One of the most requested features by the Helldivers 2 community has finally made its return. While the first Helldivers game included a weapon upgrade system, the sequel launched without it, leaving many of us wondering when we’d be able to fine-tune our favorite firearms again.
Thankfully, with the arrival of Patch 1.003.000, weapon customization is back and better than ever. If you have been itching to improve weapon handling by unlocking attachments, now's the time to dive back into the Galactic War. Here's everything you need to know about how to upgrade weapons in Helldivers 2.
8 New Features & Improvements Helldivers 2 Could Use
Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of the best cooperative shooters in history, but that does not mean there is no room for improvement.
How to Upgrade Weapons in Helldivers 2
The new weapon upgrade system adds a whole layer of depth (and personalization) to your arsenal in Helldivers 2. Every primary weapon can now be leveled up to a maximum of 25, unlocking various weapon attachments and skins at specific level tiers along the way.
While patterns are purely cosmetic, weapon attachments can significantly improve weapon handling. Several weapons once considered weak, unpopular, or highly situational in Helldivers 2 can now be upgraded into powerful, reliable options thanks to the new weapon upgrade system. With the right attachments, your former trash weapons might just become your new favorites.
Only primary weapons can be upgraded and customized in Helldivers 2. Here's hoping a future patch allows support and secondary weapons to be upgraded as well.
Step #1
Start by equipping a primary weapon from the armory to your loadout. You will notice that all the weapons now have a new "Customize" button next to the "Equip" option. Click it to see what attachments and skins you can unlock for the weapon, and how much weapon XP you need to farm to unlock all upgrades. This is where you track your weapon progression.
The weapon upgrade system unlocks at level 10 in Helldivers 2.
Step #2
Now, start running missions after missions to level up your primary weapon. The higher the mission difficulty level, the more weapon XP you will gain.
You don't need to use your primary weapons to level them up. You only have to equip them in your loadout. This means you can play with support weapons while passively leveling your primary weapon in the background.
Step #3
Return to the weapon customization menu to unlock and equip attachments using Requisition Slips. You don't have to worry about spending your hard-earned Samples to upgrade weapons, unless you are unlocking ship modules in Helldivers 2. These modules come with their own set of buffs and passives that further improve your primary weapons' combat capabilities.
Make sure to review the spray pattern simulator before unlocking any attachment. The simulator shows how weapons handle recoil, ensuring you only unlock the best attachments in Helldivers 2.
List of Unlockable Weapon Attachments and Patterns
Helldivers 2 features a total of 28 weapon attachments and 11 weapon patterns to unlock at the time of writing. Something important to note here: attachments vary from weapon to weapon.
Shotguns, for example, can be equipped with unique muzzles to control the spread of pellets. You won't find these attachments on an assault rifle. Each weapon type has its own set of upgrade options tailored to its role and playstyle.
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Optics |
Underbarrels |
Muzzles |
Magazines |
Patterns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Weapon Upgrade Tips in Helldivers 2
Knowing the most efficient way to upgrade weapons ensures your time and effort are well spent, helping you unlock powerful attachments faster and avoid unnecessary grinding. This is especially critical for new Helldivers 2 players.
- Save your Requisition Slips by only unlocking attachments that positively impact weapon performance. Unless you are a completionist, unlocking a muzzle that makes recoil worse is a bad investment choice.
- You can immediately improve weapon performance by equipping the "No Underbarrel" option for your primary weapon. This removes the flashlight, which is hardly worth having anyway, and improves ergonomics to reduce weapon sway.
- While most weapon stats are self-explanatory, ergonomics deserves a closer look. A high ergonomics rating means your weapon will quickly snap back to the center of the screen, making it feel more responsive when moving the camera or swinging the weapon around. This responsiveness is especially helpful when fighting large numbers of enemies, where you have to quickly switch from one target to the next.
- Not all weapons offer the same number/type of attachments. Some, like the Exploding Crossbow, only have different optics to unlock. Considering the default scope is already good enough, it's best to grind other weapons. There's no point in leveling the Crossbow to level 25 other than to unlock the Venus (satin black) pattern.
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
- 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)
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
