Helldivers 2 Equipment Guide: How to Choose the Best Gear

Helldivers 2 throws players into chaotic, large-scale battles where the right equipment can mean the difference between a successful mission and a team wipe. With so many weapons, armor sets, and support tools to choose from, it can feel overwhelming for new players to figure out what’s worth bringing into the field. This guide breaks down the essentials and helps you choose the best gear for your playstyle.

Understanding the Core Equipment System

Each Helldiver comes equipped with a primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and stratagems. Stratagems act as your support tools, ranging from orbital strikes to supply drops. The balance between offense, defense, and utility is what defines an effective loadout. If you lean too heavily into firepower without considering mobility or survivability, you’ll often find yourself overwhelmed.

Choosing the Right Weapons

• Assault Rifles: Great for balanced players. They offer reliable fire rate and ammo efficiency, making them perfect for newcomers.
• Shotguns: Ideal for close-range encounters, especially when dealing with insect swarms. However, you’ll need to watch your ammo supply.
• Heavy Weapons: Machine guns, autocannons, and similar gear deliver massive firepower but slow you down. These are best when playing with a coordinated squad.

When deciding what to take, think about your team composition. A squad with multiple heavy gunners may lack mobility, while too many shotgun users can struggle against armored foes.

Armor and Defensive Gear

Armor isn’t just cosmetic—it changes your survivability and movement. Lighter armor grants higher mobility, letting you reposition quickly. Heavier armor provides better protection but limits speed, which can be critical in extraction phases. If you tend to play aggressively, lighter armor gives you freedom. If you’re usually the last line of defense, heavy armor may keep you alive longer.

Stratagems and Support Tools

Stratagems are what make Helldivers unique. A few staples include:

• Resupply Packs: Keep your squad stocked with ammo and grenades.
• Turrets: Provide area control but can accidentally harm teammates if placed poorly.
• Orbital Strikes: Devastating but require precise timing and positioning.

Every squad benefits from having at least one player focused on support stratagems while others bring in offensive firepower.

Progression and Unlocking Gear

As you advance through missions, you’ll unlock new weapons and equipment. Some upgrades can be earned through requisition slips. If you’re looking to expand your arsenal quickly, you’ll often see discussions around how to buy Helldivers 2 items or even how to buy Helldivers 2 requisition slips. While grinding missions is the natural way to progress, keeping an eye on what fits your squad strategy is more important than simply collecting everything.

for Loadout Choices

1. Coordinate with your squad: Don’t duplicate roles unless necessary. A balanced team is always stronger.
2. Adapt to the mission: Bug-clearing operations require different tools than armored enemy encounters.
3. Experiment often: Sometimes the best way to learn is by trying out a new weapon or stratagem to see how it fits your style.

Helldivers 2 rewards flexibility and teamwork. Picking the best equipment isn’t just about raw stats—it’s about how your gear complements your allies and adapts to the battlefield.

Helldivers 2 throws players into chaotic, large-scale battles where the right equipment can mean the difference between a successful mission and a team wipe. With so many weapons, armor sets, and support tools to choose from, it can feel overwhelming for new players to figure out what’s worth bringing into the field. This guide breaks down the essentials and helps you choose the best gear for your playstyle.

Understanding the Core Equipment System

Each Helldiver comes equipped with a primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and stratagems. Stratagems act as your support tools, ranging from orbital strikes to supply drops. The balance between offense, defense, and utility is what defines an effective loadout. If you lean too heavily into firepower without considering mobility or survivability, you’ll often find yourself overwhelmed.

Choosing the Right Weapons

• Assault Rifles: Great for balanced players. They offer reliable fire rate and ammo efficiency, making them perfect for newcomers.
• Shotguns: Ideal for close-range encounters, especially when dealing with insect swarms. However, you’ll need to watch your ammo supply.
• Heavy Weapons: Machine guns, autocannons, and similar gear deliver massive firepower but slow you down. These are best when playing with a coordinated squad.

When deciding what to take, think about your team composition. A squad with multiple heavy gunners may lack mobility, while too many shotgun users can struggle against armored foes.

Armor and Defensive Gear

Armor isn’t just cosmetic—it changes your survivability and movement. Lighter armor grants higher mobility, letting you reposition quickly. Heavier armor provides better protection but limits speed, which can be critical in extraction phases. If you tend to play aggressively, lighter armor gives you freedom. If you’re usually the last line of defense, heavy armor may keep you alive longer.

Stratagems and Support Tools

Stratagems are what make Helldivers unique. A few staples include:

• Resupply Packs: Keep your squad stocked with ammo and grenades.
• Turrets: Provide area control but can accidentally harm teammates if placed poorly.
• Orbital Strikes: Devastating but require precise timing and positioning.

Every squad benefits from having at least one player focused on support stratagems while others bring in offensive firepower.

Progression and Unlocking Gear

As you advance through missions, you’ll unlock new weapons and equipment. Some upgrades can be earned through requisition slips. If you’re looking to expand your arsenal quickly, you’ll often see discussions around how to buy Helldivers 2 items or even how to buy Helldivers 2 requisition slips. While grinding missions is the natural way to progress, keeping an eye on what fits your squad strategy is more important than simply collecting everything.

for Loadout Choices

1. Coordinate with your squad: Don’t duplicate roles unless necessary. A balanced team is always stronger.
2. Adapt to the mission: Bug-clearing operations require different tools than armored enemy encounters.
3. Experiment often: Sometimes the best way to learn is by trying out a new weapon or stratagem to see how it fits your style.

Helldivers 2 rewards flexibility and teamwork. Picking the best equipment isn’t just about raw stats—it’s about how your gear complements your allies and adapts to the battlefield.