While it may seem weird that a crossbow is in a futuristic sci-fi game, the 
CB-9 Exploding Crossbow in Helldivers 2 proves to be a worthy addition to the SEAF arsenal. Despite its archaic nature, it's very effective at blowing the enemies of democracy up. It does have some caveats, however.
The Exploding Crossbow's got some serious competition in the list of Helldivers 2's best primary weapons. Despite that, it has its uses, and there's no doubt that some players out there will find this weapon is worth its weight in all the Medals it costs to buy it.
Helldivers 2: CB-9 Exploding Crossbow Stats
- Damage: 420
- Fire Rate: 50
- Capacity: 5
- Recoil: 35
The Exploding Crossbow might as well be an Impact Grenade launcher, albeit without the same destructive capabilities. Its bolts explode on contact, instantly killing weak infantry within a 9-meter radius. Like Helldivers 2's iteration of the PLAS-1 Scorcher, this weapon can damage medium-armored enemies despite not having the relevant armor penetration tag. However, the damage it deals varies greatly depending on where the bolts hit.
Projectiles launched by the crossbow have a fairly short range. They begin to drop around the 30-meter mark — if you want to hit anything farther than that, you'll need to adjust your aim accordingly. The bolts also travel fairly slowly, so hitting moving targets might be difficult.
Is The Exploding Crossbow Any Good?
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This weapon decimates groups of enemies regardless of faction. Against Automatons, it can completely wipe out entire Raider squads with a single shot. The crossbow can also kill Automaton Scout Striders in Helldivers 2 from the front, making this weapon very convenient in bot missions. It's still effective versus Terminids, but you need to pay extra attention to that 9-meter blast radius, as this gun can easily get you or your teammates killed.
As mentioned, the Exploding Crossbow does not have the same destructive capabilities of grenades and other ordnance. It can't destroy enemy spawners or open shipping containers, but that's a small price to pay for the power it provides. Unlike the R-36 Eruptor, this weapon handles itself well, and it isn't completely reliant on the player having a Stalwart or Arc Thrower as their support weapon. You're free to use whatever support weapon you want when using the Exploding Crossbow, so long as you keep its limitations in mind.
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
- Metascore
- 83
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
