Gemini on Question 15, Sep 11

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.

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.

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).

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!