Warbond Comparison Tool
When deciding between two or three Warbonds, direct comparison helps clarify which best fits your current needs and playstyle. This page provides detailed side-by-side breakdowns of commonly compared Warbonds, showing exactly what you gain and lose with each choice.
How to use this tool: Find the comparison that matches your decision point, or use the principles shown here to evaluate any Warbond matchup. Focus on identifying which weapons and Stratagems solve problems your current loadout faces.
Common Comparison Scenarios
Democratic Detonation vs. Servants of Freedom
The question: Both Tier 1 Warbonds emphasize explosives. Which should I prioritize?
Democratic Detonation
Best for: General-purpose explosive power that works everywhere
Weapons:
- R-36 Eruptor — Explosive sniper for range
- CB-9 Exploding Crossbow — Silent, powerful crowd control
- GP-31 Grenade Pistol — Secondary explosive utility
- AR-61 Tenderizer — Medium armor penetration AR
Throwables:
- G-123 Thermite — Anti-tank grenade that melts armor
Strengths:
- Four excellent weapons covering multiple ranges
- Works against all three factions equally well
- Provides anti-armor solution via Thermite
- Best overall value for new players
Limitations:
- Less specialized against the heaviest armor
- No Stratagem additions
Servants of Freedom
Best for: Destroying the biggest, toughest targets
Weapons:
- GP-20 Ultimatum — Pocket anti-tank cannon pistol
- Double-Edge Sickle — High-damage energy rifle variant
- BR-19 Buffalo — Explosive bolt-action rifle
- P-77 Plasmathrower — Plasma flamethrower
Throwables:
- G-10 Incendiary — Fire grenade for area denial
Stratagems:
- Portable Hellbomb — Deployable nuke for massive targets
Strengths:
- Exceptional against heavy armor (Bile Titans, tanks, bosses)
- Portable Hellbomb solves objective destruction problems
- Ultimatum pistol is one of the best secondaries in the game
- Excels in high-difficulty content
Limitations:
- More specialized—less versatile for general use
- Weapons require closer range or more careful positioning
Verdict:
Unlock Democratic Detonation first for broader utility and immediate impact across all mission types. Once you’re comfortable with the game’s fundamentals and start tackling difficulty 7+, unlock Servants of Freedom to handle the toughest armored threats that Democratic Detonation struggles against. Together, these two cover nearly all explosive needs.
Cutting Edge vs. Polar Patriots
The question: Both offer excellent energy primary weapons. Which energy rifle should I prioritize?
Cutting Edge
Best for: Reliable, consistent energy weapon with utility
Primary weapon:
- LAS-16 Sickle — Heat-based energy rifle
- Infinite ammo (heat management instead)
- Excellent accuracy and reliable damage
- No reloading required
- Works well at medium range
Other weapons:
- LAS-7 Dagger — Auto-targeting laser pistol
- Blitzer — Electric shotgun
- Punisher Plasma — Plasma shotgun
Throwables:
- CQC-06 Stun Grenades — Essential crowd control
Total value: Top-tier primary + crowd control utility + decent secondaries
Polar Patriots
Best for: Maximum primary weapon damage output
Primary weapon:
- PLAS-101 Purifier — Charged explosive energy weapon
- Massive damage per shot
- Explosive projectiles
- Extremely ammo-efficient
- Requires charging before firing
- Works well at medium-long range
Other weapons:
- P-113 Verdict — Medium-penetration pistol
- AR-61P Lollipop — Burst rifle variant
Armor:
- Arctic-themed armor with average passives
Total value: Best-in-class primary weapon + solid pistol + mediocre extras
Verdict:
Unlock Cutting Edge first because the Sickle’s reliability makes it better for learning the game, and the stun grenades solve a critical problem (crowd control) that you’ll face constantly. The Purifier from Polar Patriots does deliver higher burst damage, but requires more careful positioning and timing. Once you’re experienced with energy weapons and want to maximize your personal DPS, add Polar Patriots to your arsenal. The Sickle handles consistent damage, the Purifier handles priority target deletion.
Freedom’s Flame vs. Chemical Agents
The question: Both offer crowd control through damage-over-time effects. Which specialized toolkit is better?
Freedom’s Flame
Specialty: Fire-based area denial and swarm clearing
Weapons (all incendiary):
- FLAM-66 Cookout — Incendiary shotgun
- FLAM-40 Torcher — Flamethrower
- P-72 Crisper — Flame pistol
Throwables:
- G-6 Frag — Standard grenade
Approach: Direct fire damage that spreads and creates burning zones
Faction effectiveness:
- ⭐⭐⭐ vs Terminids (bugs burn beautifully)
- ⭐ vs Automatons (bots resist fire)
- ⭐⭐⭐ vs Illuminate (flesh burns well)
Playstyle: Aggressive close-range combat, area denial, panic button for overwhelming swarms
Chemical Agents
Specialty: Corrosive gas that stuns and damages over time
Weapons (mostly underwhelming):
- AX/TX-13 Sterilizer — Gas sprayer
- PLAS-15 Loyalist — Plasma rifle
- P-19 Redeemer — Machine pistol
Throwables:
- G-84 Gas Grenade — Best grenade in the game
- Stuns enemies in cloud
- Deals corrosive DoT
- Works on nearly all enemy types
- Excellent for crowd control AND boss debuffing
Approach: Tactical crowd control through area denial and status effects
Faction effectiveness:
- ⭐⭐⭐ vs Terminids
- ⭐⭐ vs Automatons
- ⭐⭐⭐ vs Illuminate
Playstyle: Tactical support, zone control, debuffing priority targets
Verdict:
This depends on your current loadout and faction focus:
- Choose Freedom’s Flame if: You primarily fight Terminids or Illuminate, love aggressive close-range combat, need dedicated swarm-clear weapons, or want a complete fire-themed toolkit.
- Choose Chemical Agents if: You already have adequate primary weapons and want to optimize your grenade slot. The G-84 Gas Grenade is exceptional and used by veteran players in nearly every loadout—it’s that good for crowd control.
For most players, Chemical Agents edges ahead because the gas grenade alone justifies the purchase, whereas Freedom’s Flame requires you to commit to fire weapons as your playstyle.
Urban Legends vs. Force of Law
The question: Both offer defensive support options. Which defensive toolkit is superior?
Urban Legends
Focus: Stationary defense with reload enhancement
Key Stratagem:
- A/MLS-4X Anti-Tank Emplacement — Deployable cannon
- Shreds heavily armored targets in seconds
- Excellent for defense missions
- Requires positioning and protection
Key Armor Passive:
-
Siege-Ready
- 30% faster reload speed
- Increased ammo reserves
- Transforms LMGs and shotguns into sustained damage machines
Other:
- Flame Sentry turret (after buffs, quite effective)
- EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit (standard mech)
Playstyle: Defensive fortification, holding positions, extended firefights with minimal downtime
Force of Law
Focus: Mobile crowd control support
Key Support Weapon:
- DE-escalator — Heavy stun cannon
- High damage at range
- Stuns multiple targets
- Excellent for protecting objectives
- Mobile (not emplacement)
Other:
- Guard Dog K-9 drone (underwhelming)
- Stun Pods (situational)
- Weak grenade and booster options
Playstyle: Mobile support, crowd control on the move, protecting teammates from threats
Verdict:
Urban Legends provides better overall value. The Anti-Tank Emplacement handles both defense and anti-armor roles excellently, and the Siege-Ready passive has universal benefit for anyone using primary weapons with magazines. Force of Law’s De-escalator is powerful, but the rest of the Warbond is weak. However, if you specifically want mobile crowd-control support and already have good defensive options, the De-escalator alone might justify Force of Law.
Comparison Framework: Evaluate Any Matchup
When comparing Warbonds not covered above, use this framework to make informed decisions:
1. Identify Your Current Gaps
Ask yourself what problems your current loadout can’t solve:
- Struggling with heavy armor? → Prioritize anti-armor weapons (Thermite, Ultimatum, Anti-Tank Emplacement)
- Getting overwhelmed by swarms? → Prioritize crowd control (explosives, fire, stuns, gas)
- Running out of ammo constantly? → Prioritize energy weapons or ammo-efficient options
- Dying to being surrounded? → Prioritize mobility (Warp Pack, Hover Pack)
- Team lacks defensive capability? → Prioritize emplacements and sentries
2. Compare Faction Effectiveness
Consider which enemies you fight most frequently:
- Terminids (bugs): Fire, explosives, and crowd control excel
- Automatons (bots): Armor penetration and precision matter more
- Illuminate: Energy weapons and explosives work well; adapt based on specific threats
If you primarily fight one faction, specialized Warbonds may outvalue generalists for your specific case.
3. Evaluate Weapon Count vs. Quality
Some Warbonds offer many weapons; others provide one exceptional item:
- Multiple good weapons = Better for experimentation and adapting to different missions
- One outstanding item = Higher impact if that item solves a critical problem
Democratic Detonation’s four excellent weapons provide more flexibility than Polar Patriots’ single Purifier, even though the Purifier might be individually stronger.
4. Consider Stratagem Additions
Warbonds that include Stratagems (Control Group, Servants of Freedom, Urban Legends) offer unique capabilities that weapons alone can’t provide:
- Warp Pack enables positioning impossible otherwise
- Portable Hellbomb solves specific objective types
- Anti-Tank Emplacement creates defensive strongpoints
Stratagem additions often have higher value than a fourth weapon option.
5. Check Armor Passives
Don’t overlook armor passives—some provide significant benefits:
- Siege-Ready (Urban Legends): 30% faster reload makes LMGs and shotguns dramatically better
- Servo-Assisted (Steeled Veterans): 50% limb health + longer throws enhances survivability
- Unflinching (Truth Enforcers): Flinch resistance helps maintain accuracy under fire
Weak armor passives don’t ruin a Warbond, but strong ones add substantial value.
Quick Decision Tables
”I need anti-armor solutions”
| Warbond | Anti-Armor Tool | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Detonation | G-123 Thermite grenade | ⭐⭐⭐ Melts armor quickly |
| Servants of Freedom | GP-20 Ultimatum + Portable Hellbomb | ⭐⭐⭐ Best heavy armor deletion |
| Urban Legends | Anti-Tank Emplacement | ⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional from fixed position |
”I need crowd control”
| Warbond | Crowd Control Tool | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting Edge | CQC-06 Stun Grenades | Stun + disable dangerous enemies |
| Chemical Agents | G-84 Gas Grenade | Stun + corrosive DoT |
| Freedom’s Flame | Fire weapons (Cookout, Torcher) | Burning damage + area denial |
| Control Group | PLAS-48 Epoch | Singularity effects |
”I want mobility options”
| Warbond | Mobility Option | Capability |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | Warp Pack | ⭐⭐⭐ Short-range teleportation |
| Borderline Justice | Hover Pack | ⭐⭐ Brief flight capability |
| Viper Commandos | Enhanced movement passive | ⭐ Slight movement boost |
Tip:
Pro tip: The Warp Pack from Control Group is the only true game-changing mobility option in any Warbond. If mobility is your priority, Control Group is your only real choice. The alternatives provide minor enhancements but don’t fundamentally change how you approach combat.
Summary: Making Your Choice
Direct comparison reveals that Tier 1 Warbonds earn their ranking not just through individual excellence but through comprehensive value—multiple strong items that solve different problems. When choosing between mid-tier options, identify your specific needs and match them against each Warbond’s specialty.
Remember that you’ll eventually unlock most Warbonds through regular play. The goal isn’t to find the objectively “perfect” choice, but to prioritize the Warbonds that will have the most immediate impact on your effectiveness and enjoyment. Trust your instincts about your playstyle, but use the comparisons above to understand exactly what you’re gaining and what you’re postponing.