For weeks, a key piece of equipment in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 left players scratching their heads: the Sanctified Wrath Reliquary. While its damage boost in Patch 11.1 seemed substantial, it often failed to produce the devastating hits expected in high-level play. Was it bugged? Undertuned? Or simply misunderstood? Theorycrafters debated endlessly while build-focused players hesitated to rely on it.
Patch 11.2, seemingly a minor hotfix, turned out to be one of the most important updates for end-game builds. It didn’t simply nerf or buff the Reliquary—it corrected the game’s underlying damage math. Saber Interactive confirmed that the Reliquary now applies its bonus multiplicatively, “as originally intended”, rather than additively. This recalibration has meaningful consequences for build optimization, PvP encounters, and end-game meta strategies.
Let’s break down what went wrong, why Patch 11.2 is a massive win for min-maxers, and how your builds should evolve.
The Bug Explained: Additive vs. Multiplicative Damage
At its core, the issue centered on how damage bonuses stack. Space Marine 2 uses a formula where bonuses from different categories multiply, while bonuses within the same category add together. Understanding this distinction is key.
-
The Bug (Patch 11.1):
The Reliquary’s 35% melee damage bonus was incorrectly added to other “Melee Damage Bonus” sources. In already stacked builds, this led to severe diminishing returns—the 35% looked impressive, but the final damage increase was often underwhelming. -
The Fix (Patch 11.2):
The 25% bonus now functions as a multiplicative multiplier, calculated after all other bonuses. This ensures the full bonus consistently applies, significantly boosting optimized, high-damage builds.
Think of it like building a wall. The bug added another brick to a long, single row (35%). The fix creates a new layer of bricks (25%) atop your existing wall, producing a much taller, stronger structure.
Patch-by-Patch: The Sanctified Wrath Journey
| Patch Version | Damage Bonus | Calculation Type | Developer Status | Player Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.0 (Launch) | 25% | Intended Multiplicative (Bugged) | Not Functioning Correctly | Inconsistent, underperforming |
| 11.1 (Dec 4) | 35% | Additive (Bugged) | Incorrect Implementation | High number, low real damage |
| 11.2 (Dec 15) | 25% | Multiplicative (Corrected) | "As originally intended" | Lower number, significantly higher actual output |
The takeaway: Patch 11.2 corrected the 11.1 additive bonus, returning it to its original intent while making it far more effective in real gameplay.
What This Means for Your Builds
For Min-Maxers:
The Reliquary is now a top-tier choice. Its multiplicative effect shines when paired with:
-
Class perks
-
Weapon bonuses
-
Battlefield conditions
High-damage builds, such as Thunder Hammer Assault, benefit most dramatically.
For Casual Players:
Even without stacking every bonus, you’ll notice more reliable and impactful damage. The Reliquary now behaves predictably, enhancing melee gameplay without confusion.
Community Response
Theorycrafters are celebrating, but players still have requests:
-
Broader Damage Application: Many want the bonus to affect all damage types, not just melee.
-
Unaddressed Bugs: Missing Salamanders Cosmetic Pack and Heroic weapon glitches remain.
-
Performance Issues: PS5 and Ryzen PC players still report stuttering and frame drops.
Patch 11.2 solves a core math issue but leaves several community priorities untouched.
The Bigger Picture: Foundation for Future Balance
Fixing Sanctified Wrath is more than an item tweak. It demonstrates Saber Interactive’s commitment to correcting foundational mechanics. In Patch 11.0, the developers increased the netcode damage cap—a change they warned would “open a huge can of worms for gameplay balancing.” Patch 11.2’s correction ensures that these systems now behave predictably, providing a solid base for future balancing efforts.
Final Verdict
Yes—Patch 11.2 definitively fixed the damage scaling bug for the Sanctified Wrath Reliquary. The smaller percentage is not a nerf; it’s a more powerful, consistent bonus when applied multiplicatively.
For players who enjoy deep build optimization, this is a game-changing improvement. Your charges into Tyranid hordes will now deliver exactly the carnage the Emperor—and the designers—intended.
🔗 Community & Resource Links
Focus Entertainment Community Hub – Official patch notes, hotfix announcements, and developer blog updates
r/SpaceMarine (Reddit) – Active player discussions, build theorycrafting, and patch reaction threads
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Patch 11.2 vs 11.1 Explained
Comments
Post a Comment