Carnifex Fight WH40K SM2
Screenshot by Prima Games

How to Beat Carnifex in Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2

Those are some cute claws you have there.

Carnifex is a terrifying boss in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. It looks like a big alien brute (like your typical Tyranids), but it has a deceitful way of attacking because of its size. The boss can be difficult, especially if you are playing alone or with AI versions of Gadriel and Chairon. Here’s how to beat Carnifex in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.

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How to Defeat the Carnifex Boss in Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2

There are two Carnifex boss encounters throughout the Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 campaign, but you can expect the same scenario or fight mechanics in both fights.

Carnifex doesn’t have any “unique” attack or mechanic that makes the fight hard. It mostly has moderately dangerous attacks, such as ramming you at full speed with its body, jumping or hopping to a random target with a slicing attack, and your typical melee attacks when you are close.

However, it is the place that makes everything harder. In the first Carnifex encounter, you’ll fight him in an enclosed area. There is a big space in the middle, but it is hard to run around when Carnifex is constantly running, ramming, and jumping around from target to target.

In this fight, you want a good short-range, fully automatic rifle. The Bolt Carbine and other similar weapons are the best weapons for the fight because they allow you to be more flexible when dodging and shooting.

When Carnifex is attacking another target, unload everything you have on the boss. You can also find some throwables like grenades around the sides of the arena. Throw all these, and it’ll help deal with the extra Tyranid enemies that will spawn later.

How to Beat the Second Carnifex Boss in Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2

The second encounter with Carnifex will be on a much more open stage. Since you are outdoors, you’ll have plenty of space to move around. However, this fight is slightly more difficult because there’s an endless wave of Tyranids that will support the Carnifex.

You’ll need another fast weapon and a versatile melee weapon like a Power Sword or Chainsword. If the swarm gets too overwhelming, you can switch to your melee weapon and thin out the swarm. You have no choice but to ignore the Carnifex because if the swarm gets big enough, you’ll constantly find yourself staggered or stunned until you are down.

Conveniently, there are tons of explosives lying around the area. Look into the pillars to find them. Use these on the swarm so you have more time to shoot the Carnifex. There’s also a Multi-Melta weapon, which is sort of a special weapon in the game. This weapon is one of the strongest weapons in the game, and it is rarely available throughout the campaign. Enjoy this weapon while you can.

The Multi-Melta blasts a wide radius or cone in front of you, dealing massive damage to the Carnifex. It also one-shots every Tyranid swarm in the radius, which makes it great for damaging Carnifex and clearing the swarm. You’ll have enough Multi-Melta rounds and explosives to deal with the boss until it’s dead.


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About the Author

Enzo Zalamea

Enzo is a staff writer at Prima Games. He began writing news, guides, and listicles related to games back in 2019. In 2024, he started writing at Prima Games covering the best new games and updates regardless of the genre. You can find him playing the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Path of Exile, Teamfight Tactics, and popular competitive shooters like Valorant, Apex Legends, and CS2. Enzo received his Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management in De La Salle University and multiple SEO certifications from the University of California, Davis.