Gladius - Space Marine Campaign Guide

This guide details each mission within the Space Marine Campaign and gives players insight into when they can pause to battle AI enemies, research technologies, and build up cities between missions.

Introduction

The campaigns in Gladius are an interesting addition to the standard 4X formula. They can often be a source of frustration rather than enjoyment due to large amounts of hostile forces attacking you. There’s nothing quite like losing a long game just as you were on the cusp of victory because of an event time limit or a massive invasion force.

There are three main campaign mission types:

Explore.
Produce.
Battle.

During Explore and Produce missions, it’s frequently possible to put your campaign progress on hold while you deal with AI enemy factions or build up your forces, but you rarely know what the campaign will ask of you next.

In this guide, we’ll take a quick look at the Space Marine campaign chapters to make it easier for you to decide when to march forward through the campaign and when to hold back.

As with all quests, you can choose to do this after your game ends in a normal victory if you don't want to risk also being attacked by another player.

If this guide helped you, please remember to rate it up so that it can help others too!

Also, check out my guides for the other races! https://steamcommunity.com/id/1N54N3/myworkshopfiles/?section=guides

Chapter 1 - Final Foundation

Produce

This is an easy objective that you'll accomplish the instant you deploy your next fortress and clear enemies from around it. Keep in mind that the neutral Webway gates can count as an "enemy" which will prevent this quest from updating.



Produce

Work on getting that requisition production up. Keep in mind that you'll need to produce heroes (specifically the Librarian for a coming quest) but waiting until this quest finishes can speed things up without the hero upkeep cost working against you. Bear in mind that the Fortresses of Redemption will give you that % bonus listed in yellow text on the special tiles. Every Outpost you capture that gives +20% Requisition will do so for your whole city, making them invaluable both in the early and late game.

Chapter 2 - Whispers Of Heresy

Produce

You'll need to produce a Librarian now. Sadly, the unit isn't very good honestly. I usually skip them entirely in the tech tree, but we need it here so let's do this.

As soon as you complete your Librarian tech, and move into tier 4, start researching and producing Predator tanks as you'll need beefier units soon.



Battle

The unit composition generally consists of 2 Scout Sentinels, 2 Heavy Weapons squads, and 4 Guardsmen squads. Nothing very dangerous at this point in the game, but make sure you don't have a lone hero or unit that gets caught unaware.



Explore

Nothing too serious. Take your Librarian out when you can to explore the tiles.

Chapter 3 - Citadel Of The Witch

Produce & Explore

This is a unique event from what I've seen of the quests. You need to produce and send the units to the marked tile. Until you do so, that tile will continue to spew out Necron Warrior units about every 3 turns. They are usually nothing too dangerous, but they should be dealt with as they appear so they don't harass or build up. The tile that produces the Necrons seems to be randomized based on reports from other players. It may be prudent to keep a small force near each one.

Thanks Ash & Neurotoxin.

Chapter 4 - The Emperor's Will

Produce

This is a simple step that'll happen eventually. Although it is a good idea to start boosting your Research production if you haven't already done so.

I would also recommend at this point you begin claiming all of the city tiles you can. You'll want all the cover bonuses available to you once the final fight begins.



Explore

Assuming you already have Orbital Scan researched, this is very simple. However, I will note that if you are only doing this for the rewards, and don't want to achieve a quest victory, this is a good spot to stop. Alternatively, if you are going to finish the quests, now is a great time to finish researching high tier units and upgrades and producing a formidable army while also relocating that army to your base.



Battle

This will trigger a battle that at this point in the game, will be quite easy. It'll consist of a Level 8 Fortress of Redemption accompanied by 2 Guardsmen squads, 1 Leman Russ tank, 1 Bullgryn unit, and 2 Heavy Weapon teams.



Explore

Snag that device, and move it back to your base. You'll want it at your city center, as you'll have to protect it eventually.

Chapter 5 - Litany Of Devotion

Produce

Well...we know where this is headed. Produce the 3 Geneseed Bunkers when you are able to. There will be more steps before the final battle begins, so don't be afraid to proceed.

Chapter 6 - The Rites Of Passage

Prepare

All you have to do here is press a big red button. This is something you should only do when you feel confident in your Technology and Army. Once activated, you'll be facing a non-stop 20 turn onslaught by high tier Necron units. Make sure you have all the units and upgrades you want or need and have your units at your base before proceeding.



Battle

This is it, the beginning of the end. You'll be fighting for 20 waves in an invasion style fight meaning that the units will spawn all around your city and head straight for it. It seems that 4-5 units are spawned every other turn, and can consist of any Necron unit in the game. Expect to see Annihilation Barges, Doomsday Arks, and/or Monoliths in every wave that spawns. The enemies will start between Level 6-8 which will boost their health and damage considerably...since these units already have high HP, this can be problematic if you are unprepared. For instance, a Level 8 Monolith will have 87 HP and 8 Armor.




Battle

After 10 turns, things will actually ramp up even harder with Doomscythes and Obelisks. Continue holding your line, repairing units as needed, and using your city tiles for damage reduction advantages.


Eventually, you'll be victorious as long as you survive and maintain control of that device. Keeping it adjacent to your city center is very helpful.





Congratulations!!

[Insane]

@Casually Weird I'm glad I could help out. Every race currently has a guide except for the dark eldar, which I am currently working on. I hope they can all offer some assistance.

[Casually Weird]

This was a nice, straight to the point Guide for a wonderful game!
Got this game because I heard good things about it and I've just started dabbling into the 40k stories and wanted to experience some great battles. Needless to say I had a lot of fun and this guide was very helpful for when I didn't exactly understand what I had to do to progress the story.
Thank you!

[The Bishop]

@Insane Thanks!

[Insane]

@The Bishop Yes, you'd need to have quests turned on when the game starts, and then just complete the objectives later. I'm not sure if this approach still works, but it used to over a year ago :)

[The Bishop]

"As with all quests, you can choose to do this after your game ends in a normal victory if you don't want to risk also being attacked by another player."

Is this an option you can turn on and off within the game, or does this mean you start a new game with quests turned on and just ignore them until after you've won?

[Insane]

It is now, thanks for reminding me, I had forgotten. Lol.

[Neurotoxin]

You didn't updated it -.-

[Insane]

Oh, interesting. Thanks for the info, I'll update the guide.

[Ash]

When I've finished Whispers Of Heresy, necrons started to spawn from the second Vaul ruins my Librarian have visited. I've replayed that chapter again and this time it was first visited ruins that spawned necrons. I suppose spawn point is random now.