Malum Caedo: The Vanguard of Ultramar
Protagonist of the retro-FPS hit Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Malum Caedo enters Warhammer Survivors as the gold standard for durable, frontline brawling. Combining thick power armor, steady ballistic knockback, and scaling defensive stats, Caedo is both the most beginner-friendly hero and a staple for high-difficulty stage clears.
For an overview of how Caedo compares with the rest of the 40+ hero roster, consult our Champions Tier List and master Evolution Recipes List.
The Malum Caedo Meta Build
This build centers around maximizing Caedo's innate armor scaling while providing overwhelming 360-degree explosive firepower.
1. Primary Weapons (6 Slots)
- Boltgun $\rightarrow$ Heavy Bolter (Core): Max this weapon first. Its explosive concussive blasts push back swarming Gaunts. Read our Boltgun Evolution Guide.
- Chainsword $\rightarrow$ Eviscerator Chainsword (Defense): Provides a 360-degree perimeter cleave with life-leech healing. Read the Chainsword Evolution Guide.
- Lasgun $\rightarrow$ Meltagun (Boss DPS): Essential thermal beam for rapidly burning down Extremis bosses. See the Lasgun Evolution Guide.
- Power Fists $\rightarrow$ Gauntlets of Ultramar (Shockwave): Heavy ground slams that crush heavily armored warriors. See Power Fist Combos.
- Whirlwind Battery $\rightarrow$ Orbital Bombardment (Screen Clear): Automatically targets distant spawn waves.
- Tempest Axes $\rightarrow$ Whirlwind Axes (Lightning Orbit): High-speed circling axes that shred aerial and fast flankers.
2. Required Passive Relics (6 Slots)
- Dice Cube (Mandatory): Evolution catalyst for the Boltgun; gives global critical strike chance. Learn more in our Dice Cube & Passives Guide.
- Tape Measure (Mandatory): Evolution catalyst for the Chainsword; expands all weapon blast radiuses by up to +50%.
- Gauntlet (Mandatory): Evolution catalyst for Lasgun and Power Fists; grants flat armor that stacks with Caedo's trait.
- Liquid Green Stuff: Increases projectile duration and damage for artillery and ground fire.
- Bugman's Tankard: Grants flat health regeneration and max HP scaling.
- Sabaton: Increases movement speed, allowing Caedo to evade telegraphed boss charges.
Leveling & Chest Progression Timeline
| Time Marker | Key Action & Objective |
|---|---|
| 00:00 – 03:00 | Focus exclusively on leveling the Boltgun. Draft the Dice Cube and Gauntlet as soon as they appear. |
| 05:00 | Slay the first elite mini-boss and collect the Golden Chest to evolve into the Heavy Bolter. |
| 05:00 – 10:00 | Draft the Chainsword and Lasgun; upgrade them while farming dense mid-stage swarms. |
| 10:00 | Defeat the 10-minute Extremis boss to unlock the Eviscerator Chainsword or Meltagun. |
| 15:00 – 20:00 | Complete remaining weapon evolutions; your defensive perimeter should now be impenetrable. |
| 20:00 – 25:00 | Face the stage boss. Stand at medium range, let the Meltagun fire continuously, and collect the victory. |
Surviving the Extremis Bosses
Caedo's armor allows him to survive glancing blows from bosses that would instantly kill squishier champions. However, direct hits from telegraphed attacks—such as the psychic beams covered in our Norn Emissary Boss Guide or the sweeping cleaves in the Ghazghkull Thraka Boss Guide—must still be dodged.
Invest your run earnings into permanent account perks via the Armoury Meta Progression to make Caedo an immortal juggernaut of the Imperium.
