11 things I wish I knew before playing Helldivers 2

GamesActionHelldivers 211 things I wish I knew before playing Helldivers 2When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 tips

Helldivers 2, the co-op shooter from the makers of Magicka, is enjoying a way bigger launch than any of us were expecting. Despite some technical issues Arrowhead Games is still grappling with,we’re enjoying Helldivers' excellent shooting and smart brutality. It’s easy to pick up, hard to master, and has a lot more going on under the hood than its tutorial suggests.

You’ll likely spend your first few bug-slaying campaigns discovering rules and mechanics you didn’t know were there, and if you’re like me, kick yourself for overlooking them for so long. After eight hours in Helldivers 2, here’s every tip and trick I’ve jotted down so far:

You can “parkour” up to surprising heights

There is no jumping or proper climbing in Helldivers 2, but you can manipulate the clambering mechanic to get higher than you’d expect. You can climb waist high objects to “stair step” your way to some height, but the range on the grab is generous enough that you even can catch ledges a short gap away.

Airstrikes can take out Terminid nests

You can equip a backpack and a back weapon

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 tips

Helldivers 2 doesn’t explicitly state you can’t do this, but when I first put on a Support Pack to be my squad’s ammo mule, I figured I was using up the “back” slot where I’d usually put a heavy machine gun. Not the case: you can still carry any large back weapon while also wearing a Support Pack, as well as other back gadgets like the Jump Pack.

This is also my way of telling you the Support Pack rules—with it you can carry four resupply boxes, distribute them to teammates, and even replenish it with a normal supply drop. There’s no reason not to have one buddy hauling the ammo in Helldivers 2.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Hipfire often

Hold “reload” to tweak your gun

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 tips

Another handy mechanic that Helldivers doesn’t explain. You can hold “reload” while holding a gun to tweak its settings, if it has any. This is how you can change your assault rifle or SMG rate of fire or toggle a flashlight on or off.

Radar stations reveal loot caches on the map

If you happen upon a radar dish point of interest on a mission, take the time to do it. Booting up the dish will reveal points of interest on your map with little diamond symbols, including loot stashes containing rare samples (used to upgrade your mothership), bunkers with medals and powerful weapons, and the locations of enemy outposts/nests. You also get XP for doing it, so it’s a win-win.

Every gun has a first-person mode

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 tips

Diving will save your life

Plan around your extraction point

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 tips

Where you choose to drop into a mission is a bigger decision than you might think. Some mission types ask you to destroy four compounds on opposite corners of the map, and the procedurally generated terrain will often slice up the map with uncrossable water.

If you want to avoid lengthy sprints across land you’ve already cleared, it’s smart to tackle objectives in order of farthest to closest to the extraction point.

The premium battle pass has more weapons, but they’re not total upgrades

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 tips

Helldivers 2 progression is both familiar and strange for a live service game. It has a free and premium battle pass containing not only cosmetics, but new weapons and armor. The free pass contains most of the basic guns in the game, but the $10 premium pass has a couple more guns and several variants of existing guns.

While the variants are interesting, they’re not necessarily upgrades. For instance, the first page of the premium pass contains an explosive ammo variant of the basic Liberator assault rifle. While the explosive ammo gives it extra kick, it also has a slower rate of fire, smaller magazine, and more recoil. It’s a tradeoff, or a sidegrade. I’ve yet to test other variant guns for myself, but their stat screens suggest a trend.

It’s polite to salute the ICBM

For Super Earth.

Helldivers 2 weapons: Best guns of Super EarthHelldivers 2 stratagems: Understand the ordinanceHelldivers 2 loadouts: Finest kits for bug-killingHelldivers 2 armor: Which suits to wearHelldivers 2 medals: Where to claim more currency

Helldivers 2 weaponsHelldivers 2 stratagemsHelldivers 2 loadoutsHelldivers 2 armorHelldivers 2 medals

More about actionAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’

More about action

All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’

Zenless Zone Zero codes - Miyabi and section four

All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codes

Image of Yasuke striking an enemy in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’

Latest

Double headed wizard man holding arms up looking sad

See more latest►

Most Popular

2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me

Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout

‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids

Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)

Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 6, 2025)

I’ve seen enough: No more forcing singleplayer studios to make mediocre live service games

6 games that could be bigger hits than you’re expecting in 2025

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

You can “parkour” up to surprising heights#

Airstrikes can take out Terminid nests#

You can equip a backpack and a back weapon#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Hipfire often#

Hold “reload” to tweak your gun#

Radar stations reveal loot caches on the map#

Every gun has a first-person mode#

Diving will save your life#

Plan around your extraction point#

The premium battle pass has more weapons, but they’re not total upgrades#

It’s polite to salute the ICBM#

You can “parkour” up to surprising heights

Airstrikes can take out Terminid nests

You can equip a backpack and a back weapon

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Hipfire often

Hold “reload” to tweak your gun

Radar stations reveal loot caches on the map

Every gun has a first-person mode

Diving will save your life

Plan around your extraction point

The premium battle pass has more weapons, but they’re not total upgrades

It’s polite to salute the ICBM