Helldivers 2 Update is Now Live with Major Balance Changes, Weapon Buffs, and More

Arrowhead Game Studios’ long-awaited patch for Helldivers 2, version 1.001.100, is now available on PS5 and PC. For those who want to hear and watch all the changes in action, check out the video below with Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt and Design Director Niklas Malmborg.

The update focuses on many things, including anti-tank weapons, armor penetration, and health and armor, while rebalancing weapons, Stratagems, enemies, and more. The Autocannon, Heavy Machine Gun, Flamethrower and Anti-Materiel Rifle are now more effective against heavily armored enemies (though anti-tank weapons are still top-tier).

Enemies like the Automatons’ Hulks now have reduced armor, and the Devastator and Gunship have fewer rockets and reduced fire rate. The explosions from their hits are also smaller, which means ragdolling players. Helldivers have also undergone some changes, taking 50 percent extra headshot damage instead of 100 percent.

Check out some of the balance changes below and full notes here. Another balance pass is coming on the final day of the developer’s 60-day plan, so stay tuned for more details.

Balancing

General

• Previously, partial damage dealt 50% of full damage, which we found to be overly punishing and reduced effectiveness too much, leading to an excessive reliance on high armor penetration weapons. We’ve now increased partial damage to 65% of full damage to address this issue.
• The Helldiver now takes less damage from headshots, which previously dealt 100% extra damage but now inflict only 50% extra damage. Damage from hits to other body parts has been slightly increased depending on the area hit. This adjustment aims to normalize overall damage while maintaining detailed damage zones, reducing spike damage.

Primary Weapons

Liberator & Liberator Carbine

• Damage is increased from 60 to 70
• Durable damage increased from 14 to 17
• Stagger force increased from 10 to 15
• Max spare magazines increased from 7 to 8
• Starting spare magazines increased from 5 to 6

Knight

• Damage is increased from 50 to 65
• Durable damage increased from 5 to 7
• Magazines now fully refill when picking up resupply
• Reduced recoil

Liberator Concussive

• Now comes with a drum magazine which holds 60 rounds
• Number of mags reduced from 10 to 6. The number of mags have been reduced due to larger magazine capacity

Tenderizer

• Number of rounds in its magazine increased from 30 to 35
• Starting magazines increased from 4 to 5

Breaker

• Now comes with an extended magazine which holds 16 shells
• Stagger force increased from 10 to 15

Spray and Pray

• Now has a duckbill muzzle making its spread very horizontal but less vertical
• Total Damage increased from 192 to 240

Scythe

• Cooldown is faster
• Adjustments to the heat VFX
• Scope changed to a low powered scope
• Removed recoil
• Sets enemies on fire faster

Crossbow

• Explosion radius increased by 50%
• Explosion damage increased from 150 to 350

Eruptor

Shrapnel is back! We heard your feedback and re-introduced the shrapnel. We have replaced the original shrapnel with the Frag Grenade shrapnel to no longer instantly one-shot Helldivers with the exception of the occasional unlucky headshot.

• Shrapnel projectiles amount are set to 30
• Shrapnel damage is set to 110
• Explosion damage decreased from 340 to 225
• We also increased the amount of shrapnel
• Explosion radius increased by 33% (17% for inner radius and 50% for outer radius)

Defender

• Damage increased from 70 to 75
• Durable damage increased from 7 to 8

Liberator Penetrator

• Damage increased from 45 to 60

Diligence

• Damage increased from 125 to 165
• Durable damage increased from 32 to 42

Counter Sniper

• Damage increased from 140 to 200
• Durable damage increased from 14 to 50
• Stagger force increased from 15 to 20

Blitzer

• Now has a weak stun effect that builds up per shot on its targets

Torcher

• Damage increased by 50%
• Flamer mechanics reverted to before the Escalation of Freedom update
• Increased AP from 3 to 4

Sidearms

Peacemaker

• Increased max spare magazines from 5 to 6

Dagger

• Gains heat more slowly
• Removed recoil
• Damage increased from 200 to 250
• Sets enemies on fire faster
• Adjustments to the heat VFX

Crisper

• Damage increased by 50%
• Flamer mechanics reverted to before the Escalation of Freedom update
• Increased AP from 3 to 4

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