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The Illuminate are a formidable enemy in Helldivers 2, known for their advanced technologies and abilities that overwhelm players with precision and sheer numbers. While you're busy taking down their light infantry, their elite units will close in from the ground and air. The key to victory lies in choosing loadouts and builds that exploit the Illuminate's weaknesses while protecting against their powerful tech.
To fight the Illuminate effectively, you need the right combination of weapons, support gear, and stratagems to counter their unique strengths. Balancing weapons and stratagems that handle both chaff and armored/heavy units is crucial. Ignoring either type will render your loadout ineffective against the full Illuminate horde.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best loadouts and builds tailored specifically for battling the Illuminate. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, these strategies will enhance your combat effectiveness against this new, squid-like faction. Let’s gear up and face the Illuminate head-on.
The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate
| Primary | Secondary | Grenade | Armor Passive | Stratagems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAS-1 Scorcher / PLAS-101 Purifier | GP-31 Grenade Pistol | G-13 Incendiary Impact | Siege-Ready | - 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 best primary weapons in Helldivers 2. They excel at melting Overseers, including jet-pack-using Elevated units, and are equally effective against the Voteless. The Siege-Ready armor passive provides additional ammunition and quick reloads, allowing you to tackle multiple priority enemies efficiently. The improved damage per second is crucial when every shot counts.
The Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol form a powerful combo for destroying parked warp ships. Energy-based weapons struggle to deplete their shields, but one Strafing Run can destroy the shields of every grounded warp ship in a straight line. Then, you can shoot a grenade into their open bay doors to cause an explosion. This combo is particularly effective when eliminating medium or heavy Illuminate nests with multiple warp ships. While the G-13 Incendiary Impact can also be used on the bay doors, it's more effective against chaff, so save it for those situations when 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 one of the best stratagems for protecting your flank against the Illuminate.
The A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry helps lock down areas when defending objectives. If thinning crowds of enemies isn't a priority, you can replace it with an Orbital Laser to target Harvesters or potential heavies that may be added in future updates.
Finally, the LAS-98 Laser Cannon completes this Illuminate loadout. It melts Overseers and chaff within seconds and is excellent against Harvesters. Use a Strafing Run to deplete their shields, then aim the Laser Cannon at the Harvesters' weak points (thighs/eyes). A single clip is enough if your aim is steady. The Laser Cannon's massive range allows you to pick off targets from afar, making it a true anti-squid weapon.
When playing on level 9 or 10 difficulty where multiple Harvesters are common, having an Orbital Laser becomes essential.
The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate
| Primary | Secondary | Grenade | Armor Passive | Stratagems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARC-12 Blitzer | GP-31 Grenade Pistol | G-13 Incendiary Impact | Electrical Conduit / Med-Kit | - 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 ideal for covering both fronts. Both weapons easily dispatch chaff, but the Arc Thrower has the added advantage of making Overseers nearly useless. Each lightning arc chains and staggers, stunning Overseers for a brief moment. Continuous attacks from a distance can keep Elevated Overseers permanently stunned in mid-air.
The Arc Thrower can also take down unshielded Harvesters, though it may take around a dozen hits. Each hit inflicts a moderate stun, which builds up over time.
The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower is highly effective against all Illuminate enemy types, especially flying Overseers. It offers 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. Target priority enemies with the Arc Thrower to prevent them from reaching your Tesla Tower.
Harvesters prioritize sentries, so avoid using your Tesla Tower or other sentry stratagems when engaging them.
The Eagle Strafing Run and 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 heavy units, the Orbital Railcannon Strike is excellent, offering unlimited uses. The Orbital Laser is effective against multiple Harvesters, but with only three uses, you'll need to rely on your teammates. Ensure you use a Strafing Run to disable their shields first. This build is one of the most powerful against the Illuminate, especially when coordinated with other players.
The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate
| Primary | Secondary | Grenade | Armor Passive | Stratagems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StA-52 Assault Rifle | GP-31 Grenade Pistol / CQC-19 Stun Lance | G-13 Incendiary Impact | Peak Physique / Engineering Kit | - 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 jack-of-all-trades 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, making it easier to target 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 disperse large crowds or defend objectives.
The Machine Gun's stationary reload animation is a drawback, but the LIFT-850 Jump Pack helps you quickly relocate to safety and navigate urban maps more effectively.
While the Machine Gun can easily defeat Harvesters by targeting their weak spots, having an Orbital stratagem in your build is beneficial for handling multiple heavies. The Orbital Laser can deal with two to three shielded Harvesters at once, while the Railcannon Strike is effective against unshielded targets.
For the primary weapon in this Illuminate build, choose from the Armory. If you prefer sticking with the bullet-storm theme, the StA-52 Assault Rifle is a great option. Featured in the Helldivers 2 x Killzone 2 crossover, it comes with a massive drum magazine for sustained, light-armor-penetrating fire, delivering the same damage as the standard Liberator.
