If you’re looking for the best guide as you make your way into liberating Super-Earth, look no further. We’re here to give you every tip and secret you need to know for your first Helldivers 2 playthrough!
In Helldivers 2, you’re called to fight for democracy and free what could be humanity’s last stand. This online multiplayer game lets you fight alien bugs, devious Bile Titans, and other creatures with friends or on a public online server.
It is almost needless to say that the game is a massive hit – to the point where devs are scrambling to expand their servers to accommodate the hoard of players ready to “fight for democracy.”
Whether or not this is your first time to gear up or you’re looking for details you may have missed on your first run-through, we’re here to give you all the details you need to know as you head to the battle to liberate the planet!
Helldivers 2 tips & tricks for your first playthrough
You can toggle between first-person and third-person views
The game doesn’t tell you this outright, but you could swap perspectives in every gun using the middle mouse (on PC) or a specific key bind on your controller (Playstation). Switching between views can significantly improve your aim when shooting far-away aliens or affect your spray on bug hoards.
If you prefer less recoil, go for the first-person perspective. On the other hand, third-person POV gives you more mobility to spray between many enemies, albeit with a higher recoil tradeoff.
You also have the option to personalize your perspective to change per weapon in the “Remember Aim Mode” tab in the settings.
Make sure to empty your ammo
Whether or not Helldivers 2 is your first foray into shooter games, it may come as first instinct to reload your gun whenever you’re low on bullets. However, this game has a more real-life approach to ammo than other first-person titles.
In Helldivers 2, the remaining bullets in your magazine will be discarded once you reload. And since you could only carry a finite amount of resources, it wouldn’t be ideal to waste any ammo that might as well be deep in a bug’s head.
So watch your finger on the R button whenever your clip goes below your average threshold; every bullet counts in this treacherous fight for democracy.
The battlefield is a numbers game
With the horde of aliens always ready to swarm your team, it is a must to redeploy your fallen teammates as soon as possible. If your buddy dies in the middle of a swarm, you could redeploy them in a safer area by throwing the redeploy beacon somewhere further.
Being outnumbered on a “foreign” planet means you must play defensively. Some of you would want to “spray and pray” as you dive headfirst to enemy nests, but this may not be your best option. Instead, be tactical and place turrets on a chokepoint while waiting for the poor aliens to head toward their death aggressively.
Communication is vital so place marks on the map
If you’re playing on PC, pressing Q lets you mark a designated area on the map to communicate with your teammates. Furthermore, holding Q opens up the communication wheel, giving you options for directions and callouts.
We advise using the marker to take note of sinister enemies that could pose harm to respawning teammates.
Moreover, pressing TAB lets you navigate the minimap on your screen. Pressing the left click while hovering over a specific area enables you to mark the place for your teammates to take note of.
Be friendly over friendly fire
Only over a week after the release of Helldivers’ 2, many players have already called for significant weapon balance changes and mechanics tweaks. Among the most popular calls is to increase the accuracy of the guns available in the game – mainly because it is almost inevitable to shoot your buddies accidentally.
Remember that if your teammate nicks your leg a little, they (most likely) did not mean it, and it’s just part of the game.
Don’t cut corners with your loadout
Every fight in Helldivers 2 is critical, so avoid being frugal with spending your Stratagems. With the sheer number and might of the alien creatures you’ll face, your team will surely need every help you can get.
The game generously rewards your hard work, so you won’t need to worry about running low for your subsequent missions.
Keep an eye out for golden beacons
They say that “not all that glitters is gold,” but it surely might as well be in Helldivers 2. If you see pulsing golden beacons while wandering out in the wastelands, head straight to its source. These are emergency supply drops that could contain currency, medals, or other battle resources.
Pop half-buried cargo open
If you’re venturing out on the battlefield and come across half-buried cargo containers, don’t hesitate to throw an explosive to open them. Just like emergency supply drops, these containers will give you various in-game resources that would come in handy for your mission.
Take note of your armor’s passive buffs
Yes, you heard that right. Armors in Helldivers 2 are no mere defense shields because your armor also has passive buffs. You may view your current active buffs in the store or before buying your armor of choice.
The passive buffs can range from a lucky bet on chance, “50% chance to not die when taking lethal damage,” or battle perks like recoil reduction.
Don’t miss out on collecting samples
While its name may not suggest its importance, samples will eventually be valuable to your progression in liberating the Super-Earth. Samples are used for permanent ship upgrades ranging from decreased Stratagem cooldowns to attack buffs.
Once you pick up a sample, the number of samples available on a mission can be seen in the top-right corner of the UI.
Now that we’ve covered most of the basics (and even the secrets) to conquering the battlefield, you are more than ready to suit up and wage the war against hostile aliens! For more Helldivers 2 guides, news, and updates, stay tuned with Level Push.