Explosive | Frag grenades | Melta Bomb for tank-busting damage |
| Feel | Heavy, relentless brawler | Swift, nimble flamethrower specialist |
Malum's Chainsword lets him launch himself at any heretic in sight, while his Obliterating Charge returns from the first game with new visuals and more power. Nyra's Fervent Slide lets her clear cultists in her path and reposition quickly, and her Melta Bomb can wipe out whole crowds. The Steam description frames Malum as the formidable, unrelenting force and Nyra as the swift one who torches enemies and leaves ashes behind.
Which should you pick? If you like closing the distance and tanking the fight, start with Malum. If you prefer to keep moving and play with fire, pick Nyra. Because of the branching campaign, you will want a second run with the other character anyway.
How the branching campaign works
You chart your own course across the galaxy through more than 30 levels, and each planet brings its own environments and challenges. Because the campaign branches, the developers say it is impossible to see everything in one playthrough, so you must choose which regions to visit and which to surrender to the archenemy. That has two practical consequences for players:
- Do not worry about missing levelsYou are not meant to see everything on one run. Pick the route that suits your character and come back later.
- Use the Continue button correctlyFollowing the 20 October patch, Continue now loads only campaign save files, so keep your campaign saves in order.
- Plan a second playthroughSwitching between Malum and Nyra, and taking different branches, is the fastest way to see new levels and enemies.
On some planets, the Death Korps of Krieg also join the battle. The developers call them relentless troops who may lack strength but make up for it in fanatical loyalty. They are the first allies Malum has had in the series, so treat them as distractions that pull enemy fire.
Weapons and combat basics
Both characters draw on a wide arsenal, including bolters, flamers, stakethrowers, shotguns and a heavy flamer. The Steam page highlights the lethal chainsword, the shotgun that blows enemies into pixels, and the flamer for setting enemies alight. Two combat principles carry across the whole game:
- Never stop moving. The game is built on constant motion, and enemy ranged attacks are designed to be dodged, not tanked.
- Match weapon to threat. Use the shotgun and flamer on swarms, heavy ordnance on armoured enemies and the melee options when you need a gap-closer.
- Use the navigation tools if you get lost. The optional navigation guide and automap are there so you can stay at the centre of combat.
- Save explosives for bosses. Grenades and Melta Bombs are powerful enough that they are best kept for tough, armoured targets.
Based on player feedback from the demo, the developers also changed several handling details: the Bolt Pistol magazine grew from 6 to 8 bullets, Nyra can now melee while reloading her Bolt Pistol, Malum's Charge now has knockback and the Ice World blizzard is less dense. These are small changes, but they tell you the game rewards aggressive, mobile play.
Chaos factions and how to beat them
The sequel finally lets you fight all four Chaos gods, with more than 40 new enemies. Here is how the official faction posts describe each of them and how to approach them:
| Faction | Notable enemies | How to approach |
|---|---|---|
| Nurgle | Poxwalkers, Plague Marines, Blightlord Terminators | Poxwalkers rise from the ground in regenerating swarms, so use area damage. Plague Marines are resilient and their plague belchers create hazard zones. Blightlords use a flail that makes corrupting energy erupt around them. |
| Tzeentch | Rubric Marines, Scarab Occult Terminators, Screamers, Flamers, Horrors | Rubric Marines flood the arena with Inferno Bolter and Soulreaper Cannon fire. Scarab Occult Terminators are slow but phase-shift when targeted and redeploy rapidly. |
| Khorne | Bloodletters and their daemonic Juggernauts | A near unstoppable force that charges hungry for blood. Keep your distance and keep moving. |
| Slaanesh | Daemonettes, Noise Marines | Daemonettes leap gracefully around the battlefield, while Noise Marines use devastating sonic weapons. |
The developers say they gave the bosses extra design attention, aiming for the thrill of beating something that feels insurmountable without making them bullet sponges. That is why learning weak points matters. The 20 October patch notes mention the Lord of Skulls' neck weak point, which tells you where to aim during that fight.
Preparation matters before big fights. Check your ammunition and grenades before you enter a boss arena, learn the attack pattern in the first minute rather than rushing damage, and remember that the final encounter is accompanied by a guest track from composer Mick Gordon, which the developers highlight as a feature of the game. Treat that last fight as the exam for everything you learned about dodging and weak points earlier in the campaign. If a boss kills you, note what it telegraphed before the hit landed, because the bosses are designed to be readable rather than random.
Latest patch: 20 October
Auroch Digital released a patch on 20 October. The notes cover:
- Menu fix. The Continue button now exclusively loads Campaign save files.
- Crosshair options. You can change opacity and scale, or turn the crosshair into a dot.
- Performance. A major performance issue on the Nurgle Nightmare chapter was fixed.
- Crash fix. A fatal error on launch affecting users with an Intel Core Ultra CPU and outdated drivers was resolved.
- Softlocks. Fixes covered the level complete screen after deleting autosaves, two Lord of Skulls softlocks and a Daemonette that could phase out of bounds in the last purge of The Trenches.
If you hit a bug, the developer asks players to use the bug report form linked from the Boltgun 2 FAQ page.
Quick tips for your first hours
- Learn one enemy type at a time. Each faction forces a different movement habit, so notice what each one telegraphs.
- Adjust the crosshair. The new options can reduce visual noise during crowded fights.
- Check settings for accessibility and performance. The game supports Steam Deck, so lower settings if you play handheld.
- Replay with the other character. Nyra and Malum play so differently that a second run feels like a different game.
If you enjoy the Warhammer universe from a different angle, the same studio's new Warhammer Survivors beginner guide covers the bullet-heaven spin-off that features Malum Caedo as a playable champion.
FAQ
When did Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 release?
It released on 14 October 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and costs $24.99 on Steam.
Who are the playable characters in Boltgun 2?
You can play as Malum Caedo, a Sternguard Veteran of the Ultramarines, or Nyra Veyrath, a Sister of Battle Celestian. Each has their own abilities, weapons and playstyle.
How long is the Boltgun 2 campaign?
The branching campaign has more than 30 levels, and the developers say you cannot see everything in a single playthrough.
Is Boltgun 2 Steam Deck compatible?
Yes. Auroch Digital announced that it is Steam Deck Verified.
Which Chaos factions appear in Boltgun 2?
All four Chaos gods are represented: Nurgle, Tzeentch, Khorne and Slaanesh, with more than 40 new enemies across them.
Find more on the Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 hub, browse all game guides, and read the official Steam news feed and the developer FAQ for patch updates.
Has finished every FromSoftware game at level 1. Writes the boss guides and checks them on every patch.