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The Illuminate are a formidable enemy faction in Helldivers 2, renowned for their advanced technologies and tactical precision. Their strategy often involves overwhelming players with both numbers and elite units that can approach from the ground or air. To effectively combat the Illuminate, it's crucial to select loadouts and builds that not only exploit their vulnerabilities but also shield you from their potent tech.
So, how do you tackle the Illuminate effectively? It's all about crafting the perfect mix of weapons, support gear, and stratagems to counter their unique strengths. Balancing your arsenal to handle both the swarms of lesser units and the heavily armored elites is key. Neglecting either type can render your loadout ineffective against the full might of the Illuminate.
In this guide, we'll explore the most effective loadouts and builds tailored specifically for battling the Illuminate. Whether you're a veteran player or just starting out, these strategies will enhance your combat prowess against this challenging, squid-like faction. Let's gear up and prepare to confront the Illuminate head-on.
The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate
| Category | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Primary | PLAS-1 Scorcher / PLAS-101 Purifier |
| Secondary | GP-31 Grenade Pistol |
| Grenade | G-13 Incendiary Impact |
| Armor Passive | Siege-Ready |
| Stratagems | - LAS-98 Laser Cannon (Support) |
| - AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" | |
| - Eagle Strafing Run | |
| - A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / Orbital Laser |
The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier are among the top primary weapons in Helldivers 2. They excel at melting Overseers, including the jet-pack-wielding Elevated units, and are equally effective against the Voteless. The additional ammunition and quick reloads provided by the Siege-Ready armor passive allow you to tackle multiple priority targets without interruption. The increased damage per second is crucial when every shot counts.
The Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol form a potent duo for obliterating parked warp ships. Energy-based weapons struggle to deplete their shields, but a single Strafing Run can strip the shields from all grounded warp ships in a line. Following up with a grenade into their open bay doors will cause them to explode. This combo is especially effective against medium or heavy Illuminate nests where multiple warp ships need to be destroyed. While the G-13 Incendiary Impact can also be used in this manner, it's more effective against swarms, so reserve it for when you're using the Grenade Pistol.
The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" proves surprisingly effective against medium-armored Overseers. Each burst can take down a single elite unit, making it an excellent choice for protecting your flanks against the Illuminate.
The A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry is ideal for locking down areas during objective defense. If thinning out enemy crowds isn't your priority, consider swapping it for an Orbital Laser to target Harvesters or future heavy units.
Finally, the LAS-98 Laser Cannon rounds out this loadout. It's exceptional at melting Overseers and chaff within seconds and is highly effective against Harvesters. Use a Strafing Run to deplete their shields, then aim the Laser Cannon at their weak points (thighs/eyes). A single clip is sufficient if your aim is steady. The Laser Cannon's long range allows you to engage targets from a distance, making it a true anti-squid weapon.
On difficulty levels 9 or 10, where multiple Harvesters are common, an Orbital Laser becomes essential.
The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate
| Category | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Primary | ARC-12 Blitzer |
| Secondary | GP-31 Grenade Pistol |
| Grenade | G-13 Incendiary Impact |
| Armor Passive | Electrical Conduit / Med-Kit |
| Stratagems | - ARC-3 Arc Thrower (Support) |
| - Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser | |
| - Eagle Strafing Run | |
| - A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower |
The Illuminate's mix of melee and ranged units makes the ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower perfect for covering both threats. They easily dispatch swarms, but the Arc Thrower has the added benefit of rendering Overseers nearly useless. Each lightning arc chains and staggers, briefly stunning Overseers. Continuous attacks from a distance can keep Elevated Overseers permanently stunned in mid-air.
The Arc Thrower can also take down unshielded Harvesters, requiring about a dozen hits, each causing a moderate stun that accumulates over time.
The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower is highly effective against all Illuminate types, particularly groups of flying Overseers. It provides consistent crowd control and disrupts enemies, making it easier to manage large waves. Combine it with the Arc Thrower for multiple chained lightning attacks to lock down an area. Prioritize targeting key enemies with the Arc Thrower to prevent them from reaching your Tesla Tower.
Harvesters often target sentries, so avoid deploying your Tesla Tower or other sentry stratagems if you're already engaging them.
The Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol are essential for destroying parked warp ships. The Blitzer and Arc Thrower are less efficient at depleting their shields during combat, so don't replace them unless another teammate can handle this task.
For dealing with heavy units, the Orbital Railcannon Strike is ideal due to its unlimited uses. The Orbital Laser is effective against multiple Harvesters, but with only three uses, you'll need to rely on your teammates eventually. Always use a Strafing Run to disable their shields first. This build is one of the most powerful against the Illuminate in Helldivers 2, especially when coordinated with other players.
The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate
| Category | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Primary | StA-52 Assault Rifle |
| Secondary | GP-31 Grenade Pistol / CQC-19 Stun Lance |
| Grenade | G-13 Incendiary Impact |
| Armor Passive | Peak Physique / Engineering Kit |
| Stratagems | - MG-43 Machine Gun (Support) |
| - LIFT-850 Jump Pack | |
| - Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser | |
| - A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / A/G-16 Gatling Sentry |
The MG-43 Machine Gun is the most versatile support weapon against the Illuminate, making it a top choice for this loadout. It effortlessly shreds light and medium enemies, as well as Harvesters. Compared to the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun, the standard Machine Gun offers better handling and faster infantry dispatch.
It's a true all-rounder against the squids, providing a perfect balance of power and reliability. Pair it with the Engineering Kit to reduce recoil or the Peak Physique armor passive to minimize drag, the latter aiding in targeting flying Overseers or Watchers.
The high fire rate of the Machine Gun is effective at depleting shields, eliminating the need for the Eagle Strafing Run to destroy grounded warp ships. Instead, opt for turret sentries to manage large crowds or defend objectives.
The only drawback of the Machine Gun is its stationary reload animation, which prevents reloading while moving. This is where the LIFT-850 Jump Pack comes in handy, allowing you to quickly reposition to safety and navigate the new urban maps more effectively.
While the Machine Gun can easily handle Harvesters by targeting their weak spots, having an Orbital stratagem in your build is beneficial for quickly dealing with multiple heavy units. The Orbital Laser can manage two to three shielded Harvesters simultaneously, whereas the Railcannon Strike is effective only against unshielded targets.
For the primary weapon in this Illuminate build, you can choose any from the Armory. If you want to maintain the bullet-storm theme, opt for the new StA-52 Assault Rifle. Introduced in the Helldivers 2 x Killzone 2 crossover, it features a large drum magazine for sustained fire that penetrates light armor, delivering damage comparable to the standard Liberator.
