Weaponry in Helldivers 2 isn't just limited to rifles and pistols. Support weapons are designed to fill-in for specific combat roles, giving players the edge they need to beat back huge swarms or bust heavy armor open.
Helldivers 2: How to Farm Samples
Upgrade your Super Destroyer as quickly as possible by following these two tips on how to get plenty of Samples per mission in Helldivers 2.
Some of these support weapons do have overlapping roles, and one option might be better than the other at doing its specified job. Here's a list of the best support weapons in Helldivers 2 to give you an idea of what you should unlock first.
5 M-105 Stalwart
High Mobility Bullet Hose
- Role: Anti-Infantry
- Call-in Time: 3 Seconds
- Cooldown Time: 480 Seconds
The 
M-105 Stalwart is essentially a high-capacity assault rifle. It isn't as cumbersome to handle as the heavier 
MG-43 Machine Gun, but it doesn't deal as much damage as its larger counterpart either. Still, this gun serves as an excellent support weapon for laying down suppressive fire on bots or cutting down swarms of bugs while on the move.
One of the best things about the Stalwart is its ability to reach a blistering rate of fire. Hold down the Reload button to open the Fire Mode selector, set the weapon to 1150 RPM, and watch as it shreds lightly armored targets to ribbons.
4 AC-8 Autocannon
Outflank and Destroy
- Role: Heavy Infantry Destroyer
- Call-in Time: 3 Seconds
- Cooldown Time: 480 Seconds
The 
AC-8 Autocannon is great for taking out medium-sized enemies like 
Devastator, 
Scout Strider, and 
Bile Spewer. It's also useful in a pinch against heavily-armored targets like Chargers, 
Bile Titan, and 
Hulk Scorcher as long as the gunner can aim for vulnerable spots, which are usually on the flanks, backs, or faces of enemies.
Autocannons don't need to be reloaded with every shot, and when it does need a new clip, a manual reload from the gunners themselves doesn't take too long, keeping it reliable even if team reloads aren't available. However, if you're looking for a precision anti-armor weapon that's even lighter, then the Anti-Materiel Rifle is a good alternative.
Helldivers 2: How to Get & Use Boosters
Players who have questions about Boosters in Helldivers 2 can find all the information that they need on these equipable items here.
3 GL-21 Grenade Launcher
Anti-Infantry Pocket Artillery
- Role: Anti-Infantry/Spawner Destroyer
- Call-in Time: 3 Seconds
- Cooldown Time: 480 Seconds
While it isn't intended for taking down armor, the 
GL-21 Grenade Launcher is amazing at clearing clustered groups of enemies. It's also very effective at blowing bug holes and bot fabricators, destroying Spore Spewers, and taking out Automaton machine gun nests.
If you bring a Supply Pack, you'll essentially get unlimited grenades for as long as the pack contains ammunition. Bring a Grenade Launcher if no one else takes an anti-infantry weapon with them.
2 GR-8 Recoilless Rifle/Expendable Anti-Tank Launcher
SEAF Standard Tank Busters
- Role: Anti-Tank
- Call-in Time: 3 Seconds
- Cooldown Time 480 Seconds (GR-8)/70 Seconds (EAT)
These two rocket launchers are the staple anti-tank weapons in Helldivers 2. The 
GR-8 Recoilless Rifle can blow up priority targets very quickly if the gunner has a teammate to assist with reloads. Both are great for anything that's heavily armored, and every team should bring at least one of these if they're going on hard missions.
The main thing to consider when picking between these is team coordination. If you're playing a casual public game with strangers, it's better to bring the EAT so you don't have to worry about team reloads. Otherwise, ask your squadmates if they can carry a Recoilless Rifle backpack for you.
1 RS-422 Railgun
The Most Versatile Armor Hunter
- Role: Anti-Armor
- Call-in Time: 3 Seconds
- Cooldown Time: 480 Seconds
As of launch, the 
RS-422 Railgun is arguably the best support weapon in Helldivers 2. It can strip heavy armor and knock medium enemies out in one shot, especially if that shot is overcharged. The RS-422 Railgun is much better than the AC-8 Autocannon and AMR for fighting armor, but its DPS is poor, making it less valuable when the immediate extermination of a target is required.
Railgun shots can punch through even Bile Titan armor. However, using it against targets with high health should only be a last resort. Rely on dedicated anti-tank weapons or stratagems to deal with large targets as quickly as possible.
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
