Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Boom Weapons Guide

If you’re wondering what the Boltgun Boom weapons lineup actually looks like before you dive into Nitro Games’ mobile take on Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, here’s the short version: it’s built around the same chunky, over-the-top arsenal that made the original PC and console game a cult hit, just reworked for touchscreens. Expect a bolter-first loadout backed by heavy weapons, a melee chainsword, and grenades, all tuned for fast, aggressive combat rather than cover-shooting.

Quick answer

Boltgun Boom is Nitro Games’ mobile adaptation of Auroch Digital’s Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, and it carries over “iconic Warhammer 40,000 weapons” and chapters from the original series, according to Nitro Games itself. The developer hasn’t published a full mobile weapon-by-weapon breakdown, but since the mobile version reuses content and assets from the PC/console release, the core arsenal you should expect lines up with the original game’s roster: the Bolter, Heavy Bolter, Shotgun, Plasma Gun, Meltagun, Volkite Caliver, Grav-Cannon, Vengeance Launcher, grenades, and the Chainsword for melee. Controls and some mechanics were reworked for touch input, so handling will feel different even where the weapon names and roles stay the same.

The basics

Boltgun Boom launched globally on iOS and Android on September 23, 2026, after Nitro Games took over the mobile port from original developer Auroch Digital, who supported the move with assets, advice, and feedback. It’s sold as a premium release with no ads or energy systems, which already sets it apart from most free-to-play mobile shooters. You play as the Ultramarine Malum Caedo, tearing through cultists, traitors, daemons, and war machines across a single-player campaign that spans multiple worlds, with hidden paths tucked into the levels.

The game keeps the retro, 90s-style “boomer shooter” identity of the original: pixel-art visuals, exaggerated gore, and fast, momentum-based combat that rewards staying aggressive instead of hiding behind cover. Nitro Games has said the touch controls and some systems were specifically reworked rather than just ported over, with an emphasis on keeping aiming and movement responsive on a phone screen.

Tips for using the Boltgun Boom weapons

1. Lean on the Bolter as your default. In the original Boltgun, the standard Bolter remains useful the entire game because of its special ammo types — Kraken bolts for punching through armor, Dragonfire rounds for hitting enemies through cover, and Vengeance rounds for dealing with armored Chaos Space Marines. If Boltgun Boom keeps this system, switching ammo type on the fly rather than switching weapons is going to be your fastest way to deal with different enemy types.
2. Don’t sleep on the Chainsword. It’s the only melee option in the source game, and it’s genuinely strong for finishing off weakened enemies quickly without burning ammo. It struggles against heavily armored targets, so use it to clean up crowds rather than as your answer to everything.
3. Save the Grav-Cannon for big, armored threats. Its gravity-field damage scales up against heavier enemies, which makes it one of the better tools against tough single targets and small groups at once.
4. Use the Meltagun at close range only. It melts through armor and vehicles effectively, but its range is short. On a touchscreen, that means you need to commit to closing distance before you fire, so don’t try to poke with it from mid-range.
5. Treat the Plasma Gun as a slow, reliable option, not a panic button. It hits medium-armored enemies hard, but the slow projectile speed, slow fire rate, and small magazine mean it’s not great when you’re being swarmed. Use it when you have a clear shot, not when you’re already surrounded.
6. The Heavy Bolter trades control for raw output. High fire rate and heavy damage come with real recoil and fast ammo consumption. It’s a strong panic weapon for clearing a room, but it’s not the most ammo-efficient choice for general use.
7. Save the Volkite Caliver for finishing weakened, unarmored enemies. Its beam is strong against soft targets but needs a steady aim to land consistently, which is worth remembering on touch controls where tracking a moving target is harder than with a mouse.
8. Time your Vengeance Launcher shots. Its explosive, delayed-detonation rounds are good against groups and agile enemies, but the delay means you need to lead your shots. Firing it reactively, right as an enemy is on top of you, usually costs you more health than it saves.
9. Use the Shotgun as a last-resort close-range panic weapon. It’s devastating up close against softer enemies but falls off hard at any real distance, so don’t carry it as your main loadout weapon if you’re fighting in open arenas.
10. Keep a grenade in reserve for choke points. The standard grenade shows its blast radius before you throw it, which makes it a reliable way to soften a group before they close the distance on you, especially useful since mobile touch aiming makes crowd control trickier than on PC.

Mistakes to avoid

• Don’t stick to one weapon the whole game. Boltgun’s arsenal is built around swapping tools for different enemy types. Treating the Bolter (or whatever you default to) as a universal answer will make tougher fights take much longer than they need to.
• Don’t ignore ammo types if the mobile version keeps them. In the original game, a lot of the Bolter’s value comes from switching between Kraken, Dragonfire, and Vengeance rounds rather than from the base weapon itself.
• Don’t play passively. This is a boomer shooter built around constant forward momentum. Hanging back and peeking from cover works against the game’s pacing and usually gets you swarmed instead of keeping you safe.
• Don’t underestimate melee. New players often avoid the Chainsword entirely because it feels risky to get in close, but it’s genuinely one of the more efficient tools for clearing weakened enemies without wasting ammo.
• Don’t assume touch controls behave exactly like the original scheme. Nitro Games reworked some mechanics specifically for mobile, so muscle memory from the PC or console version won’t transfer one-to-one. Spend a few minutes in an early level getting used to aiming and weapon-switching before you push into harder content.

FAQ

Is Boltgun Boom the same game as the original Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun?
It’s an adaptation, not a straight port. Nitro Games built mobile-specific controls and mechanics on top of content and chapters from the original Auroch Digital game, so the setting, enemies, and weapon identities carry over, but the handling is different on a touchscreen.

Is Boltgun Boom free-to-play or paid?
It’s a premium release. Nitro Games has specifically pointed out that it ships without ads or an energy system, which is unusual for a mobile shooter and worth knowing going in if you’re used to free-to-play mobile games.

Which weapon should I upgrade or use first in Boltgun Boom?
Based on how the original game plays out, leaning on the Bolter early and picking up the Chainsword for melee gives you the most flexibility, with heavier options like the Grav-Cannon and Meltagun becoming more useful once you’re facing tougher, more armored enemies.

Have you gotten your hands on Boltgun Boom yet? Let us know which weapon is working best for you in the comments.

Source(s):
Nitro Games press release via Capital.com — Boltgun Boom released on mobile
Pocket Gamer — Boltgun Boom coming to mobile
Pocket Gamer — Boltgun Boom dev team interview
DroidGamers — Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Boom
TheGamer — Warhammer 40K Boltgun: Best Weapons Ranked
Gamer Journalist — All Weapons in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

If you’re gearing up for more mobile shooters, check out our Pixel Gun 2 codes or see which mobile game controllers can make aiming on a touchscreen easier.

I’d lean on the Chainsword way more than most new players expect — free kills on weakened enemies without burning ammo is exactly the kind of resource efficiency that matters once the harder chapters show up.