“If you are struggling against Gunships, try this” Helldivers 2 players share tips to deal with the worst modifier in the game

The Gunships in Helldivers 2 have been a point of contention recently among players and the hot topic of the week. With Arrowhead Game Studios being on vacation, and many of the recent Major Orders being focused on the Automatons, many players have discovered how frustrating they can be.

Appearing on level 6 and above, the Gunships can become a constant threat that rains down missiles. Of all of the current mission modifiers, this one is the most frustrating.

U/SeiuchiVR took to Reddit to share a video showing them swiftly taking down the Gunships during a high-level Automaton mission.

If you are struggling against gunships, try the laser cannon. Very viable option against bots.
byu/SeiuchiVR inHelldivers

U/Spaghetti_Scientist confirmed that it is a great weapon to use against many Automaton enemies saying “Laser canon is a top-tier bot weapon. Gunships, Devastators, Scout Walkers, Hulks, Tanks, Cannon Turrets, Factory Striders, it can deal with them all with infinite range, basically unlimited ammo and no recoil.”

U/Infonuggets praised the weapon but also suggested another saying “Laser cannon is a 10/10 weapon for just Gunships and nothing else. Better off just using the Autocannon if you’re struggling against Gunships.”

U/BandAid3030 noted that at least one player on a team should carry it saying “If you are diving on a higher difficulty bot mission, you must have one Helldiver take a Laser Cannon specifically for this purpose. If you are that Helldiver, remember to call in additional Laser Cannons (after cooldown) for anybody who’s not got a support weapon called in. You can even do it prophylactically if you spot a Gunship Fabricator pair (the worst!), that there’s more than one Gunship side objective or the curse of the roving gunships is an operational modifier for you.”

U/StartlingCat suggested the Autocannon as an alternative saying “Autocannon enjoyers can take one down with 2 shots from the hip.”

U/LilithSanders stated that they use the very underrated Heavy Machine Gun and pointed out how effective it is saying “I’ve discovered the Heavy Machine Gun is very effective against them, but you have to get a feel for how much to lead your targets, and that can take some time.”

Gunships are something that I have been struggling with recently as I’ve tried to increase the difficulty while playing solo. I have my “Automaton loadout” and rarely deviate from it, favoring the Recoilless Rifle for my main Stratagem weapon. But one reason I like to write these posts is because I learn a lot about new Stratagems to carry for certain situations. The next time I encounter a Gunship modifier I will be taking the Laser Cannon with me, and will also be trying the Autocannon and Heavy Machine Gun to see which I prefer.

If you are also struggling then try these suggestions, based on the Reddit video posted, the Laser Cannon looks to be a great way to take them down. This is incredibly important because the current Major Order calls for players to “split the Automaton forces in two” as they try to invade the Andromeda Sector. To help you figure out what to carry with you on your next mission, we highly recommend checking out our Helldivers 2 best weapons guide and best armor guide.