Helldivers 2: Your Essential Starting Guide

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Helldivers 2: Your Essential Starting Guide

Hey there, future Helldivers! Ready to dive headfirst into the chaotic, bug-blasting, freedom-spreading world of Helldivers 2? Awesome! This guide is your starting point, designed to get you from fresh recruit to seasoned veteran, ready to take on the Automatons and Terminids. We’ll cover everything from the basics of gameplay to more advanced strategies, ensuring you survive out there and become a true agent of Super Earth. So grab your weapon, charge your stratagems, and let’s get started. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work (and helps you avoid getting eaten).

Understanding the Basics: Dive In and Survive

First things first, let's break down the core gameplay loop. Helldivers 2 is all about cooperative third-person shooting, objective completion, and strategically deploying powerful stratagems. You and up to three other players will drop onto planets teeming with alien threats, tasked with completing various objectives. These objectives range from destroying enemy nests and defending extraction points to activating terminals and retrieving vital data.

The Gameplay Loop

Your primary objective is to complete these missions while managing your resources and staying alive. The game throws waves of enemies at you, so you'll need to use your weapons, grenades, and stratagems effectively. Stratagems are your bread and butter, providing everything from orbital strikes and supply drops to powerful support weapons and defensive shields. The better you learn to use these things, the better your chances. Completing missions earns you experience points, currency (Requisition Slips), and sometimes samples. These resources are essential for upgrading your character, unlocking new stratagems, and buying new weapons and armor. There are also Warbonds, which are essentially battle passes. These let you unlock new equipment.

The Importance of Teamwork

Teamwork is absolutely critical. You'll need to communicate with your squad, coordinate your attacks, and cover each other. Friendly fire is a real thing, so be mindful of where you're shooting. Don't be that guy. Communication is key! Use your mic to call out enemy positions, coordinate stratagem usage, and warn your teammates of incoming threats. A well-coordinated team can overcome even the toughest challenges. This means knowing your roles, sharing resources when needed, and watching each other's backs. Don't be afraid to revive fallen teammates. It’s a good look and keeps your numbers up.

Key Controls and Mechanics

  • Movement: Standard WASD controls for PC. Use the left stick on consoles. Get used to running, ducking, and diving for cover. Learn to utilize cover; it can save your life.
  • Shooting: Left mouse button (PC) or right trigger (console) to fire your weapon. Get familiar with the recoil patterns of your weapons to improve accuracy.
  • Reloading: R key (PC) or square button (PlayStation). Reloading is crucial, especially when facing hordes of enemies. Always reload when you have a moment, and try to find cover.
  • Grenades: G key (PC) or L1 (PlayStation) to throw grenades. Grenades are a great way to clear out enemy nests or deal with groups of enemies. Know your different grenade types.
  • Stratagems: Use the directional keys on PC or the d-pad on PlayStation to input stratagem codes. Practice these codes; speed is important.
  • Using Stratagems: Hold Q (PC) or L1 (PlayStation) to bring up the stratagem menu. Select your desired stratagem and deploy it strategically.
  • Melee: Use the melee attack (default is a key on the keyboard, or a button on the controller) to deal with enemies up close. Effective, and can save you if you get swarmed.
  • Dodge: Get familiar with dodging to avoid enemy attacks and get out of tough spots. Timing is everything.

Mastering these basic controls and mechanics will be your first step towards becoming a proficient Helldiver. The more you play, the more comfortable you'll become, and the more effective you'll be on the battlefield.

Weapons, Stratagems, and Gear: Arming Yourself for Freedom

Now, let's talk about the tools of the trade. Helldivers 2 offers a wide variety of weapons, stratagems, and gear, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Understanding what to bring and how to use it is critical for your survival.

Weaponry

  • Primary Weapons: These are your go-to weapons for most encounters. Choose a primary weapon based on your playstyle.
    • Assault Rifles: Versatile, good for all-around combat.
    • Shotguns: Devastating at close range, great for crowd control.
    • Submachine Guns (SMGs): High rate of fire, ideal for close-quarters combat.
    • Marksman Rifles: Good for taking out enemies at medium range.
  • Secondary Weapons: These are sidearms, offering a backup option when your primary weapon runs dry or you need a quick burst of damage.
    • Pistols: Always reliable.
    • SMGs: Compact and handy.
  • Support Weapons: These heavy weapons are deployed via stratagems, offering massive firepower for specific situations.
    • Machine Guns: High rate of fire, great for suppressing enemies.
    • Rocket Launchers: Excellent for taking down armored targets.
    • Railguns: Powerful, accurate, and can penetrate armor.
    • Flamethrowers: Best for roasting bugs.
  • Grenades: Different grenade types serve different purposes.
    • Fragmentation Grenades: Basic, reliable, and deals damage to a group of enemies.
    • Impact Grenades: Instant detonation on impact, good for close-quarters situations.
    • Stun Grenades: Temporarily stuns enemies, giving you an opening.
    • Smoke Grenades: Obscures vision, providing cover.

Stratagems

Stratagems are your key to success. They range from offensive strikes to defensive support, and you'll need to learn to use them effectively. Practice calling these stratagems, they are the key to victory.

  • Offensive Stratagems:
    • Orbital Strikes: Devastating area-of-effect attacks. Know your targets and be aware of friendly fire.
    • Eagle Strikes: More focused, but fast-deploying air strikes.
    • Mortar Sentry: A stationary turret that provides continuous fire support.
  • Defensive Stratagems:
    • Shield Generator Pack: Provides a personal energy shield. Essential for staying alive.
    • Supply Drops: Provides ammunition and grenades. Keep your team stocked.
  • Support Stratagems:
    • Resupply:* Refills your ammunition. Essential after prolonged combat.
    • Anti-Personnel Minefield: Creates a minefield to defend an area.
    • HMG Emplacement: A fixed heavy machine gun.

Armor

Armor provides protection against enemy attacks. Different armor types offer different stats, like armor rating, speed, and stamina regeneration. Choose armor that fits your playstyle. Some armor types give buffs such as resistance to explosions. Experiment with different types to find what you like.

Gear

Gear includes backpacks, boosters, and other items that can offer passive bonuses or special abilities.

  • Backpacks:
    • Supply Pack: Provides ammunition to you and your teammates.
    • Guard Dog Rover: A robotic companion that provides fire support.
    • Shield Generator Pack: Provides an energy shield.
  • Boosters: Offer passive bonuses to your character.

Early Game Strategy: Surviving the First Missions

Surviving your early missions can be tough, but with the right approach, you can quickly become an asset to the team.

Mission Selection

Start with lower-difficulty missions to get a feel for the game and learn the basics. Focus on completing objectives and learning how to use your stratagems effectively. Don't be afraid to fail, it is a learning experience. As you level up and unlock more gear, you can take on more challenging missions.

Loadout Considerations

When starting, keep your loadout simple and effective. Choose a primary weapon that you're comfortable with and a reliable secondary weapon. Focus on stratagems that provide utility, like supply drops, and offensive firepower. Your equipment will depend on what is unlocked.

Combat Tactics

  • Prioritize Objectives: Focus on completing mission objectives rather than getting bogged down in unnecessary combat. The main goal is to complete the mission, not to get the highest kill count.
  • Manage Your Ammo: Conserve ammunition. Use your melee attack, and reload when you have a moment. Call in a supply drop when needed.
  • Use Cover: Utilize cover to protect yourself from enemy fire and reload safely. Don't run out into the open.
  • Coordinate Stratagems: Coordinate with your team to maximize the effectiveness of your stratagems. Don't call in an orbital strike in the middle of a close-quarters fight.
  • Learn Enemy Weaknesses: Pay attention to enemy types and their weaknesses. Experiment to discover what works best.
  • Extract Safely: Prioritize the extraction. Don’t get greedy, and risk not making it out alive.

Resource Management

  • Spend Requisition Slips Wisely: Focus on unlocking essential stratagems and weapons first, then work towards more specialized gear. Don’t waste resources on stuff you don’t need.
  • Collect Samples: Collect and use samples to upgrade your ship modules, which provide passive bonuses. The more you upgrade, the better off you are.

Advanced Tactics and Strategies: Becoming a Veteran Helldiver

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it's time to level up your game. These advanced tactics will help you dominate the battlefield.

Advanced Combat Techniques

  • Movement and Positioning: Mastering movement is essential. Learn to dive to avoid enemy attacks and get out of tight spots. Always be aware of your surroundings and position yourself in advantageous locations.
  • Grenade Usage: Master grenade usage for different situations. Use smoke grenades to cover your advance or retreat. Impact grenades are ideal for clearing out close-quarters spaces.
  • Stratagem Coordination: Coordinate stratagems with your team. Time your orbital strikes for maximum impact and avoid friendly fire.
  • Enemy Awareness: Know your enemies. Learn their attack patterns and weaknesses. Be aware of the types of enemies you are facing and what is approaching.
  • Armor and Gear Optimization: Experiment with different armor and gear combinations to find what works best for your playstyle.

Teamwork and Communication

  • Clear Communication: Use voice chat to communicate effectively. Call out enemy positions, coordinate stratagem usage, and warn your teammates.
  • Role Specialization: Assign roles within your squad. Some players can specialize in crowd control, while others focus on anti-armor.
  • Cover Fire and Revives: Always cover your teammates and revive them when possible. Don’t let anyone be left behind.
  • Adapt and Adjust: Be prepared to adapt to changing mission conditions and enemy tactics. Adjust your strategies as needed.

Mission Efficiency

  • Objective Prioritization: Always prioritize mission objectives. Avoid unnecessary combat.
  • Route Optimization: Plan your route to minimize travel time and maximize efficiency.
  • Resource Management: Manage your resources efficiently, including ammunition, grenades, and stratagems.
  • Extraction Planning: Plan your extraction carefully. Ensure the area is clear of enemies and that you have a safe route to the extraction point.

Mastering the Challenges: Tips for Success

Helldivers 2 can be challenging, but these extra tips will help you overcome the odds.

Optimizing Your Loadout

  • Consider Your Mission: Choose your loadout based on the mission type and enemy types you expect to encounter. Do you need anti-armor, crowd control, or long-range support? Adapt your loadout to the mission.
  • Experiment with Different Weapons: Don't be afraid to try different weapons and find out what suits your playstyle.
  • Use the Right Stratagems: Choose stratagems that complement your weapon choices and the mission objectives.
  • Customize Your Gear: Select gear that provides passive bonuses or special abilities that enhance your playstyle.

Dealing with Enemies

  • Learn Enemy Weaknesses: Understand the weaknesses of each enemy type. Know where to shoot them.
  • Use Stratagems Effectively: Use stratagems to counter enemy threats. Orbital strikes, air strikes, and support weapons can quickly eliminate enemies.
  • Manage Enemy Waves: Use cover and strategic positioning to manage enemy waves. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed.
  • Prioritize Threats: Prioritize targets based on their threat level. Deal with the most dangerous enemies first.

General Tips

  • Practice Stratagem Codes: Memorize the stratagem codes so you can deploy them quickly and efficiently. Time is of the essence.
  • Stay Positive: Keep your spirits up, even when things get tough. A positive attitude can make a big difference.
  • Learn from Your Mistakes: Don't get discouraged by failure. Use your mistakes as learning opportunities.
  • Have Fun: Remember, Helldivers 2 is a game, so enjoy the experience.

By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled and effective Helldiver. The war for Super Earth is a long one, so keep fighting for democracy! Remember to keep your head up, your stratagems ready, and always watch your back. Now, go out there and spread some freedom! For Super Earth!