In Helldivers 2, players are tasked with the glorious mission of defending Super Earth against a wide array of enemies. Each enemy faction requires different tactics, and while Automatons and Bugs are deadly in their own ways, the introduction of the Illuminate has radically shifted the battlefield.
Not only is this enemy faction known for being intelligent, but they also use swarming tactics with expendable fodder and powerful ranged units to overwhelm players. What makes them annoying is their energy shields and massive health pools, making them formidable foes.
To defeat them, players need to carefully tailor their loadouts. Fortunately, Super Earth has a diverse arsenal of weapons, armor, and stratagems that allow players to stand their ground and spread democracy across the stars without any worry.
Best weapons against the Illuminate in Helldivers 2
When facing this infamous faction, players need to equip themselves with the best weapons possible. Since the enemy is flexible and has various ways to attack, players also need weapons that excel in both sustained damage and high-volume fire.
The Illuminate’s swarms are one thing but their tougher units, like Overseers and Harvesters, demand precision and firepower to bring down their energy shields and high health. So for the primary weapons, these should be your best options:
- AR-23P Liberator Penetrator: This is a great all-rounder weapon that deals high damage and can easily help you delete the large HP of the enemies.
- BR-14 Adjudicator: This is a precision weapon that can easily break through the pesky energy shield and allow players to focus on weakpoints.
As for the secondary weapon, the GP-31 Grenade Pistol is great for dealing with hordes. However, if players are struggling with larger enemies, they can also take CQC-30 Stun Baton to stun enemies and get their much-needed hits in with primary or throwables.
One honorary mention to LAS-16 Sickle for primary weapon. Since it’s an energy-based weapon, it has infinite ammo (with a small cool-down) and can help deal with swarms easily.
Best Stratagems to use against the Illuminate
Stratagems are crucial in any Helldivers 2 mission, and they become even more critical when facing the Illuminate. Since this faction can put you through the grinder with its swarming tactics and powerful units, players need the right combination of firepower and support. Here are the best Stratagems to ensure your survival and dominance:
- Guard Dog Rovers (Ballistic one)
- Orbital Gas Strike
- Eagle 500kg Bomb
With the right combination of Guard Dog Rovers, the Orbital Gas Strike, and the Eagle 500kg Bomb, you’ll be able to disrupt, suppress, and destroy the Illuminate forces, providing much-needed breathing room for yourself and your teammates.
Since there are different choices for Guard Dog, it usually depends on preference and the playstyle. If the players like to be in the front and face the enemies head-on, a laser guard dog might be better (as it can hit teammates if the player is around teammates).
As for the other two, they are simply bombs that can help you destroy the landing ships or the harvesters and help thin out the enemies. A worthy replacement for any of these can be E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement.
Best Armor Sets to Use
Armor choice plays a key role in how effectively you can survive and perform during missions. However, it mostly depends on players and how they play. While there are many different armors (and you may have a preferred one), the one that shines the most against Illuminate is the SR-64 Cinderblock.
This is a heavy armor, meaning it negatively affects your mobility. But it’s passive more than makes up for the lost speed: the passive increases your reload speed by 30% and boosts your primary weapon’s ammo capacity by 20%.
These passive allows players to maintain consistent fire without worrying about constantly reloading, especially when dealing with the stacked health bars of the Illuminate.
The introduction of this faction has put the battlefield into disarray, presenting a unique and challenging threat to players. However, with the right weapons, the best stratagems, and team coordination, players will be more than well-equipped to handle the swarms and shielded enemies alike.
In the end, one thing to remember, every encounter is an opportunity to learn and adapt, so experiment with different loadouts to see what works best for you.
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