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The Illuminate in Helldivers 2 are a challenging adversary, renowned for their advanced technology and precision-based tactics. As you engage with their light infantry, be prepared for their elite units to approach from both the ground and the air, making it essential to select loadouts that not only exploit their vulnerabilities but also shield you from their potent tech.
To effectively combat the Illuminate, it's crucial to strike a balance with your weaponry and stratagems. You need to handle both the swarms of lesser units and the more formidable armored or heavy foes. Neglecting either will render your loadout less effective against the full might of the Illuminate.
In this guide, we'll explore the most effective loadouts and strategies tailored for battling the Illuminate. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, these tips will enhance your combat prowess against this formidable, squid-like faction. Let's prepare and 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 stand out as some of the top primary weapons in Helldivers 2. These weapons are incredibly effective against Overseers, including the jet-pack-equipped Elevated units, and also work well against the Voteless. The Siege-Ready armor passive enhances their effectiveness by providing more ammunition and faster reloads, ensuring you can tackle multiple priority targets efficiently.
The combination of the Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol is perfect for taking out parked warp ships. Energy-based weapons struggle to deplete their shields, but a single Strafing Run can destroy the shields of multiple grounded warp ships in a line. You can then use the Grenade Pistol to shoot into their open bay doors, causing them to explode. This tactic is especially useful when clearing out medium or heavy Illuminate nests, where you may need to destroy several warp ships. While the G-13 Incendiary Impact can also be used in the open bay doors, it's more effective against lighter enemies, so save them for when you're using the Grenade Pistol.
The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" is surprisingly effective against medium-armored Overseers. Each burst can take down a single elite unit, making it an excellent choice for protecting your flanks in Helldivers 2.
The A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry is ideal for securing areas during objective defense. If crowd control isn't your primary concern, you can opt for an Orbital Laser to target Harvesters or other heavy units that may be introduced in future updates.
Finally, the LAS-98 Laser Cannon rounds out this loadout perfectly for fighting the Illuminate. It can melt Overseers and chaff within seconds and is highly effective against Harvesters. Use a Strafing Run to deplete their shields, then aim for the Harvesters' weak points (thighs/eyes) with the Laser Cannon. A single clip is sufficient with accurate aim. The Laser Cannon's long range allows you to engage targets from a distance, making it an ideal weapon against the Illuminate.
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 ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower are perfect for dealing with both the melee and ranged units of the Illuminate. They effortlessly clear out chaff, but the Arc Thrower has a unique advantage in rendering Overseers nearly useless. Its lightning arcs chain and stagger, stunning Overseers momentarily. Continuous attacks from a distance can keep Elevated Overseers permanently stunned mid-air.
The Arc Thrower can also take down unshielded Harvesters, requiring around a dozen hits. Each hit causes a moderate stun effect, which accumulates over time.
The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower is highly effective against all types of Illuminate enemies, particularly flying Overseers. It provides consistent crowd control and disrupts enemy formations, making it easier to handle large waves. Combined with the Arc Thrower, you can lock down entire areas with multiple chained lightning attacks. Focus the Arc Thrower on priority targets to prevent them from reaching your Tesla Tower.
Harvesters prioritize attacking 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 you have a teammate who can handle this task.
For dealing with heavy units, the Orbital Railcannon Strike is invaluable due to its unlimited uses. The Orbital Laser is also 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 loadout is one of the most potent 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 arguably the most versatile support weapon against the Illuminate, making it a top choice for this loadout. It efficiently shreds light and medium enemies, as well as Harvesters. Compared to the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun, the standard version offers better handling and faster infantry dispatch.
This weapon is a true all-rounder against the Illuminate, balancing power and reliability. Pair it with the Engineering Kit to reduce recoil or the Peak Physique armor passive to minimize drag, which helps in targeting flying Overseers or Watchers.
The high fire rate of the Machine Gun is also effective in depleting shields, eliminating the need for the Eagle Strafing Run to take out grounded warp ships. Instead, opt for turret sentries like the A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry or A/G-16 Gatling Sentry to manage large crowds or defend objectives.
The Machine Gun's stationary reload animation is a drawback, but the LIFT-850 Jump Pack helps you quickly reposition to safety. It's also useful for navigating the new urban maps.
While the Machine Gun can easily take down Harvesters by targeting their weak spots, it's wise to include an Orbital stratagem in your build for dealing with multiple heavy units. The Orbital Laser can handle two to three shielded Harvesters simultaneously, while the Railcannon Strike is effective against unshielded targets.
For the primary weapon in this loadout, you can choose any from the Armory. If you prefer sticking with the theme of sustained firepower, the new StA-52 Assault Rifle is an excellent choice. Introduced in the Helldivers 2 x Killzone 2 crossover, it features a large drum magazine and delivers sustained fire with light-armor-penetrating capabilities, matching the damage output of the standard Liberator.
