Arrowhead Game Studios released Helldivers 2 on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC on February 8, 2024, and has taken the cop-op gaming world by storm. Within a month of its release, Helldivers 2 had sold a staggering eight million copies, with players from far and wide lining up to spread managed democracy throughout the universe and stop the Terminid and Automaton threat from reaching Super Earth.
Helldivers 2 can be played solo, but it is far better in teams of up to four players. While most people should be able to solo their way through the first three or four of nine difficulty settings, levels 5-9 require military-like teamwork; otherwise, the enemy will overwhelm you, and you’ll fail your mission. Suppose you are considering purchasing Helldivers 2 and seeing why the best sports betting platform has it as the clear favorite to win the Game of the Year award. In that case, you may find the following tried and tested Helldivers 2 tips manage to keep you alive long enough to enjoy one of the best co-op shooters available.
Communication Is Critical To Success
Teamwork makes the dream work, or so they say in business circles, and that phrase runs true throughout Helldivers 2. Something as simple as calling out an enemy patrol roaming in the distance can be the difference between losing several reinforcements and completing missions relatively unscathed.
Communication is essential before you dive into the unknown. Every squad member can take up to four stratagems to the battlefield. These powerful weapons have limited uses or varying cooldown times; each has strengths and weaknesses. Building a loadout that complements your teammates means you are prepared for any scenario the game throws at you, something that is vital at the harder difficulties.
Once you engage in battle, let your teammates know about elite-level enemies you spot, even if you do not plan to engage with them. Knowing a Charger or Bile Titan is lurking keeps everyone on their toes if it decides to flank you and attack. Likewise, let your squad know if you are throwing a stratagem that creates widespread damage. Friendly fire is always on, so you do not want your teammate to succumb to a cluster bomb strike!
Collect as Many Samples as You Can
Helldivers 2 has four currencies to get to grips with. They are Medals, Requisition Slips, Samples, and Super Credits. Medals are spent in the War Bonds section (think battle pass), requisition slips pay for new stratagems, and Super Credits are spent on items locked behind the in-game store.
Samples are super-important because they are used to unlock Ship Modules, which improve your stratagems. Higher-tier Ship Modules shorten cooldown times, increase the potency of orbital and eagle weapons, and improve the accuracy and durability of turrets.
These upgrades are locked behind Common, Rare, and Super Samples. Common samples are available across every difficulty, but Rare Samples only appear in Challenging (Level 4), Hard (5), and Extreme (6) levels. You’ll need to play Suicide Mission (7), Impossible (8), or Helldive (9) to find Super Samples.
Samples are dropped when a player dies and appear on the map as test tubes. If a teammate dies, pick up their samples if you are nearby. You only get to spend them if at least one person successfully extracts them. Samples, requisition slips, and Super Credits are shared with your entire squad.
You Don’t Have to Kill Everything.
Players new to Helldivers 2 stand out like a sore thumb, mainly on higher difficulties, because they attack at every opportunity. Approaching the game in this manner will ultimately lead to failure. Forget what the on-ship television broadcasts and loading screen hints tell you; it is not cowardly to run away!
Leave large patrols to wander around in the distance and only start a firefight when necessary. Most bug enemies can call in a bug breach, where dozens of new enemies crawl out from the ground. Such bug breaches are minor annoyances at lower difficulties but can easily wipe out a squad on higher difficulty settings. If you can avoid a fight, you should do so.
Complete the Primary Objectives
Each mission has a primary and a few secondary objectives, all of which reward you with requisition slips and experience points. Complete the primary objective if possible because your mission will still be deemed successful even if your teammates fail to extract, earning you medals.
Secondary objectives can be in different shapes and sizes, and completing them can benefit the rest of your mission. You’ll find radar towers that display points of interest on your map, while reloading a SEAF Artillery cannon gives you an extra stratagem with five uses.
Always Take a Support Weapon Stratagem With You
Hell Pods are only large enough to carry a Helldiver, their primary and secondary weapons. Heavy weapons such as flamethrowers, machine guns, and disposable anti-tank weaponry have to be called down via a relative stratagem. The support weapon you choose depends on your playstyle, but always ensure you have an EAT in your squad. Not only can they be called in pairs every 90 seconds, but a well-placed shot to the head of a Charger will bring it crashing to the ground; they can also be used to destroy Spore Spewers from a safe distance and to close bug holes.
Conclusion
Helldivers 2 is an incredible co-op shooter that allows you and your teammates to approach missions how you see fit. That flexibility is excellent because it means no two missions feel the same. However, having flexibility also means you need effective communication to ensure all your teammates are on the same page.
Talk to each other type in the chatbox to let squad members know which stratagems to take into battle. Continue talking once you have boots on the ground to ensure your attacks and defenses are coordinated, making completing missions much easier than incoherently sprinting around the map.
While killing enemies is satisfying, avoiding fights or running away is often a viable strategy—even if it is only to give yourself some breathing space while you reload or wait for a stratagem to cool down. Once you take the above tips on board, you will complete missions like there is no tomorrow and spread managed democracy throughout the universe. Do it for Super Earth!
