The Best Secondaries in Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 has a massive armory, allowing players to call in everything from flamethrowers and weaponized mechs to laser-guided rocket launchers and tactical nukes. However, seasoned players know that success is not just about heavy firepower. Even the best primary weapons in the game require to be paired with the right secondary weapon. They are valuable in providing crucial support, utility, and a tactical edge. Whether players need a reliable backup, crowd-control, or specialized sidearm for armored enemies, here are the best secondaries to consider in Helldivers 2.

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10 P-11 Stim Pistol

Heals Allies From Range

The P-11 Stim Pistol holds promise as a support tool but falls short as an effective secondary weapon in Helldivers 2. It has no offensive capabilities apart from allowing players to heal teammates from a distance, which can be valuable in coordinated squads. However, the inability to heal oneself significantly limits its viability, making it a poor substitute for a traditional sidearm. As it stands, the Stim Pistol is a niche option best suited for dedicated medics rather than a practical choice for most loadouts.

9 P-2 Peacemaker

Old but Reliable

The P-2 Peacemaker is the classic sidearm available to all players immediately after completing the tutorial. It offers a reliable blend of decent damage, solid capacity, and low recoil, making it a decent secondary to take while spreading managed democracy in Helldivers 2. There is nothing more that can be said except that the Peacemaker is good enough for a starting secondary weapon. It is still a weapon that players will want to replace as soon as possible in Helldivers 2.

8 LAS-7 Dagger

Lightweight and Always On

The LAS-7 Dagger can feel underwhelming. Being an energy-based weapon, players have to train its beam on enemies while maneuvering the battlefield. While extremely effective against light enemies, the Dagger just lacks the firepower needed for more serious threats, making it a situational sidearm rather than a go-to choice in Helldivers 2. On the flipside, players never have to worry about running out of ammo.

7 P-19 Redeemer

Bullet Storms for Crowd Control

The P-19 Redeemer is a fully automatic secondary that functions like a submachine gun in Helldivers 2. Its high fire rate means players can shred enemies with ease, making the Redeemer a powerful backup weapon at close quarters. However, the high fire rate also means the weapon eats ammo like anything, making it quite a struggle to manage ammo.

In the early days of Helldivers 2, the Redeemer was one of the best options for players using a Ballistic Shield or carrying mission-specific items like SSSD Hard Drives. These days, however, there are better one-handed options in the armory.

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6 SG-22 Bushwhacker

Goes Boom Thrice

The SG-22 Bushwhacker is a solid choice for players who want a secondary weapon with close-range stopping power in Helldivers 2. It is a sawed-off shotgun with three barrels, delivering a burst of pellets with enough stagger to stop even Stalkers. It also can be toggled to fire all three barrels at once to deliver a single, powerful blast to the face. However, its slow reload speed and limited capacity means that the Bushwhacker is not always the most reliable option in tight situations. There are stronger all-around secondaries, but for those who prefer a one-handed shotgun, the Bushwhacker is a fun and effective choice.

5 CQC-30 Stun Baton

Go Melee

The CQC-30 Stun Baton is one of three newly introduced melee weapons in Helldivers 2 and the best secondary option for players looking to smash through enemies. Unlike the CQC-19 Stun Lance from the Urban Legends Warbond, the Stun Baton swings faster and covers a wider arc, allowing players to hit multiple enemies at once. It also staggers enemies, meaning players can take on entire groups of enemies with relentless swings for as long as their stamina holds out.

4 P-113 Verdict

Power, Precision, and Speed

The P-113 Verdict is a high-caliber sidearm and a direct upgrade to the Peacemaker, dealing significant damage per shot. While it has a smaller magazine, its fast fire rate and medium penetration enable players to take apart tough enemies like Hive Guards and Overseers with precision. Targeting enemy weak spots, players can even take out Devastators with a few shots. Combining power and precision, the Verdict is an exceptional secondary weapon to have in any Helldivers 2 loadout.

3 P-4 Senator

Hard-Hitting Hand Cannon

The P-4 Senator is a powerful revolver-style sidearm that packs a hefty punch in Helldivers 2. It takes only a single shot to kill light enemies and two at most for medium enemies, giving players an excellent short-range answer when their primary or support weapon runs dry.

However, the Senator struggles with limited capacity, meaning every shot counts. This is further compounded by being a round-reload weapon, which means it has to be reloaded bullet by bullet, making it less desirable for extended firefights. Despite this drawback, the Senator’s sheer stopping power keeps it among the top-ranked secondary weapons in Helldivers 2.

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2 GP-31 Grenade Pistol

Explosions on Demand

The GP-31 Grenade Pistol is another secondary that lobs grenades in Helldivers 2. While they do not do as much damage as the Ultimatum, players will find the Grenade Pistol highly useful in closing bug holes, destroying bot fabricators, and exploding warp ships.

With a quick reload and plenty of spare rounds, players can run around enemy encampments while firing grenades to close out objectives, and without wasting standard grenades or stratagems. This unmatched utility on all three fronts makes the Grenade Pistol one of the best secondary weapons in Helldivers 2.

1 GP-31 Ultimatum

Pocket-Sized Nuke Launcher

The GP-31 Ultimatum lobs a powerful grenade that may as well be a mini-nuke, doing damage on par with an Orbital Precision Strike. It can destroy structures such as Stratagem Jammers and even take down Chargers and Bile Titans when aimed at weak spots. While its short range and arcing trajectory require precise aiming, no other secondary weapon matches the Ultimatum's destructive power, making it the best secondary weapon in Helldivers 2.

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Helldivers 2

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9 /10

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Released

February 8, 2024

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Where to play

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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

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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

Engine

bitsquid

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Cross-Platform Play

All platforms

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

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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