New threat briefing

Current guide

Helldivers 2 New Enemies: What to Expect

The newest Helldivers 2 enemies are the Illuminate Crusher and Wretch, added with the Devoid of Liberty 7.0.0 update on August 12, 2026. The Crusher can regenerate after taking heavy damage, while the agile Wretch can dodge and leap as it closes in. Keep a clear route, call the priority target, and bring a flexible loadout so the squad can react without abandoning the objective. Check the latest patch notes before changing an entire build for a new enemy.

Updated

August 17, 2026

Devoid of Liberty · New threats · Target priority

Deployment checklist

Adapt when a new enemy reaches the front

  • Check the latest patch notes before adjusting a build for a new enemy.
  • Identify whether it changes movement, armor response, or crowd control needs.
  • Ping the new priority threat as soon as it appears.
  • Keep an escape lane open while learning its behavior.
  • Change one build slot after repeated problems, not every slot at once.
  • Do not rebuild the whole squad after one difficult mission.
01

How to fight the Crusher and Wretch

Devoid of Liberty 7.0.0 added two mutated Illuminate enemies: the Crusher and the Wretch. The Crusher can take heavy damage and regenerate, so finish the engagement instead of leaving it half-cleared while the team turns away. The Wretch is fast, can dodge and leap toward players, and becomes much more dangerous once the squad is already crowded. Give both threats a callout early, keep a side lane open, and avoid letting the team collapse into one escape path.

02

Update target priority before changing every weapon

New enemies do not automatically make your entire build obsolete. First ask what changes in the fight: do you need more space, faster focused damage, a stronger armor plan, or a safer way to manage close pressure? Then adjust the first action your squad takes when that enemy appears. A clear priority call and a clean retreat lane often solve more than replacing every familiar weapon after one difficult mission.

03

Test one useful build change at a time

If a new unit repeatedly causes the same failure, replace the slot that directly addresses that failure. For example, a squad that cannot finish a regenerating priority target may need more sustained focused damage, while a squad trapped by agile close pressure may need better area control or safer movement. Keep the rest of the build stable long enough to learn whether the adjustment worked. One change produces usable feedback; a total rebuild does not.

04

Prepare for the whole mission, not one enemy

New enemies can arrive alongside new regions, modifiers, or mission pressure. Devoid of Liberty paired its new Illuminate threats with the Void frontier and a SEAF support modifier, so a squad can face more than one fresh variable at once. Split the jobs: one player answers heavy targets, another protects space, and the team keeps tools for objectives and extraction. A new enemy should refine your plan instead of deleting every role that already works.

05

Keep one flexible slot in the squad

Leave one weapon or Stratagem slot free to cover the problem your usual squad does not solve well. When a new threat changes the pressure, move that slot toward armor response, crowd control, mobility, or objective support instead of replacing every familiar tool. Try the adjustment over several missions and keep the rest of the squad roles stable. That makes it easier to tell whether the new slot actually helped the team finish the objective.