The Illuminate Are the Automatons and Terminids’ Perfect Middle Ground

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 18, 2024 6 Views 6 Min Read
The Illuminate Are the Automatons and Terminids' Perfect Middle Ground



Fans of Helldivers 2 are enjoying themselves, as an old threat has returned to join in on the action. Helldivers 2‘s latest update has brought the Illuminate, an intelligent and technologically advanced enemy that threatened Super Earth’s previous efforts for galactic freedom. The new enemy has taken Helldivers 2 by storm, as how it engages in combat is aggressive and seemingly strategic. Based on how the Illuminate takes on its opposition, it would be reasonable to say that the new faction is the perfect blend between Terminid and Automaton threats.




At the 2024 edition of The Game Awards, an announcement was made regarding Helldivers 2 and its immediately downloadable Omens of Tyranny update. The major patch’s biggest highlight is the return of the Illuminate, but only this time, the new foe comes with some interesting new additions. The faction’s new units are a threat that can easily terminate a party if players aren’t thoroughly prepared. The Illuminate has many options in its approach to combat, both for aggressive and defensive play, which shows how efficient and deadly they can be. The new enemy stands out even from the Automatons and the Terminids because it seemingly has the other two factions’ best points while improving on them.

An Illuminate Cognitive Disruptor in the distance in Helldivers 2

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Why the Illuminate Can Be Seen as the Perfect Blend Between the Automatons and Terminids


Fighting the Illuminate faction can be a daunting task, and it’s all because of how Arrowhead Game Studios thought about their combat design. Players can see how the developer used the Automatons and Terminids as the basis when recreating the returning threat, as it has certain qualities such as:

  • The Illuminate’s Voteless and Overseers mimic how the Terminids aggressively swarm players, but they are more deadly due to the Overseer’s incorporation of weapons that can be used for offensive or defensive purposes
  • The Illuminate also has long-range options in the form of Elevated Overseers and Harversters, and theirs feels more capable than that of the Terminids and Automatons due to their defenses and erratic flying movement
  • The Illuminate have a way of calling down additional enemy forces like the other factions via the Watcher, but the unit can be seen as more threatening due to it coming from anywhere through flight and its ability to fight and potentially kill players


The introduction of the Illuminate plays a big role in Helldivers 2 receiving a massive player spike, and it’s clear why. Arrowhead Game Studios did a fantastic job of fusing the best qualities of the Automatons and Terminids into a single faction and even enhancing them. Hopefully, the developer will continue to improve the returning threat by repeating the process of taking inspiration from what’s available and refining it.

What Else the Illuminate Can Take Inspiration From the Other Factions and Improve Upon

If something is lacking from the Omens of Tyranny update, it’s an Illuminate unit that can create mass chaos like what the Automatons’ Hulk or the Terminids’ Impaler does. Those two enemies almost always cause players to go frantic due to their toughness and how they utilize the abilities that make them so deadly. Even with all the dangerous forces it brings, the Illuminate doesn’t have anything like that, meaning Arrowhead Game Studios has the perfect opportunity to create one. The new unit could be developed to deal the same amount of damage output as the Impaler or the Hulk, but be slightly faster and with more clever ways of using Illuminate technology to defend itself. Such a possible addition is likely, as the future of the Illuminate is bound for even more interesting enemy types.


One of the reasons why Helldivers 2 can be considered one of the best co-op games of 2024 is because Arrowhead Game Studios knows what’s needed for a fun multiplayer experience. The developer’s inclusion of the Illuminate proves how much it understands that, and the new faction is every bit as or even more deadly and engaging than the Terminids and Automatons. With it having the best from both factions while having its own unique qualities, it’s clear that the returning threat is and will continue to be a great asset to the game.

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