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Stratagemsare the strongest tools a Helldiver can have to survive the waves of undemocratic enemies inHelldivers 2. Since it takes time to unlock these powerful abilities, and the resource cost can be a little hefty at times, you’ll want to make sure that you aren’t wasting your time or precious requisition points by unlocking a Stratagem that’s only conditionally good — or just flat out underwhelming.
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With that in mind, here are the Stratagems you should be unlocking early on (at level 10 and below). These Stratagems are able to save your skin in a pinch, clear almostevery kind of enemy(even in higher difficulties), and help you complete your mission objectives with little worry.
Eagle: Strafing Run
Up, Right, Right
Call in time
Cooldown time
15 seconds
Unlock Conditions
Level 2, 1500 Req
The Eagle Strafing Run is cheap to unlock, and you get access to it immediately at level 1.Even in higher difficulties, you’ll need a Stratagem that’s fast and can clear out hordes of weak enemies, and the Strafing performs admirably in this job. To get the most use out of it, you’ll also need to get enemies into a straight line so you can remove all of them with little effort.
Eagle Stratagems have multiple charges. Once all Eagle Stratagems have their charges used up, they go on cooldown for a short time while the Eagle rearms, and they will return with all charges again.
Eagle: Airstrike
Up, Right, Down, Right
Level 2, 4000 Req
Strafing Run would be a more popular option if Airstrike wasn’t so good. While Strafing Run is only useful for taking out small enemies, Airstrike canwound the toughest armored enemieswhile also clearing out smaller foes. Against bugs,airstrike clears all the small bugs and can kill Chargers. Against bots,the airstrike will clear up any density of the weaker bots while wounding the larger bots.
Additionally, the Eagle Airstrike helps destroy objectives, something the strafing run struggles with at times. If you need to stop an illegal broadcast, destroy mushroom trees, close nests, or handle jamming towers, the Eagle Airstrike can also handle these problems.
Once you’ve used all three charges of the Airstrike, it’ll also come back fairly quickly. If you want all of your Eagle Stratagems back sooner, you can use theRearm Eagle Stratagem.
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Supply Pack
Down, Left, Down, Up, Up, Down
480 seconds
Level 3, 4000 Req
The Supply Pack is an underrated Stratagem for how powerful it is.It can reload all of your ammo and your Stratagem guns by using it on yourself,and you can reload your teammates' Stratagem backpacks like the one that comes with the Recoilless Rifle. If you plan on running around by yourself, this can also be used as surplus ammo for your larger heavy weapons like the Grenade Launcher.
If you plan on solo-ing high difficulty missions, the Supply Pack becomes even more useful since you’ll rely more heavily on your Stratagem gun, and it can be difficult to find time to call down a Supply Pod when you’re running away from a ravenous mob of undemocratic monsters.
Expendable Anti-Tank (EAT)
Up, Up, Left, Up, Right
70 seconds
Level 3, 3000 Req
There are three main options for good anti-tank: Recoilless Rifle, Railgun, and the Expendable Anti-Tank (EAT).The Expendable Anti-Tank is amazing if you want to be more self-sufficient against bugs.1 EAT shot to a Charger’s leg will destroy its leg armor, giving you the opportunity to gun it down with just your main weapons. While it may struggle tokill a Bile Titanby itself, the EAT can still deal a good chunk of damage to it.
But one of the best parts to this Stratagem is itslow cooldown time. 70 seconds means you can equip an EAT at the beginning of the mission, find a target, shoot it, then call down another round of EATs. It’s an effective way to deal with tanky enemies if you don’t want to deal with the Recoilless Rifle’s reload — or if you’re not high enough level for the Railgun.
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Recoilless Rifle
Down, Left, Right, Right, Left
Level 5, 6000 Req
Despite its long reload time,the Recoilless Rifle is still one of the best anti-tank weapons you may ask for.If you have a partner reloading you, it’s easy to transform into a drop-ship shooting monster, or aBile Titan slayer. However, if you don’t have a partner reloading you, you can still periodically pop up and fire shots at targets that need to be dealt with. After that, you’ll have to find a break in the endless tide of enemies to reload this weapon for the next big fight.
Against Terminids, this is an effective strategy to handle Chargers, andagainst Automatons, this is adecent strategy against Tankswhere you can shoot, reload in cover where the tank can’t hit you, then shoot again.
Grenade Launcher
Down, Left, Down, Up, Left, Down, Down
480 Seconds
At low difficulties, the Grenade Launcher is a great way to clear out small enemies, but at higher difficulties,the Grenade Launcher both clears small enemies and closes nests and Bot bunkers from a safe distance.This utility is useful in almostevery kind of difficulty, which is also what makes it so useful to unlock early. If you combine this weapon with a Supply Pack, you can have more grenades to shoot without the need to resupply.
Make sure you’re careful when firing this gun at armor. The grenades can bounce off and explode on you or nearby Helldivers. Instead, whenever you bring a Grenade Launcher with you, pair it with a Stratagem that can deal with armored enemies well like the Orbital Precision Strike or Orbital Laser.
Guard Dog Rover
Down, Left, Down, Up, Left, Down, Down*
Level 10, 7500 Req
Guard Dog Rover is a backpack item that summons a drone armed with a laser to fly around you.It’s amazing at murdering small enemies when you’re busy with an objective, or when you’re just trying to run away from a horde without getting ripped apart limb from limb.Against tougher foes, the laser does a wonderful job of softening them up, so you’re able to tear through them faster with your primary weapon.
Be aware that it’ll also anger patrols that are walking past you, but as long as you clear all of the enemies before they can summon a breach/Dropship, then you’ll still be okay.
It’s a must-take early on when you’re not fighting too many armored enemies and when you’re not super confident in clearing patrols before they call for help. In later levels, the Guard Dog Rover will get outshone by other backpack options that fit into your team’s strategy better. If you plan on doing some low-level missions solo, this is a fantastic Stratagem to take with you.
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