Gemini on Question 15, Sep 10

Because Helldivers 2 features two entirely distinct enemy factions—the Terminids (Bugs) and the Automatons (Bots)—the "most efficient" loadout changes drastically depending on what planet you are dropping onto. Wiping out a squad of bots requires armor penetration and precision, while wiping out a swarm of bugs requires massive crowd control and area-of-effect (AoE) damage.

Here are the two most efficient, meta-tested loadouts for instantly wiping out an enemy patrol or drop in Helldivers 2.

Loadout 1: The Automaton Eraser (Bots)

Bots fight at range and are heavily armored. To wipe a bot patrol efficiently, you need explosive damage, medium armor penetration, and stagger mechanics.

• •Primary Weapon: JAR-5 Dominator OR PLAS-1 Scorcher
• •Why: The Dominator staggers heavily armored Devastators, stopping them from shooting back. The Scorcher’s explosive plasma ignores the frontal armor of Scout Striders, killing them in two hits.
• •Secondary Weapon: P-4 Senator or Grenade Pistol
• •Why: The Senator punches through medium armor in a pinch. The Grenade Pistol is great for clearing grouped-up basic troopers.
• •Grenade: G-16 Impact or G-23 Stun
• •Why: Throwing two Impact grenades into a bot patrol will instantly wipe out all light and medium enemies. Stun grenades are incredible for freezing a squad in place while you call down an airstrike.
• •Support Weapon: AC-8 Autocannon
• •Why: The Autocannon is the undisputed king of the bot front. It can wipe out a squad of Devastators in seconds, destroy fabricators from afar, and kill Hulks with two precise shots to the glowing red eye.
• •Stratagems for Squad-Wiping:
• •Eagle Airstrike: The single best Stratagem in the game for bots. Thrown perpendicular to a bot patrol, it will kill everything from basic grunts to Hulks and Tanks.
• •Orbital Laser: The ultimate "fire-and-forget" panic button. Throw this at a massive bot drop and watch it sweep the area clean.

Loadout 2: The Terminid Exterminator (Bugs)

Bugs rely on swarming you with sheer numbers. To wipe a bug patrol quickly, you need high fire-rate, incendiary damage, and continuous crowd control.

• •Primary Weapon: SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary
• •Why: Simply the best bug-clearing weapon in the game. You don't even need to aim perfectly; just sweeping it across a patrol will set them all on fire, letting the damage-over-time (DoT) kill them while you retreat.
• •Secondary Weapon: Grenade Pistol
• •Why: Since your primary is for crowd control, you need this to quickly close Bug Holes.
• •Grenade: G-10 Incendiary or G-16 Impact
• •Why: Throw an incendiary grenade at the feet of an advancing swarm. The bugs will walk through the fire and burn to death before reaching you.
• •Support Weapon: GL-21 Grenade Launcher + B-1 Supply Pack OR M-105 Stalwart
• •Why: If your goal is specifically to wipe out squads of small/medium enemies, nothing beats the Grenade Launcher. You can carpet-bomb a bug patrol from 50 meters away. Paired with a Supply Pack, you have near-infinite ammo.
• •(Note: If no one else on your team brought anti-tank weapons, bring the Quasar Cannon or Flamethrower to deal with Chargers).
• •Stratagems for Squad-Wiping:
• •Eagle Cluster Bomb: This has a massive horizontal spread. One Cluster Bomb will instantly vaporize 20-30 light/medium bugs in a single pass. (Just warn your teammates before throwing it).
• •Orbital Gas Strike / Eagle Napalm: Throw this directly onto a Bug Breach. It will passively kill dozens of bugs as they climb out of the ground.

The Universal "Instant Delete" Tactic

If you are walking through the map and spot a patrol of either faction that hasn't seen you yet, here is the most efficient, ammo-saving way to wipe them out:

• 1.Tag the patrol so you can see their exact numbers.
• 2.Equip an Eagle Airstrike.
• 3.Wait until they are tightly grouped. (Patrols tend to bunch up when navigating around rocks or trees).
• 4.Throw the Airstrike directly into the center of the group. Because the Eagle drops its payload horizontally relative to where you threw it, it will carpet-bomb the entire line of enemies.
• 5.Throw one Impact Grenade into any stragglers immediately after the bombs hit.

By the time the enemy realizes you are there, the entire squad will be dead. For Super Earth!