Fencing, Balance, and Block are weapon defence types in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 that affect how parrying functions. Learn the key differences between Fencing, Balance, and Block, why you should choose Fencing, and how to choose between these types here.

Fencing, Balance, and Block Defence Explained

Only Affects Parry Timing

The three Melee Weapon defence types affect how forgiving the parry windows are when attempting a Perfect Parry against enemy attacks. Fencing enhances the parry window compared to the Balance type, allowing you to parry much earlier or later. Meanwhile, Block disables parrying altogether, turning all attempted parries into a block instead.

It's worth noting that the Bulwark's shield blocking mechanic is unaffected by these melee weapon defence types.

Parry Timing and Perfect Parry

Fencing is the Best Defence Type

The Fencing defence type significantly extends parry windows, making it easier to parry enemies. This defence type is highly recommended for all classes, especially on higher difficulties where successful parries are crucial for recovering Armor, and triggering Executions and Gun Strikes to heal Contested Health.

Perfect Parry Update Timing for Fencing Defence

As of the Season One free update patch released on Sept. 26, 2024, the Fencing defence type perfect parry window has been reduced from 30 frames to 20 frames, with the last remaining 10 frames as a vulnerability window.

This makes parry spams less useful against enemies, and will now require more disciplined timing for enemy attacks.

Patch Notes and Updates

Is Balance and Block Worth It?

Balance defence is a good option if you want to sacrifice some extra parry windows for better stats on your weapon. The difference is not that noticeable if you have already mastered parrying against Majoris enemies and higher. You will just find it a bit more trickier simultaneous attacks like ones from Minoris groups.

Block, while often giving superior base stats, is trickier to use and does not give you gun strikes due to having no perfect parry window. Receiving an attack from Majoris enemies and higher during your parry animation can also push you back. In its current state, Block is only useful if you are more used to a dodge playstyle.

Why Choose Fencing?

Perfect Parries in High-Pressure Situations

Fencing is strictly the best defence type among the three, especially in high-pressure situations when surrounded by enemies. It allows for a Perfect Parry even if your timing is slightly off—whether early or late—enabling you to follow up with Gun Strikes and Executions.

The wider parry window with Fencing also makes it easier to parry attacks without the blue parry indicator, such as those from Majoris, Extremis, or boss enemies.

Parry Timing and Perfect Parry

Best For Classes With Primary Weapons

Since Fencing weapons typically trade off stats like Strength, Cleaving Potential, or Speed, they are best suited for classes that can rely on Primary Weapons to compensate for these stat losses on their melee weapons.

Classes like the Assault and Bulwark rely heavily on their melee weapons for most of their damage, so they should carefully consider using Fencing weapons. While it's still recommended to use a Fencing weapon, it's worth having loadouts with higher Cleaving Potential or Speed for specific situations.

All Classes and Abilities

All Fencing Weapons

Weapon Type	Variants
Chainsword	Chainsword (Drogos Reclamation) Chainsword (Aquilan Dedication)
Combat Knife	Combat Knife (Master-Crafted - Beta) Combat Knife (Salvation of Bakka) Combat Knife (Ophelian Liberation - Alpha)
Power Fist	Power Fist (Achortan Oath - Beta) Power Fist (Aggamedes's Gift - Beta)
Power Sword	Power Sword (Master-Crafted - Gamma) Power Sword (Achortan Oath) Power Sword (Gathalamor Crusade)
Thunder Hammer	Thunder Hammer (Master-Crafted - Beta) Thunder Hammer (Salvation of Bakka - Beta) Thunder Hammer (Ophelian Liberation - Beta)

The list above shows all the Fencing weapons available for each weapon type. Most classes have access to Fencing weapons, except for the Heavy Class, which cannot use Melee Weapons. The Vanguard, Assault, and Bulwark classes, however, have multiple options to choose from as their Melee Weapon.

List of All Melee Weapons

How to Change Defence Type

Change via Weapon Upgrades

The Defence stat of your weapon can be changed by upgrading them to have the defence type that you want. Hovering over the weapon upgrade would show a preview of the stats changes that will happen with one of them being the defence type.

What is Defence?

Stat for Melee Weapons

Defence is a stat exclusive to melee weapons. It is one of the important stats that dictate how the weapon performs - similar to stats like Strength, Speed, and Cleaving Potential.

Dictates the Perfect Parry Window of a Melee Weapon

Defence dictates the perfect parry window of your weapon. Knowing how much window you have for parrying in Space Marine 2 will affect how well you can defend against multiple melee attacks from Minoris swarms and Majoris elites and highter.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

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