Weapons Tier List

Helldivers 2 features a vast arsenal spanning primary weapons, secondary sidearms, and heavy Support Stratagems. After a year of balance patches culminating in Patch 01.004.000, the meta has evolved significantly. This validated tier list ranks all practical weapons for 4-player co-op across overall effectiveness and faction-specific performance against Illuminate, Automatons, and Terminids.

Validated for 4-man co-op squads. While virtually every weapon has niche uses or fun factor, this guide focuses on optimization and battlefield effectiveness. The key insight is that Helldivers 2 demands tactical flexibility: bring fire and explosives for Bugs, armor penetration and precision for Bots, and area damage with shield-piercing for Illuminate. Understanding these faction dynamics separates effective Helldivers from cannon fodder.

These weapons are considered the strongest and most versatile across almost any mission. Multiple sources confirm them as top-tier choices that consistently outperform alternatives. If you’re unlocking weapons strategically, prioritize these.

These heavy weapons called via Stratagems provide critical firepower that primary weapons cannot match. They define team roles and enable specialized tactics.

A-tier weapons are highly effective and often just shy of S-tier due to minor drawbacks or more specialized roles. These are still strongly recommended picks, especially when matched to the right situations or team compositions. Many require specific attachments, skilled handling, or tactical awareness to truly shine, but in practiced hands they rival S-tier performance.

B-tier weapons are viable and can excel in specific roles or with right loadouts, but are generally outshined in most scenarios. C-tier weapons are average or below-average—usable in pinch but far from optimal. D-tier weapons are underperformers or novelty picks generally not worth loadout slots in serious play. These tiers include many starter weapons, quirky variants, and specialized tools that serve niche purposes or challenge runs.

The Terminid faction fights in massive close-range swarms with huge numbers of melee grunts plus big brutes like Chargers and Bile Titans. Constantly spawning nests and hives require quick destruction. Bugs are mostly lightly armored aside from large ones but notably vulnerable to fire and area damage. Ideal anti-bug weapons therefore maximize crowd-clearing, area-of-effect, and fire damage to keep hordes at bay while maintaining mobility since you’ll often be kiting dozens of insects.

Additional Strong Picks: Incendiary Grenades or High-Explosive Grenades for blocking choke points with fire and burning out bug nests quickly. G-4 Gas Grenade creates wide cloud that slows and confuses bugs making them easy pickings. Any high ROF weapon can substitute for Sickle when flame isn’t available. SMG-72 Pummeller (which stuns bugs) provides alternative sustained fire. Key is never letting bugs surround—coordinate positioning when using flamethrowers to avoid friendly fire while screening group.

Automatons are heavily-armored mechanical enemies with small glowing weak spots like exposed red eyes or fuel tanks favoring long-range firepower with big guns and tanks. To defeat them requires weapons that punch through armor and hit precision weak-points plus tools to handle their deployables and structures. Common strategy is engage at range with high-penetration rifles and bring dedicated anti-tank weapon for toughest units.

Additional Strong Picks: AT-48 Spear Launcher (guided anti-tank rocket with lock-on very deadly against heavily-armored enemies—can lock onto moving APC or distant sniper bot eliminating from cover), M-25 Commando (excellent anti-tank weapon for manual laser-guided rocketry), Quasar Cannon (super-laser obliterating any Automaton unit in one or two hits working on aerial units and objectives), ARC-12 Blitzer (useful to stun groups of bots though direct damage lower—support for stopping rushdown dog bots while someone else snipes), BR-14 Adjudicator or AR-61 Tenderizer (strong against bots with burst drilling through medium armor or high per-shot damage staggering targets reliably). Any weapon with medium or heavy armor penetration and good accuracy at range serves well. Meet them at range with punchy precise weapons hitting glowing weak spots.

Illuminate faction fields hordes of melee Voteless thralls (space zombies) alongside shielded ranged units (Overseers, Councilors) and dangerous bosses like Harvesters with regenerating shields. Successful loadout against Illuminate needs crowd control for swarms of fodder and shield-breaking firepower for tougher enemies. Weapons that can hit multiple targets or bypass shields are especially valuable.

Additional Strong Picks: LAS-16 Sickle (precision and infinite ammo—one of best weapons against Illuminate after recent buffs shredding unarmored targets), Arc Thrower stratagem (lightning gun disrupting groups of Illuminate units by stunning and chaining damage though less outright lethal than fire or explosives), Anti-Materiel Rifle stratagem (if no Railgun—well-placed headshot makes quick work of any shielded enemies so long as pair with something for crowds), GP-31 Grenade Pistol or M-25 Rumbler (ensure still have explosive punch to throw at Illuminate groups or spawn beacons in pinch). Key is fire and explosives for fodder and precision AP for heavies. Coordinate with team so someone always ready to exploit dropped shield or torch incoming horde.

Helldivers 2’s 4-player co-op design means optimal weapon selection depends heavily on what your squadmates are bringing. A well-rounded team covers multiple bases: crowd control, anti-tank, sustained fire, and area denial. Here’s how to think about team composition strategically rather than just individual loadouts.

In a coordinated 4-player squad, consider distributing these roles to ensure comprehensive coverage across all threat types and mission phases.

Crowd Control Specialist focuses on managing swarms and fodder enemies. Primary weapons like Cookout, Incinerator Flamethrower, or Breaker variants excel here. This role particularly critical against Terminids and Illuminate Voteless hordes. Recommended equipment includes flame weapons, AoE grenades (Incendiary, Gas), and potentially Stalwart MG for sustained suppression. The crowd control specialist creates space for teammates to engage priority targets without being overrun.

Anti-Tank Specialist brings heavy firepower to eliminate armored threats and bosses. Support Stratagems like Railgun, Quasar Cannon, Commando, or Recoilless Rifle define this role. This position becomes absolutely critical against Automatons and large Terminid creatures. Secondary weapons with AP (Senator, Talon) complement primary anti-tank focus. The anti-tank specialist handles what primary weapons cannot, serving as team’s answer to heaviest enemy units.

Sustained DPS maintains constant pressure on enemy forces with high-accuracy, high-uptime weapons. Sickle variants, Tenderizer, or plasma rifles like Scorcher work excellently. This role provides backbone of team’s offensive output against medium threats. Infinite ammo weapons particularly valuable allowing sustained engagements without resupply dependency. The sustained DPS player enables team to maintain forward momentum during prolonged firefights.

Flexible Support fills gaps based on mission requirements and enemy faction. This player can swap between utility weapons, alternative crowd control, or specialized counters as needed. Consider weapons like Arc Thrower for stunning, precision rifles for weak spot targeting, or additional specialized anti-faction picks. Support player adapts loadout to complement other three roles ensuring no critical gaps exist.

Against Terminids: Team should prioritize fire damage and crowd control with at least two players carrying flame-based weapons (Cookout, Incinerator, Incendiary Breaker). One player brings Stalwart MG or Sickle for sustained suppressive fire. Final player carries anti-heavy support like Railgun or Commando for Chargers and Bile Titans. Incendiary or Gas grenades across team ensure choke point control. Strategy focuses on creating kill zones with overlapping fire where bugs funnel into withering flames and sustained fire. Keep moving as unit and never let swarm surround anyone.

Against Automatons: Team needs precision and armor penetration with at least one Railgun or Anti-Materiel Rifle for hard targets. Two to three players carry accurate primaries (Sickle, Diligence, Purifier) for weak spot targeting. One player may specialize in anti-structure (Eruptor, Autocannon) for fabricators and deployables. EMP or Stun grenades across team help disable shielded units and vehicles. Strategy emphasizes range control—engage at distance using precision fire on weak spots before Bots can close. Coordinate focus fire on biggest threats (Hulks, tanks) using Railgun or heavy weapons.

Against Illuminate: Team requires balance of AoE for Voteless and shield-breaking for elites. Two players carry strong AoE (Cookout, Purifier, Flamethrower) to handle zombie hordes. One player brings Railgun or AMR specifically for shield-piercing against Harvesters and Overseers. Final player provides sustained fire or additional AoE support. High-AP secondaries like Senator across team capitalize on shield-down windows. Strategy involves maintaining separation between elite-killers and crowd-clearers. Fire and explosives delete fodder while precision weapons wait for shield vulnerabilities on bosses. Stun or Gas grenades create breathing room during overwhelming pushes.

Beyond primary weapons, coordinating Support Stratagems dramatically amplifies team effectiveness. Consider these combinations for multiplicative power rather than merely additive firepower.

Railgun + Recoilless Rifle Combo: Railgun excels at surgical elimination of single high-value targets while Recoilless (when coordinated with loader teammate) provides high-volume anti-armor. Together they handle both precision and sustained anti-tank needs. Effective against Automatons and mixed enemy compositions with multiple armor types.

Flamethrower + Stalwart MG Duo: Flamethrower creates area denial blocking enemy advances while Stalwart MG mows down anything trying to flank or push through flames. Flamethrower user screens team from frontal assault as MG user provides mobile suppressive fire. Devastatingly effective against Terminids where mobility and fire control determine survival.

Autocannon + Quasar Cannon Pairing: Autocannon provides consistent heavy firepower with high ammo capacity while Quasar delivers periodic massive damage spikes. Autocannon user handles sustained engagement as Quasar times shots on toughest targets. Cooldown-based Quasar complements ammo-based Autocannon creating continuous heavy fire capability. Works across all factions providing team with sustained heavy weapons platform.

Arc Thrower + Precision Rifles: Arc Thrower stuns and chains damage through grouped enemies setting up precision rifle users for easy headshots on stunned targets. Crowd control plus precision creates efficient elimination of medium to heavy threats. Particularly effective against Illuminate where Arc Thrower disrupts shielded units for brief windows teammates can exploit with high-damage precision shots.

This tier list reflects the state of Helldivers 2 as of Patch 01.004.000 following a year of balance updates since launch. The meta has evolved significantly through developer buffs, nerfs, and reworks. Understanding patch history provides context for current weapon standings and hints at potential future changes.

Purifier Rise to Dominance: Initially launched as underwhelming weapon post-game release, Purifier received substantial buffs transforming it into supremely powerful all-rounder. Explosive damage, splash radius, and charge time improvements elevated it from forgettable to S-tier. This exemplifies developer willingness to significantly boost underperforming weapons creating meta shifts.

Breaker Family Adjustments: Original SG-225 Breaker dominated early meta as overpowered choice. Subsequent nerfs brought it in line while Incendiary variant SG-225IE received targeted buffs establishing it as premier anti-Terminid option. Balance philosophy aimed for specialization over universal dominance.

Energy Weapon Buffs: Sickle and other laser weapons received multiple accuracy and damage buffs over patch cycles. Recent changes particularly boosted Sickle’s effectiveness against Illuminate making it top-tier choice for that faction. Energy weapon improvements reflect developer push toward ammo-less weapons as viable alternatives to traditional firearms.

Explosive Weapon Category Revisions: Weapons like Eruptor, Exploding Crossbow, and various grenade launchers saw damage and blast radius adjustments. Developer intent appears focused on making explosive weapons high-risk high-reward options requiring skill but delivering significant power. Self-damage mechanics keep explosive weapons from being thoughtlessly deployed.

Support Stratagem Meta: Railgun historically strong received minor nerfs but remains top-tier due to fundamental armor-piercing capability. Flamethrower weapons received consistent buffs recognizing their importance against swarm factions. Commando added as new option providing guided rockets filling niche between fire-and-forget and lock-on launchers.

Community response to balance changes has generally been positive with players appreciating developer responsiveness to feedback. Previously neglected weapons receiving buffs creates renewed interest and experimentation with previously ignored arsenal options. The philosophy of “making everything viable” rather than aggressive nerfs has maintained player goodwill and encouraged loadout diversity.

High-level player community continues pushing boundaries discovering optimal strategies and highlighting underutilized weapons. Community tier lists and guides like this one synthesize collective knowledge helping broader player base access cutting-edge tactical insights. Developer attention to community feedback creates positive cycle where player experience directly informs balance decisions.

Challenge runs and self-imposed restrictions showcase that even lower-tier weapons can succeed with skill and coordination. While this guide focuses on optimization, the reality is that player skill and team coordination often matter more than raw weapon tier in determining mission success. Tier lists provide starting point for strategic thinking rather than absolute requirements for victory.

When loading into mission, quickly select optimal weapons using these faction-specific priorities and mission modifier considerations. This condensed reference enables rapid loadout decisions without re-reading entire tier list.

High Enemy Density: Prioritize crowd control weapons even more heavily. Double up on flame weapons or area denial tools. Stalwart MG becomes more valuable for sustained suppression.

Armored Patrols: Ensure every team member has some answer to armor whether through Support Stratagem or high-AP primary/secondary. Railgun and Commando become essential rather than optional.

Limited Resupply: Favor infinite ammo weapons like Sickle, Scorcher, or energy secondaries. Minimize dependence on ammo-hungry weapons like Incendiary Breaker unless confident in ammo management.

Atmospheric Conditions (Low Visibility): Close-range weapons gain value when long sightlines don’t matter. Shotguns and flamethrowers excel in fog or sandstorms where precision rifles lose effectiveness.

Defensive Objectives: Static defense missions favor deployable heavy weapons like Autocannon or emplaced MGs. Combine with area denial tools to create fortified positions enemies must push through.

Extraction Missions: Mobility becomes paramount requiring weapons allowing movement while firing. Avoid slow reload weapons or those requiring stationary deployment. Sickle and mobile MGs shine here.

Helldivers 2’s weapon meta rewards understanding over memorization. While S-tier weapons like Purifier, Scorcher, Sickle, and Cookout provide excellent starting points for loadout optimization, true mastery comes from recognizing faction weaknesses and adapting team composition accordingly. The most dangerous squads aren’t those with four S-tier primaries but those with complementary roles covering crowd control, anti-tank, sustained fire, and support.

Remember the core principles: fire and explosives for Bugs, armor penetration and precision for Bots, AoE and shield-piercing for Illuminate. Apply these principles flexibly based on mission modifiers, team composition, and your own playstyle preferences. A skilled Helldiver with A-tier weapon matched perfectly to situation outperforms unskilled player with S-tier generalist weapon.

Coordinate with your squad, communicate priorities, and most importantly—spread managed Democracy through superior firepower and tactical excellence. The weapon tier list provides the tools but you provide the strategy. Dive hard, Helldivers.