Gemini on Question 15, Sep 15

Because Helldivers 2 features two completely different factions—the swarming Terminids (Bugs) and the heavily armored Automatons (Bots)—there is no single "best" loadout. What wipes a squad of bugs will get you killed instantly against bots.

If your goal is to efficiently wipe out entire patrols, breaches, or dropships on high difficulties (Levels 7-10), here are the absolute most efficient meta loadouts for both fronts.

1. The Terminid (Bug) Swarm Wiper

Bugs overwhelm you with numbers and speed. The most efficient way to wipe a bug squad is through Area of Effect (AoE), fire, and constant damage output.

• •Primary Weapon: SG-225IE Incendiary Breaker. (Warbond: Steeled Veterans). Why: It sets massive groups of bugs on fire. You can spray into a patrol, walk away, and watch the fire damage-over-time (DoT) kill all the smaller bugs.
• •Secondary Weapon: GP-31 Grenade Pistol. Why: Frees up your grenade slot for utility while still allowing you to close Bug Holes.
• •Grenade: Stun Grenade. Why: If a Charger or pack of Stalkers pushes you, a Stun Grenade freezes them perfectly in place for an orbital strike or an easy headshot.
• •Armor: Light Armor with "Engineering Kit" or "Extra Padding." Speed is your best defense against bugs.

The Stratagems:

• 1.AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" Rover (Laser Backpack): This is your ultimate squad-wiper. It automatically beams Hunters and Scavengers out of the air while you focus on heavier targets.
• 2.Quasar Cannon or Expendable Anti-Tank (EAT): The Rover handles the squads; this handles the Chargers and Bile Titans. Infinite ammo (Quasar) or low cooldowns (EAT) keep you efficient.
• 3.Eagle Napalm Strike: Throw this directly on a Bug Breach. The fire DoT will incinerate the entire squad of bugs as they crawl out of the ground.
• 4.Orbital Precision Strike (OPS) or 500kg Bomb: Use in combination with your Stun Grenades to instantly delete Chargers or Titans.

2. The Automaton (Bot) Scrap Maker

Bots shoot back, utilize heavy armor, and call in dropships. Wiping a bot squad requires explosive stagger, cover penetration, and precision headshots.

• •Primary Weapon: PLAS-1 Scorcher or JAR-5 Dominator. Why: The Scorcher’s explosive plasma penetrates the front shields of Scout Striders, killing the driver instantly. The Dominator staggers Heavy Devastators (the ones with the miniguns and shields) so they can't shoot back.
• •Secondary Weapon: P-4 Senator (Armor penetration) or Grenade Pistol (Utility).
• •Grenade: Stun Grenade. Why: A stunned Hulk is incredibly easy to shoot in the glowing red eye.
• •Armor: Medium Armor with "Fortified." (Explosive Resistance). You will get hit by rockets. This armor passive prevents you from being one-shot.

The Stratagems:

• 1.AC-8 Autocannon: The undisputed King of the Bot Front. It two-taps Hulks in the eye, destroys Devastators in 2-3 shots, shoots down Gunships, and destroys Fabricators from across the map if you shoot into the vents. It takes up your backpack slot, which frees up your next three stratagems for massive damage.
• 2.Eagle Airstrike: The most perfectly balanced stratagem in the game. It is wide enough to wipe out an entire bot patrol, strong enough to kill Tanks, and destroys Fabricators.
• 3.Orbital Laser: Your "Panic Button." Throw this into a Heavy Bot Outpost or at a massive patrol, and it will automatically melt everything, including heavies, while you stay safely behind cover.
• 4.Mortar Sentry: Bots aggro onto turrets. Place a Mortar behind a rock before engaging a squad. It will rain explosive death on them, stagger the Devastators, and wipe the squad before they even get a lock on your position.

Tactical Combos for "Instant Deletes"

If you see a squad/patrol and want to wipe them before they can even call for backup (a flare or a pheromone cloud), use these two ultimate combos:

• •The "Stop and Drop" (Both Factions): Throw a Stun Grenade into the center of the patrol. Immediately throw an Eagle Airstrike directly on top of them. The stun prevents them from scattering, and the Eagle wipes them instantly.
• •The Dropship Denial (Bots only): If you see a Bot Dropship coming in, equip your Quasar Cannon, EAT, or Recoilless Rifle. Shoot the dropship in one of its four thrusters. The ship will instantly crash, killing the entire squad of bots it was carrying before their feet even touch the ground.