You're standing knee-deep in Xenos guts, the sky over Kadaku is screaming with Spore Mines, and your squad just pulled off a perfect parry-chain. You want to celebrate. You want to show that Chaos Marine across the arena that his dark gods are losers. But then you realize you’re fumbling with the controller because you can’t remember which direction on the d-pad triggers the salute.
It happens to everyone.
Space Marine 2 emotes aren't just for show; they are the soul of the game's social layer. Saber Interactive knew exactly what they were doing when they built these animations. They aren't the goofy, dance-heavy emotes you see in Fortnite. There’s no "Griddy" here. Thank the Emperor for that. Instead, we get weight. We get the heavy clank of Ceramite. When a Bulwark bangs his power sword against his shield, you actually feel the impact through the screen. It’s gritty, it’s loud, and it’s deeply rooted in Warhammer 40,000 lore.
Where Your Emotes Actually Live
If you’re looking for the menu to swap these out, you’ve gotta head to the Armoury Hall. Don't go looking for a "social" tab in the main pause menu while you're planetside—you'll just get eaten by a Ravener.
Once you're in the Armoury, you need to interact with the console where you customize your class. Navigate over to the "Appearance" tab. From there, you'll see a sub-section specifically for animations and victory poses. It’s a bit tucked away, honestly. Most players spend all their time looking at pauldron colors and forget that their Space Marine 2 emotes are just as customizable as their wargear.
The game uses a radial wheel. On a controller, you’re usually holding down on the D-pad to bring it up. On PC, it's mapped to a specific key—usually 'G' by default, though many players move it to a mouse side-button for quicker access during the chaos of Operations mode.
The Best Ways to Get More Emotes
You don't just start with everything. That would be too easy. Most of the really cool stuff is locked behind the Season Pass or specific heraldry unlocks.
Basically, you’re spending Requisition points and Armoury Data.
- The Heraldry System: This is the meat of the progression. You go into the heraldry menu, find a specific Chapter—like the Ultramarines, Dark Angels, or Space Wolves—and you buy your way through their tiers. Some of these tiers contain specific emotes that reflect that Chapter's personality.
- Victory Poses: These are slightly different. You don't trigger these manually. They play at the end of a successful Operation when your squad is standing on the extraction ship. They’re still technically under the "emote" umbrella in the game's code, but they function as your "GG" to the rest of the team.
- DLC Packs: If you’ve got the Macragge’s Chosen or the Ultramarines Cosmetic Pack, you already have access to a few high-tier animations that standard players have to grind for.
It's kinda funny how much the community loves the "Brother" salute. It’s simple. It’s iconic. It’s the universal sign for "I saw you save me from that Warrior, and I appreciate it."
Why Emotes Matter in Operations Mode
Communication in Space Marine 2 is... well, it's loud. Between the chainsword revving and the constant screaming of "FOR THE EMPEROR," voice chat can get drowned out. Or, if you're like me, you're playing with randoms who don't use mics at all.
This is where Space Marine 2 emotes become a tactical tool.
I’ve seen squads use the "Halt" or "Point" gestures to coordinate who is taking the stimm pack and who is grabbing the Guardian Relic. It’s much faster than typing in the chat box while a Hive Tyrant is breathing down your neck. There's a certain unspoken language that develops in high-level play. A quick salute at the start of a mission builds morale. A "Victory" roar after a brutal wave of Tzaangors lets off steam.
Honestly, the weight of the animations is what sells it. If these were floaty or fast, they wouldn't feel like Warhammer. When your Marine moves, it should feel like a tank shifting gears. Saber nailed that.
The Problem With Emote Animation Locks
There is one big thing people get wrong, and it gets them killed.
You can't "cancel" every emote instantly. In some games, if you start a wave and an enemy jumps you, the game snaps you back to combat stance immediately. In Space Marine 2, there’s a tiny bit of "recovery time" for some of the longer animations. If you decide to do a complex weapon flourish right as a Lictor decloaks behind you, you’re going to take a hit.
You've gotta be smart about when you flex. Don't be that guy who tries to emote over a dead Zoanthrope while the rest of the swarm is still closing in. It's embarrassing.
Customizing Your Wheel for Efficiency
You have multiple slots on your radial wheel. Most people just leave the defaults, but that's a mistake. You should organize them by "Utility" and "Flavor."
Put your fastest, most visible signals on the top and bottom slots. These are your "Look over here" or "Thank you" gestures. Put the longer, more flamboyant stuff—the ones where you're swinging your sword around or doing a deep bow—on the side slots. This prevents accidental triggers when you're trying to move fast.
The game actually allows for quite a bit of expression depending on which Chapter you're representing. A World Eater (if you're playing Chaos in Eternal War) isn't going to have the same "vibe" as a rigid Ultramarine. The animations reflect that stoicism versus the raw aggression of the Traitor Legions.
Future Updates and What’s Missing
Right now, the list of Space Marine 2 emotes is solid, but it’s not huge. Compared to something like Destiny 2, it feels a bit lean. However, looking at the roadmap provided by Focus Entertainment, we know more are coming with every seasonal drop.
People are already clamoring for more Chapter-specific stuff. Where is the "Wolf howl" for the Space Wolves? Where is the "Secretive whisper" for the Dark Angels? The potential for lore-accurate social cues is massive.
We also haven't seen "interactive" emotes yet—things like high-fives or chest bumps that require two players. Given how much this game emphasizes the "Battle Brothers" aspect, it feels like a missed opportunity that will hopefully be corrected in a future patch.
Managing Your Requisition Points
Don't go spending all your Requisition on emotes early on.
👉 See also: Why the Hippocamp Minecraft Mod (Old) Still Matters in a World of New Updates
Seriously.
In the early game, you need those points for weapon upgrades and perk unlocks. An emote won't help you kill a Carnifex faster. It’s tempting to buy that cool "Duty" salute as soon as you see it in the Ultramarines heraldry tree, but wait until you've at least got your primary weapons up to "Master-Crafted" or "Artificer" tier.
Once you hit the mid-to-late game (around level 15+ on a class), you'll start having an excess of Requisition. That's when you go on a shopping spree. That's when you turn your Marine from a generic soldier into a decorated veteran with the swagger to match.
Actionable Next Steps for Players
If you want to make the most of your social presence in the game, do these three things right now:
- Check your Heraldry: Look through the "Unknown" chapters. Many players don't realize that some of the best animations are buried three or four levels deep in a Chapter they don't even play. You can unlock the emote without wearing the armor.
- Practice the "D-Pad Quick-Tap": Get used to the timing of your radial wheel in the Barge before you head out. You want to be able to fire off a salute in under a second.
- Sync with your squad: If you play with friends, try to coordinate your victory poses. Having three Marines all doing different "Ready for Battle" stances at the end of a mission looks significantly cooler than three guys just standing there.
Space Marine 2 is a game about the power fantasy of being an unstoppable demi-god. The emotes are the exclamation point at the end of that sentence. Use them, but don't let them be the reason you end up as Tyranid food.
Crucial Insight: The "Salute" emote is actually recognized by some NPCs in the Battle Barge. While it doesn't grant a gameplay buff, it’s a neat little detail that shows the level of polish Saber put into the atmosphere. Use it near the ship's crew and watch their reactions.