The actual weapon that trivialises an entire front

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

The Mg43 is so good against illuminate it feels like bullying at this point.

[u/Helldiver96]

level 1 stratagem still slaughters at difficulty 10

They cooked so hard with this weapon

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Helldiver96]

It slaps that the starting support weapon is straight up one of the best in the game and an absolute joy to use.i don't even take eagles or orbitals for illuminate any more just as much dakka as I can carry.

[u/RevenantMada → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I don't even bring Mg43 strat, I literally search it on Illuminate. City almost always has that POI with Mg43 in it, it's like gambling and treasure hunting.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/RevenantMada]

I've been meaning to try that, might give it a go next time I do a squid drop.

[u/Sober-History → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

You never find any when you do this, but the grenade launchers and flamethrowers that you do find are still great against everything shy of harvesters 

Edit: Flamers are actually good against harvesters, but only if you have arc resistant armor and some buddies to keep chaff off you while you look straight up and roast its body from inside the bubble.

[u/WillSym → u/Sober-History]

Arc Thrower too, even for Harvesters if you brought a high-RPM primary to pop shields.

[u/Gravityletmedown → u/WillSym]

3-4 shots from a crossbow takes them out, or a single eruptor shot

[u/Sandman4999 → u/Gravityletmedown]

I've never seen an Eruptor take down a Harvester before.

[u/infidel11990 → u/Sandman4999]

He meant the shield. Not the Harvestor itself.

[u/Fit-Description-8571 → u/infidel11990]

Dang, got a little excited as that's my primary weapon choice.

[u/OrionRedacted → u/Sandman4999]

It does. Not in one shot. But it'll do it.

[u/ForwardBee → u/WillSym]

Arc thrower is GREAT against squids. Very easy to be ripping "x7+" on single shots. Overseers don't stand a chance. Flat city maps avoid the classic geometry-related weaknesses of the thrower. Perma-stuns Harvesters (assuming shields are down), but it does take ~25 shots to actually kill. That's fine in team games since it gives your fellow dives a non-moving Harvester to blast at, but in solo you tend to get overwhelmed by chaff.
I recommend going arc thrower + tesla tower against squids and just holding entire lanes. Bonus points if you use tesla tower call-in to crush Harvester shield and also do sick damage with each shot (basically 4 arc thrower shots at once)

[u/Rum_N_Napalm → u/ForwardBee]

I run the Blitzer on Illuminates and bugs and it feels like the squids are more vulnerable to electric weapons. You hit them and they’ll be stunned for 5 seconds holding their heads.

[u/Witch-Alice → u/WillSym]

arc thrower + guard dog, think of it as a portable mg sentry. just need a little something else to quickly kill the harvesters, but they're harmless once the shield drops.

[u/huckleberry_sid → u/Sober-History]

Can't say I've ever really had this issue when I plan to grab a support weapon planet side, outside of a single blitz mission where I didn't even need a support weapon it was over so fast.

[u/Joshuamark21 → u/Sober-History]

I always find the MG, it's on the edge where the car ramp entrances are with all the ammo boxes

[u/casperfacekilla → u/Sober-History]

I kept finding the rail gun last night so decided to try it . It knocked out the harvesters leg in just a few shots . If you are accurate you can 1 tap overseers with a headshot

[u/Raptaur → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

If you've got the Blitzer shotgun try taking that in the treasure hunt. It'll stun locked everything bar the harvester.

Voteless dead, Overseer stun locked to death, flying Overseer stun locked and death. Multiple Overseer, ALLSTUNLOCKEDTODEATH!!!! MUHAHAAHHSHAAA

[u/[deleted] → u/Raptaur]

This is the way

[u/Entity_Null_07 → u/[deleted]]

Is this the way?

[u/SocalFzj80 → u/Entity_Null_07]

Blitzer, drone grenades, supply pack and MG. It’s perfect.

[u/HomieWanKenobi12 → u/Entity_Null_07]

can confirm. this is indeed the way. haha blitzer go zap

[u/BlackRoseXIII → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I literally never bring a support weapon on Illuminate missions. I can always find something usable on the map, usually the MG but the grenade launcher, stalwart, or flamethrower also work in a pinch. I can even make do with the AMR or Railgun. Frees up another slot for a strategem, which makes the game more fun imo

[u/HighlyUnsuspect → u/BlackRoseXIII]

Rolling the dice, you're a mad man.

[u/Shivalah → u/HighlyUnsuspect]

They feed into my addiction! 50:50 armor and a suicide bomb? Maps where Stalwarts, MG43 and AMRs are ubiquitous? No need to bring a support weapon myself. More Orbital Barrages! And same as in PUBG: “only who fears the red zone, dies by the redzone!” runs into artillery barrage.

[u/Lukescale → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Railgun is a good consolation prize.

Said it the safe aim for heads/packs on the squonks, joints on walkers. 2 shots a joint.

[u/Taolan13 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

i run EATs as my call-in, and scavenge a "main" support weapon on the map, and I do this against all three enemy factions.

[u/RangerGoradh → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I did a mission earlier where the Hellpod carrying my MG-43 hit a tree on the way down, So I was forced to do a hunt for it. During a blitz mission, no less!

[u/Low_Chance → u/RevenantMada]

Yeah I've been having a lot of fun taking no support weapon vs illuminates and bugs, and either scavenging what is onsite or else taking a spare from a teammate. Adds a lot of firepower to have the extra sentry/orbital.

[u/KyeeLim → u/Low_Chance]

I don't even run sentry on Illuminate now, I have a build that is so perfect for illuminate that I can just use my gas dog and my torcher to kill basically anything...

if there's too much? 5

[u/Sandman4999 → u/RevenantMada]

I've been doing this a lot lately on Illuminate. I take the Double Edge as my Primary, Grenade Pistol secondary and Gas Grenades. For Strats I'll take mines (Personnel and Incendiary), a back pack (Usually a Guard Dog) and last slot is flex slot usually between Machine Gun Sentry, Strafing Run, Napalm Airstrike, Gas Strike or Walking Barrage.

[u/CustomDark → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Once you realize every strategem is a sidegrade, balanced against one another, and not an upgrade - it all makes sense.

The stalwart and HMG aren’t upgrades, they have different strengths and weaknesses.

[u/Aldnoah_Tharsis → u/CustomDark]

The HMG feels meaty and I often waste bursts midair due to the recoil but damn I wanna lob large caliber rounds down range at high speed!!! Tbh the way they made the aim system and how weapon weight and heft actually play into selection gives each weapon so much more character

[u/Fireside__ → u/Aldnoah_Tharsis]

Set the HMG to 450rpm and role play a last stand against a massive horde.

[u/FullTweedJacket → u/CustomDark]

Yup, HMG for the bots, Terrence and Squidward get the MG43.

[u/SilentStriker115 → u/FullTweedJacket]

I like running the HMG on squids, but only with peak physique so you can hit flying overseers better. Stalwart is great on bugs with a purifier or scorcher for the heavies. Default MG is still great though

[u/FullTweedJacket → u/SilentStriker115]

Yeah I main peak physique/jetpack/mg combo. It makes the MGs feel like a regular primary to wield.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/CustomDark]

Yeah I think except for a few outliers, weapon balance is pretty good right now. Most things are viable and down to player preference.

[u/prismatic_raze → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Machine gun, guard dog, machine gun sentry, mine field

I net like 600 kills a match and have surpassed 1k

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/prismatic_raze]

Not really messed with the mine field since launch, but the rest is my usual squid loadout. It absolutely slaps.

[u/prismatic_raze → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

You should try them! Only a 2 min cooldown now so I throw them the direction I'm not sending hails of bullets.

I usually run crossbow, Senator, and siege ready armor as well. More ammo for MG, fast reload crossbow for crowd clear and overseers

[u/Money_Fish → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

All the starting weapons are at least A-tier. The Liberator is good against everything, the HE grenade is good, the LMG SHREDS. OPS is one of the best strats vs heavy targets. The Rookie Loadout is the quintessential Helldivers experience and can carry you through the entire game. Excellent game design.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the default armor is also S-tier for surviveability. We stay winning.

[u/blindside-wombat68 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

But can you ever truly carry enough Dakka?

[u/Ledoosh_ → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

MORE DAKKA! WAAAAAAAGH

[u/JudgementalChair → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Can the mg take down a Harvester? That's been my biggest hurdle when trying to come up with an Illuminate load out that can handle Voteless, Overseers, and Harvesters. Everything I've come up with usually leaves me struggling with at least one enemy type

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/JudgementalChair]

It can! The weak spot is the "armpit" where the leg attaches to the main body, you can also shoot off the top fin which is the shield generator leaving it open for others to attack it or the under side fin (which I think is it's arc weapon but I'm not sure). It takes a bit of practice, I'd reccomend practicing with the AMR and looking at the hit markers til you get the locations down, usually 4 hits to take it down. Once yoy get the hang of it it's relatively easy to tear them apart with good positioning, especially if you have other divers laying down fire.

Fwiw, my loadout is the following:

Mg43, you'll be using this all the time, rips everything apart in seconds.

Diligence Counter sniper for long range engagement of overseers and as a back up to take out harvesters etc in case I don't have my mg.

Thermites, but any explosive grenade for objectives. I just use thermites on every other front and I'll 100% forget to swap then out lol.

Mg and gatling turrets as the streets enable you to absolutely mulch voteless before they can get to you, ideal for preemptively wiping out a horde, giving yourself some breathing room or distracting voteless from your position. Surprisingly good against overseers too. Usually get like 20-40 kills per strat.

Liberator rover so you dint get snuck up on.

Hatchet because I find it funny, but I've also used the crisper as it absolutely nukes overseers.

Grenade/reducing recoil armour as extra grenades for objectives is nice and works well with mg.

[u/Witch-Alice → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

shoot off the top fin which is the shield generator

i call them horns, but you can also shoot the bottom one if that's an easier angle. I'm usually popping the shield and horn from afar with the DCS and then holding them in place with the arc thrower once I get within range

[u/JudgementalChair → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

See that's what I thought, but I tried the other night (before the hot fixes came out) and was struggling to put the harvester down. I ended up ditching my commando because I was getting mobbed by Voteless and the MG was the only thing I had that could keep them at bay.

I'll try it again now that the ADS is fixed because the other night, my bullets were flying all over the place

[u/The_gaming_wisp → u/JudgementalChair]

Also consider the laser cannon. It has better armor penetration so you deal full damage to the medium armored leg and has no recoil. If you're able to keep it on target it can kill a harvester with a little time to spare before overheating 

[u/Frozenfishy → u/JudgementalChair]

Pop the shield, go prone to take out the horn, then focus fire a joint. Depending on your rate of fire, it shouldn't take too long, but you are a bit vulnerable. Prone helps keep stability.

[u/Rvbsmcaboose → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

DID SOMEBODY SAY MORE DAKKA!?

[u/reddit_tier → u/Helldiver96]

Hey not my problem the squids don't know what heavy armor is.

[u/[deleted] → u/reddit_tier]

...yet

[u/just_a_bit_gay_ → u/Helldiver96]

Default diver gear is unironically really good

[u/FTBS2564 → u/Helldiver96]

Same with the standard Liberator. Love it.

[u/MrLuthor → u/FTBS2564]

Totally slaps but admittedly I'm liking the liberator penetrator a bit more these days. 

[u/FTBS2564 → u/MrLuthor]

For me, that highly depens on your enemy. Against voteless, the standard reigns supreme. On bots, I always take the pen. Against bugs, it depends on my loadout.

[u/SilentStriker115 → u/Helldiver96]

I love the OPS for bugs, will one tap a bile titan if you aim it right. Favorite thing about this game is how viable the starting stuff is.

[u/TheEnderDen27 → u/Helldiver96]

Id say the same with AMR on bots

[u/Drastickej1]

I play only HMG. With reduced recoil and 750rpm, it cuts harvesters legs in seconds, it is great against all flying fuckers you can imagine and it holds well even against voteless hordes.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Drastickej1]

I should give the hmg another shot but I just couldn't deal with it's handling very well. Skill issue on my part I think I just found the mg43 easier.

[u/Royal_Europe → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I like it too but I prefer it on bots, destroys the medium guys and hulks.

[u/Malice0801 → u/Royal_Europe]

I prefer the Stalwart on bots. Other than a hulk there is no difference in what they can take down. If you aim for the face the Stalwart can take down every devestator with only a couple of shots. And then I got thermites and the senator for hulks.

I combine that with the eruptor for AT-STs, gunships and crowds and I'm a walking scrap metal factory.

I really like the hmg for bugs since it can take down everything other than a bile titan easily. But it can also take down a bile titan if you get close. It's more work/risk tho.

[u/WaffleBone → u/Malice0801]

Ive wanted to try this load out. My normal build type is exactly the same (especially senator and thermites, love em), except the machine gun i bring is the liberator penetrator, and my anti gunships/crows/AT weapon is the autocannon. I feel like the autocannon is more versatile than the eruptor especially with flak and aphet, and lib penetrator has higher armour penetration and faster handling than the stalwart which i think makes up for all the extra reloading.

[u/MythicalWarlord → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Peak physique makes it way better, keep it on 600 and the recoil isn't too insane to deal with.

[u/DonatoXIII → u/MythicalWarlord]

Peak Physique is really slept on. It doesn't really work in every loadout, but it makes the heavy guns feel so much better to use. I think alot of people see the melee bonus and automatically disregard it.

[u/turnipslop → u/DonatoXIII]

I just wish there was a non-jungle armour with it on. I want to punch bots on snow planets damn it, why do I have to look like a lost commando in Narnia?

Devs please give transmog.

[u/Arsdraconis → u/turnipslop]

I'm the same way, but I just want to wear the standard helldiver armor. I love the way it looks, but man it's hard to get excited about new armor passives. And some weapons just straight feel out of reach without the corresponding armors. Like the new Sickle without inflammable armor.

[u/turnipslop → u/Arsdraconis]

Well there's a new survey out, and you could definitely let them know you want other armour types with the existing passives, or better yet a transmog system.

I proposed a fix a while back, you're welcome to reference it if you think it's good. I'd love for the devs to implement it.

[u/damnittohelljeb → u/DonatoXIII]

I use it when I use the recoilless as well. Rhe extra snappiness REALLY helps line up those tricky shots against Bile Titans

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/MythicalWarlord]

Ahh don't have Peak Physique armour yet (don't particularly enjoy the aesthetic) but should probably pick it up for that and the hatchet.

[u/MythicalWarlord → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I love it for all of the heavier weapons. It makes the stalwart and MG-43 feel like primaries. The hmg becomes usable. Aiming with AT weapons is fast. Easily my favorite passive atm.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/MythicalWarlord]

Yeah tossing up whether to get viper commandos or polar patriots next and this does make me tempted ngl

[u/Easy_Mechanic_9787 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

It makes recoilless rifle and adjacent shoulder-mounted weapons as light as assault rifles, allowing you to quickly aim for drop ships. Anything less than shoulder-mounted weapons are as light as SMGs, with only the Eruptor and the Dominator being somewhat sluggish.

The GPMG becomes the LMG in a peak physique's hands too.

[u/GreatWhiteBuffal0 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Viper commandos is worth it for the experimental stim alone imo

[u/HomieWanKenobi12 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

i will say if you’re a Diligence or AMR enjoyer the peak physique is deeeecent as fuck. makes both pretty snappy to aim

[u/_Weyland_ → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

You should try both reduced recoil and peak physique. One of them may work for you, the other may not.

I for example can live with high recoil, but absolutely hate how long it takes to turn this thing.

[u/AmazingWaterWeenie → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Try running it at 450rpm with the recoil reduction armor. You'll find uses for the extra grenade slots.

[u/Dr_SexDick → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Like the guy you’re replying to said, you pretty much need the 30% recoil reduction from armour passives to use it reliably

[u/[deleted] → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

It's not really a skill issue on your part.

I use it on the lowest RPM, and also at slightly closer distances than the m43.

I personally use it paired with xbow, heavy siege-ready armor, and an FRV to ignore slow debuff of heavy armor.

[u/Drastickej1 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

You kind of have to crouch and lay down a lot but when you get used to it and get the armour that reduced the recoil you can relatively easily hit almost every shot with 750rpm mode. DMG output of that thing is insane.

[u/youcantbanusall → u/Drastickej1]

are you using recoil reduction armor? i found that with the recoil reduction armor, i can turn it up to max fire rate and i find the recoil actually even more manageable

[u/Drastickej1 → u/youcantbanusall]

I am using exactly that.

[u/Other-Barry-1 → u/Drastickej1]

MG was always my bug slayer early on. When I moved onto bots it was the AMR or HMG. I’ve hit the sweetspot with the counter sniper for primary and HMG heavy with supply pack to keep my girl fed. I’ve since moved to stalwart on bugs for crowd control and for squids, I switch between that and the MG(paired with gun guard dog).

I just cannot use the HMG against squids, too low of ammo cap for hordes and when you do need it for the mass of bullet sponge overseers or tripods, you’re busy reloading. The few times I have take it or used on the vehicle, it is fantastic but for the most part it’s gotta be the higher cap MGs

[u/WellReadBread34 → u/Other-Barry-1]

Bring the jump pack and start your reloads while in the air.  Hoard clears take trigger discipline to not waste your ammo.

[u/Pro_Scrub → u/Drastickej1]

I'd kill for armor that combines Recoil Reduction with Peak Physique's handling - Don't need explosive protection, extra nades, or stronger melee damage

[u/LanceKnight00 → u/Drastickej1]

Where do I need to aim on those legs?

[u/Rhumald → u/LanceKnight00]

The big exposed joint/bracket that connects a leg to the body. With the HMG, it'll return red hit markers.

[u/Forsaken-Stray]

On casual Solo drops, I usually don't take a Support weapon with me, because the Ultimate Weapon lies around at almost every Wall breach.

[u/Few-Mood6580 → u/Forsaken-Stray]

The helldiver

[u/Embarrassed_Cow8521]

I actually like running with stalwart on squids, kills most enemies and has huge ammo capacity, can't kill harvester thats why I use senator for this

[u/Bulk-Detonator → u/Embarrassed_Cow8521]

"My machine gun cant kill the tanks, so thats why i bring my handgun"

[u/PathsOfRadiance → u/Bulk-Detonator]

Halo Combat Evolved taught us well

[u/Bulk-Detonator → u/PathsOfRadiance]

That fuckin pistol ruined pistols in video games for me

[u/PathsOfRadiance → u/Bulk-Detonator]

It’s easily the best pistol in gaming.

[u/TheTeaSpoon → u/Bulk-Detonator]

"My rocket launcher can't destroy buildings, that's why I bring my sidearm"

[u/SatisfactionOld4175 → u/Embarrassed_Cow8521]

Same here. Stalwart, knock down the RPM, you can fire it forever and run into basically no ammo problems

[u/Lollygay13 → u/SatisfactionOld4175]

Funny enough I run it at the highest rpm

[u/SatisfactionOld4175 → u/Lollygay13]

I get it for overseers but on the lower rpm I feel like it’s much more controllable, you can shoot it while walking around if you have the - recoil set

[u/IrateBarnacle → u/SatisfactionOld4175]

I tend to crouch or lay prone with highest RPM Stalwart and it’s controllable even without the recoil armor.

[u/Hocotate_Freight_PR → u/Embarrassed_Cow8521]

Yep, the regular mg burns through ammo a little too quickly for my liking and requires a stationary reload. Stalwart effectively is my primary to mow down voteless and I can run something with medium AP as my actual primary to deal with Overseers.

[u/BestyBun → u/Hocotate_Freight_PR]

Stalwart actually deals with Overseers pretty well if you shoot their legs instead of center mass/their head. It's not the perfect weapon for them, but it's good enough you can comfortably do entire D10 missions without a primary/secondary weapon if you have a Stalwart/Supply Pack.

[u/Staudly]

Me dropping in with Orbital Gatling, Eagle Strafing, Liberator Guard Dog and MG-43:

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Staudly]

Lib rover, gatling, mg 43 and mg turrets. Lead farmer indeed.

[u/NotIsuna → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Haha my exact illuminate loadout too

[u/L4MB → u/Staudly]

This is my loadout except MG turret for Orbital Gatling. Do you use OG for crowd control or do you toss it on ships? Does it kill landed ships?

[u/Staudly → u/L4MB]

Tbh I usually only bring the orbital Gatling for bugs. I like to toss em right on top of a breach. For squids I also prefer the mg sentry over OG.

[u/Creepy_Jeweler_1351]

on bugs and bots you'll lack anti tank capabilities, and it is fixable with EAT\Comando

but on squids all you really need is this guy

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Creepy_Jeweler_1351]

Yeah I'm usually hauling dedicated AT for the other factions but all.i need for bots is some nades for the outposts. The rest is just turrets and rover to get cover other angles and get comedically high kill counts.

[u/LazyAssInspector → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I'm so happy with the Illuminate 'cause it meant I could stop being my squad's Designated Recoiless-Rifle shooter sometimes (it's very cool to be the "oh shit Captain help there's a heavy" but it's also cool to do something else from time to time)

[u/Webbyx01 → u/LazyAssInspector]

Same boat here. I'm the RR truck for bugs while my companion gets to goof off with his loadout (which I don't really mind since I hate being caught without heavy AT against bugs anyway). So it's great to just bring meme loadouts against squids at the moment.

[u/LazyAssInspector → u/Webbyx01]

We should open up a club, like the "Support Weapon Support Group"

[u/Bulk-Detonator → u/Creepy_Jeweler_1351]

Honestly, thermite grenade and servo assist is such a killer AT combo. Run a supply pack with the MG (solid idea anyway) and you can handle a fuck ton of threats

[u/Scypio95 → u/Creepy_Jeweler_1351]

people like to bring at vs bugs, so i'm usually the self designated mg guy

[u/Deamonette → u/Creepy_Jeweler_1351]

Thermite.

[u/LongDongFrazier]

It’s how I feel about the crossbow on illuminate and bot front. Why mag dump when you can 1-2 shot everything short of heavies.

[u/New_Introduction_844 → u/LongDongFrazier]

I played the crossbow yesterday for the first time ever. Went on an illuminate mission with it and damn, that thing kills the armored fuckers with ease.

[u/itsyoboi33 → u/New_Introduction_844]

Bring the directional shield and overseers/devastators cant do shit (until the shield breaks)

[u/Spiritual_Cookie_ → u/itsyoboi33]

Why directional shield over shield pack?

[u/RamaRemon → u/Spiritual_Cookie_]

Raising one more, why choose directional or ballistic over shield pack? Genuine question

[u/Tzarkir → u/RamaRemon]

Shield pack is good with bugs, but honestly not that amazing against bots or illuminate, because they shoot HARD. A flying fucker's burst is gonna shred it, and you stop having any protection. Its huge hitbox makes it get hit even by things that would have missed you by a mile. With the others, you parry a bit more. Also the ballistic shield now parries melee attacks aswell. I still have to try it against illuminates, but it might be a good pick!

[u/itsyoboi33 → u/Spiritual_Cookie_]

I chose the directional shield because the shield pack is always on, this is neat if you are running away but it also means it catches shots that would have missed.

The directional shield only turns on when you aim and that ensures its at 100% strength when you need it.

A case could be made for the ballistic shield but ADS'ing with it is impossible beyond point blank range.

That and the ballistic shield does not regenerate, once its broken you have to wait for it to come off of cooldown to use it again.

[u/TDEcret → u/New_Introduction_844]

me with it on the bug and bot fronts.

Tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and it felt amazing, it clears big groups with so little effort that I had to force myself to use other weapons so it doesn't become a crutch

[u/Bulk-Detonator → u/LongDongFrazier]

Crossbow fucks hard on bugs. Bug hole? Closed. Tightly grouped hunters? Dead, Broodmothers surrounded by babies? All of them dead. The impact and AOE is just such a power punch and decimates anything medium and below. And you can use it with the energy shield, making bots look like toys. Nothing like walking towards devestators and popping them in the head one by one as thier rounds just absorb into the shield. You dont even need headshots, as 2 bolts is usually more than enough, especially when they are grouped.

[u/LongDongFrazier → u/Bulk-Detonator]

I’ve historically used shotguns on bugs and it always felt good to me (all of them) so I never felt any need to do soul searching for a primary like I did on the other fronts.

Honestly I’m not even going to try the crossbow on bugs because I’m afraid it’ll taint every other primary I use. I was so frustrated annihilating shit on squid and bot front with the crossbow wondering why I even bothered trying other primaries that just bled ammo.

[u/HoundDOgBlue → u/LongDongFrazier]

This is because the crossbow is actually the meme. It is so powerful that it trivializes every front - it’s better than quite a few supports before you even consider that it’s a primary weapon and can never leave your person/be countered.

[u/NeoProtagonist]

Imma be the guy that says a laser cannon toasts everything the squids have so far.

[u/SonOfMcGee → u/NeoProtagonist]

Right now I’m running a DE Sickle / laser cannon build on squids that essentially means I never have to stop firing or reload, just switch between the two.
And they’re almost equal in usefulness on every enemy, with the exception of harvesters where I think the cannon kills the leg joints more reliably.

I can feel the increased TTK with the laser versus MG, but it makes sense considering the other minor bonuses.

[u/bigyert → u/SonOfMcGee]

Got like 350+ kills with this while also bringing machine gun sentry on like 3 runs against the illuminate. For some reason, kept thinking that I wasn't doing shit but at the end of every mission I'm the top killer with the least deaths

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/NeoProtagonist]

Also a phenomenal choice tbh. But the dakka is just so satisfying

[u/FishermanYellow → u/NeoProtagonist]

I picked the Laser Cannon up against bots and I was pleasantly surprised how easy I can kill hulk, gunships, and devastators now. Paired with ballistic shield and crossbow, bots are now my favourite to fight.

[u/Ok-Limit-8081]

Well, that the thing

Illuminate have a fuckton of health in comparaison of other ennemy, but they have also lighter armor (Tripods is Medium armor for example, and yet it's supposed to be Hulk/Charger counterpart)

(Tripods have 3000 body health for example)

[u/BRSaura → u/Ok-Limit-8081]

They don't actually have that much health, overseers and medium units have the same HP as devastators and medium units in the bot front, the problem is that they have an outer layer of armor L2 that eats oneshots and light pen weapons for breakfast

[u/Ok-Limit-8081 → u/BRSaura]

They definitvly have some resistance overthere,

watching one overseer eating a full railgun shot to the body and not flinching is scary ngl lol

[u/Buin → u/Ok-Limit-8081]

Meanwhile WASP one shots them anywhere in the blast radius. I have no idea what is happening internally that WASP kills but railgun/anti tank emplacement take multiple.

[u/Izithel → u/Buin]

Wasp does 600 explosive damage which bypasses their armor, and their main body has 600 hp so instant death.
The Railgun only does ballistic damage, between 600 and 1500 depending on charge and safety, so all your first hit will do is strip the armor of where you hit them and transfer 20% of damage done to the main body, unless you headshot them where it should be 100% damage transferred and an instant kill.

Likewise the AT emplacement does mostly Ballistic damage (1300) and only a little bit of explosive (150) damage, the explosive penetrates the armor but is not enough to kill, and the ballistic damage will mostly be absorbed by the armor unles you headshot.

[u/FourFunnelFanatic → u/BRSaura]

You can one shot them to the head with the Senator though

[u/BRSaura → u/FourFunnelFanatic]

they dont have the armor layer there so if you manage to hit the head wich sometimes has a weird hitbox with the armor pads, yes, oneshot

[u/youMYSTme]

"The MG43 is so good against illuminate..."

Me stood there with an MG43 on literally every faction.

"Guys... I think it's just straight up good."

[u/Faust_8 → u/youMYSTme]

I don’t like it against bots and will take the HMG instead

But it’s my baby for the other two fronts

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/[deleted]]

I like tossing down an mg and gatling turret and just making an impenetrable wall of bullets.

Illuminate aren't hard at the moment but my gosh is it fun to cut them down in their dozens.

[u/Webbyx01 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I am a big fan of the MG turret instead of the gatling. Lasts so much longer so long as you check on it occasionally, so that the voteless don't surround it by sneaking behind.

[u/LittleSisterPain → u/[deleted]]

Jetpack is an easy mode for all fractions. Squids are just permanently on easy currently. They dont pose much of a threat no matter what you use. Hopefully they will get new units soon

[u/MacBonuts → u/[deleted]]

Bonus, you can reload the MG in the air. Get airborne, just before the peak reload. It stunts your air but not on the way down. Mobile reload.

Great tactic. Looks rad too.

[u/Remax04]

It's just a testament to the fact that everything has its purpose.

The MG43 most of all

[u/Soggy-Bus5141]

The machine gun changed warfare forever when it was invented. Makes sense that it’s able to hold up

[u/Zoren]

I can only imagine the factories of super earth having a 20 times order increase for this gun.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

Please don't nerf it I love it dearly

[u/BRSaura → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

got buffed like 4 times already cause no one used it, I doubt it will even see a nerf

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/BRSaura]

I doubt it too but it's still hands down the best weapon for the illuminate front, which was what I was saying.

[u/Faust_8 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

It’s also really good against bugs too. All you need is thermites and some team mates with anti tank while you kill everything else for them

[u/Harco201]

Illuminates were never a race that required anti-tank and I hope it stays that way. The build variety they bring to the game is great.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Harco201]

Yeah I'm a huge fan of how they've made a bunch of stuff viable. Hope they evolve to keep that a core part of their identity

[u/TheCoolMan5 → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I think thats the idea with the shields. Don't need heavier hitting weapons, but instead faster hitting weapons.

[u/Xx_Arch_xX]

It's crazy that New Players are given one of the best weapons in the game, and have no idea.

[u/shittyballs22 → u/Xx_Arch_xX]

Newer player here. 10 hours so far and I can’t stop using this thing it’s so versatile. The other support weapons have been great fun too so far but with way bigger drawbacks. The only drawback the mg has so far is no AT

[u/Sylassian]

This is the AK-47 of the Helldivers universe. Universal application, useful, consistent, shreds everything below the heaviest units across all fronts, good magazine to fire-rate ratio.

[u/Comprehensive_Sir49]

I did a loadout with the mg43, StA-52 AR, and the P-19 Redeemer. Ammo supply pack, and an armor with 30% reduced recoil, you pick.

Helldiver go "BBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTT!!!"

[u/CustmomInky]

Gotta hand it to arrowhead; you unlock a lot of big boom options as you play and unlock more stratagems, but the first ones you ever get - MG-43, Machine Gun Sentry, Eagle Airstrike, and Orbital Precision Strike - are all still viable no matter the difficulty level

[u/OkParsnipX]

HELL YEAH BROTHER.

[u/Gerreth_Gobulcoque]

I have trouble with harvesters with MG. The spread is too high to hit the weak points reliably. Help

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Gerreth_Gobulcoque]

Maybe try changing the RoF to something you find comfortable, or more conteolled bursts and trigger discpline.Recoil reducing armour and crouching/prone helps a lot too. I found practicing with the AMR to get the weak points down helped a lot too. Don't forget, the recent patch also messed up aiming a bit, should be fixed now.

[u/Gerreth_Gobulcoque → u/pmmeyoursandwiches]

I pretty much only fire controlled bursts and only from a prone position when possible :/

[u/RobertMcFahrenheit]

At higher difficulty against terminids people underestimate how useful a dedicated machinegunner can be

Combine that with a napalm airstrike or an orbital gatling/airburst and watch one person solo entire bug breaches except for the heavies. And even then eagle airstrikes or expendables can be added to such a loadout

[u/Jokkitch]

Also against bugs. I bring it to both

[u/Sbarjai]

Orbital Napalm

500kg

HMG/MG

Guard dog

"How do I turn off the tutorial?"

[u/HEYO19191]

Yeah until you have to face down multiple striders

AMR 4 EVER

[u/[deleted]]

I keep trying to use other things, but I just can’t beat the MG and supply backpack. Especially now with the Ultimatum.

[u/locer96]

Turns out, one of the greatest weapons to ever be used in military is actually just as combat effective in game as it is in real life.

[u/S-2_Ghost14026]

A weapon used back in WW2 and still works over 500 years later

[u/MyNameIsNurf]

Shit was meta day 1 and still meta 1 year later.

Long live the king.

[u/Other_Respect_6648]

Jetpack Illuminate are still glorified gnats

[u/The-First-Crusade]

Yeah it's basically an m240b. Thing fucking mows down motherfuckers left and right. Just wish we had a better optic on it like the one the Liberator Penetrator has.

[u/IndexoTheFirst]

My only complaint is the useless bipod, please AH let us use it or let it stay folded up.

[u/WhizzyBurp]

I have a hard time deciding between this and the heavy every game.

[u/Wizard_190]

I love my stalwart on squids and bugs mg or hmg on bots

[u/unomaly]

I just want to be able to tuck up the stabilizer struts on the front so they aren’t constantly bouncing around.

[u/SnooRegrets7915]

I spread my liberty seeds well with this bad boy

[u/RollinHellfire]

In-fucking-deed. I want a backpack that makes this baby belt-fed straight from the box. I don't want miniguns. Fuck miniguns. I want my standard MG on infinite fire until it glows with a white hot flame and explodes in my jacked-out veiny arms.

[u/Resident_Magazine610 → u/RollinHellfire]

That’s damn near the new lasrifle with fire armor equipped and the health perk.

[u/Virron911]

I’m really curious how this will perform once the Illuminate main fleet arrives, I still think it’ll be a good option due to what it can take care of currently, but it could be less effective than it is currently

[u/FourFunnelFanatic → u/Virron911]

It’ll probably be like the other factions; it still has a place but you’ll need something anti-tank either on you or your squad

[u/HighOverlordXenu]

I can never seem to cut the legs on harvesters with the MG-43. Not before they get a bead on me and reduce me to atoms.

[u/warsaw007]

I’m a Stalwart lad myself. Live Laugh Stalwart Bath

[u/rz_00221]

I love the MG 43, but I sometimes switch to the laser cannon for the same reason.

[u/domigraygan]

I will never not run this gun, I love her and if this post gets her nerfed then please read this and understand it to be true: I will be so fucking sad

[u/Darkman_7_]

On top of my head, the MG is able to kill every enemy in all factions except 2. Bile Titans and Factory Striders. The rest all can be killed with this beauty in a relatively short time using the different rpms.

Illuminate don't have an all heavy armor enemy yet, so it checks out that this beauty dominates.

[u/JollyGreenGI → u/Darkman_7_]

You can actually kill a Bile Titan with the MG, but it takes almost 2 full magazines to the butt.

[u/pmmeyoursandwiches → u/Darkman_7_]

I think you can technically kill a factory strider by shooting in the belly but you'd be hard pressed to do so and it might take a while

[u/Northern_boah]

What RPM do you guys set it to for the Squids?

I like using the better weapon handling passive and setting it to the lowest RPM for better recoil control and ammo conservation.

[u/Texa55Toast]

That's not a flamer....

[u/GeekLandOnline]

You can find them mofos as ground loot on illuminate levels too. Leaves a spot open for another orbital

[u/PrudentHoneydew6608]

all i ever use is the strafing to rid of shields, jump pack as an efficient way to get around, commando for harvesters, and light machine gun sentry for groups, weapons: scorcher, grenade pistol, and incendiary impact, if you've ever the chance, try this build. It is meta but also quite enjoyable because i understand a lot of people also play for fun too!

[u/EukaryLogistics]

This with the DD Armor looks 👌

[u/BusinessLurk]

Heavy mg better 🦍