The Best Helldivers 2 Weapons and Tier List

Helldivers 2 is a third-person shooter that emphasizes teamwork and coordination as players deploy from their Hellpods onto dangerous planets, facing off against the relentless Automatons and formidable Terminids. To maximize your chances of survival and contribute effectively to your squad, selecting the right loadout is crucial. Your choice of primary weapon is particularly important, as it will be your most-used tool in combat.

With a vast arsenal available, picking the right gun can be challenging. To simplify the decision-making process, we've compiled the Helldivers 2 weapon tier list, ranking each primary weapon based on its effectiveness. If you’re unsure what to equip, choosing one of the top-ranked weapons from our list is a solid strategy.

Read on to discover the best weapons in Helldivers 2 and how to make the most of them in battle.

Overview of Helldivers 2 Weapons

AR-23 Liberator: A reliable starter rifle that serves new players well. It is highly versatile but becomes less effective compared to more specialized options later in the game.

AR-23P Liberator Penetrator: This variant offers improved penetration, making it a better choice for dealing with armored enemies.

AR-23C Liberator Concussive: Trades a portion of its fire rate for a stagger effect, making it particularly useful against enemy groups.

AR-23A Liberator Carbine: A close-range version with a higher rate of fire but lower damage output.

AR-61 Tenderizer: Features an adjustable fire rate and strong stopping power, but requires careful reload management due to its lengthy reload time.

BR-14 Adjudicator: A versatile rifle effective at short and medium ranges, though its high recoil demands good control from the user.

SMG-37 Defender: A balanced SMG with stable handling, making it easy to maintain accuracy even in full-auto mode.

SMG-72 Pummeler: Excels in single-target encounters, capable of stun-locking enemies as long as fire is sustained.

MP-98 Knight: A lightweight SMG with an extremely fast fire rate, though mastering its recoil is necessary to use it effectively against lightly armored targets at close range.

SMG-32 Reprimand: A heavy SMG that behaves more like an adaptable assault rifle, offering a surprising level of versatility.

SG-8 Punisher: A powerful shotgun with the ability to load individual rounds, allowing for quick single shots in emergencies and preventing unnecessary ammo waste.

SG-8S Slugger: A modified Punisher that sacrifices some power for increased penetration, making it effective against armored foes in close quarters.

SG-451 Cookout: Uses incendiary pellets, causing stagger and inflicting fire damage over time. Ideal for hit-and-run tactics against grouped enemies.

SG-225 Breaker: A shotgun with a moderate spread, excelling in crowd control but struggling against armored targets.

SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary: A specialized version of the Breaker that deals significant fire damage but is ineffective against fire-resistant enemies.

SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray: A fully automatic variant of the Breaker, even more efficient at eliminating groups but even weaker against armored threats.

SG-20 Halt: A unique short-range weapon with dual magazines, one loaded with stunning rounds and the other with medium-penetrating flechettes.

R-63 Diligence: A marksman rifle that performs exceptionally well against lightly armored targets at mid-range.

R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper: This variant offers enhanced penetration, making it highly effective for eliminating armored enemies from a distance.

R-2124 Constitution: A marksman rifle equipped with a bayonet, ensuring its wielder isn’t defenseless in close-quarters combat.

LAS-5 Scythe: Fires a continuous, precise laser beam with infinite ammo but can overheat. Performs best in colder environments where it cools down faster.

LAS-16 Sickle: A precision energy rifle that sacrifices raw damage for a recoil-free shooting experience, making it ideal for picking off slow-moving targets.

PLAS-1 Scorcher: A versatile energy weapon capable of handling various enemy types, though its explosions can harm the user if fired too close.

PLAS-101 Purifier: A Scorcher variant with the ability to switch between an extremely high fire rate and single, powerful charged shots.

SG-8P Punisher Plasma: Fires plasma bolts that cause area damage, stagger enemies, and can be hazardous if used in close proximity.

ARC-12 Blitzer: A high-powered energy weapon with a slow fire rate, best used against sluggish foes that can’t close the gap quickly.

JAR-5 Dominator: A weapon with a steep learning curve, rewarding experienced players with its exceptional damage potential.

R-36 Eruptor: A sniper rifle that inflicts additional shrapnel damage, making it equally effective against single targets and groups. Limited by its small magazine and slow fire rate.

CB-9 Exploding Crossbow: A surprisingly potent weapon for dealing with threats at mid-to-long ranges. Its low rate of fire is its main drawback.

FLAM-66 Torcher: The only primary weapon classified under heavy penetration, making it highly effective against clustered enemies that aren’t resistant to fire.

Understanding Helldivers 2 Weapon Tiers

Tier lists should always be viewed with some flexibility, as multiple factors can influence a weapon's effectiveness.

A highly-ranked weapon might not be the best fit for every player, especially if they lack experience in handling it effectively. Some weapons receive high rankings due to excelling in specific scenarios, making them valuable in those situations but potentially less versatile overall.

Personal preference also plays a crucial role. You might find yourself performing significantly better with a lower-tier weapon simply because it aligns with your playstyle.

Ultimately, our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list is meant to serve as a general guide rather than an absolute rule on weapon viability.

The following ranks define our tier list:

S-Tier: The most effective weapons in Helldivers 2. These outperform similar alternatives due to their power, ease of use, or versatility. They are excellent choices for players looking for the most reliable weapons in the game.

A-Tier: Strong weapons that hold up well but may have slight drawbacks compared to S-Tier options. Some A-Tier weapons can surpass S-Tiers in specific conditions, making them solid choices for most situations.

B-Tier: Decent weapons that can work well under certain circumstances. Skilled players can still make these weapons effective, though they may require more effort to maximize their potential.

C-Tier: Considerably weaker than higher-tier options, these weapons might be difficult to use effectively even for experienced players. However, if they align with your playstyle, they can still be enjoyable.

D-Tier: Either highly niche or outright outclassed by better options, these weapons are generally not recommended. They typically need buffs to be competitive. 

Helldivers 2 Weapon Tier List

Weapons in Helldivers 2 are frequently adjusted for balance, so rankings may change with updates. Always check for the latest patch notes to stay informed on buffs or nerfs.

Since the game features two primary enemy factions—Terminids and Automatons—different strategies apply when engaging them. We’ve created two separate tier lists based on enemy type.

Helldivers 2 Weapon Tier List (vs. Terminids)

S-Tier: SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary, SG-451 Cookout, PLAS-1 Scorcher, PLAS-101 Purifier, CB-9 Exploding Crossbow

A-Tier: AR-23A Liberator Carbine, AR-61 Tenderizer, BR-14 Adjudicator, MP-98 Knight, SMG-32 Reprimand, SG-8 Punisher, SG-225 Breaker, SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray, SG-8P Punisher Plasma, ARC-12 Blitzer, JAR-5 Dominator, R-36 Eruptor, FLAM-66 Torcher

B-Tier: AR-23 Liberator, AR-23P Liberator Penetrator, AR-23C Liberator Concussive, SMG-37 Defender, SMG-72 Pummeler, SG-8S Slugger, SG-20 Halt, R-63 Diligence

C-Tier: R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper, LAS-5 Scythe, LAS-16 Sickle

D-Tier: R-2124 Constitution

Helldivers 2 Weapon Tier List (vs. Automatons)

S-Tier: JAR-5 Dominator, PLAS-1 Scorcher, PLAS-101 Purifier, CB-9 Exploding Crossbow

A-Tier: BR-14 Adjudicator, SMG-32 Reprimand, SG-8P Punisher Plasma, ARC-12 Blitzer, R-36 Eruptor, AR-23P Liberator Penetrator, SG-8S Slugger, SG-20 Halt, R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper, LAS-5 Scythe, LAS-16 Sickle

B-Tier: AR-61 Tenderizer, SG-8 Punisher, SMG-37 Defender, SMG-72 Pummeler, R-63 Diligence, SG-451 Cookout

C-Tier: SG-225 Breaker, FLAM-66 Torcher, AR-23 Liberator, AR-23C Liberator Concussive, R-2124 Constitution, SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary

D-Tier: AR-23A Liberator Carbine, MP-98 Knight, SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray 

How to Choose the Best Weapon for Your Playstyle

Weapons in Helldivers 2 cater to different playstyles, ensuring every player can find something suitable.

Different weapon types excel in various scenarios:

• Shotguns are ideal for close-range combat, particularly in confined areas such as tunnels and corridors.
• Submachine guns are flexible and effective at short to medium ranges.
• Assault rifles provide balanced performance across all distances, making them excellent all-rounders.
• Marksman rifles are best for players who prefer long-range precision.

When selecting a weapon, consider your main enemies:

• Against Terminids, weapons with high fire rates and area damage work best, as Terminids often swarm in large numbers.
• Against Automatons, opt for weapons that deal high single-target damage and perform well at long distances.

Conclusion

Helldivers 2 delivers intense, strategic combat that requires both teamwork and the right equipment. While skill is important, having the right weapon can significantly enhance your performance on the battlefield.

By following our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list, you can make informed choices about the best weapons to use in different situations. No matter your playstyle, the right weapon will help you excel in battle.

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