Quick Links
In Helldivers 2, the Illuminate stand out as a formidable foe, wielding advanced technology and overwhelming tactics that can challenge even the most seasoned players. As you tackle their light infantry, be prepared for their elite units to swoop in from both ground and air. The secret to success against the Illuminate? Crafting the perfect loadout that capitalizes on their vulnerabilities while shielding you from their potent tech.
To effectively combat the Illuminate, you'll need to strike a delicate balance between weapons and stratagems that can handle both their swarms of weaker units and their tougher, armored adversaries. Neglect either, and you'll find yourself struggling against the full might of the Illuminate.
This guide is your go-to resource for mastering the best loadouts and strategies designed to take down the Illuminate. Whether you're a veteran or just starting out, these tactics will significantly boost your combat effectiveness against this unique, squid-like enemy. Let's equip ourselves and prepare to tackle the Illuminate head-on.
The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate
Primary: PLAS-1 Scorcher / PLAS-101 Purifier
Secondary: GP-31 Grenade Pistol
Grenade: G-13 Incendiary Impact
Armor Passive: Siege-Ready
Stratagems:
- LAS-98 Laser Cannon (Support)
- AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog"
- Eagle Strafing Run
- A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / Orbital Laser
The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier are top-tier primary weapons in Helldivers 2, excelling at obliterating Overseers, including those pesky jet-pack-wielding Elevated units, and proving just as lethal against the Voteless. Thanks to the Siege-Ready armor passive, you'll benefit from extra ammo and quicker reloads, allowing you to tackle multiple priority targets with ease. Their high damage per second is crucial when every shot counts.
Pairing the Eagle Strafing Run with the GP-31 Grenade Pistol creates a potent combination for annihilating grounded warp ships. Energy-based weapons struggle to deplete their shields, but a single Strafing Run can strip the shields off a line of warp ships, leaving them vulnerable to a well-placed grenade from your Pistol. This duo is particularly effective when clearing out medium to heavy Illuminate nests requiring the destruction of multiple warp ships. While the G-13 Incendiary Impact grenades are also useful against open bay doors, they're better suited for clearing out weaker enemies, so save them for when you're using the Grenade Pistol.
The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" proves surprisingly effective against medium-armored Overseers. A single burst can take down an elite unit, making it an excellent choice for protecting your flanks against the Illuminate.
The A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry is invaluable for locking down areas during objective defense. If crowd control isn't your priority, consider swapping it for an Orbital Laser to target Harvesters or potential future heavy units.
Lastly, the LAS-98 Laser Cannon is the crowning jewel of this loadout. It can melt Overseers and chaff in mere seconds and is particularly effective against Harvesters. After using a Strafing Run to deplete their shields, aim for their weak spots (thighs/eyes) with the Laser Cannon. A single clip is enough if your aim is true. The Laser Cannon's long range makes it perfect for picking off distant targets, truly making it an anti-squid weapon.
When tackling level 9 or 10 difficulty missions where multiple Harvesters are common, an Orbital Laser becomes essential.
The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& 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)
- Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser
- Eagle Strafing Run
- A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower
The ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower are perfect for handling both the melee and ranged threats posed by the Illuminate. They're highly effective against chaff, but the Arc Thrower has the added advantage of rendering Overseers nearly useless. Its lightning arcs chain and stagger, stunning Overseers momentarily. Continuous attacks from a distance can keep Elevated Overseers perma-stunned in mid-air.
The Arc Thrower can also take down unshielded Harvesters, requiring about a dozen hits, each contributing to a moderate stun effect.
The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower excels against all Illuminate units, particularly groups of flying Overseers. It offers consistent crowd control and disrupts enemies, making it easier to manage large waves. Combine it with the Arc Thrower, and you can lock down an entire area with chained lightning attacks. Prioritize targeting key enemies with the Arc Thrower to prevent them from reaching and destroying your Tesla Tower.
Harvesters often target sentries, so avoid deploying Tesla Towers or other sentries once engaged with them.
The Eagle Strafing Run and Grenade Pistol remain crucial for destroying parked warp ships. The Blitzer and Arc Thrower struggle to deplete their shields during combat, so don't replace them unless you have a teammate to handle this task.
For dealing with heavy units, the Orbital Railcannon Strike is your best bet, offering unlimited uses. The Orbital Laser, while effective against multiple Harvesters, has only three uses, making you reliant on your team after that. Always use a Strafing Run to disable their shields first. This loadout is one of the most powerful against the Illuminate, especially when coordinated with teammates.
The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate
Primary: StA-52 Assault Rifle
Secondary: GP-31 Grenade Pistol / CQC-19 Stun Lance
Grenade: G-13 Incendiary Impact
Armor Passive: Peak Physique / Engineering Kit
Stratagems:
- MG-43 Machine Gun (Support)
- LIFT-850 Jump Pack
- Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser
- A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / A/G-16 Gatling Sentry
The MG-43 Machine Gun is a versatile weapon against the Illuminate, making it a cornerstone of this loadout. It effortlessly shreds light and medium enemies, as well as Harvesters. Compared to the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun, the standard Machine Gun offers better handling and quicker dispatch of infantry.
Its high fire rate also helps in depleting shields, eliminating the need for the Eagle Strafing Run to destroy grounded warp ships. Instead, opt for turret sentries to manage large crowds or defend objectives.
The only drawback of the Machine Gun is its stationary reload animation, which is where the LIFT-850 Jump Pack comes in handy, allowing you to quickly reposition to safety. It also aids in navigating the new urban maps.
While the Machine Gun can effectively target Harvesters by aiming at their weak spots, an Orbital stratagem like the Orbital Laser can handle multiple shielded Harvesters at once. The Railcannon Strike, however, is only effective against unshielded targets.
For the primary weapon, you have flexibility in the Armory. To maintain the bullet-storm theme, consider the StA-52 Assault Rifle, introduced in the Helldivers 2 x Killzone 2 crossover. It boasts a large drum magazine, providing sustained fire with light-armor-penetrating capabilities, matching the damage output of the standard Liberator.
