Helldivers 2 tips and tricks guide for beginners

Looking for the Helldivers 2 tips and tricks? The new multiplayer PlayStation and PC title has broken records thanks to its focus on tactical combat and teamwork. If you’re finding it tough to tackle its many arenas, we have some tips and tricks for both beginners and those who are already proficient at Helldivers 2.

Adopting the right strategies can mean the difference between death and a successful operation in Helldivers 2. For more on the game, check out our Helldivers 2 trophies and cheats guides.

Beginner Helldivers 2 tips and tricks

We’ve split these tips into general ones and tips specific to combat. Here are some general Helldivers tips and tricks that will prove useful on your journey. Use these to quickly make your way through the new Cutting Edge Warbond.

1 – Keep track of the ticking clock

Missions have a set amount of time indicated at the top right of your screen. If you stray too far to finish your mission objectives, you might find yourself too far from the shuttle. Try calling the shuttle after finishing as many objectives as possible. While Extraction missions may be quicker, you still need to stay focused on the main objective.

2 – Team up with randoms/friends for optimal loadouts

Helldivers 2 is designed to be played in a squad and is rather brutal if you go up against the Terminids alone beyond the tutorial. After some near-misses and running for my life, I can attest to that as a former solo player. Helldivers 2 doesn’t feature a class system but you can still come up with roles. One player can act as a defender with heavy gear while another could serve as a scout, pinging locations and foes. A third role could be a support character, with ammo, turret, and shield deployments. This ensures that all of you don’t drop with the same loadout.

3 – Go for tougher challenges for more XP

These reward more experience and are generally more fun than easier difficulty settings in Helldivers 2. Finishing all the secondary objectives nets you even more XP and rewards. More elite enemies also give you a reason to stock up on armor-penetrating weapons and explosives. Remember that some of these secondary structures have unique effects like jamming towers preventing stratagem usage.

4 – Open sealed doors and blast open containers for Medals and Super Credits

These have a low chance of appearing in every mission. Use an explosive to blast them open. Medals and Super Credits are extremely valuable so they’re well worth the effort. You can then use them for upgrades back at your Destroyer ship.

5 – Juggle item objectives to move faster

The good old Halo flag trick is alive and well here. If you need to carry an objective like an artillery shell to load up a SEAF artillery gun, picking it up and dropping it repeatedly can help you reach your goal quickly.

6 – It’s okay to die, just remember to pick yourself up

This game is hard and you’re going to die… a lot. But when you do, you’ll be redeploying in no time so the action keeps on going. Just remember to go over to your body and pick up any valuable loot you had. Tougher difficulties place a limit on the number of times you can use the Reinforce stratagem to revive allies so be careful. Some boosters increase the number of revives.

7 – Be mindful of how you spend your Medals, Samples, and Super Credits

Samples are used to get the best stratagems in Helldivers 2 that upgrade your ship. Super Credits let you get new armor from the Superstore. So think twice before spending them. On the same note, Medals from winning missions are used to progress in the game’s two battle passes. Helldivers Mobilise is free while the Steeled Veterans one is paid. Find the best armor and weapons that fit your play style as they can cost quite a few Medals to unlock.

Combat Helldivers 2 tips and tricks

Use these Helldivers 2 tips and tricks in combat if you prefer staying alive against bugs and robots.

8 – The floating circle is where your shots will land

Steady your aim by not moving and crouching or going prone. This improves the odds of your shots landing where you want them to, especially with heavy weapons like a sniper rifle or Autocannon. And even with automatic weapons, firing in bursts will help with accuracy. Consider aiming down your sights in Helldivers 2 too. In addition to zoom levels, you can change fire rates and enable/disable flashlights for more versatility. Some weapons like the Railgun’s unsafe mode can improve your damage too.

9 – Warn your allies instead of engaging in friendly fire

Communication is key in Helldivers 2. Knowing how to ping can help you pinpoint objectives and points of interest to work toward or enemies to fight/avoid. You can mark locations on the minimap using the ping system, too. While this warning might sound dire, the results are often hilarious. I’ve been caught reloading as a friendly supply drop landed on me. I’ve been deliberately used as a bomber when an ally threw a revive stratagem on top of an enemy base. There’s a lot of fun to be had but remember to watch where you aim. Try calling out stratagem usage in advance to protect your fellow Helldivers.

10 – Don’t fire at every enemy you see

Stealth can help you while working towards an objective. I’ve snuck past weak enemy patrols just to make it to an extraction. But if you choose to engage, failing to take them down quickly will just call in more enemies. As for bug nests, try to destroy them whenever you spot them. This applies to objectives like fuel silos as well.

11 – Keep track of weather effects and planetary hazards

While earlier conditions like cold would lower your rate of fire and delay heat buildup, new planetary hazards have more significant effects. Meteor storms can destroy your teammates as well as enemy troops and objectives. Tremors can slow down your offensive and help enemies push you towards cover.

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Some armor sets enhance your aim

Crouching or going prone with these armor sets will let you pick foes off from afar.

12 – Use the right weapons based on enemy types and weak spots

Our guide to all the factions and enemy types of Helldivers 2 will show you that simply spraying lead won’t solve every problem. Bugs are weak to flame while robots usually require armor-penetrating weapons. And save your explosives for larger threats like Hulk Bruisers and Bile Titans. Automaton missions will usually have you taking cover from overwhelming laser fire, making sentries a good option.

13 – Don’t reload too early and dive to save your magazines

This was a bit of muscle memory I had to unlearn as I got accustomed to Helldivers 2. Jay says it’s ‘quite realistic in its ammo approach.’ You have a set number of mags and reloading replaces the entire mag, wasting bullets that haven’t been fired. It’s not Call of Duty, you don’t have to reload every time you shoot. On that note, you may want to cancel a lengthy reload if you’re caught by surprise. So if you spot a bug or a glowing grenade, press Alt on PC to dive and cancel the animation. Just remember to reload later, though. In addition, grenades can be cooked by waiting before releasing the throw, letting you time your attacks.

14 – Be aware of injuries and use stims for a stamina boost

Your arms can be wounded, resulting in poor accuracy and lengthier reload times. Your feet can be damaged, lowering your movement and general agility. And you can suffer a chest hemorrhage too, draining your health unless you pop a stim. Healing will fix these problems. Keep that Resupply stratagem close as they drop stim packs too. Speaking of healing, stims also give you a stamina boost. This can be useful while trying to outrun foes or simply joining your teammates. Some armor passives also increase this duration while letting you carry more stims.

15 – Keep track of stratagem cooldowns

While some missions have modifiers that delay stratagem cooldowns, most difficulties have specific cooldowns for each cooldown. Spread out your team’s stratagem usage, especially when it comes to weapon drops and devastating ones like the 500kg Bomb. And whenever an ally is knocked out in combat or friendly fire, bring them back into the fight as soon as possible. Here’s how to reinforce teammates in Helldivers 2.

That covers the Helldivers 2 tips and tricks you need to thrive against bugs and bots. Beginners in Helldivers 2 will be able to land feet-first into missions without fear if they plan their loadouts and strategies. For more on the co-op shooter, check if Helldivers 2 has crossplay support and if it will launch on the Switch.

Helldivers 2 tips and tricks FAQs

Can you return to your ship with new weapons in Helldivers 2?

No, weapons picked up cannot be used in future missions.

What do you do in Helldivers 2?

The game tasks you with clearing enemy hordes and finishing objectives with allies.