Conquer the Illuminate in Helldivers 2: Three Powerful Loadouts
The Illuminate, with their advanced tech and overwhelming numbers, pose a significant threat in Helldivers 2. This guide details three effective loadouts to counter their strengths and exploit their weaknesses, ensuring victory against this challenging new faction. Success hinges on balancing weaponry to handle both light and heavy units. Neglecting either will leave your strategy vulnerable.
Loadout 1: The Laser Cannon – Melting the Illuminate
- Primary: PLAS-1 Scorcher / PLAS-101 Purifier (The high DPS melts Overseers and Voteless. Siege-Ready passive ensures ample ammo.)
- Secondary: GP-31 Grenade Pistol
- Grenade: G-13 Incendiary Impact (Effective against chaff.)
- Armor Passive: Siege-Ready
- Stratagems:
- LAS-98 Laser Cannon (Support) - Excellent against Overseers and Harvesters.
- AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" - Effective against medium-armored Overseers.
- Eagle Strafing Run - Quickly disables warp ship shields.
- A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / Orbital Laser (Sentry for objective defense; Orbital Laser for multiple Harvesters.)
Strategy: Use the Eagle Strafing Run to strip warp ship shields, then grenade their open bays. The Laser Cannon excels at long-range target elimination, especially Harvesters (focus on thighs/eyes). The "Guard Dog" protects flanks against elite units.
Loadout 2: The Lightning Loadout – Shocking and Staggering the Illuminate
- Primary: ARC-12 Blitzer
- Secondary: GP-31 Grenade Pistol
- Grenade: G-13 Incendiary Impact
- Armor Passive: Electrical Conduit / Med-Kit
- Stratagems:
- ARC-3 Arc Thrower (Support) - Chains lightning, stunning Overseers.
- Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser (Railcannon for unshielded targets; Orbital Laser for multiple Harvesters.)
- Eagle Strafing Run - Essential for warp ship destruction.
- A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower - Excellent crowd control, especially against flying Overseers.
Strategy: The Arc Thrower and Tesla Tower create a zone of chained lightning, stunning and disrupting enemies. Use the Eagle Strafing Run and Grenade Pistol combo for warp ships. Choose Orbital Railcannon or Laser based on the number of Harvesters encountered.
Loadout 3: The Machine Gun Loadout – Shredding the Illuminate
- Primary: StA-52 Assault Rifle (High sustained fire, good against light armor.)
- Secondary: GP-31 Grenade Pistol / CQC-19 Stun Lance
- Grenade: G-13 Incendiary Impact
- Armor Passive: Peak Physique / Engineering Kit (Peak Physique reduces drag for aerial targets; Engineering Kit reduces recoil.)
- Stratagems:
- MG-43 Machine Gun (Support) - Versatile, shreds light and medium units, effective against Harvesters.
- LIFT-850 Jump Pack - Mobility for repositioning and map navigation.
- Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser (Railcannon for unshielded; Orbital Laser for multiple Harvesters.)
- A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / A/G-16 Gatling Sentry (Sentries for crowd control and objective defense.)
Strategy: The MG-43 Machine Gun is the workhorse, easily handling most enemy types. The Jump Pack provides crucial mobility. Choose Orbital stratagems based on the situation. Sentries provide additional defensive capabilities.
These loadouts offer diverse approaches to combating the Illuminate. Experiment and find the build that best suits your playstyle and the challenges presented. Remember teamwork and coordination significantly increase your chances of success.
