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

Automaton Hulks, Devastators and Gunships are less lethal, and Helldivers now take 50 percent less extra headshot damage.

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.

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