Iron Marines+ Seek and Destroy Veteran Challenge Guide

To beat the Seek and Destroy challenge on Veteran difficulty in Iron Marines+, you must systematically destroy the designated Fell nests across the map while controlling unit attrition. Veteran difficulty increases enemy burst and sustained damage, punishing static defense and uncoordinated pushes. Clear each pocket completely, focus long-range fire on bio-structures, and kite back when a spawner collapses to survive the resulting counterattack.

Squad Composition and Unit Roles

Replacing eliminated squads drains Ether and halts your momentum. Field a balanced squad that pairs durable frontline units with long-range anti-structure firepower.

Position your Hero at the front of your formation to trigger enemy ambushes and draw initial aggression. Once the hostile group locks onto the Hero or heavy frontline, pull them slightly back into range of your Snipers and Marines. Hold your Hero's area-of-effect abilities until enemy swarms physically converge on your line rather than spending them on early scouts.

Step-by-Step Spawner Assault Priority

Fell structures produce reinforcements while under attack. Eliminate external threats before committing your damage to the primary hive.

1. Clear the Outskirts: Purge peripheral burrows and local creeps around your starting perimeter before advancing down central paths. Leaving flanking burrows active exposes your squad to rear ambushes during deeper pushes.
2. Eliminate Ranged Acid Mortars: Locate biological artillery and acid mortars placed on ledges or behind obstacles. Order Elite Snipers to destroy them from outside their engagement range to prevent splash damage from decimating clustered infantry.
3. Focus Down the Hive: Direct your Snipers to fire continuously at the core spawner. Form a defensive semi-circle with your frontline units and Hero to intercept incoming defenders while the structure burns down.
4. Disengage and Reset: The moment the hive collapses, pull your units back to previously cleared ground to recharge shields and restore wounded squads before moving to the next objective marker.

Managing Retaliation Waves and Preserving Ether

Destroying a major Fell hive triggers an immediate retaliation wave from surrounding burrows. When a target structure drops below 10% durability, halt forward movement and prepare your defense:

• Reposition Backline Units: Move Snipers onto open ground away from blind corners and unpurged terrain.
• Deploy Tactical Consumables: Place drop barriers, landmines, or orbital strikes along choke points leading back toward your exit path, saving heavy ordnance for clusters of multiple hives.
• Execute a Controlled Retreat: Do not hold ground on bio-creep terrain. Pull your squad backward through narrow corridors while firing, allowing your Hero's crowd-control abilities and sustained Marine fire to funnel and destroy the wave without encirclement.
• Prevent Full Squad Losses: When an individual squad member reaches critical health, pull the squad behind your frontline. Keeping at least one squad member alive avoids paying full reconstruction costs, allowing fallen troops to reinforce at a lower logistical toll.