Summary
- LAS-16 Sickle has unlimited ammo, which is ideal for beginners due to its energy-based perks.
- ARC-12 Blitzer is an energy-based shotgun good for clearing large enemy hordes.
- JAR-5 Dominator is great against armored opponents like Overseers, despite being bad against crowds.
Helldivers 2 pits the titular Helldivers against overwhelming odds in often-suicidal missions, all in the name of spreading democracy and liberty throughout the galaxy – and certainly for no reason other than that. The KIA rate for the Helldivers might be in the majority, but that doesn’t mean you’re being sent to battle with low-budget arms.
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When it comes time to bring the fight to the Squids, what weapons are best for you to have in your arsenal? There are plenty of options, so we’ve recommended the best weapons for you to have on your hip the next time you drop out of your hellpod and down on the Illuminate.
These weapons all shine in different ways and complement different playstyles.
8
LAS-16 Sickle
The LAS-16 Sickle is a great primary weapon all around. It has the fire rate and damage of the average assault rifle but comes with all of the perks of being energy-based. As such, you’ll have the ability to pace your fire and let the weapon cool down while you swap to another weapon.
If you play your cards right, this gun effectively has unlimited ammo, making it so you always have a tool to use. That makes it ideal for beginners since it makes conserving ammo a non-issue.
Consider pairing the LAS-16 Sickle with:
- Recoilless Rifle for large enemies
- High-defensive armor since ammo isn’t an issue
- Explosive secondaries and thrown items
- Stratagems that can take out objectives, such as the 500KG
Pay attention to the environment! Heat weapons like the LAS-16 Sickle overheat faster on hot planets. They’re much more effective on cold planets, where the environment essentially increases your ammo by making it take longer for the weapon to burn out.
7
ARC-12 Blitzer
Electricity is something you’ll bump into plenty on the average Illuminate mission. But what if you could take the perilous one-shot of a tesla tower and turn it into a primary weapon? The ARC-12 Blitzer does just that.
Functioning as an energy-based shotgun, this weapon is ideal for clearing out hordes of Voteless infantry. It’s also fantastic for stunning Overseers and never needs to reload.
Considering pairing the ARC-12 Blitzer with:
- The Ultimatum secondary to handle ships
- Armor that grants defense against Arc damage
- A full-auto support weapon such as the HMG or MG
Like many arc weapons, the ARC-12 Blitzer makes no distinction between your enemy and your fellow Helldivers. Be careful firing this off into a crowd, or you may accidentally take out one of your teammates.
6
JAR-5 Dominator
The JAR-5 Dominator is a unique weapon. Found in the Steeled Veterans warbond, this weapon has a special two-tiered ammunition that explodes once it enters your target. Because of this, the Dominator is ideal for armored opponents.
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Against the Squids, this weapon will do excellently when it comes to taking down Overseers. It’s also useful for Tripods if you hit them in the right spot. However, it’s not very effective when it comes to clearing out crowds of Voteless or other fodder enemies from the Bots or Bugs.
Consider pairing the JAR-5 with:
- Full-auto support weapons
- Explosive secondary equipment
- Armor and Boosters that help with your ammo economy
The JAR-5 might be bad at fodder enemies, but you can compensate for this by taking a Stalwart or Machine Gun for your support weapon.
5
FLAM-66 Torcher
If you’re looking for a way to improve your loadout, the FLAM-66 Torcher is a great choice. This primary weapon behaves similarly to the support weapon flamethrower, effectively making it so you can have that weapon without eating up your support weapon slot.
Against the Illuminate, the Torcher is ideal for taking down Voteless. A concentrated flame can take out Overseers at a short range. However, it doesn’t offer much use against Tripods, and it struggles to get rid of the shield around Illuminate ships.
Consider pairing the FLAM-66 Torcher with:
- Flame-resistant armor (an absolute must)
- Armor-piercing secondaries, such as the Senator
- An HMG to handle Tripods
When you start firing the Torcher, you’ll need a second or two for ignition. Once it’s ignited, this delay will be gone for a while.
4
BR-14 Adjudicator
The BR-14 Adjudicator has a few drawbacks that stop people from taking it. The small magazine makes full auto rip through your ammo, while the high recoil can also make control tough.
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The armor-piercing rounds this gun uses are ideal for the Illuminate though. A well-aimed shot will take out Voteless in one hit. In certain scenarios, this is arguably the best primary, especially if your stratagems help make up for its shortcomings.
Consider pairing the Adjudicator with:
- The Supply Pack stratagem
- High-ammo support weapons
- Explosive secondaries or laser secondaries for better ammo economy
The Adjudicator is an ammo-hungry weapon. The Supply Pack stratagem can help make up for this, but most Illuminate maps are full of scattered ammo boxes that should help.
3
SMG-37 Defender
One-handed weapons are of particular use against the Illuminate. They pair perfectly with the Directional and Ballistic Shield stratagems while also being great if you’re on a mission where someone needs to carry a black box. You can put your SMG of choice here, but the Defender is ours.
The Defender has a relatively slow fire rate for an SMG, making it perfect for meticulous headshots against Voteless. The relatively high damage of the shots can take out an Overseer quickly. This SMG is also great for knocking out the power sources of a Cognitive Disruptor.
Consider pairing the SMG-37 with:
- Ballistic or Directional Shield stratagems
- Armor-piercing secondaries
- High-damage support weapons like the Laser Cannon or Auto-Cannon
Pick your backpack stratagem carefully. If you take a Shield stratagem, your spare hand will be occupied, making it a waste if you end up picking this weapon to carry an objective item.
2
SG-451 Cookout
Fire weapons are a favorite for Helldivers all around Super Earth. They’re particularly useful against the Squids, though many prefer them against bugs.
The SG-451 Cookout is a round-reload shotgun that’s perfect for running and gunning, letting you reload while you strafe past Voteless. It isn’t as effective against Overseers as we’d like, but there are still plenty of upsides to bringing this one.
Consider pairing the SG-451 with:
- Full-auto support weapons like the MG
- High-damage support weapons like the Expendable Anti-Tank
- Fire-resistant armor
Fire weapons are great against the Voteless, but almost useless against shields and Tripods.
1
CB-9 Exploding Crossbow
The CB-9 Exploding Crossbow is a fan favorite no matter who you’re fighting. Against the Squids, its not quite as useful as against some others, but still a great choice.
The main reason to bring this weapon is for being one-handed, making it great for some objectives. The exploding bolts can also take out numerous Voteless in one hit. The plentiful ammo in city environments also helps make up for this weapon’s small clip.
Consider pairing the CB-9 with:
- Ballistic or Directional Shield stratagem
- Ammo-enhancing armor or Boosters
- Full-auto support weapons
The explosion radius isn’t as big as you think. You can shoot near Helldivers with acceptable casualties. But do expect some casualties.
- Franchise
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Helldivers
- Released
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February 8, 2024
- Developer(s)
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Arrowhead Game Studios
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
- Engine
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bitsquid
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Metascore
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83
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
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PC & PS5
- Number of Players
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1-4
- PS Plus Availability
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N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
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Strong
- Cross-Platform Play
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PC & PS5