Gemini on Question 15, Sep 14

In Helldivers 2, the most efficient way to wipe out an enemy squad (usually a roaming patrol or a localized point of interest) depends entirely on which faction you are fighting.

To wipe out a squad efficiently, your goal is maximum Area of Effect (AoE) damage in the shortest time possible to prevent them from calling in a Bug Breach or Bot Drop.

Here are the two most efficient loadouts for erasing enemy squads from the map, broken down by faction.

1. The Bug Swarm Melter (Terminids)

Bugs swarm you with high numbers of light and medium-armored enemies. The most efficient way to kill them is through fire, gas, and rapid Area-of-Effect (AoE) damage.

• •Primary Weapon: SG-225IE Incendiary Breaker (or the standard Breaker/Sickle if you don't have the Premium Warbond). You can spray this into a crowd, and the fire damage-over-time (DoT) will kill the smaller bugs while you reload or run.
• •Secondary Weapon: GP-31 Grenade Pistol. Use this to close bug holes, freeing up your grenade slot for utility.
• •Grenade: Stun Grenade or Incendiary Grenade. Stuns will freeze Chargers and squads in place for your Stratagems.
• •Armor: Light or Medium Armor with "Engineering Kit" (reduces recoil and gives +2 grenades).

The Stratagems:

• 1.Support Weapon: Grenade Launcher. This is the ultimate bug patrol wiper. 3 or 4 rapid-fired grenades into a group of Hunters, Scavengers, and Bile Spewers will instantly vaporize them.
• 2.Backpack: "Guard Dog" Rover (Laser). This backpack acts as a second player. It will constantly sweep a laser across the squad, killing light bugs without you having to fire a single shot.
• 3.Eagle Cluster Bomb: The absolute best Stratagem for wiping out massive groups of unarmored/lightly-armored bugs instantly. It covers a massive horizontal area.
• 4.Orbital Gas Strike OR Eagle Napalm Strike: Throw this directly onto a Bug Breach. The lingering AoE will kill 80% of the squad as they crawl out of the ground.

How to execute: See a patrol? Throw an Eagle Cluster Bomb right in the middle of them. Mop up the remaining medium bugs with your Grenade Launcher. Your Rover will kill any stragglers.

2. The Bot Scrap-Maker (Automatons)

Bots are heavily armored, shoot back, and drop in via dropships. You need armor penetration, stagger, and high-explosive ordnance to wipe a Bot squad.

• •Primary Weapon: PLAS-1 Scorcher or JAR-5 Dominator. The Scorcher's explosive plasma ignores the front armor of Scout Striders (the AT-ST walkers) and kills them in 3 shots. The Dominator staggers Devastators, interrupting their rocket salvos.
• •Secondary Weapon: P-4 Senator (high penetration for headshots) or Grenade Pistol.
• •Grenade: Stun Grenade. (Vital for stopping Hulks so you can shoot them in the eye).
• •Armor: Medium Armor with "Fortified" (50% explosive resistance is mandatory to survive bot rockets).

The Stratagems:

• 1.Support Weapon: Autocannon. The undisputed king of the Bot front. It two-taps Devastators, destroys Scout Striders instantly, blows up Bot Fabricators from a distance, and can kill Hulks in two shots to the glowing red eye. (Takes up your backpack slot).
• 2.Eagle Airstrike: The most versatile Stratagem in the game. It destroys fabricators, kills heavy tanks, and wipes out medium-sized bot patrols in a single run.
• 3.Orbital Laser: The ultimate "Oh Sh*t" button. Throw this at a Heavy Bot Outpost or a massive squad, and it will track and melt everything, including heavy armor.
• 4.Orbital Precision Strike OR Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods: Great for quickly deleting single heavy targets (like Tanks or Hulks) that survive your initial barrage.

How to execute: See a Bot patrol? Toss an Eagle Airstrike directly at their feet. If a flare goes up and Dropships arrive, aim your Autocannon at the belly of the Dropship and fire rapidly as the bots drop; the explosive splash damage will often wipe the squad before they even hit the ground.

Universal Pro-Tips for Wiping Squads

• •The "Ambush" Mechanic: If you shoot a patrol without killing the smallest enemies first, they will call a breach/drop. Always prioritize the smallest enemies. For bugs, kill the Scavengers and Hunters first. For bots, kill the basic infantry holding the flare guns before dealing with the big guys.
• •Communicate your Stratagems: If you throw an Eagle Airstrike, and your teammate throws an Orbital Laser at the same patrol, you just wasted a massive cooldown. Coordinate who is taking out which patrol.
• •Don't fight if you don't have to: The true "most efficient" way to deal with an enemy squad is to look at your map, see their patrol path, and walk around them. You do not get XP for kills in Helldivers 2; save your ammo for the objectives!