Grab your gear, soldiers—I’ve got some seriously exciting news about Helldivers 2. The latest patch (01.002.200) is here, and it’s a game-changer. You’ll definitely want to hop in and see these powerful weapon buffs for yourself—just in time to deal with the newly-improved Automaton hordes!
Weapons Overhauled for Maximum Democracy
A whopping 13 weapons (yes, 13!) and six stratagems have been tweaked. Even better, nine of those firearms have received straight-up damage buffs, making them deadlier than ever against the galaxy’s biggest threats:
- AR-61 Tenderizer: Damage up from 95 to 105
- SG-8S Slugger: Damage up from 250 to 280
- R-36 Eruptor: Now has heavy armor penetration and projectiles last a full second
- TX-41 Sterilizer: Ergonomics jump from 5 to 20
- M-105 Stalwart: Damage up by 10 (to 80)
- MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun: Better armor penetration across more angles
And let’s not forget the stratagem updates! Three of them—EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit, EXO-49 Emancipator Exosuit, and Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods—each have three uses now. More freedom to wreak havoc is always a good thing, right?
Automatons Got Smarter (Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You)
As if the galaxy wasn’t dangerous enough, the dreaded Automatons just received an upgrade in “situational awareness protocol.” In other words, they’re less likely to get distracted and will react way faster when they’re in large groups. According to the design director, the AI was “over-optimized,” making them easier to fight than intended. Now, they’re more responsive—so be prepared for tougher battles and more intense firefights.
Deadlier Dropships and Increased Challenge
Automaton dropships have had their main body health boosted by 1,000, and we’ve also spotted Illuminate dropships deploying shields mid-flight. It all adds up to a game that’s “a little bit harder, but hopefully in a fun way,” says design director Niklas Malmborg. For the full list of changes see the full patch notes.
Slight Performance Trade-Off
With more complex AI calculations, Arrowhead warns there might be a “slight trade-off in game performance.” We’ll see how it plays out in real time, but fingers crossed it doesn’t cause too many hiccups.
New Loadout Categories and Borderline Justice Warbond
To top it all off, the Stratagem loadout menu has been refined with updated categorization. Oh—and did you catch the reveal of the new Borderline Justice Warbond? It’s bringing some space western flair, complete with a lever-action rifle, a revolver, and even a jetpack, and it drops on March 20.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be diving into this update headfirst. With stronger weapons, smarter bots, and an extra dash of chaos on the battlefield, Helldivers 2 just keeps getting better. Gear up, stay sharp, and bring democracy to the galaxy—one high-powered round at a time!
