Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide – How To Purge Heretics Like A Pro

This Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide is a complete, no-nonsense breakdown of how to play better in Warhammer 40k’s boomer-shooter spin on the 41st Millennium. We’ll walk through weapons, movement, enemies, secrets, and combat strategy so you can rip through heretics with maximum efficiency. Whether you’re new to Warhammer 40K: Boltgun or trying to crank up the difficulty, this guide focuses entirely on mastering Boltgun’s systems and getting the most out of every mission in the Warhammer 40k universe.

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun is the game that asks a very simple question: what if you could literally be a Space Marine in a 90s-style FPS and turn heretics into chunky salsa at 120 frames per second? If you’ve fired up your sacred boltgun only to get shredded by Chaos hordes, this Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide is here to fix that.

This article breaks down how the game actually works moment-to-moment: optimal weapon use, movement tech, armor and health management, difficulty considerations, and how to handle each enemy type. The goal is to help you play sharper, move faster, and survive longer while keeping that classic Warhammer 40k power fantasy fully intact.

What Is Warhammer 40K: Boltgun In The Warhammer 40k Universe?

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun is a retro-inspired first-person shooter set firmly in the grimdark Warhammer 40k universe. You play as an Ultramarines Space Marine on a purging mission, armed with iconic weapons like the boltgun, chainsword, and plasma gun while fighting Chaos cultists, Chaos Space Marines, daemons, and warped war machines.

Think of it as a fast-paced “boomer shooter” — chunky pixels, tight levels, huge enemy counts — but all filtered through classic Warhammer 40k lore, imagery, and weaponry. You’re not a fragile human grunt; you’re a post-human demigod in power armor, and the game’s systems are built around that brutal, unstoppable feel.

This Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide focuses on making that fantasy play as good as it looks. That means:

• Understanding each weapon’s niche and swap rhythm.
• Learning how to use movement, jump packs, and verticality.
• Managing health, armor, and resources mid-fight.
• Reading enemy types and threat levels at a glance.
• Adjusting to higher difficulties without feeling like you’re just eating cheap deaths.

Core Gameplay Basics In Warhammer 40K: Boltgun

Under the stylized retro visuals, Warhammer 40K: Boltgun has a very modern feel. If you want to stop dying in big arenas or getting pinned by Chaos Marines, nail these fundamentals early.

Movement And Positioning

Your Space Marine is heavy, but not slow. You can sprint, jump, strafe, and bunny-hop through levels. Movement is survival.

• Always be moving: Standing still is how you get melted by plasma or surrounded by melee units. Keep strafing and changing directions.
• Use verticality: Stairs, ledges, and platforms let you kite melee enemies and break line of sight from ranged elites.
• Peek, don’t face-tank: Duck behind pillars or walls, pop out to burst enemies, then reposition. You’re tough, not invincible.
• Circle the arena: In large fights, constantly rotate around the room rather than backing into corners.

Armor, Health, And Resource Management

Your survivability in Warhammer 40K: Boltgun hinges on balancing aggression with resource control.

• Health vs. armor: Armor soaks damage first; health is your last line. Top up armor whenever it’s safely possible.
• Don’t over-pickup: Avoid grabbing big health or armor pickups when you’re nearly full. Clear part of a fight, take a hit or two, then loop back.
• Ammo discipline: Certain weapons excel vs. certain enemies; don’t waste heavy ammo on trash mobs you could easily boltgun or chainsword.
• Route memory: Mentally mark where large medkits and major armor are located in each arena so you can fall back to them mid-fight.

Difficulty And Playstyle

On lower difficulties, you can lean into the “unkillable demigod” fantasy. On higher ones, you need to respect every projectile and prioritize threats properly. This Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide assumes you want to get better, not just breeze through.

Think tactically, even when the game looks like pure chaos:

• Open fights with your strongest burst weapon.
• Kill or disable elite shooters first.
• Clean up melee and fodder while rotating through the arena.

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Weapons Guide

Your arsenal is the heart of this Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide. Every weapon has a specific job, and the game rewards quick swapping instead of holding down left-click with one gun for the entire level.

The Sacred Boltgun

The iconic boltgun is your bread-and-butter. It fires explosive .75 caliber mass-reactive rounds — lore-accurate and brutally effective.

• Role: Mid-range all-rounder.
• Best vs: Cultists, light Chaos infantry, mid-tier daemons.
• Strengths: Good damage, safe ammo usage, accurate enough for medium distances.
• Weaknesses: Can feel underpowered vs. heavily armored elites if you rely on it exclusively.

Tips:

• Use the boltgun as your “default” weapon when entering new areas.
• Tap-fire at mid-range to conserve ammo and keep accuracy high.
• Swap to heavier weapons the moment you see armored Chaos Space Marines or large daemons.

Chainsword

The chainsword is your melee solution, and it’s far more than a panic button.

• Role: Close-range execution tool.
• Best vs: Isolated enemies, weak trash mobs, low-health elites you can safely rush.
• Strengths: No ammo cost, huge damage up close, insanely satisfying.
• Weaknesses: You’ll get shredded if you rush into crowds or ranged groups.

Tips:

• Use it to finish off stragglers after softening them with ranged fire.
• Don’t dive into big clusters; instead, pick off the edges or chase lone enemies.
• On easier difficulties, you can chainsword more aggressively; on higher, treat it as a situational tool.

Shotgun-Style Weapons (If Available In Your Loadout)

Many boomer shooters — and Boltgun follows suit — give you a brutal close-range blast option. When you have a shotgun or similar spread weapon, treat it as a mid-tier power tool.

• Role: Close-to-mid burst damage.
• Best vs: Clumped enemies, mid-health foes that rush you.
• Strengths: High burst, great for ambushes or choke points.
• Weaknesses: Falls off heavily at range.

Tips:

• Use corners: let enemies rush into your line and delete them as they turn into your LOS (line of sight).
• Swap to shotgun when you know a fight will funnel enemies toward you in tight corridors.

Plasma And Heavy Weapons

Plasma guns, heavy bolters, and other high-damage tools are your “answer key” to the nastier threats in Warhammer 40K: Boltgun.

• Role: Elite and big-target deletion.
• Best vs: Chaos Space Marines, heavy daemons, big armored units, turret-like threats.
• Strengths: Massive damage, often with good range and accuracy.
• Weaknesses: Limited ammo, potential self-harm or overkill if used carelessly.

Tips:

• Open a fight by instantly destroying the deadliest target with heavy weapon fire before swapping back to boltgun.
• Always “bank” some ammo: don’t go to zero unless you’re sure there’s a pickup nearby.
• Use them for priority targets, not random cultists.

Grenades And Special Tools

Any explosive option in Warhammer 40K: Boltgun is less about raw damage and more about control.

• Role: Area denial and crowd thinning.
• Best vs: Packs of enemies, tight choke points, enemies behind cover or corners.

Tips:

• Pre-throw into areas you know are packed or where enemies are about to spawn.
• Use explosives to soften groups, then clean up with boltgun or shotgun.

How Combat Encounters Work In Warhammer 40K: Boltgun

Combat in Boltgun is about fast reads: which enemies are present, where they’re spawning from, and how you can kite them through the space without getting boxed in.

Reading The Arena

When you step into a new combat arena:

• Scan the room fast: Look for high ground, cover, and escape routes.
• Note pickups: Health, armor, and ammo locations are your lifeline once the chaos starts.
• Expect waves: Many fights spawn enemies in stages; don’t blow all resources on the first wave.

Enemy Priority Targets

Not all enemies are equal. This Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide recommends a simple priority system:

1. Ranged elites (Chaos Marines, heavy shooters, sorcerers): They shred you if ignored.
2. Mid-range harassers: Enemies that chip away at you while you’re busy with others.
3. Melee rushers and fodder: Dangerous in groups, but manageable with movement and AoE.

As a rule: if something can beam you from across the room, it dies first.

Combining Movement And Weapons

Your ideal combat loop in Warhammer 40K: Boltgun looks something like this:

1. Enter new area with boltgun out, scanning for elites.
2. Spot a high-priority target – quickly swap to plasma/heavy and delete it.
3. Swap back to boltgun, start circle-strafing or orbiting the arena.
4. Use chainsword or shotgun on anything that gets too close while you keep moving.
5. Rotate toward health/armor pickups as your resources dip, using corners to break line of sight while you recover.

Enemy Types And How To Deal With Them

Every enemy in Warhammer 40K: Boltgun fits into a recognizable archetype. Learn how they behave and your survival odds skyrocket.

Cultists And Fodder Enemies

These are your basic heretics: lightly armed, lightly armored, deadly in large numbers if you ignore them.

• Threat: Low individually, high in swarms.
• Counter: Boltgun bursts, shotgun blasts, explosives.

Tips: Don’t waste heavy ammo on them. Use them to practice constant strafing and aim tracking.

Chaos Space Marines

These are the mirror image of you: armored, armed, and cruel.

• Threat: High – they hit hard and can take a beating.
• Counter: Plasma, heavy bolter, or dedicated anti-elite weapons.

Tips:

• Peek them from angles, never trade damage in open sightlines.
• Focus-fire one at a time; don’t spread your damage.
• Use cover to break their line of fire, then pop out to deliver bursts.

Daemons And Warp Monsters

These enemies often have erratic movement or dangerous melee.

• Threat: Varies – some are pure rushers, others have nasty ranged attacks.
• Counter: Boltgun mid-range, heavy weapons for larger ones, constant movement.

Tips: Keep them at mid-range where your accuracy and damage are high but their melee can’t connect.

Bosses And Mini-Bosses

Big, tanky, and usually designed to anchor entire arenas around them.

• Threat: Extremely high if you tunnel vision or stop moving.
• Counter: Learn patterns, save heavy ammo, maintain arena rotation.

Tips:

• Don’t stand still trying to burn them down; chip away while clearing smaller enemies.
• Use the arena itself: pillars, levels, and corners are your best friend.

Advanced Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide Strategies

Once you’ve got the basics, these advanced strategies will help you push higher difficulties and cleaner runs.

Weapon Swap Combos

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun rewards fast swapping more than mindless spraying. Think in “combos”:

• Heavy opener → boltgun finisher: Open with a plasma burst on a Chaos Marine, then swap to boltgun to finish the last sliver of health.
• Shotgun blast → chainsword: Against mid-tier enemies, blast them as they close, then finish with a melee swing.
• Grenade → boltgun: Use explosives to scatter or soften groups, then pick off survivors with precise fire.

Corner Traps And Choke Points

Don’t just charge headfirst into open rooms. Instead:

• Trigger enemy spawns, then retreat to a narrower passage.
• Use shotguns or explosives where enemies are forced to funnel together.
• Backpedal and strafe along walls so enemies can’t fully surround you.

Pre-Fighting And Scouting

Before major fights:

• Reload all weapons and mentally note your ammo levels.
• Scan the room for good fallback positions and resources.
• Start fights with your best weapon already in hand, not the chainsword by accident.

Secrets And Exploration

Boltgun hides secrets in classic retro-FPS fashion – hidden walls, tucked-away ledges, and off-path corridors.

• Look for visual clues: Slightly misaligned textures, suspicious walls, or platforms that look reachable.
• Explore between fights: After clearing an area, sweep it for secrets before exiting.
• Secrets matter: They often contain extra health, armor, or strong ammo that make the next fight much easier.

Common Mistakes Players Make In Warhammer 40K: Boltgun

This Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide wouldn’t be complete without calling out the habits that get most players killed.

1. Standing Still And Face-Tanking

Even as a Space Marine, you can’t just eat damage forever.

• Never stand still in open sightlines.
• Always be strafing, jumping, or repositioning, especially vs. ranged enemies.

2. Over-Relying On One Weapon

Using only the boltgun or only the chainsword cripples your effectiveness.

• Swap based on enemy type, distance, and urgency.
• Save heavy ammo for true threats instead of dulling it on fodder.

3. Wasting Health And Armor Pickups

Grabbing a full medkit at nearly full health is a huge waste.

• Try to pick up big resources only when you’re at least missing a meaningful chunk.
• Mentally route your escape path through known pickup spots in each arena.

4. Ignoring Enemy Priorities

Focusing on the closest enemy instead of the deadliest gets you killed.

• Kill ranged elites and big damage dealers first.
• Use AoE or spray to keep fodder from swarming while you snipe the real threats.

5. Forgetting To Explore

Bee-lining straight to exits leaves tons of power on the table.

• Slow down between fights to look for secrets.
• Extra resources make higher difficulties dramatically more manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide

Is Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Hard To Learn If I’m New To Warhammer 40k?

No. You don’t need deep Warhammer 40k lore knowledge to enjoy Warhammer 40K: Boltgun. The game plays like a classic, straightforward FPS. This Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide focuses on mechanics, movement, and combat, which are easy to pick up even if you’ve never touched Warhammer 40k before.

What Weapon Should I Use Most In Warhammer 40K: Boltgun?

Use the boltgun as your mainstay weapon, and think of everything else as situational tools. Plasma and heavy weapons are for elites and big daemons, shotguns and explosives are for close-range packs, and the chainsword is for safe finishers. Swapping intelligently is more important than obsessing over a single “best” gun.

How Do I Survive Big Arena Fights?

Keep moving, prioritize ranged elites, and plan your route around the arena so you can pass by health and armor when you’re low. Start with your heaviest weapon to delete the scariest target, then rotate around with the boltgun while thinning out mobs. Never back yourself into a corner unless you’re deliberately using a choke point with a plan to escape.

Is It Worth Exploring Every Corner Of The Map?

Yes. Secrets often provide extra health, armor, or powerful ammo that make the next fights much safer. Exploring also teaches you map layouts, which helps with routing and kiting enemies later. In tougher difficulties, those hidden pickups can be the difference between barely scraping by and dominating an arena.

Should I Play Warhammer 40K: Boltgun On A Higher Difficulty?

If you enjoy fast, skill-based shooters, absolutely. Higher difficulties force you to apply the strategies in this Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide: movement, smart weapon swaps, enemy prioritization, and resource management. Start on a middle difficulty to learn the game’s rhythms, then bump it up once you’re comfortable.

Conclusion: Is Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Worth Mastering In Warhammer 40k?

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun is one of the purest expressions of the Space Marine fantasy in game form: loud, brutal, and unapologetically old-school. It’s absolutely worth mastering if you like fast-paced shooters or just want to live out the Warhammer 40k power fantasy with style.

By understanding your weapons, mastering movement, prioritizing targets, and respecting your health and armor economy, you’ll turn each mission into a controlled massacre instead of a frantic scramble. Take the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Tips & Guide strategies here, apply them in your next run, and you’ll be purging the enemies of the Imperium like a true veteran of the 41st Millennium.