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Helldivers 2features a number of ways for you to put the hurt on the enemies of Democracy. Whenever you set out on a mission, you’ll want to ensure your primary weapon, secondary weapon, grenade, andStratagemsare exactly what you’ve got in mind for the mission at hand. Some of these tools of war, like the Stratagems, areunlocked at the Ship Management console, under the Stratagems tab. Others, like the Primary, Secondary, and Grenade weapon slots, are acquired elsewhere.
Helldivers 2: New Meta Loadouts (Democratic Detonation)
This guide details the best loadouts choices that complement each other across all difficulty levels as established in Helldivers 2’s new meta.
You’ll start with a few default weapon options: AR-23 Liberator (Primary), P-2 Peacemaker (Secondary), and G-12 High Explosive (Grenade). Other than these defaults, you’ll acquire new weapons almost exclusively through the Acquisition Center’sWarbonds tabusing yourMedals(though there are several Stratagems that summon Support Weaponry as well). This guide will detail each weapon in the game and how you can add them all to your arsenal.
Updated by Jeff Brooks on August 05, 2025: This guide has been updated to include the latest weapon stat information from the Cutting Edge Warbond, as well as the balance changes in Helldivers 2 (April 2 patch notes here). While the patch also contained balance changes for some Stratagems, there were a number of major weapon buffs and nerfs, including some nerfs to the Slugger Shotgun and Arc Thrower, buffs to the Anti-Materiel Rifle, Jar-5 Dominator, Breaker Incendiary, and more.
Helldivers 2
How To Acquire All Primary Weaponry
Weapon Name
Weapon Type
Weapon Stats
Weapon Traits
How To Unlock
AR-23 Liberator
Assault Rifle
MP-98 Knight
Submachine Gun
SG-8 Punisher
R-63 Diligence
Marksman Rifle
SMG-37 Defender
SG-225 Breaker
LAS-5 Scythe
Energy-Based
AR-23P Liberator Penetrator
R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper
SG-8S Slugger
SG-225SP Breaker Spray & Pray
PLAS-1 Scorcher
AR-23E Liberator Concussive
SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary
JAR-5 Dominator
Helldivers 2: All Planetary Hazards, Explained
If you want the low down on all planetary hazards in Helldivers 2, this guide has you covered!
How To Acquire All Secondary Weaponry
P-2 Peacemaker
P-19 Redeemer
P-4 Senator
Helldivers 2: Every Secondary Weapon, Ranked
Which guns should you be taking with you to defend Super Earth? Here we’ll talk about every secondary weapon and its pros and cons.
How To Acquire All Grenade Weaponry
G-12 High Explosive
G-16 Impact
G-10 Incendiary
Helldivers 2’s Bile Titans Are Reviving My Trauma From Watching The Mist
Helldivers 2 is meant to be fun, so why am I crying?
How To Unlock All Support Weapon Stratagems
Stratagem Type
Stratagem Stats
Stratagem Traits
Machine Gun
Patriotic Administration Center
Anti-Materiel Rifle
Expendable Anti-Tank
Recoilless Rifle
Flamethrower
Autocannon
Grenade Launcher
Engineering Bay
Laser Cannon
Arc Thrower
Quasar Cannon
Heavy Machine Gun
All Weapons Affected By April 2 Patch
Patch Notes On Weapon Buffs & Nerfs
If you’re interested in sometips and tricksfor how to tackleall the enemies in the game, check out our guides onhow to beat the Terminid enemiesas well as theAutomaton enemiesyou’ll come across on missions.
Helldivers 2 Review: Freedom Never Sleeps
Liber-tea never tasted so good!
Which Stratagems do you feel need a buff (badly) in Helldivers 2?
