Helldivers 2’s Free Stratagem Explained

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 26, 2024 16 Views 7 Min Read
Helldivers 2’s Free Stratagem Explained



2024 has been a tumultuous year for Helldivers 2. Originally launching to rapturous applause, the game struggled to find its footing as a live-service title, earning negative feedback for Arrowhead’s handling of updates and various other controversial features, like the arrival of the ever-contentious PlayStation ID requirement. Having said that, Helldivers 2 appears to have stabilized somewhat, and it’s closing out the year with a special holiday gift for players.

Live-service games live and die on the back of their free content releases. Certainly, premium DLC and Battle Passes go a long way toward keeping these games profitable (see: free-to-play games like Fortnite), but complimentary content and enticing updates are what keep the majority of players invested long-term. Helldivers 2 is in a particularly tough situation when it comes to this style of content rollout, not only because of Sony’s and Arrowhead’s limited experience in the GaaS space, but also because of its $40 price tag, which suggests a greater emphasis on free content rather than fully priced expansions or microtransactions. This is a big reason why Helldivers 2 caught so much flak for its Killzone 2 crossover, but the game seems to be paying penance for it, at least slightly, with a new free stratagem.

helldivers 2 frv fast recon vehicle car

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Helldivers 2 Receives a New Killzone Weapon for Use as a Stratagem

The StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher Is Originally from Killzone 3

The arrival of the W.A.S.P. Launcher stratagem has been received fairly well by the Helldivers 2 community thus far, which is rather ironic considering that it is a continuation of the controversial Killzone crossover event. This can likely be chalked up to the fact that the W.A.S.P. is free, in addition to having a tangible, rather than superficial, impact on gameplay. Just like in Killzone, the W.A.S.P is an incredibly powerful artillery weapon in Helldivers 2, capable of taking down armored vehicles and swarms of enemies alike, and while Killzone and Helldivers are markedly different in terms of tone, the explosive, bombastic capabilities of the weapon make it a strong bridge between the two IP.

The W.A.S.P.’s Versatility and Damage Output Make It a Great Fit for Any Helldivers 2 Loadout

The W.A.S.P. has two firing modes:

  • Burst: fires rockets individually—higher damage output
  • Artillery: fires seven rockets at once—lower damage but greater spread

As an explosive weapon, the W.A.S.P. is effective against enemies with low-to-medium armor, with the Artillery mode being particularly useful for clearing out groups of enemies like Devastators. It has a lock-on system, allowing it to be dumb-fired, and unlike similar Helldivers 2 weapons, target acquisition time is low, making it a good DPS option in a pinch. It also ignores chaff, which increases the reliability of lock-on.

It’s not without its shortcomings, however. The W.A.S.P. is a great tool for long-range assaults, but the erratic flight patterns of its rockets make it difficult to count on at close range, as they can potentially miss smaller targets without the necessary time to stabilize. Similarly, it’s not a good option for close-quarters environments or when surrounded by obstacles, as these same erratic flight patterns can make for explosive hazards to the wielder or their allies. When firing rockets in Artillery mode, they will attack enemies from above, so any sort of reliable overhead cover will thwart these sorts of attacks.

But these drawbacks are reasonable balancing measures; the W.A.S.P. is still a more than worthwhile stratagem to get familiar with. Its versatility, ease of use, and unlimited charges make it a great addition to any loadout, especially those focused on heavy armor or long-range weaponry, and its Killzone roots make it a touching blast from the past to boot.

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