In *Helldivers 2*, the definition of "efficiency" completely changes depending on whether you are fighting **Terminids (Bugs)** or **Automatons (Bots)**. Bugs swarm you in massive numbers and require Area of Effect (AoE) and crowd control. Bots shoot back from a distance and require cover, stagger, and armor penetration.
If you want to instantly delete an enemy patrol before they can call in a Bug Breach or Bot Drop, here are the two most efficient squad-wiping loadouts for each front.
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### Loadout 1: The Terminid Exterminator (Bug Front)
**Focus:** Massive AoE, Damage over Time (DoT), and sheer volume of fire. This loadout is designed to kill 30+ light/medium bugs in a matter of seconds.
* **Primary Weapon: SG-225IE Incendiary Breaker**
* *Why:* Even with recent ammo capacity nerfs, spraying this into a crowd applies a fire DoT to every bug it touches. You can fire two shots into a patrol and watch the smaller bugs simply burn to death while you reload.
* **Secondary Weapon: Grenade Pistol**
* *Why:* Utility. It closes bug holes so you don't have to waste your actual grenades.
* **Grenade: Stun Grenade**
* *Why:* If a patrol has a Charger or Brood Commander, throwing a stun locks the entire squad in place, setting them up perfectly for an Eagle strike.
* **Support Weapon: Grenade Launcher** (or *Machine Gun M-43*)
* *Why:* The Grenade Launcher is the ultimate bug-squad wiper. You can bounce grenades into the center of a patrol or a freshly opened bug breach and rack up 40x kill streaks in three seconds.
* **Stratagems:**
* **"Guard Dog" Rover:** Passive chaff clearing. This laser drone will constantly fry tiny bugs, preventing them from flanking you.
* **Eagle Cluster Bomb:** The largest AoE for unarmored targets. Toss this at a patrol, and it will kill everything except Chargers and Bile Titans.
* **Orbital Napalm Barrage** (or *Orbital Gas Strike*): Throw this directly onto a Bug Breach. It will kill everything as it climbs out of the ground.
* **Orbital Precision Strike (OPS):** Your answer for Chargers and Bile Titans. Throw a stun grenade, then drop this on their head.
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### Loadout 2: The Automaton Scrapper (Bot Front)
**Focus:** Medium armor penetration, high stagger, and explosive precision. Bots travel in tight columns; you need to hit them hard and fast before they shoot a flare.
* **Primary Weapon: PLAS-1 Scorcher** (or *JAR-5 Dominator*)
* *Why:* The Scorcher shoots explosive plasma. It kills Scout Striders (the two-legged walkers) from the front by splashing damage onto the pilot. The Dominator is also top-tier because it staggers Devastators, interrupting their minigun/rocket barrages.
* **Secondary Weapon: P-4 Senator**
* *Why:* High armor penetration. If you run out of Primary ammo, this can one-shot basic bots and penetrate Devastator armor.
* **Grenade: G-16 Impact**
* *Why:* Instant gratification. Throwing two of these into a tightly grouped bot patrol will instantly wipe out the squad before they have a chance to call a dropship.
* **Support Weapon: AC-8 Autocannon**
* *Why:* **The undisputed king of the Bot front.** It staggers Heavy Devastators, two-shots Hulks (in the glowing red eye), destroys Fabricators from a distance, and destroys Gunships. It wipes bot squads with brutal efficiency.
* **Stratagems:**
* **Eagle Airstrike:** The best all-rounder stratagem in the game. It is perfectly shaped to wipe out a column of marching bots, and it destroys Fabricators and tanks.
* **Orbital Laser:** The ultimate panic button. If a massive bot drop happens, throw this. It will automatically track and melt Heavies and bases while you take cover.
* **Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods:** Great for quickly deleting a pesky tank or Cannon Tower that is pinning you down.
* *(Backpack slot is taken by the Autocannon ammo).*
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### The Execution: How to actually "Wipe" a squad
Having the gear is only 50% of the battle. If you attack wrong, one enemy will survive and call in reinforcements.
1. **Identify the "Caller":** For bugs, it's the Scavengers and Hunters (they lift their heads and spew orange pheromones). For bots, it's the Commissar (wields a pistol and sword) or basic infantry; they shoot a red flare. **Kill them first.**
2. **The "Stun & Bomb" Ambush:** Don't just start shooting. Throw a **Stun Grenade** into the center of the patrol. While they are frozen, throw an **Eagle Airstrike** or **Cluster Bomb**. By the time the stun wears off, the bombs are hitting.
3. **Sweep the Survivors:** The moment the bombs hit, open fire with your Primary or Support weapon to clean up whatever heavily armored enemy survived the blast.
*Good luck down there, Helldiver. For Super Earth!*