Helldivers 2 Tips and Tricks: Democracy Dies in Darkness

Helldivers 2 throws you headlong into the boots of an elite soldier fighting to save democracy from insectoid aliens. Teamwork, firepower, and a sprinkle of luck are essential for surviving this chaotic battlefield. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new recruit, these tips and tricks will turn even the most harrowing missions into glorious victories.

Sharpening Your Spear: Ship Upgrades and Armor Passives

Success on the battlefield starts before you even step into a drop pod. Your Helldivers ship, orbiting high above the planet, is more than just a fancy transport. It’s a mobile armory and your key to tactical superiority. Let’s break down how to customize your war machine for maximum efficiency:

Ship Upgrades: The Backbone of Your Power

Ship upgrades offer a wide array of improvements that can significantly impact your missions. Early on, some essential upgrades to consider include:

• Expanded Stratagem Slots: Stratagems are incredibly powerful tools, and more slots mean more options in the heat of battle.  Whether you need a resupply drop, an airstrike, or a defensive mech, more stratagem slots translate to more tactical flexibility.
• Faster Reinforcement Delivery: Sometimes, things go sideways. Faster reinforcements mean less downtime when you or a teammate gets downed. This upgrade might just save a mission from disaster.
• Improved Weapons or Resources:  Directly buffing your firepower or increasing the chance of vital sample drops can turn the tide on particularly challenging planets.

Armor Passives: Customizing Your Trooper

While ship upgrades affect your entire squad, armor passives allow you to fine-tune your individual Helldiver. Here’s how to strategically choose the right passives:

• The Close-Quarters Berserker: If melee is your thing, look for passives that increase melee damage, add knockback to your melee strikes, or even give you a temporary shield after melee kills. Become an unstoppable bug-crushing whirlwind!
• The Precision Sniper:  Long-range specialists benefit from passives that reduce weapon recoil, increase reload speed, or boost weak point damage. Every shot will hit its mark with deadly precision.
• The Support Specialist:  Sometimes, saving lives is as important as taking them. Consider passives that reduce the cooldown on your revive ability, let you carry more ammo, or increase the effectiveness of healing items.

There’s no single “best” combination of upgrades and passives. It’s crucial to tailor your choices based on mission parameters, your team’s composition, and your individual playstyle. Experiment and find what works best for you!

Mission Control: Your Path to Victory

In Helldivers 2, the fight for Super Earth is waged across multiple planets constantly under alien assault. Your Mission Select screen provides a strategic overview, and your choices here can significantly affect your team’s success. Here’s how to strategically pick your next mission.

Helldivers 2 campaigns revolve around three major fronts: the Bug War, the Cyborg War, and the Illuminate War. Each front represents a unique enemy faction, demanding specialized loadouts and tactics for success.  Select missions based on your team’s strengths, available gear, and overall campaign progress.

Every mission is assigned a difficulty level, indicated by skulls (ranging from one to five).  Higher difficulties offer greater rewards in terms of XP and research points. However, they also come with tougher enemies, more challenging objectives, and less room for error. Consider your team’s skill level and current gear before stepping up the difficulty too quickly.

Missions often contain a primary objective and several secondary objectives.  Completing secondary objectives grants additional bonuses at the end of the mission. However, side objectives sometimes add complexity or hazards. If your team is under-equipped or struggling, focus on the core objective first and secure a smaller, but certain victory.

Every mission win pushes back against the alien invasion on that planet. Keep an eye on the planetary influence bar. As influence decreases, you may encounter harder missions or even fearsome boss encounters. Conversely, completely liberating a planet can unlock new weapons and upgrades. Balance tackling difficult planets to gain rewards against keeping overall planetary influence in check across the campaign.

Optional modifiers add extra challenges (and rewards) to missions. These range from increased enemy numbers, to limited ammunition, or even environmental hazards.  Expert Helldivers can utilize modifiers to earn more XP and showcase their skills. Beginners, however, should approach modifiers with caution.

The Mission Select screen is a great place to coordinate with your squad. Discuss which missions suit your team best, which planets need the most help against the invasion, and if anyone is ready to crank up the difficulty for a high-stakes challenge.

The Art of Combat: Firing, Aiming, and Reloading

Helldivers 2’s combat may seem simple at first, but mastering the fundamentals is the difference between crushing bugs and getting crushed. Let’s delve deeper into the core mechanics:

While you’ll occasionally need to spray and pray, taking the time to line up your shots pays dividends. Helldivers 2 features accurate weapons with a satisfying kick, but careless firing will waste ammo and endanger your teammates.  Always prioritize controlled bursts over unloading your entire magazine.

Many enemies have glowing weak points. Aiming for these delivers critical hits and can swiftly neutralize even tough foes.

Variety is the spice of life – and survival! Most weapons feature an alternate fire mode accessed by holding the reload button.  These often provide dramatic combat shifts, for example:

• Shotguns to Slugs:  Swap buckshot for a powerful, long-range slug shot, perfect for taking out isolated targets.
• Charge Shot:  Certain rifles or pistols charge up a devastating blast, capable of vaporizing armored enemies.
• Burst Fire: Some weapons switch to a short, controlled burst,  ideal for close encounters where accuracy is crucial.

Experiment with alternate fire modes to tailor your weapon to evolving battlefield situations.

Reloading at the wrong time is a surefire way to end up as a bug snack.  Develop these essential reloading skills:

• Situational Awareness: Don’t reload as hordes close in. Seek cover, suppress the enemy, or utilize stratagems to buy some breathing room.
• Team Reload: The cooperative reload is a lifesaver. Stand close to a reloading teammate, and your own weapon instantly reloads as well. Master this to stay in the fight.
• Cancel and Adapt: Learn to cancel a reload animation by dodging or firing.  Sometimes, a quick dodge and burst of suppressive fire is better than a full reload when you’re under pressure.

In Helldivers 2, a stationary trooper is a dead trooper. Learn to strafe, dodge, and utilize cover between firing bursts. Even the best aim in the world won’t save you if a Behemoth catches you standing still!

Communication is Key: The Ping System

In the chaotic firefights of Helldivers 2, clear communication often spells the difference between victory and a gruesome end. Mastering the ping system will turn you into a beacon of vital battlefield information for your team:

A simple tap of the ping button highlights a point of interest in the world. This basic ping is your go-to tool for drawing attention to key locations or incoming threats.

The ping system gets even more powerful when used on specific objects:

• Objectives: Pinging mission objectives reminds teammates of priorities and helps focus everyone’s efforts.
• Enemies: A ping on a particularly dangerous foe, like a heavily armored tank-bug, instantly informs your allies of the priority target.
• Resources: Pinging samples encourages your squad to collect them, ensuring you have the resources for upgrades and future battles.
• Reinforcements:  Are you or a squadmate down?  A quick ping on your downed body urges allies to revive you quickly.
• Stratagem Beacons:  Pinging a teammate’s stratagem call-down beacon helps coordinate airstrikes or defensive perimeters in the heat of combat.

Helldivers 2 allows you to change which specific pings are available on your quick-select wheel. Tailor this to your playstyle and your squad’s preferred communication. Some popular choices might include:

• Help!:  A general-purpose call for assistance.
• Spread out!: Indicate to your allies that they’re getting too bunched up and risks everyone getting wiped by a single enemy attack.
• Fall Back!: Encourage tactical retreat when a situation becomes untenable.

There’s a fine line between helpful pings and spamming the system. Here’s how to be a good communicator:

• Be Specific: Pinging a single enemy is more useful than constantly pinging a general area.
• Don’t Overdo It:  Ping once or twice to highlight something.  Constant pings are distracting.
• Combine with Voice: If you have the time, clarify your pings with a quick voice command (“Tank Bug incoming!” or “Sample over here!”).

The ping system is incredibly powerful, but don’t neglect traditional voice chat if you’re playing with friends.  For fine-tuned coordination or explaining complex strategies, nothing beats clear voice communication.

The Currency of War: Understanding Your Resources

In the grim struggle against the alien hordes, both samples and research points are vital. Let’s analyze how they work, how to obtain them, and how to prioritize their use:

Collected from fallen enemies or special containers on the battlefield, samples are the foundation for upgrading your weapons, armor passives, and stratagems.  Here’s why sample collection is critical:

• Improved Firepower:  Upgraded weapons deal more damage, tear through armor, or boast larger magazines – essential for tackling tougher enemies.
• Enhanced Survivability: Improved armor passives offer a lifeline, granting bonuses like increased health, faster revives, or reduced cooldowns on abilities.
• Stratagem Might: Upgrading stratagems improves their effectiveness. A more powerful airstrike, a wider defensive perimeter, or resupply drops with more ammo can all swing the tide of battle.

Earned by completing missions, research points unlock cutting-edge technology to counter the alien menace.  These unlocks include:

• New Weapons: Experiment with a wider array of weapons, from precision laser rifles to devastating grenade launchers.
• Expanded Stratagems:  Air strikes, defensive mechs, automated turrets… the right stratagem can be a game-changer.
• Advanced Upgrades: Push your gear to the limit with high-level upgrades available only through research point investment.

Due to their critical role in gear progression, sample collection should be a top priority in most missions. Here’s a good guideline, but adjust it to your team’s needs:

• Early Missions:  Grab every sample you can find.  Weapon and passive upgrades will give you an edge in upcoming fights.
• Gear vs. Research: If you have a choice between picking up a sample or completing a side objective for a research point, opt for the sample, especially early in the game.
• Critical Unlocks: Sometimes, you desperately need a specific unlock. In those situations, prioritizing research points is justified.

Before each mission, analyze the expected enemy types. If heavy armor is likely, focus more on samples to upgrade anti-tank weaponry.  Conversely, missions against swarming Bugs might favor gear that enhances survivability.

Don’t Drop Blind: Essential Landing Strategies

The moment your drop pod hits the ground is a pivotal one. A well-executed landing ensures your squad starts the mission on the right foot, while disarray can quickly lead to disaster.

Helldivers fight as a team, and that starts the second your boots hit the dirt. Prioritize the following:

• Pod Placement: During the drop sequence, coordinate with your squad to land as close together as possible.
• Mutual Support: Upon landing, focus fire on any immediate threats near your teammates before spreading out.
• Don’t Be A Hero: Avoid lone wolf tactics. A small group is far more survivable than a single, isolated Helldiver.

The first few seconds after landing are for gathering intel. Utilize your ping system extensively:

• Call Out Threats: Ping incoming enemies, alerting your squad to prioritize dangerous targets.
• Mission Focus: Ping the primary objective to keep everyone moving in the right direction.
• Strategic Advantages: If you spot a defensive position, ammo crate, or advantageous terrain feature, ping it for your team.
• Resource Awareness: Don’t overlook samples! An early sample ping helps everyone gear up faster.

Not all drop zones are created equal. Helldivers 2 might throw these challenges your way:

• Enemy Swarm: If you land directly in the middle of a horde, prioritize controlled bursts to clear space and avoid getting overwhelmed. Utilize any stratagems with area-of-effect damage.
• Environmental Dangers: Some planets feature hazards like lava pools or toxic spores. Scan for these before landing, and position your squad to avoid immediate danger.
• Split Drops: If extreme terrain forces your squad to drop in separate locations, coordinate via voice chat and utilize pings to regroup as rapidly as possible.

Dropping into chaotic battlefields takes practice.  Start with lower-difficulty missions to hone your landing coordination and recon skills. As you progress, you’ll be able to seamlessly integrate your landing strategy into tougher missions.

The Core of the Mission: Main and Side Objectives

Understanding the difference between main and side objectives, and how they can synergize, will significantly enhance your squad’s chances of victory.

Your main objective is the absolute core of the mission. Failing it leads to immediate mission failure. Main objectives usually involve tasks such as:

• Extermination: Clear a specific area of all alien enemies.
• Activation: Interact with several objects in the level, like beacons, data uplinks, or evacuation shuttles.
• Sample Retrieval: Collect a certain number of research samples and deliver them to a designated location.
• Boss Elimination: Take down a particularly powerful foe to secure an area.

Side objectives offer lucrative rewards but are optional.  They often involve tasks like:

• Resource Collection: Locate a hidden cache of samples.
• Sabotage: Destroy enemy structures or equipment.
• Capture: Neutralize and secure a specific location.
• Assassination: Eliminate a high-priority target.

Deciding whether to pursue side objectives is a matter of balancing risk vs. reward and requires good tactical analysis:

• Mission Difficulty:  On low-risk missions, feel free to pursue every side objective.  On the toughest difficulties, however, completing side objectives may not be worth the risk of failing the main mission.
• Synergy:  Some side objectives directly make the main objective easier. For example, retrieving anti-tank weaponry before assaulting a heavily armored target.
• Team Capability:  Does your team have the gear and the skill to complete secondary objectives safely? Discuss it before committing to a risky side objective.

Always keep the main objective timer in mind. If time is running out, completing the main objective and escaping alive is far better than failing due to attempting too many side tasks.

Reinforcements: The Lifeline of your Squad

If a Helldiver’s health depletes, they’re out of the fight… unless reinforcements are used. Here’s the lowdown:

Someone will need to call down a Reinforce stratagem beacon and throw it in a safe, accessible location. Faster Reinforcement Delivery on your ship significantly increases the speed at which fallen allies return to action.

Don’t just spam reinforcements haphazardly. Here’s how to use them strategically:

• Critical Moments: Save reinforcements for turning points in a battle. If multiple squad members are down, or it’s the final push towards an objective, that’s the time for reinforcements.
• Location, Locatio, Location: Drop beacons in defensible spots, away from immediate danger. There’s nothing worse than a freshly reinforced Helldiver getting immediately killed again!
• Communication Is Key: Coordinate who is calling down a reinforcement and when it will be deployed.

If you are downed, communicate with your team! Let them know if you see a clear opportunity for a safe revive, or suggest they wait for a reinforcement if the situation is too dangerous.

Fire and Steel: Weapons and Explosives

In Helldivers 2, your loadout choice is often the difference between glorious victory and a gruesome end amidst the alien horde. Let’s break down how to select the best tools for the job:

Your primary weapon is your bread and butter for tackling most threats. Here’s the key weapon categories:

• Assault Rifles: Balanced and versatile, they can handle most situations.
• Shotguns: Devastating at close range. Great for clearing swarms.
• SMGs: Rapid-fire, perfect for shredding lightly armored targets.
• Sniper Rifles: For precise elimination of heavy enemies or distant threats.
• Specialized Weapons: Flamethrowers excel against massed enemies, while laser weaponry can bypass armor but often requires careful aim.

While your primary weapon might damage heavily armored foes, dedicated anti-tank weapons are far more efficient. Options include:

• Rocket Launchers: Unguided but highly destructive against slow-moving targets.
• Recoil-less Rifles: Powerful and accurate shots, but require a stationary firing position.
• Guided Missile Launchers: Excellent for pinpointing heavily armored enemies even on the move.

Grenades, mines, and other explosive devices bring immense tactical flexibility. Here’s what they excel at:

• Structure Demolition: Some objectives require destroying enemy nests or structures. Pack explosives for a quick and fiery solution.
• Crowd Control: Grenades can decimate swarms of smaller enemies, buying your squad some breathing room.
• Armor Penetration: Anti-tank grenades or mines are effective when dedicated launchers aren’t available.

Here are some more tips to help you dominate on the battlefield:

• Analyze the Mission: Before deployment, study the expected enemy types.  If facing armored Cyborgs, anti-tank weapons are a must. If facing hordes of Bugs, crowd control tools excel.
• Team Coordination: Communicate your loadout with your squad. Don’t end up with four Helldivers packing shotguns and no anti-tank capability!
• Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things: Helldivers 2 has a huge arsenal. Experiment during easier missions to find weapons and strategies you enjoy.

The Sweet Smell of Victory: Mastering the Extraction

Completing your objectives is just the beginning. You need to reach the extraction zone (often called the EZ) to truly secure your rewards and escape the alien nightmare. Here’s how to master those final harrowing moments:

The moment your objectives are complete, switch your mindset to extraction.  Here’s how:

• Inform Your Team: A quick call-out (“Extraction inbound!” or “Heading to the EZ!”) keeps everyone focused.
• Secure the Area: If possible, clear the immediate extraction zone of enemies before the timer even begins. Don’t get caught fighting as the shuttle lands.
• Gather Up: Regroup with your team. A strong, unified defense at the EZ will save lives.

The alien horde isn’t going to let you leave quietly. As the extraction timer ticks down, expect these challenges:

• Intensified Spawns: More enemies will swarm towards your position. Focus on clearing priority threats and staying together.
• Dangerous Foes: Heavy units like tanks or boss creatures may appear to disrupt your escape. Coordinate with your team to eliminate them quickly.
• Environmental Hazards: Some planets feature hazards that become more frequent during the extraction phase. Be mindful of where you step!

Staying alive is paramount, but don’t abandon your fallen comrades. If possible, prioritize the following:

• Revive First: If a teammate is downed, a quick revive is often faster and safer than waiting for reinforcement.
• Calculated Reinforcements: Use the Reinforce stratagem only if a revive is impossible. Plan your beacon drops in defensible locations within the EZ.
• Covering Fire: As some teammates defend the EZ, designate others to revive or reinforce fallen allies.

Pro-Tips for Successful Extraction:

• Defensive Perimeter: If the EZ allows, utilize stratagems like turrets, mines, or barriers to fortify your position.
• Voice Comms are Key: Coordinate with your team to ensure everyone is aware of the extraction timer and is moving towards the EZ.
• Don’t Panic: Calm and focused teamwork is far more effective than wild shooting and straying from your allies.

Power Overwhelming: Mastering Your Stratagems

Stratagems are the X-factor in Helldivers 2.  They’re not just fancy tools; with strategic use, they can utterly transform the flow of a battle. Let’s break down how to harness their power.

Helldivers 2 boasts a wide array of stratagems. Here are some key categories:

• Offensive Airstrikes: Orbital bombardments, napalm strikes, or precision missile attacks decimate everything in a designated area.
• Defensive Fortifications: Automated turrets, barbed wire, or force-field barriers can create temporary safe zones amidst the chaos.
• Support Systems: Resupply drops replenish ammo, while mechs and exo-suits provide increased firepower and survivability.
• Tactical Deceptions: Holograms, cloaking fields, or distraction beacons can misdirect enemy forces.

Never select stratagems in isolation. They should synergize with your weapons and playstyle.

• Plugging Weaknesses: Lacking anti-tank firepower?  Bring in an airstrike or missile launcher. Struggling against swarms? Consider turrets or mines.
• Enhancing Strengths:  If you favor close-quarters combat, a distraction beacon or a short-term invulnerability field can give you the edge you need.

Timing and positioning are critical. Here’s what to consider:

• Beacon Placement: Dropping a beacon under heavy fire is a recipe for failure. Look for a sliver of cover or a moment of reduced enemy activity.
• The Right Time:  Don’t call an airstrike on a single enemy.  Save it for overwhelming hordes or heavily armored foes.
• Team Coordination: Let your team know which stratagems you’re bringing, and when you are planning to use them. This allows your allies to adjust their positioning to maximize the impact.

The Grind Never Stops: Efficient XP Farming

To become an elite Helldiver, you need the best gear, and that means lots of XP. Here’s how to optimize your farming:

• Difficulty is Key: Higher difficulties offer the most XP rewards, but the risk of failure also skyrockets.
• Balancing Risk vs. Reward: Find the difficulty sweet spot where you can reliably complete missions without constant wipes.
• Modifiers: The High-Risk Gamble:  Modifiers significantly increase XP but also mission difficulty.  Use these sparingly, and only if your team is experienced and well-coordinated.
• Don’t Give Up: Failure is part of the learning process. Analyze what went wrong, adjust your loadout, and persevere for Super Earth!

Focus on having fun! While XP is important, the true joy of Helldivers 2 is overcoming challenges with your team. Don’t get so fixated on grinding that you forget to enjoy the interstellar chaos.

Bonus Tips for Helldivers Excellence

• Watch your back! Enemies can attack from any angle. Practice situational awareness and don’t get tunnel vision.
• Friendly fire is NOT friendly. Be mindful of where you’re aiming, especially with explosives and area-of-effect weapons.
• Communication saves lives. Use the ping system liberally, and work together with your team.
• Boost wisely. Boosters allow quick movement across the battlefield, but use them sparingly – you might need a quick escape later.
• Know your enemy. Study the different enemy types and their weaknesses. This allows you to tailor your loadout for maximum effectiveness.

And there you have it! These tips and tricks will help you survive and thrive in the chaotic world of Helldivers 2. Remember, practice, teamwork, and a bit of luck will lead you to victory for Super Earth!

What other tips and tricks do you have for Helldivers 2? Join the conversation in the comments section!