A cadet's guide to Helldivers 2

Basic training might be over, cadet, but we have a few extra tips to help you on your glorious mission to deliver the galaxy the freedom it deserves.

The galaxy's last line of offence

The star systems surrounding Super Earth are besieged by both bug and machine. It's your job, cadet, to liberate those hostile systems, one planet at a time.

Each planet has a large number of operations of varying risk levels to undertake. As you prove your skill in more trivial skirmishes, you'll earn the right to tackle more dangerous incursions, where the rewards for your squad will be ever greater. 

The galactic map in every ship charts the progress of our military efforts. Only by liberating one planet and system after the other can we hope to secure freedom galaxy-wide.

Picking weapons and armour

WEAPONS MAKETH HELLDIVER; CHOOSE YOURS CAREFULLY.

Weapons of justice

From light machine guns and sturdy sidearms to barking shotguns and precision battle rifles, your cache of raw firepower can blitz any bug, bot, or whatever else the galaxy throws at you.

Super Earth encourages freedom of expression in the dispense of justice; primary guns, sidearms, grenades—they all have their own stats and special traits, so grab the right gear for each mission.

While you'll start with Super Earth's standard-issue equipment, new weapons can be bought from the Acquisition Centre with Medals—earned for completing operational objectives—or with Super Credits, available to buy from PlayStation™ Store.

Freedom-fighting armour

Life on the galactic frontlines is quite often fatal, so you won't want to step into your Hellpod until you'll donned a set of Super Earth's finest armour. They come in a range of intimidating styles and three convenient categories.

Armour performance is indicated by three core stats: Armour Rating, Speed and Stamina Regen. Each piece of body armour has a matching helmet, but there are no Super Earth directives that forbid mixing and matching so find a combination that matches your particular style of alien suppression. 

New armour sets can be bought via Warbonds in the Acquisition Centre—each piece has a special passive ability that impacts survival and combat effectiveness. Choose wisely: they could mean the difference between glorious death and glorious glory.

Armour Types

Light Armour

Light Armour is for those lithe and lethal Helldivers who are hoping to stay one step ahead of the enemy.

Medium Armour

Medium Armour is for those free-wheeling go-getters who like to have it both ways.

Heavy Armour

Heavy armour is for those who plant their feet like the pillars of democracy and yield only when tyranny is bested.

Death from above

How to use stratagems

Super Earth's fleet is ready to dispense weapons, reinforcements and ballistics at the touch of at least three buttons.

Stratagems are the jewels in your arsenal. You'll unlock more from your Ship Management Terminal with 'Requisitions' (a special currency is awarded for completing operations) and you'll get your hands on stronger Stratagems as you go. There are six Stratagem categories, with new Stratagems added as the war continues to rage on. 

Eagle Stratagems
Orbital Stratagems
Backpack Stratagems
Support Weapons
Defensive Stratagems
Vehicle Stratagems

Eagle Stratagems

Very fast, very noisy and very fun. Each one comes with a set number of charges that can be used in quick succession.

Orbital Stratagems

Good things come to those who wait. They might have a longer deployment time, but Orbitals pack a serious punch.

Backpack Stratagems

Sometimes it pays to think with your head rather than your trigger finger.

Support Stratagems

Now we're talking. Heavy-duty firepower to take out large groups or a single armoured unit.

Defensive Stratagems

Staying alive is kind of important if we’re going to win this thing. Keep the enemy at bay and hold your ground.

Vehicle Stratagems

Why walk when you can stomp? Call down an Exosuit and show your enemy the true power of democracy.

The Galactic War

Top tips for securing victory

If there's one thing you remember out there, it should be these ten things.

  1. Be brave, not stupid. While gung-ho passion is commendable, it pays to think first and exterminate second. Do you need to reload? Do you need to resupply? Do you have everything need? If in doubt, always go in armed to the teeth.
  2. Throw everything you've got at them. No single Helldiver carries enough ammunition to bring down an entire horde. Call down air strikes, support fire, heavy weapons and reinforcements to decimate the enemy.
  3. Destroy, but also search. Not everything on a planet's surface is cannon fodder. Alien battlefields are littered with everything from spare ammunition to unclaimed medals and scientific samples. Grab everything you can and bring it back for the war effort.
  4. Exceed expectations. If you want to climb the ranks you'll need to go above and beyond. Most battlefields will have additional objectives (like bug nests to destroy or support weapons to redeploy) and going the extra mile is richly rewarded by command.
  5. Don't blame your tools. Each weapon has different merits: firepower, recoil, reload times and ammunition vary wildly. Make sure you know what you're doing before you pull that trigger. Heavy recoil weapons are more effective when fired from a prone position; sidearms need reloading regularly.
  1. Pitch with purpose. A strong throwing arm can make a Helldiver's career. Strategic support will land right where you drop the beacon, so why not drop it right on the enemy's head? When you're pitching a grenade, don't be afraid to hold it for a second or two before you throw and make sure it explodes right in the enemy's face—just don't hold it too long.
  2. Pillage your corpse. If you should be confronted by a hero's death out there, make sure that you head over and pick up what you've dropped once you redeploy. It's not just weapons and ammunition; dead bodies can't carry precious scientific samples back to the fleet.
  3. Pillage other corpses. No Helldiver should die in vain. If you're backed into a corner and your best buddy has just taken one for democracy, don't let it be for nothing. Grab anything they've dropped, it might just keep you from the same fate.
  4. Stand together. Tales of your legend will only spread across the galaxy if buddies are there to witness it. Join up with other Helldivers online (or let others join you). You'll live longer, conquer tougher objectives and sing songs of one another's heroism for ages to come.
  5. Watch where you point that thing. The chaos of armed conflict is a hotbed for friendly fire. Be aware that all munitions have a potentially fatal effect on fellow Helldivers. Keep your buddies out of the firing line and with any luck they'll pay you the same courtesy.

Defence spending

Warbonds and Super Credits

An army marches on its wallet. The more operations you complete, the more resources you'll gather to expand your arsenal and equipment–but it's not the only way.

Warbonds

Contribute to Super Earth’s righteous campaign against its enemies–and earn Super Credits, new armour, capes and weapons, stylish poses and more for your selfless efforts.

Warbonds are series of tiered rewards that can be earned by spending the Medals you accrue by joining missions, completing Personal Orders and helping the wider Helldivers community complete Major Orders.

Once you unlock a Warbond* its pages are yours to work through in your own time. There’s no expiration and you can contribute Medals to multiple active Warbonds. Now that’s freedom.

Explore just a fraction of the rewards that await those who selflessly invest their Medals into the Super Earth war effort.

*Premium Warbonds require Super Credits to unlock.

Super Credits

Super Credits can help fuel your valiant fight for freedom and democracy.

Available to buy from PlayStation™Store and findable in-game, you can spend your stash in the Acquisition Centre to purchase either additional Warbonds or new items like capes, armour and weapons. 

Keep checking the Acquisition Centre as new supplies arrive regularly from Super Earth.

Enlist today

Available on PlayStation Store

Editions:

Standard Edition

  • HELLDIVERS™ 2

Super Citizen Edition

  • HELLDIVERS™ 2
  • ‘DP-53 Savior of the Free’ Armour Set.
  • ‘Will of the People’ Cape.
  • ‘MP-98 Knight’ Weapon.
  • Super Citizen Status.
  • Stratagem Hero Ship Game.
  • ‘Steeled Veterans’ Premium Warbond.
Platform:
PS5
Release:
8/2/2024
Publisher:
Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
Genres:
Action
Voice:
English, French (France), German, Italian, Spanish
Screen Languages:
English, French (France), German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish
Previous special offer price valid from 22-11-2024 to 02-12-2024 was (£27.99 / €31.99 / AU $47.96 / BGN 63.92 / CZK 759.2 / DKK 239.2 / HUF 11992 / NZ $55.96 / NOK 359.2 / PLN 135.2 / SEK 359.2 / USD $31.99 / ZAR 599.2 / HRK 31.99 / INR 1999 / TRY 1119.2 / ILS 127.2)

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