Helldivers 2 Items Guide: 10 Loadouts and Gear Tips for Every Mission

1. Introduction

In Helldivers 2, survival is not guaranteed. As a soldier of Super Earth, your success depends not only on your skills but also on the tools you bring into battle. Items play a vital role in every mission, shaping your strategy, combat effectiveness, and ability to adapt in chaotic situations.

Whether you’re launching orbital strikes or setting up auto-turrets, every item you equip has a specific role. Choosing the right gear can mean the difference between a clean extraction and total mission failure. In this guide, we’ll break down every major item category in Helldivers 2, from devastating weapons to life-saving stratagems.

2. Categories of Helldivers 2 Items

Helldivers 2 offers a diverse and tactical selection of items, each designed to support different playstyles and mission objectives. Understanding how each category works will help you build the perfect loadout for any challenge. Below are the main item categories you’ll encounter:

Weapons

• Primary Weapons: These are your go-to guns for general combat. From assault rifles and shotguns to laser rifles, each primary weapon balances damage, accuracy, and ammo capacity.
• Secondary Weapons: Useful when your primary runs dry or when stealth or precision is needed. This includes pistols, submachine guns, and sidearms with special effects.
• Special Weapons: Often obtained through stratagems, these high-impact tools include rocket launchers, flamethrowers, and anti-materiel rifles. They’re great for armored enemies and tough objectives.

Stratagems

• Stratagems are deployable tools you call down from orbit. They’re activated using button combinations mid-battle and cover a wide range of tactical needs.
  • Offensive: Airstrikes, turrets, and explosives.
  • Defensive: Barriers, shield generators, and supply drops.
  • Support/Utility: Vehicle summons, resupply pods, or radar beacons.

Armor and Suits

• Each armor suit affects movement speed, durability, and often grants a unique passive bonus like faster reloads or increased stratagem cooldown speed.
• Choosing the right suit can support your role as a frontliner, support specialist, or stealth operator.

Throwables

• Grenades, mines, and stun devices are critical for crowd control and dealing with enemy swarms.
• Different types offer different effects: explosive, incendiary, or EMP-style disruption.

Boosters and Passive Upgrades

• These are perks or enhancements that boost stats like damage resistance, stratagem cooldowns, or movement speed.
• Some are tied to armor, while others are unlocked through progression or special missions.

3. Top-Tier Weapons and Their Use Cases

In Helldivers 2, choosing the right weapon can make a dramatic difference in how effective you are on the battlefield. The best weapons aren’t always the most powerful—they’re the ones that match your mission goals and team role. Below are some of the top-tier choices and when to use them:

Best Weapons for Solo Play

• AR-23 Liberator – A reliable assault rifle with balanced stats, ideal for solo missions where versatility is key.
• SG-8 Punisher Shotgun – Excellent for close-quarters combat, especially when facing hordes in narrow environments.
• LAS-5 Scythe Laser Rifle – No need to reload, making it perfect for long solo engagements where ammo is limited.

High-Damage Squad Support Weapons

• MG-94 Machine Gun (Stratagem) – Offers powerful suppression fire and is perfect when holding a position or defending an objective.
• RS-422 Railgun – High single-shot damage, great for supporting your team against heavy armored threats like mechs or tanks.
• Flam-40 Flamethrower – Fantastic for crowd control in narrow areas. Use it to block choke points or burn through bug nests.

Anti-Tank and Anti-Air Gear

• RL-112 Recoilless Rifle – Reliable and reusable. Great for team-based anti-vehicle duties.
• EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank – One-time-use rocket with high damage. Perfect for emergencies or quick hits against armored targets.
• Autocannon Stratagem – Combines strong firepower with reusability if another player helps reload.

Each weapon shines in different scenarios, so it’s smart to bring gear that complements your teammates. Mixing weapon types across your squad ensures you’re ready for both swarms and heavy armor.

4. Best Stratagems to Equip

Stratagems are one of the defining features of Helldivers 2, offering a powerful layer of tactical flexibility. These call-in tools can turn the tide of battle—if used wisely. From orbital bombardments to defensive turrets, choosing the right stratagems for your loadout is crucial. Here are some of the most effective options categorized by purpose:

Offensive Stratagems

• Orbital 120MM HE Barrage – A devastating barrage ideal for clearing large enemy groups or destroying fortified nests.
• Autocannon Sentry – An automatic turret that provides consistent firepower and can cover chokepoints or extraction zones.
• Airstrike Cluster Bomb – Great for flattening a wide area. Time it carefully to avoid friendly fire.

Defensive Stratagems

• Shield Generator Relay – Projects a durable bubble shield that can protect objectives or revive zones from enemy fire.
• Resupply Pack – Crucial for longer missions. Allows you and your squad to refill ammo and stratagems mid-battle.
• Tesla Tower – Discharges electricity to shock and damage nearby enemies—useful for swarm control in defensive missions.

Utility Stratagems

• Eagle Smoke Strike – Provides cover for flanking maneuvers or rescue operations. Very helpful against ranged enemies.
• Reinforce Beacon – Lets you bring back fallen teammates—an essential stratagem in high-difficulty missions.
• Hellpod with APC or Exosuit – Summons a vehicle or mech for added mobility and firepower, especially useful in open maps.

When building your stratagem loadout, it’s wise to bring a mix of offense, defense, and support tools. Coordinate with your squad to avoid overlap and ensure every situation is covered.

5. Armor and Suit Selection Tips

Your armor in Helldivers 2 does more than just change how you look—it defines your movement speed, protection level, and passive perks. Picking the right armor can significantly impact your combat effectiveness, especially when paired with the right weapons and stratagems.

Light Armor: Speed and Flexibility

• Use Case: Great for scouts, medics, or players focused on dodging rather than absorbing damage.
• Pros: Faster movement speed, quicker rolls, shorter cooldowns for stratagems.
• Example: Scout Armor Mk II – Increases run speed and stratagem cooldown reduction. Excellent for hit-and-run tactics.

Medium Armor: Balanced and Versatile

• Use Case: Ideal for general-purpose builds and adaptable roles in a squad.
• Pros: Moderate damage resistance and decent speed.
• Example: Defender Armor – Balanced stats with bonuses to reload speed or stratagem efficiency. A reliable all-rounder.

Heavy Armor: Durability and Tanking

• Use Case: Perfect for frontline soldiers who need to withstand heavy fire and enemy swarms.
• Pros: High defense, knockback resistance, and health.
• Cons: Slower movement and dodge roll speed.
• Example: Juggernaut Suit – Increases damage resistance significantly, allowing you to absorb damage while holding a position.

Perks and Passives to Look For

• Stratagem Cooldown Reduction: Helps you call in support more often.
• Increased Magazine Size or Reload Speed: Useful for weapon-heavy builds.
• Damage Resistance vs. Specific Enemy Types: Choose armor that offers bonuses based on your mission type (e.g., bugs vs. bots).

Matching your armor to your role is key. If you’re going heavy on stratagems, go light for faster cooldowns. If you’re focused on holding the line, invest in durability. Balance is important, especially in a team setting.

6. Item Farming: How to Unlock More Gear

Progression in Helldivers 2 heavily revolves around unlocking new items, weapons, and stratagems. The more missions you complete and objectives you fulfill, the more gear becomes available. However, if you want to unlock items efficiently, you’ll need to approach farming strategically.

Earn Medals and Super Credits

• Medals are the main currency for unlocking weapons, armor, and stratagems in the Warbond progression tree.
• Super Credits are premium currency, sometimes earned in missions or found in containers, used to access special gear or exclusive Warbond pages.

Focus on Warbond Progression

• Warbonds function like a battle pass. As you earn medals, you unlock gear along a structured path.
• Prioritize Warbond pages with key weapons or armor that suit your playstyle. Don’t spread your medals too thin.

Play High-Yield Missions

• Planetary Campaigns and Major Orders often offer high rewards in terms of medals, XP, and gear.
• Missions with double rewards or marked as “High Priority” should be your go-to for efficient farming.

Loot Supply Pods and Crates

• While on missions, be sure to check for hidden supply containers. These often include Super Credits or cosmetic items.
• Some supply crates are guarded or require team effort to access, but the rewards are worth it.

Complete Daily and Weekly Tasks

• The Mission Terminal includes daily and weekly objectives that reward medals, XP, or credits.
• These tasks often rotate, encouraging you to try new loadouts and mission types for optimal farming.

Squad Up for Efficiency

• Farming with a full, coordinated squad increases mission success rates and allows faster completion of harder objectives.
• Roles can be divided—one player can focus on damage, another on resupplies, and another on crowd control, speeding up clear times.

By focusing on high-reward missions and managing your Warbond progression wisely, you’ll unlock new gear at a steady pace without burnout. Remember, efficiency beats grinding every time.

7. Crafting and Upgrading System

While Helldivers 2 doesn’t include traditional RPG-style crafting, it does offer meaningful progression through gear upgrades and Warbond unlocks. Understanding how to enhance your equipment is key to keeping up with harder missions and enemy evolutions.

Is There Crafting in Helldivers 2?

• As of now, there’s no crafting system where you combine materials to build weapons or armor from scratch.
• Instead, players “unlock” items via Warbond trees, which function like reward tracks.

How Upgrades Work

• Some items—especially armor and certain stratagems—can be improved via passive bonuses or perk upgrades.
• Once you unlock an item, it may come with:
  • A base version
  • A modified or enhanced variant with improved stats or added perks

For example:

• A basic turret may become a faster-firing or longer-lasting version in a later Warbond page.
• Some armor suits have Mk II variants with slight stat differences or new perks.

Where to Manage Your Gear

• Head to your Ship’s Armory or War Table between missions.
• You can:
  • Equip weapons and secondary gear
  • Swap out stratagems
  • Change armor and view passive boosts
• The interface allows you to preview stats, read item descriptions, and plan synergy between weapons, armor, and stratagems.

Unlock Strategy Tips

• Don’t just chase cosmetics—focus on unlocking items that complement your current build.
• Balance utility and offense—having all damage tools won’t help if you’re short on resupplies or defenses.
• Pay attention to synergistic unlocks—for example, unlocking a heavy weapon and then its ammo resupply stratagem.

Though there’s no crafting bench, the game still rewards careful planning and thoughtful progression. Your loadout isn’t just about firepower—it’s about synergy.

8. Meta Loadout Recommendations

Whether you’re diving solo or coordinating with a full squad, choosing the right combination of weapons, armor, and stratagems is essential for mission success. Below are some current meta loadouts that players use to dominate on higher difficulties in Helldivers 2.

Loadout 1: All-Rounder Assault (Great for Solo or PUGs)

• Primary Weapon: AR-23P Liberator Penetrator (high accuracy, armor-piercing rounds)
• Secondary Weapon: P-19 Redeemer (fast-firing backup)
• Stratagems:
  • Resupply Pod
  • Autocannon
  • Reinforce Beacon
  • Eagle Airstrike
• Armor: Medium-class suit with stratagem cooldown bonus

Why it works: Balanced and reliable, this loadout covers crowd control, armor-piercing, and survival. Great for solo missions or when matched with random teammates.

Loadout 2: Heavy Weapons Specialist

• Primary Weapon: RL-112 Recoilless Rifle
• Secondary Weapon: P-2 Peacemaker
• Stratagems:
  • Resupply Pod
  • Machine Gun Sentry
  • Hellpod Mech or Exosuit
  • Anti-Personnel Minefield
• Armor: Heavy armor with knockback resistance and ammo perks

Why it works: Built for taking down enemy vehicles, tanks, and massive bug bosses. You’ll be slower, but incredibly tough and dangerous.

Loadout 3: Stealth and Speed Recon

• Primary Weapon: Dagger SMG (high rate of fire, good for close-range hits)
• Secondary Weapon: Silenced pistol or throwing knives (if available)
• Stratagems:
  • Eagle Smoke Strike
  • Shield Generator Relay
  • Resupply
  • Jump Pack or Recon Drone
• Armor: Light suit with increased run speed and roll distance

Why it works: Focuses on mobility, support, and quick strikes. Works well in missions where speed and precision matter more than raw firepower.

Loadout 4: Support Commander (Team Focused)

• Primary Weapon: AR-23 Liberator or similar
• Secondary Weapon: Healing or utility tool (if available)
• Stratagems:
  • Reinforce
  • Resupply Pod
  • Shield Generator
  • Orbital Precision Strike
• Armor: Medium armor with stratagem regen bonuses

Why it works: Supports the entire team by keeping them alive and supplied. Great for organized squads tackling high-difficulty operations.

Each of these loadouts can be adjusted based on mission type (extermination, defense, extraction) and enemy faction (Terminids, Automatons, etc.). Always be ready to switch gear between missions depending on what’s coming next.

9. Buying Helldivers 2 Items (Optional Subtopic)

While most of the gear in Helldivers 2 is earned through gameplay, some players choose to buy Helldivers 2 items from third-party platforms to save time or access hard-to-get upgrades. If you’re considering this route, here’s what you should know.

Why Do Players Buy Helldivers 2 Items?

• Skip the grind: Farming medals or super credits can be time-consuming, especially for casual players.
• Access rare items: Some gear or cosmetics are limited-time or locked behind Warbond pages that take weeks to complete.
• Boost early-game performance: New players might want a head start with better loadouts for tougher missions.

What Can You Buy?

• Boosting Services: These help you complete difficult missions or unlock specific gear.
• Accounts or Gear Packages: Pre-leveled accounts or bundles that include powerful weapons, stratagems, and armor.
• Currency Packs: Some platforms may offer super credit bundles or medal farming services.

Tips for Safe Buying

• Always use reputable marketplaces with good reviews and verified seller systems.
• Look for platforms with trade protection, refund policies, or customer support.
• Never share your personal account details—use methods that allow safe delivery (e.g., via in-game friend invites or account transfer).
• Read the terms of service of the game carefully. Third-party purchases may carry a risk of violation.

Ethical Considerations

• Buying items is entirely optional and not necessary to enjoy the game. Helldivers 2 is designed to be fair to those who play regularly.
• However, for those short on time, purchasing items can help keep up with friends or handle higher-difficulty content more smoothly.

If you decide to buy Helldivers 2 items, make sure you do so wisely—and always prioritize secure, reliable platforms.

10. Conclusion

Items are at the heart of the Helldivers 2 experience. From orbital stratagems to armor perks, every piece of gear you bring into battle shapes how you play—and how well you survive. Whether you’re fending off endless swarms or coordinating precise strikes with a team, the right loadout can make all the differaence.

Take time to experiment with different combinations of weapons, armor, and stratagems. Pay attention to your squad’s composition, adapt your gear to the enemy faction, and don’t hesitate to shift your strategy based on the mission type. As you progress and unlock more powerful items, your combat options will expand, opening up new ways to tackle increasingly difficult challenges.

And if you’re ever short on time or looking to enhance your arsenal quickly, you can consider options to buy Helldivers 2 items—just be sure to do it securely and responsibly.

The galaxy needs saving, Helldiver. Lock in your loadout, call down your stratagems, and show the enemy what coordinated democracy looks like.