Summary
- Defensive stratagems in Helldivers 2, like sentries, are crucial for controlling enemies and protecting objectives effectively.
- A new sentry based on Automaton technology could offer unique benefits like distractions, cover fire, and extra defense for players.
- Balancing the new droid sentry's fragile nature, slow rate of fire, and limited coverage area is essential to prevent gameplay imbalance.
With every threat that stands in the way of galactic freedom and democracy, the players of Helldivers 2 are forced to deal with them by whatever means necessary. The many weapons that are good against the Terminids and Automatons must be carefully selected before each mission, but that also goes the same for stratagems. Players who often use them to call down sentries will know how crucial they can be in defending objectives and establishing control over enemies. As more is learned about Automaton technology, the data gathered may be the key to developing a new and unique sentry that will give players even more of an advantage in their fight for managed democracy.
Defensive stratagems in Helldivers 2, particularly the sentry variety, are useful tools that keep enemies from reaching or overwhelming players and areas of interest. With the game's continuous growth, there is an opportunity for the developers to create a new sentry based on Automaton technology. Such an addition could lead to players calling down a small team of fragile droids, for example, that offer unique utilities that none of the other sentries possess. Implemented correctly, the stratagem can lead to more interesting developments in the game.
What the New Automaton-Based Sentry Can Offer
The Automatons are known for being capable adversaries that continuously bombard their enemies with advanced technology and sheer numbers. With the seemingly unending methods in which they create and deploy troops, the greatest minds of Super Earth can use that as a form of inspiration. Knowing the best loadout against Automatons is crucial to success, but using the robotic enemy as a basis for a new sentry can be equally important. A stratagem that involves the deployment of mobile droids based on the Automatons could lead to the following benefits:
- Multiple distractions that allow the players to reach objectives or escape dangerous situations with more ease
- More cover fire as the extra units can shoot in multiple directions
- An extra line of defense as each droid can potentially take hits that are meant for the player
- A tool that requires little care for deployment positioning due to the droids' mobility
Though the other sentries will still be useful in many scenarios, the droid stratagem can lead to experiences only mobile sentries can offer.
How to Balance a Defensive Stratagem Involving Droids
While Helldivers 2 has many amazing stratagems, they are all balanced in a way to ensure that none are either too weak or powerful. Adding a new droid sentry may create an imbalance in the gameplay, meaning the developers must carefully consider its implementation. There are a few ways for Helldivers 2 to work with that:
- Making the droids fragile enough to be quickly destroyed by even the most common rank-and-file enemies
- Giving the droids a slow rate of fire to compensate for the amount being deployed
- Having them move at a speed equivalent to that of a light Automaton enemy
- Limiting them to covering only a small area whose boundaries are determined from where they were initially called down upon
- Their damage output limited to be enough to make quick work of light foes but close to impossible to take down heavier ones
- Deploying at least four or five with every call to ensure that they provide their benefits without being game-breaking
- A 2-minute cooldown on the stratagem so that it cannot be spammed or abused
Although much testing would still be required, these limitations and mechanics show what this new sentry could potentially bring to the game. Should the developers consider its addition, the Helldivers 2 sentry stratagems may see even more use than ever before.
The list of Helldivers 2 stratagems may be long, but adding one more of the defensive variety could lead to many changes. The Automatons are the perfect blueprint for creating droid-like sentries that, much like the enemy they're based on, carry a degree of power that can quickly transform the tune of any battle. However, at the moment, this remains speculation until further word by Arrowhead.
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Metascore
- 83
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC & PS5
