Gemini on Question 15, Sep 13

Because Helldivers 2 features two entirely different enemy factions with different armor types and behaviors, there is no single "omni-loadout." Wiping out a Terminid swarm requires a completely different approach than dismantling an Automaton patrol.

If your goal is maximum efficiency to wipe out an enemy squad before they can call in a Bug Breach or Bot Drop, here are the two most lethal, meta-defining loadouts for each faction.

Loadout 1: The Terminid Eradicator (Bugs)

Bugs swarm you in massive numbers. The most efficient way to wipe a bug patrol is through AoE (Area of Effect) fire damage and high RPM.

• •Primary Weapon: SG-225IE Incendiary Breaker (or LAS-16 Sickle). The Incendiary Breaker is the undisputed king of bugs. Spray it into a patrol, and the fire damage-over-time (DoT) will melt all the smaller scavengers and hunters while you reposition.
• •Secondary Weapon: GP-31 Grenade Pistol. Used to quickly close bug holes or blast a tight cluster of Bile Spewers.
• •Grenade: G-16 Impact (for instant squad-wipes on clusters) or G-23 Stun (to freeze them in place for a Stratagem).
• •Armor: Light Armor with the Engineering Kit passive (gives you +2 Grenades and reduces recoil).
• •Support Weapon: AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" Rover. This laser drone sits on your back and passively melts smaller bugs with zero effort, allowing you to focus on the medium/heavy ones.
• •Stratagems for the Wipe:
• •Eagle Cluster Bomb: The ultimate bug-squad eraser. Throw this right as a patrol notices you, and it will kill 15-30 bugs instantly.
• •Eagle Napalm Strike: Throw this horizontally between you and a bug breach to create a wall of fire that kills everything smaller than a Charger.
• •Quasar Cannon / Expendable Anti-Tank (EAT): You need one of these to instantly deal with Chargers or Bile Titans that survive the initial wipe.

The Tactic: See a patrol. Throw an Eagle Cluster Bomb directly in the middle of them. Spray the survivors with the Incendiary Breaker. The Guard Dog Rover will mop up the stragglers. The squad is dead in 4 seconds flat.

Loadout 2: The Automaton Dismantler (Bots)

Bots shoot back, have heavily armored fronts, and travel in tight marching columns. The most efficient way to wipe them out is through medium armor penetration, explosives, and stagger.

• •Primary Weapon: PLAS-1 Scorcher or JAR-5 Dominator. The Scorcher's explosive plasma ignores the frontal armor of Scout Striders (the walking mechs), killing them in 2-3 hits. The Dominator staggers Devastators, stopping them from shooting you.
• •Secondary Weapon: P-4 Senator (for armor-penetrating headshots) or Grenade Pistol.
• •Grenade: G-23 Stun. Absolutely mandatory for bots. A stun grenade freezes Hulks and Devastators, allowing you to easily shoot their glowing red eyes or drop an airstrike on them.
• •Armor: Medium Armor with the Fortified passive (gives 50% resistance to explosive damage, saving your life from rockets).
• •Support Weapon: AC-8 Autocannon. The Autocannon is the best weapon in the game against bots. It staggers Heavy Devastators, destroys Gunships, two-taps Hulks in the eye, and its explosive splash damage can wipe out a squad of small infantry bots in seconds.
• •Stratagems for the Wipe:
• •Eagle Airstrike: The most versatile stratagem against bots. Dropping this on a bot patrol will kill everything, including heavily armored tanks, and destroy their fabricators.
• •Orbital Laser: The ultimate panic button. Throw this at a massive bot outpost or a triple-dropship drop, and it will systematically melt every enemy in the area.
• •Orbital Precision Strike (OPS): A fast-cooldown nuke. Combine this with a Stun Grenade to instantly erase a Hulk or a tightly packed group of Devastators.

The Tactic: You spot a bot patrol marching in a line. Throw a Stun Grenade to freeze the entire squad. Immediately throw an Eagle Airstrike at their feet. While the Eagle is coming in, use your Autocannon to blast any stragglers at the edge of the blast radius.

The "Instant Erase" Combo (Works on Both)

If you want the single most efficient, mechanical way to erase a patrol before they shoot a flare or spew pheromones:

• 1.Equip Stun Grenades.
• 2.Throw a Stun Grenade directly into the center of the patrol. (They cannot call for reinforcements while stunned).
• 3.Throw an Orbital Gas Strike, Orbital Airburst, or Eagle Airstrike onto the stunned group.
• 4.Mop up the remaining heavy enemy with your support weapon.

Note: Always bring the Stamina Enhancement and Experimental Infusion boosters to ensure you have the speed to flank squads and line up your stratagems perfectly.