Weaponry inHelldivers 2isn’t just limited to rifles and pistols. Support weapons are designed to fill-in for specific combat roles, giving players the edge they need to beat back huge swarms or bust heavy armor open.
Some of these support weapons do have overlapping roles, and one option might be better than the other at doing its specified job. Here’s a list of the best support weapons inHelldivers 2to give you an idea ofwhat you should unlock first.
5M-105 Stalwart
High Mobility Bullet Hose
TheM-105 Stalwartis essentially a high-capacity assault rifle. It isn’t as cumbersome to handle as the heavierMG-43 Machine Gun, but it doesn’t deal as much damage as its larger counterpart either. Still, this gun serves as an excellent support weapon for laying down suppressive fire on bots or cutting down swarms of bugs while on the move.
One of the best things about the Stalwart is its ability to reach a blistering rate of fire. Hold down the Reload button to open the Fire Mode selector, set the weapon to 1150 RPM, and watch as it shreds lightly armored targets to ribbons.
4AC-8 Autocannon
Outflank and Destroy
TheAC-8 Autocannonis great for taking out medium-sized enemies likeDevastator,Scout Strider, andBile Spewer. It’s also useful in a pinch againstheavily-armored targets like Chargers,Bile Titan, andHulk Scorcheras long as the gunner can aim for vulnerable spots, which are usually on the flanks, backs, or faces of enemies.
Autocannons don’t need to be reloaded with every shot, and when it does need a new clip, a manual reload from the gunners themselves doesn’t take too long, keeping it reliable even if team reloads aren’t available. However, if you’re looking for a precision anti-armor weapon that’s even lighter, then the Anti-Materiel Rifle is a good alternative.
3GL-21 Grenade Launcher
Anti-Infantry Pocket Artillery
While it isn’t intended for taking down armor, theGL-21 Grenade Launcheris amazing at clearing clustered groups of enemies. It’s also very effective at blowing bug holes and bot fabricators, destroying Spore Spewers, and taking out Automaton machine gun nests.
If you bring a Supply Pack, you’ll essentially get unlimited grenades for as long as the pack contains ammunition. Bring a Grenade Launcher if no one else takes an anti-infantry weapon with them.
2GR-8 Recoilless Rifle/Expendable Anti-Tank Launcher
SEAF Standard Tank Busters
These two rocket launchers are the staple anti-tank weapons inHelldivers 2. TheGR-8 Recoilless Riflecan blow up priority targets very quickly if the gunner has a teammate to assist with reloads. Both are great for anything that’s heavily armored, and every team should bring at least one of these if they’re going on hard missions.
The main thing to consider when picking between these is team coordination. If you’replaying a casual public game with strangers, it’s better to bring the EAT so you don’t have to worry about team reloads. Otherwise, ask your squadmates if they can carry a Recoilless Rifle backpack for you.
1RS-422 Railgun
The Most Versatile Armor Hunter
As of launch, theRS-422 Railgunis arguably thebest support weapon inHelldivers 2. It can strip heavy armor and knock medium enemies out in one shot, especially if that shot is overcharged. TheRS-422 Railgunis much better than theAC-8 Autocannonand AMR for fighting armor, but its DPS is poor, making it less valuable when the immediate extermination of a target is required.
Railgun shots can punch througheven Bile Titan armor. However, using it against targets with high health should only be a last resort. Rely on dedicated anti-tank weapons or stratagems to deal with large targets as quickly as possible.
