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In the fight against the overwhelming bug-like Terminids and the robotic Automatons, picking the best weapons in Helldivers 2 can seem daunting. The weapons tier list covers all the best primary, secondary, support, and throwable weapons, grouped in detailed lists starting with the most powerful S-tier to the C-tier picks which I wouldn’t recommend (unless you fancy a challenge).
Use this comprehensive tier list to sort through the game’s massive armory for some rare gems between fan favorites.
My S-Tier picks from Helldivers 2 weapons arsenal
- SG-225 Breaker
- Quasar Cannon
- Anti-Materiel Rifle
- LAS-16 Sickle
- GL-21 Grenade Launcher
Best weapons by category in Helldivers 2
The top weapons in Helldivers 2 are quite lethal in exterminating both of Helldivers 2’s factions. I picked the top guns in each weapon category in Helldivers 2:
- Best stratagem weapon: Quasar Cannon
- Best primary weapon: SG-225 Breaker Shotgun
- Best secondary weapon: P-19 Redeemer Pistol
- Best grenade: High Explosive
- Best stratagems: Eagle 500kg Bomb, Gatling Turret
The Quasar Cannon is our top supply weapon pick as it can take down even the biggest foes in a couple of hits. Aim it at a Dropship engine and you can even take out Automaton reinforcements. This is backed up by the Breaker Shotgun which is pretty good at medium range. It can take out weak foes as well as some lightly armored ones. Despite the nerfs, it’s still great in Helldivers 2. As for the secondary, the Redeemer Pistol should help you if you’re low on ammo or if you just finished your magazine. In the grenade department, none of them hit as hard as the High Explosive. When it comes to the best stratagems in Helldivers 2, the destructive 500kg Bomb and defensive Gatling Turret will serve you well.
Helldivers 2 weapons complete tier list overview
If you’re wondering how our top picks hold up against every other weapon in Helldivers 2, here’s our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list. I have updated this with the Democratic Detonation Warbond weapons as well.
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| S-Tier | SG-225 Breaker, LAS-99 Quasar Cannon, APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle, R-36 Eruptor Rifle, LAS-16 Sickle, GR-8 Recoilless Rifle, GL-21 Grenade Launcher, P-19 Redeemer Pistol, G-12 High Explosive, G-23 Stun |
| A-Tier | RS-422 Railgun, PLAS-1 Scorcher, SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary, AR-23 Liberator, SG-8 Punisher Shotgun, G-31 Grenade Pistol, MG-43 Machine Gun, AC-8 Autocannon, FLAM-40 Flamethrower, EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, M-105 Stalwart, G-16 Impact |
| B-Tier | ARC-3 Arc Thrower, LAS-98 Laser Cannon, JAR-5 Dominator, AR-23P Liberator Penetrator, MP-98 Knight, SMG-37 Defender, CB-09 Exploding Crossbow, FAF-14 Spear, SG-8S Slugger, P-2 Peacemaker, G-10 Incendiary, G-6 Frag |
| C-Tier | SG-225SP Breaker Spray & Pray, BR-14 Adjudicator, R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper and R-63 Diligence, LAS-5 Scythe, SG-8P Punisher Plasma, AR-23C Liberator Concussive, ARC-12 Blitzer, P-4 Senator, LAS-7 Dagger, G-123 Thermite, G-3 Smoke |
Experiment with weapons before settling on a favorite
Play around with different strategies and see what works against bugs and robots. This will let you prepare better for tougher missions.
S-Tier List
S-Tier weapons are the most powerful ones you can get your hands on in Helldivers 2. If you can unlock them, they are invaluable in most operations. These ended up accompanying us long after working on our Helldivers 2 review. Pair these with our Helldivers 2 tips and tricks to tackle higher difficulties and help with Major Orders.
SG-225 Breaker
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 20 Medals on page 4 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
The Breaker is our personal favorite when it comes to shotguns in Helldivers 2. It beats most of the smaller hordes without a sweat. You don’t even have to rely on a support weapon for crowd control. As for armored opponents, you can pair the Breaker with a Quasar Cannon or Railgun to handle them. A patch increased its recoil and lowered the number of bullets in a magazine but the Breaker remains our top pick.
The Breaker is our personal favorite when it comes to shotguns in Helldivers 2.
LAS-99 Quasar Cannon
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 7500 Requisition slips at level 18
Use this laser to destroy armored opponents. Players have taken to calling it an “Expendable Anti-Tank with infinite ammo” online. While ten seconds is a long cooldown time between shots and the three-second charge-up time can take some getting used to, its damage output is massive. It has splash damage as well, letting you damage armored foes even if you don’t quite hit their weak spots. Aim for a Dropship engine and you can take out a whole squad of Automaton reinforcements in the blink of an eye. Pair it with a faster-firing weapon to swap between them when you’re surrounded.
APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 5000 Requisition slips at level 2
Use this sniper rifle on weak spots for impressive armor-breaking damage at a distance. With medium armor penetration, you can one-shot some of the medium-sized armored foes like Devastators and Scout Striders. As for heavier enemies like Tanks and Hulks, you can take them down with a couple of well-aimed shots. While the Railgun might be your cup of tea, you’ll have to contend with its ‘unsafe mode.’ The weapon isn’t great against Chargers though so you might want to pick another weapon while dealing with Terminid planets.
R-36 Eruptor Rifle
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 2 of Democratic Detonation Warbond
While a bolt-action rifle might not sound impressive, explosive rounds make it a menace against most threats. Since these bullets have a small area-of-effect damage effect, you can shoot enemies like Scout Striders directly and still damage their weak spots. Weaker mobs can be cleaned up this way as well. We’ve had a better time aiming at a Devastator’s limbs than the weak spots. You can even clear fabricators and bug nests with it, making it a versatile weapon. Just remember to pair it with a high rate of fire supply weapon like the Stalwart. It’s easily the best weapon in the Democratic Detonation Warbond and might even justify the purchase with Super Credits for this gun alone.
LAS-16 Sickle
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 20 Medals on page 1 of Cutting Edge Warbond
This energy weapon is great at killing multiple enemies at range. It’s effectively an assault rifle competitor as it fires laser bursts. Thanks to its heatsink, you don’t need to worry about running out of ammo. Just remember not to let it overheat or you’ll need to replace the heatsink. But if you want to maximize its damage output, don’t hold back just to save a heatsink. Its low recoil is another valuable perk while facing a mob of threats. Just remember to bring another anti-armor weapon to handle bigger foes.
GR-8 Recoilless Rifle
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 6000 Requisition slips at level 5
The Recoilless Rifle is a great anti-armor pick, especially against Chargers after a recent update. You’ll need an ally to help you feed ammo and improve its rate of fire but its damage as a rocket launcher is solid. It’s great against armored enemies like Hulks and Bile Titans. Pair it with a weapon that’s better suited for clearing weaker foes like the good ol’ Liberator assault rifle.
GL-21 Grenade Launcher
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 6000 Requisition slips at level 5
The Grenade Launcher can be used to clear bug nests and fabricators, letting you tackle objectives quickly. This stratagem is perfect for clearing weaker bugs and Automaton squads. Just remember to stock up on ammunition and look before you shoot. It can be used against armored foes but it can take a while to kill them. So we recommend bringing an ally along with something tailored to Bile Titan or Tank destruction.
P-19 Redeemer Pistol
- Type: Secondary
- Cost: 5 Medals on page 2 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
Its fast fire rate lets you mow down robots and bugs in a pinch. Just don’t expect it to hurt armored enemies like the Hulk or Devastator. It’s a great secondary weapon to have and is easily an upgrade over the standard Peacemaker. While the Senator might deal more damage, the Redemer’s higher ammo count and high rate of fire make it the better pick against mobs.
G-12 High Explosive
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: Free
While it is the starting grenade, its mix of high damage and armor penetration is perfect for all targets. Its blast radius is on the lower side, though. Remember to hold the grenade for a moment before throwing it to ensure that your target doesn’t get too far away from the blast radius.
G-23 Stun
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: 25 Medals on page 2 of Cutting Edge Warbond
You might be surprised to see a non-lethal grenade in our S-Tier section. It can be useful when you want to stall enemy patrols or groups for time or to evade them. It’s perfect for extractions. Considering that it even works on Bile Titans, you can pair it with a lethal stratagem like the Eagle 500kg Bomb to ensure that you don’t waste your biggest damage dealers. You can also use the Stun Grenade to stun enemies and aim at their weak spots. Autocannon enjoyers will find it easier to kill big threats like Hulks and Tanks with this trick.
A-Tier List
While these don’t pack the same fury as the S-Tier picks, they can still dish out some serious democracy. Here are our A-Tier weapon picks in Helldivers 2.
RS-422 Railgun
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: Cost: 10000 Requisition slips at level 20
While the Railgun was once everyone’s favorite weapon, a nerf quickly brought down its potential. This lethal rifle can still knock out most enemies in one shot. Use the ‘unsafe mode’ to overcharge the railgun for even more damage at the risk of being blown up yourself. The nerf makes this essential as safe mode shots won’t penetrate heavy armor as easily as before. It’s still a good option on higher difficulties, especially when paired with the Shield backpack.
PLAS-1 Scorcher
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 75 Medals on page 10 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
This energy weapon is a solid pick against robots. While it only mentions light armor penetration on the Warbonds page, the PLAS-1 Scorcher can dish out some serious damage against even Devastators and other medium-armor foes. Like the Eruptor rifle, its bullets deal damage in a small area, making it perfect for Scout Striders and Bile Spewers. But it struggles against larger hordes and tougher enemies due to its small magazine.
SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 2 of Steeled Veterans Warbond
While setting fire to foes is great, this shotgun is better against bugs than robots. Burn damage lets it slowly chip away at the health of larger enemies while tackling mobs effectively. It also packs more ammo and a better fire rate (no pun intended) than the regular Breaker. So pick your loadout carefully before a mission.
AR-23 Liberator
- Type: Primary
- Cost: Free
The default Liberator assault rifle does great against hordes of weaker hordes. You can do some decent damage against larger foes but you’re better off relying on other stratagems or supply weapons for them. It doesn’t do too well against armor but its scope lets you target weak spots to an extent. It’s a great weapon, especially when you start the game.
SG-8 Punisher Shotgun
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 4 Medals on page 1 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
Despite its poor fire rate, the Punisher backs it up with solid damage and stagger damage against armored foes. Being able to stagger enemies like Chargers is a welcome perk. And with a large magazine capacity, you can deal some serious damage as long as you don’t whiff your shots. While the Slugger delivers all of its damage in a single shot, the Punisher uses ammo that scatters and provides diminishing returns as you move away from your opponents. We still prefer the Breaker when it comes to shotguns.
G-31 Grenade Pistol
- Type: Secondary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 3 of Democratic Detonation Warbond
In addition to dealing damage to multiple foes, the Grenade Pistol can also be used to take down bug nests and fabricators. Remember that it has a bit of a drop to get accustomed to. It’s a good option that lets you carry other grenades like the Stun grenade. But the Grenade Pistol’s low ammo is only refilled by two grenades on a resupply, making it an expensive weapon to maintain.
MG-43 Machine Gun
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: Free
Solid fire rate makes the Machine Gun a valuable companion in most firefights. Both weak enemies and medium-armored opponents can be felled with this lethal weapon. Just remember that reloading it takes a while. I try to reload behind an ally to ensure that I’m not caught off-guard.
AC-8 Autocannon
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 7000 Requisition slips at level 10
The Autocannon can chew through bosses with steady cannon fire. It’s no crowd control weapon but its anti-armor power lets you take out larger foes like Hulks and Chargers. Having a clip with multiple shots also means that you can apply constant pressure on an enemy squad. Just remember that its rate of fire isn’t great and that its reloads root you to a spot. The Railgun nerf means that the Autocannon is even more relevant now when it comes to knocking down Bile Titans and Tanks.
FLAM-40 Flamethrower
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 6000 Requisition slips at level 10
Its short range might hold it back. But pair the Flamethrower with a Jump Pack and you’ll be raining fire on bugs in no time. It’s great against Terminid hordes as they’re susceptible to fire damage. A recent 50% damage buff helps it take down armored foes like Chargers quickly. One of the new ship modules boosts fire damage, making the Flamethrower even more of a menace.
EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 3000 Requisition slips at level 3
While the EAT-17 is a quick way to clear out armored foes like the Hulk, some may prefer the Recoilless Rifle’s larger clip. Don’t let the Expendable Anti-Tank’s single rocket worry you though. Its low cooldown means you can call these in once every 70 seconds. A recent buff lets it kill Chargers in a single hit if aimed right.
M-105 Stalwart
- Type: Stalwart
- Cost: 3500 Requisition slips at level 2
This light machine gun is great against hordes and is easier to handle than the regular Machine Gun. But with lower armor penetration, the M-105 Stalwart might not be viable on higher difficulties against foes like Hulks and Bile Titans. As one Redditor put it “Run and gun… Stalwart. Holding the line… Machine Gun.”
G-16 Impact
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: 20 Medals from page 5 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
Use the Impact grenade in a pinch against enemies that aren’t too close. They’re especially good against packs of weaker foes. Remember that you can take friendly fire if you’re close to this grenade. It can be harder to use these against bug nests and fabricators though. Players found this out the hard way when the grenade landed on a bug that was emerging from the nest, killing both of them.
B-Tier List
Opt for these weapons when the situation demands it. If you’ve gotten really good with these, no one’s stopping you from sticking to them. Here are our B-Tier weapons.
ARC-3 Arc Thrower
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 7000 Requisition slips at level 15
Try fighting Terminid swarms closing in and you’ll see how effective lightning can be. With unlimited ammo, the only real downside is the time between shots. This can slow you down, especially against Automatons and their steady stream of laser fire. On the flip side, these shots can arc from foe to foe. The Arc Thrower has decent range as well. As for friendly fire, bolts only arc onto allies if they’re behind your target. If you’re wondering how it handles armor, we noticed some inconsistencies. Sometimes a Charger would only need a few shots. And sometimes an enemy would take ages to be defeated with an Arc Thrower. That’s why we recommend picking other supply weapons that are good at anti-armor damage.
LAS-98 Laser Cannon
- Type: Stratagem
- Cost: 4000 Requisition slips at level 5
While we love weapons with infinite ammo, the Laser Cannon could use a damage buff for it to become a mainstay. In its current state, it’s still a decent pick against both Automatons and Terminids. It can even damage armored opponents with a continuous beam of laser fire, even at long range. But heavy armor will prove challenging for the Laser Cannon.
JAR-5 Dominator
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 80 Medals on page 3 of Steeled Veterans Warbond
While it’s slower than the Liberator, this assault rifle is better against armored robots. A buff drastically improved its damage and granted it more stagger, making it great against most foes. Its low magazine capacity and high recoil hold it back from being an easy recommendation. You also have to lead your shots a bit if you want to target distant enemies.
AR-23P Liberator Penetrator
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 40 Medals on page 6 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
We hoped this weapon would be a superior version of the base assault rifle. It does more damage to weak spots and is a boon against armor thanks to its scope and medium armor penetration. But it isn’t as good while clearing weaker foes and has higher recoil. Remember that it isn’t fully automatic so you can’t clear hordes as quickly as the regular Liberator.
MP-98 Knight
- Type: Primary
- Cost: Helldivers 2 Super Citizen Edition
With a crazy rate of fire, this SMG is good against weaker bugs and robots. But it isn’t as versatile as the starting assault rifle as its accuracy suffers at long range. Armored foes won’t take much damage from this gun either. The MF-98 Knight is definitely not worth spending money on unless you really want an SMG option as your primary weapon.
SMG-37 Defender
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 15 Medals on page 3 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
This SMG shares similar traits to the aforementioned weapon. As for comparing it to the MP-98 Knight, players are pretty divided over it. Some prefer the Knight while others opt for the Defender. Expect an AR to pack a bigger punch compared to both SMG picks. And since the P-19 Redeemer pistol already provides a fast rate of fire, you don’t need to pick an SMG as your primary weapon.
CB-09 Exploding Crossbow
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 80 Medals on page 3 of Democratic Detonation Warbond
Aim this crossbow right and you can take out weaker mobs in a single hit. Accounting for its low fire rate, bullet drop, and decent explosion radius can mean the difference between a dead ally and a job well done. You’ll need to reload between shots and for some reason, this weapon cannot close bug nests and clear fabricators while the Eruptor Rifle can.
FAF-14 Spear
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 9000 Requisition slips at level 20
This weapon is held back by its iffy targeting system. It’s especially useful against the Bile Titan when you manage to aim at its head. It’s better with stationary objectives like outposts. Pair it with a Stun grenade if you want to land shots with this rocket launcher. But its low ammo makes it hard to recommend when there are better weapons out there.
SG-8S Slugger
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 8 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
This shotgun isn’t competitive against the Punisher and Breaker on all fronts. While it changes from a scattered shot to high-damage slugs, its low rate of fire and low ammo (even with the patch that boosted it to 60) make it an unreliable ally. A recent nerf lowered its damage and stagger capability, making it a tough pick. In addition, bug breaches can easily extinguish all your ammo.
P-2 Peacemaker Pistol
- Type: Secondary
- Cost: Free
The default pistol is great when your primary is out of ammo. But with the same damage per shot, a higher ammo count, and a high rate of fire, the P-19 Redeemer will easily trounce the Peacemaker. It does decently well against both unarmored robots and bugs. Just don’t expect it to work wonders.
G-10 Incendiary
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: 25 Medals from page 2 of Steeled Veterans Warbond
This grenade creates a patch of flames which is great for defeating enemies packed together. You can also use it to protect objectives or fellow Helldivers. Just remember that it can harm allies as well. We recommend the regular High Explosive Grenade over this one for its damage potential.
G-6 Frag
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: 2 Medals on page 1 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
While the Frag grenade has a solid blast radius, it comes at the cost of power. It’s useful for clearing weak enemies but isn’t as deadly as the standard High Explosive grenade. It’s still a decent pick if your main focus is to clear weaker enemies before finishing up with primary or support weapons.
C-Tier List
I wouldn’t recommend using these weapons in Helldivers 2 unless you want a challenge. Expect buffs to improve their capabilities in battle.
SG-225SP Breaker Spray & Pray
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 9 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
While a shotgun with a better fire rate and lower damage sounds good in theory, we found the regular Breaker better for most engagements. Weaker enemies, especially Terminids, fall quicker thanks to the Spray and Pray having more shots per magazine. Stick to the regular Breaker, especially since you unlock it first.
BR-14 Adjudicator
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 20 Medals on page 1 of Democratic Detonation Warbond
While it promises to be a versatile marksman rifle, the Adjudicator’s damage is way off the mark. And its smaller magazine doesn’t help either. You can’t one-shot weaker enemies with body shots despite it being a marksman rifle, making it undesirable on most missions. Players have taken to calling it a balloon gun online.
R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper and R-63 Diligence
- Type: Primary
- Cost: Cost: 8 or 40 Medals in page 2 or 6 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
True, the Counter Sniper is an upgrade from the regular sniper rifle. But it still doesn’t take out armored foes quickly and can be a chore to aim. These flaws extend to the basic Diligence too. Expect marksman rifles in general to get a buff soon.
LAS-5 Scythe
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 30 Medals on page 5 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
This recharging laser is decent against weaker robots. But against hordes of bugs or armored Automatons, the LAS-5 Scythe doesn’t do well enough to justify using it. It barely makes a dent on any kind of armor, be it Terminid or Automaton. Other laser weapons like the Sickle do a better job.
SG-8P Punisher Plasma
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 2 of Cutting Edge Warbond
While it’s great to target enemy weak spots from medium range, the Punisher Plasma is not very helpful against nearby foes. It can harm you with its splash damage so don’t aim at bugs that are right next to you. Lead your shots and focus on crowd control to make the most of it. In the shotgun department, consider the Breaker instead for a good all-rounder.
AR-23C Liberator Concussive
- Type: Primary
- Cost: Cost: 20 Medals on page 1 of Steeled Veterans Warbond
While the Liberator Concussive (once known as the Liberator Explosive) can stagger foes, there’s not much else it can do despite being a primary weapon. It deals less damage and has a lower fire rate than most ARs, reducing it to a support role. Pick other weapons if you want to stand a chance on higher difficulty levels.
P-4 Senator Pistol
- Type: Secondary
- Cost: 15 Medals on page 1 of Steeled Veterans Warbond
While this pistol deals more damage than the regular one, this comes at the cost of fire rate. The Redeemer is a better option thanks to its high rate of fire and quick reloads.
LAS-7 Dagger
- Type: Secondary
- Cost: 60 Medals on page 3 of Cutting Edge Warbond
This laser pistol might look cool to use. But it barely does anything against armored opponents so keep this for the weaker enemies and Terminid missions. It’s easily the worst secondary in the game right now despite its potentially infinite ammo.
ARC-12 Blitzer
- Type: Primary
- Cost: 80 Medals on page 3 of Cutting Edge Warbond
This weapon is good against Automatons but its slow fire rate makes it take a while to kill enemies. You’re better off with the ARC-3 Arc Thrower. It has decent crowd control but can’t be compared to its more powerful sibling.
G-123 Thermite
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: 15 Medals on page 1 of Democratic Detonation Warbond
Despite its promise of taking out armor, a bug appears to minimize the Thermite’s effectiveness in dealing damage over time. It can also stick to enemies but with so little damage, it barely harms armored opponents. Players treat it like a glowstick/flare right now so stay away from it until a patch irons things out.
G-3 Smoke
- Type: Grenade
- Cost: 25 Medals on page 8 of Helldivers Mobilize Warbond
While this might be useful for going into stealth, it’s a mechanic that is rarely used in Helldivers 2. You can use it to lower the accuracy of enemy shots or slip away from alerting a patrol. But this will rely on you coordinating an escape route with your team. Pair up with random players and it becomes even more of a hassle.
So which of these weapons are good against Terminids?
Weapons that deal fire damage are particularly good against the Terminids. The Flamethrower is great and weapons focusing on a high rate of fire are good picks too. Like most situations, the Breaker shotgun is going to help you clear out waves of small enemies and medium foes. The P-19 Redeemer is a must-have as you can clear weak foes with it like Hunters and Warriors. For armored foes, you’ll have to step things up with the Quasar Cannon or Grenade Launcher. The latter helps with bug nests too.
And which weapons are effective against Automatons?
Bullet penetration and explosives are the best ways to deal with Automatons. Consider weapons like the PLAS-1 Scorcher, LAS-19 Sickle, R-36 Eruptor, and Breaker to keep Automatons at bay. Support weapons like the Quasar Cannon, Autocannon, Railgun, and Expendable Anti-Tank will be your best friends against armored enemies. The Eruptor can close fabricators down as well so it’s a good weapon to consider. Remember to aim for weak spots too.
