The surprise release of Helldivers 2’s latest update at The Game Awards 2024 was a sweet treat that delivered several of the community’s most highly requested features. Not only did this update introduce a new enemy faction to fight against in Helldivers 2’s ongoing Galactic War, but among several other noteworthy additions, players can now use proper melee weapons in Helldivers 2.
While the two new melee weapons introduced in Helldivers 2’s Omens of Tyranny update may only be the first of many more melee weapons to come, the future of this weapon type doesn’t seem too bright so far. Compared to other secondary weapons, the existing melee weapons in Helldivers 2 are quite powerful, but beyond this though, melee weapons will likely never be able to compete with the constantly evolving meta for primary and support weapons.
Why Melee Weapons Will Likely Never Compete with Helldivers 2’s Meta
The Stun Baton and Stun Lance in Helldivers 2 Rely Too Heavily on Their Stun Capabilities
One of the biggest strengths of the new CqC-19 Stun Lance and the CQC-30 Stun Baton in Helldivers 2 is that they can stun enemies and leave them vulnerable to a practically endless combo of follow-up attacks. However, if not for the stun capabilities allowing players to repeatedly attack enemies, these two melee weapons would be much less viable since it often takes multiple attacks to kill some of the weakest enemy units from each faction in Helldivers 2.
The Stun Lance is available in Helldivers 2’s Urban Legends premium Warbond, and the Stun Baton is periodically available in the Super Store.
Ultimately, if future updates for Helldivers 2 introduce more melee weapons, they might not be worthwhile alternatives to the Stun Lance and the Stun Baton if they don’t have stun capabilities. Otherwise, intentionally getting within proper range to use melee weapons would be an even bigger risk than it already is, one that could cost players a couple of Stims at best, or a reinforcement at worst, which is quite a costly investment either way.
The Stun Baton and the Stun Lance can be paired with the 
SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack, the 
SH-32 Shield Generator Pack, or the new Directional Shield to make engaging in close-quarters combat less risky.
Anti-Armor Weapons and Stratagems Are a Must for Helldivers 2’s Higher Difficulties
Compared to some of the best secondary weapons available in Helldivers 2, the Stun Lance and the Stun Baton are both relatively powerful weapons. Admittedly though, this is quite a low bar to clear since secondary weapons are categorically some of the weakest weapons in the game.
One of the main reasons why secondary weapons are at the bottom of Helldivers 2’s current meta is that they generally have little to no armor penetration. This isn’t as much of a problem when playing on Helldivers 2’s lower-difficulty settings where heavily armored enemies are few and far between, but anti-armor weapons and Stratagems essentially become must-haves when playing on higher difficulties. So, unless future melee weapons come with innate armor penetration or a complimentary buildcrafting tool that provides this buff, like a body armor perk or a booster, melee weapons will likely never be able to compete with some of the best primaries and support weapons in Helldivers 2.
For the time being, it remains to be seen if future updates for Helldivers 2 will continue to add more proper melee weapons to the game beyond the Stun Lance and the Stun Baton. However, unless they have a stun utility and/or heavy armor penetration capabilities, future melee weapons in Helldivers 2 may be doomed to remain more of a gimmick than a viable alternative to the latest metas.
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
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- 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
