Helldivers 2: Best Weapons Tier List

Helldivers 2 went through significant changes with the recent patch, causing a shift in the best weapons for combat. Here’s our list of the best weapons ranked!

Helldivers 2 underwent significant changes in the latest patch that focused on balancing the game and bringing underperforming weapons into the spotlight. These adjustments have provided players with more diverse loadout options. As a result, several previously overlooked weapons have now risen to higher tiers thanks to the buffs and other refinements.

Below is our tier list of the best primary and support stratagem weapons that perform exceptionally well in high-difficulty missions.

Best Weapons Tier List (Stratagem and Primary)

Note that this tier list offers an assessment of the current top-performing weapons in Helldivers 2, but it’s subject to change as the game evolves. The best way to find the ideal weapon for your playstyle is through hands-on experience, so experiment and discover what works best for you in various scenarios.

S-Tier Weapons

RS-422 Railgun (Stratagem) – This charge-up weapon remains the best support stratagem for eliminating heavily armored targets. It is an experimental weapon that prioritizes armor penetration with high damage when used under unsafe mode.
LAS-99 Quasar Cannon (Stratagem) – This powerhouse boasts infinite ammo and fires a single, highly explosive energy shot. It’s capable of eliminating a Charger with one headshot and two for a Bile Titan. The only drawback is its considerable cooldown between shots.
FLAM-66 Torcher – This lightweight flamethrower can quickly destroy Terminids, including medium-armored targets such as Chargers. The drawback is that it requires extreme precision to avoid friendly fire.
FLAM-40 Flamethrower (Stratagem) – The flamethrower is one of the best weapons in Helldivers 2, and it’s ideal if Torcher is unavailable. It’s highly effective against Terminid on a grand scale, except for Bile Titan and Shriekers.
GR-8 Recoilless Rifle (Stratagem) – This is the best weapon against armored vehicles and larger enemies. It requires a support backpack for reloading but can be fired instantly, unlike the Spear. The drawback is its loading speed, which can be remedied with the assistance of your teammates.
MLS-4X Commando (Stratagem) – This is a combination of the Expendable Anti-Tank and the Spear, but with laser guidance for better precision. It’s ideal for dealing with armored tanks, large enemies, bug holes, and fabricators.
SG-451 Cookout Shotgun – This is a light armor-penetrating incendiary weapon with an efficient ammo economy. It still struggles to eliminate Chargers but remains effective against Shriekers and mobs.
FAF-14 Spear (Stratagem) – This anti-tank homing missile must lock onto its target before launch. It’s effective against large and armored enemies. The drawback is the lack of control of the missile once it’s set off.
ARC-12 Blitzer – This weapon blasts a wide burst of high-voltage electricity that arcs between all units within range. Its unlimited ammo makes it a perfect pick for eliminating mobs, primarily against Terminids, such as multiple Hunters and Scavengers.

A-Tier Weapons

Expendable Anti-Tank (Stratagem) – It’s a single-use weapon specialized for damaging armor but with a fast cooldown and call-in time. The primary benefit of this weapon is that it can be called down on short notice.
R-36 Eruptor – This bolt-action rifle fires jet-assisted shells that explode shrapnel in all directions upon impact. Eruptor rounds can destroy bug holes, broadcast towers, and fabricators quickly. It may be one of the best weapons in the democratic detonation warbond, but it carries the risk of killing you in close-quarters combat.
SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary – This is a modified Breaker shotgun firing incendiary projectiles. After the patch, they decreased its ammo and increased its recoil rate, but it still remains a powerful weapon against lightly armored targets.
AC-8 Autocannon – This fully-automatic cannon is effective against light vehicle armor and comes with a backpack for ammunition. This powerful weapon packs a punch when used on weak points.
LAS-5 Scythe – This weapon does not need reloading, but if it overheats, a new heat sink must be fitted. It’s the best weapon for dealing with light to medium-sized threats such as Devastators and Hunters.
LAS-16 Sickle – This beast is a laser rifle that fires in short bursts. Sickle does not need reloading and only requires a new heat sink when it overheats. It’s the best weapon for all-purpose use against reactive targets and weak spots.
PLAS-1 Scorcher – This is an explosive weapon effective against light to medium armored targets at medium to long ranges. However, using it at higher difficulty levels becomes challenging, especially in close combat against fast-reacting enemies.
JAR-5 Dominator – This weapon trades its fire rate and magazine capacity for increased damage per projectile. It’s a beast against enemies with larger health like Brood Commanders, Hive Guards, and Devastators.
SG-8P Punisher Plasma – This is the best weapon for medium to long-range combat with a projectile that travels in an arch and then deals explosive damage. Using it in close combat is not advisable, especially if you’re not using armor with resist explosive DMG.
GL-21 Grenade Launcher (Stratagem) – This grenade launcher is effective against armored infantry. It’s not intended for use against vehicle armor or fortified buildings. Still, it is the best weapon for eliminating mobs and can destroy bug holes and automaton fabricators.
APW-1 Anti-Materiel Refile (Stratagem) – This is a high-caliber sniper effective over long distances against lightly armored targets. It’s best suited against the Automatons, especially Hulks, Tanks, Gunships and Devastators.

B-Tier Weapons

SG-8S Slugger – This was the best weapon until the recent patch. However, it struggles against fast-moving, high-number enemies, making it less effective and underperforming. With the introduction of several strong alternatives, the Slugger has now dropped to B Tier.
SMG-37 Defender – This is a high-caliber submachine gun that can be fired with one hand. However, with superior options like Dominator, Cookout, and Scythe now available, which outperform it in most scenarios, the Defender has dropped to a lower tier.
LAS-98 Laser Cannon (Stratagem) – This offers near-unlimited ammo and excels at targeting enemy weak points, but it is not the best weapon when facing Terminids. With more effective alternatives now available, the Laser Cannon remains underperforming.
SMG-72 Pummeler – This weapon is a noticeable improvement over the Defender, with a decent ammo economy. It can stagger Hunters and stun Stalkers effectively, but its slower rate of fire compared to other SMGs slightly holds it back.
SG-225 Breaker – This is a full-automatic shotgun with a high rate of fire. It’s the best weapon for controlling crowds but requires frequent reloading due to its small ammo capacity. The Breaker is paired with a supply backpack, but other alternatives still outperform it.
R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper – This modified Diligence rifle offers increased damage but a reduced fire rate. It fires a single bullet at a time. Due to its poor performance, it’s advisable to carry a decent side weapon.
AR-61 Tenderizer – This is a well-rounded weapon suitable for both terminids and automatons, but its greatest drawback is its small magazine size. It’s not even worth using a supply backpack.
BR-14 Adjudicator – This is one of the best weapons under the AR category, but it underperforms in high-level difficulty, notably against mobs.
SG-8 Punisher – This is a powerful dual magazine pump-action shotgun, ideal for small and fast targets. However, there are now plenty of better alternatives that do a better job of eliminating small and agile enemies.
RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher (Stratagem) – This long-range rocket launcher is effective against hordes and can destroy bug holes and fabricators. However, there are better options available with higher firepower.

C-Tier Weapons

AR-23 Liberator – Once a reliable and well-balanced starter gun, it has lost its former prominence. Due to the recent patches and adjustments, there are now many superior alternatives available, leaving the Liberator outclassed.
MG-43 Machine Gun (Stratagem) – This machine gun is designed for stationary use with higher power but with increased recoil and reduced accuracy. It’s not the best weapon in high-difficulty missions that require you to move to avoid hordes.
MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun (Stratagem) – This is a very powerful but difficult-to-wield machine gun with intense recoil. It only excels in eliminating high-priority targets, especially against Automatons, but remains underperforming in high-difficulty scenarios.

D-Tier Weapons

AR-23P Liberator Penetrator – This is an armor-piercing weapon effective against armored targets. However, with its horrible recoil, Penetrator has fallen short compared to its counterparts.
AR-23C Liberator Concussive – This is a modified Liberator with explosive rounds. It’s effective against targets with exposed weak spots and crowd control. However, there are plenty of better alternatives that do more damage.
PLAS-101 Purifier – The Purifier is dangerous to manage, even when paired with a decent secondary weapon. This makes it nearly unusable in high-difficulty missions. It also needs to be charged between shots, with no added damage from longer charges. Currently the subject of jokes, the Purifier is in dire need of a patch to give it the overhaul it deserves.

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