When the time comes to deliver democracy to the galaxy, no one does it quite like the people of Super Earth. Whether it is the crawling Terminids or the relentless moving force that is the Automatons in Helldivers 2, no one is running away from the gift of salvation at the point of a bullet or the explosiveness of an orbital Stratagem.
That said, some new recruits may be finding it hard to deal with the various threats to freedom, especially when there can be some many helpful tools and strategies to choose from. This guide will give you an idea of some of the best early game Stratagems to unlock first in Helldivers 2 to begin your quest in earnest.
Helldivers 2: How to Adjust Scope and Firing Mode on Guns
To liberate planets efficiently in Arrowhead's Helldivers 2, players need to fine-tune their guns by adjusting their scopes and firing modes.
Best Early Game Stratagems in Helldivers 2
As you continue to level up, more and more Stratagems will become available to you and your teammates in combat. Here are some that will always be useful to have in the upcoming fights:
Machine Gun
As a support weapon, the Machine Gun can handle most of the squishy bug threats you will come across. When the primary weapons just don't cut it, bring out this big boy and let it go to work. You can even adjust it to fire even more quickly for fast and sustained damage. Just note that it takes a while to reload, and armored enemies are still quite resistant to its charm.
Expendable Anti-Tank
This is where the 
EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank support weapon comes in. A single-fire weapon, it is best used to take down bigger threats that can shrug off small-arms fire. The caveat is that players will have to make it count, as after a single use, it will be discarded, and the cooldown to call down another can be a long wait. Best to have a couple of these as backup if the threats ahead are stronger than usual.
Orbital Gatling Barrage
In need of some quick help to clear numbers on the battlefield? Invest in the 
Orbital Gatling Barrage and you will be well covered. Not only does it have a generous cooldown, its impact is quite immediate. Anytime you spot a big group of enemies converging on your location, count on this Stratagem to make short work of them with sustained fire while you find a safer spot.
Anti-Personnel Minefield
When it comes to defending a position or creating a killing zone, the 
MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield is close to perfect. As long as other players steer clear of the activation area, this Stratagem will unleash a large number of explosive mines in the designated spot, keeping it safe while your attention can be diverted somewhere else.
Gatling Sentry
Similarly, having a 
A/G-16 Gatling Sentry to watch your back is always a good option to have. It has faster firing than the base sentry, hits harder, and can be quite a sight to behold in action. However, it does little to differentiate friend from foe, so it's best to hit the deck if you happen to be in its line of fire.
"Guard Dog"
Having protection while being on the move is something that shouldn't be overlooked, and the 
AX/LAS-5 "Guard Dog" Rover Stratagem does just that, equipping players with a personal friend that either shoots bullets or lasers. This can be a lifesaver if you are trying to reload and enemies are approaching, but do note that stealthy approaches will be quite impossible with this friend along for the ride.
Helldivers 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
