Yes, you can play Operations solo in Space Marine 2. Set your Operations lobby to Private mode and the game fills the other two squad slots with AI bots, and since Patch 8.0 you can even switch the bots off and take an Operation on completely alone. You do need to be online for your progress to count.
Below is how to set up a solo run, what bots do and do not do, the offline catch, which modes support bots, and how to make solo play easier. Everything is verified against Saber Interactive’s and Focus Entertainment’s official patch notes and community updates, up to Hotfix 15.2 on October 20, 2026.
How Solo Operations Work
Operations in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 are three-player PvE missions. When a slot has no human in it, a bot takes it. Solo play has worked this way since launch, and Patch 3.0 in September 2024 added a dedicated Private mode for Operations that, in Saber’s words, gives players “ability to play operation alone with bots or alongside one friend without being matchmaked with random players during the mission.”
Bots follow the squad rules too. Saber’s FAQ says an Operations squad can include only one Space Marine of each class, so your bots will always be classes other than yours.
How to Play an Operation Solo
- Open Operations on the Battle Barge and pick your mission and difficulty.
- Switch the lobby to Private. This stops random players from being matched into your mission.
- Decide on bots. Leave them on for two AI teammates, or use the option Patch 8.0 added to disable bot spawns in Private mode, which Saber pitched as “perfect if you’re looking for a challenge.”
- Set your loadouts. Since Patch 11.0, bots “automatically equip one of your loadouts” and use your class customisation, so the gear you have unlocked for other classes is what your bots carry.
- Launch the Operation and keep an eye on objectives: bots fight well, but you are the one driving the mission forward.
What Bots Can and Cannot Do
Saber has improved bots several times. Patch 3.0 eased the rules that kept them from finishing off enemies, let them help with Gargoyle objectives and made them focus-fire Zoanthropes when you attack one, and Patch 4.1 made them deal 30% more damage to bosses. Later patches fixed bots getting stuck, running out of ammo and refusing to follow you into the Exfiltration elevator.
What bots will never get is team perks. Focus explained in a December 2025 community update that bots “are not designed to have team perks because their combat capabilities already kind of include some of the team perks. They are going to be too strong if they have team perks.” The same answer sums up Saber’s view of solo play: “We would rather have players to play in coop than with bots. Bots are a fall back solution.”
That has build consequences. Classes that buff teammates lose value with bots, which is why players rate the Bulwark weaker solo. Our best class guide ranks every class for solo Operations, and our Bulwark build includes a solo variant.
Can You Play Operations Offline?
Only without progression. Focus’s August 2024 community update, published just before launch, says “PVE can be played offline, but you won’t have access to progression if you do not connect to the servers,” and adds that for Operations “you will need to be online to ensure your progress in PvE is saved.” Offline runs do not carry over perks, skins or rewards to your next session. The campaign is different: it saves offline on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Which Modes Support Solo Play With Bots
- Operations: yes, through Private mode, with or without bots.
- Stratagems: yes. Saber’s Patch 15.0 notes fixed a Stratagem bug “if playing solo or with bots,” and earlier patches fixed Battlefield Conditions that misbehaved with bots.
- Siege mode: yes. Focus describes Siege as “up to 3 players (either with friends or with 2 bots, just like in regular PvE),” and the bot toggle covers Siege private lobbies too. Our Chaos Siege mode guide covers the newest version.
- Battle Simulator: solo only by design. Patch 13.0 added it to the Battle Barge as a practice arena with a damage meter.
- PvP: no bots; it needs real players.
Tips for Solo Operations
- Pick a self-sufficient class. The Tactical is the usual solo pick because its Auspex Scan boosts your own damage; the Sniper is a common alternative.
- Give your bots good loadouts. Since they copy your loadouts, leveling weapons on other classes makes your bots stronger. Our Armoury Data guide covers upgrades.
- Expect Chaos missions to be harder. Game director Dmitry Grigorenko acknowledged in his community Q&A that “Chaos is more difficult to fight against Tyranids” and said “there will be some pass on this in the future.”
- Group up for the hardest content. If a mission stalls, Quick Match into a public lobby. Our crossplay guide explains who you can be matched with.
Our best weapons guide covers loadouts for every class, and every guide is on our Space Marine 2 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play Space Marine 2 Operations alone? Yes. Use Private mode and the game fills your squad with two bots, or switch the bots off to go fully solo.
Can you turn off bots in Space Marine 2? Yes. Patch 8.0 added an option to disable bot spawns in Private mode lobbies for Operations and Siege.
Do bots use your loadouts? Yes, since Patch 11.0. Bots automatically equip one of your loadouts and use your class customisation.
Do bots get team perks? No. Saber says bots are not designed to have team perks because they would be too strong.
Can you play Operations offline? You can, but your progress will not be saved. Operations need an online connection for perks, skins and rewards to carry over.