Helldivers 2 | Tips for New Players

You are not a hero. You are a disposable cog in the glorious war machine of Super Earth, a line item on a budget, a screaming patriot plummeting feet-first into hell. And it is the most fun you will ever have. The experience of being one of the millions of Helldivers 2 players isn't about a solo power fantasy; it's about the shared chaos, the desperate camaraderie, and the hilarious tragedy of fighting for Managed Democracy. It's about four soldiers holding a line against a tide of ravenous Terminids, only for one player's mis-thrown orbital laser to vaporize the entire squad. It's the silent understanding between you and a stranger as you flawlessly coordinate Stratagems to take down a massive Automaton Hulk. Every mission is an unscripted action movie where you and your friends are the stars, the stuntmen, and, very often, the redshirts.

Major Order: The Illuminate Invasion Begins!

Crack open the cryo-pods, soldiers! A new, insidious threat has emerged from the dark corners of the galaxy. The Illuminate, a highly advanced and enigmatic alien race from the first war, have been detected encroaching on the borders of Super Earth. This massive update introduces a third enemy faction, bringing with it a wave of psychic warriors, invisible scouts, and shielded tripods that will force every squad to rethink their tactics. Old strategies won't work here; their focus on shields and psionic attacks makes them a completely different nightmare than the bugs or bots.

To combat this threat, Super Earth R&D has issued a new Warbond: the "Mindbreaker" series. This includes new ARC-based weaponry designed to overload Illuminate shields, a "Psionic Dampener" support Stratagem that creates a bubble of protection against mind-control effects, and a sleek new set of armor that looks suspiciously like it was reverse-engineered from captured Illuminate tech. The Galactic War just got a whole lot weirder.

Your Duty in the Galactic War

Enlisting as a Helldiver is a glorious, straightforward process. Your role is simple: drop, dominate, and spread democracy. Here’s how you'll serve:​

• Form a Squad: Team up with up to three other players. You can invite friends or join random players in the field. A full squad of four is the ideal way to play.
  
• Select Your Mission: From your Super Destroyer's bridge, access the Galactic War map. Choose a planet and a specific operation to help in the war effort.
  
• Hellpod Deployment: Drop onto the planet's surface and begin your mission. Complete objectives, from destroying bug nests to launching ICBMs.
  
• Extraction: Once the main objectives are complete, call for the shuttle and hold out against overwhelming odds until it arrives. Surviving is optional; spreading liberty is mandatory.
  

The Super Earth Dispatch: Your Questions Answered

What is the max number of Helldivers 2 players in a squad?

The game is built around a core four-player co-op experience. While you can technically play solo, the difficulty, objectives, and sheer chaos are designed for a full squad. A coordinated team of four Helldivers calling in Stratagems and covering each other's backs is the peak of the gameplay loop. It captures that classic co-op magic you find in the best 2-player games and expands it into a symphony of beautiful destruction.

Is playing with random players (randoms) any good?

Honestly? It's one of the best parts of the game. The community, for the most part, is fantastic. The robust ping system allows for complex communication without ever saying a word. There’s an unspoken bond formed when you and three strangers barely survive an extraction, giving each other virtual hugs on the ramp of the shuttle. While you might get the occasional trigger-happy teammate, the vast majority of Helldivers 2 players you encounter are just there for the same reason you are: to have a great time blowing up aliens for liberty.

How bad is the friendly fire, really?

It's not a bug; it's a feature. Friendly fire is always on, and it is glorious. You will be killed by your friends, and you will kill them. You'll get blown up by a badly thrown mortar sentry, walk through a napalm strike, or get clipped by an Eagle strafing run. It adds a layer of tactical awareness and hilarious consequence to every action. It forces you to communicate and watch your positioning. It’s part of the game's soul—don't get mad, just reinforce and get back in the fight!

What exactly are Stratagems?

Stratagems are your lifeline and the game's signature mechanic. They are powerful assets you call down from your Super Destroyer orbiting the planet. This can be anything from a heavy machine gun, a shield generator backpack, a devastating 500KG Bomb, or even a replacement teammate. You call them in by inputting a directional code (like an old-school cheat code) on your D-pad or arrow keys. A player's choice of Stratagems defines their role in the squad, whether it's anti-armor, crowd control, or support.

This kind of teamwork is incredible! Are there other co-op or team challenges out there?

Absolutely. If the thrill of working together to achieve a goal is what you love, the world of gaming is your oyster. While Helldivers 2 offers premier FPS co-op, you can find team-based challenges in almost every genre. You could dive into competitive team-based sports games that require a different kind of strategic coordination. Or, if you just want to see the sheer breadth of what's out there, you can explore thousands of games of all types on the ATM HTML5 Games homepage.