Helldivers 2 Best Stratagems: Mission Picks

Stratagems are orbital, Eagle, defensive, and mission assets called in during a deployment. A useful loadout begins with the mission objective, the enemy faction, and the tools already covered by the squad. An anti-armor tool matters when heavy targets are expected, while a crowd-control or area-denial tool matters when a breach, flank, or defended position can overwhelm the team. A Stratagem that is excellent against one faction or objective can be a poor fit for another, so select a role before selecting a name.

Build the squad around complementary jobs instead of identical strike packages. The core roles are a response to armored threats, a way to manage groups or deny an area, and enough support to keep the team moving. A support weapon can handle armor while an Orbital, Eagle, or sentry keeps lighter enemies away from the objective. If a teammate already carries a particular heavy answer, use another slot to cover ammunition, protection, a firing lane, or a different threat rather than duplicating it by habit.

Orbital Precision Strike is a direct answer for bug holes, tough targets, and situations where a precise explosive matters more than broad coverage. Eagle Airstrike lays explosions across a wider patch of ground, which suits scattered enemies or a dense group. Orbital Laser concentrates damage on a threatened area and works especially well when enemies have been held in place. These tools solve different shapes of problem, so pick the one that matches the target area instead of treating them as interchangeable damage buttons.

Expendable Anti-Tank gives the squad a direct explosive option for armored enemies, and its call-in can leave another launcher available to share. Recoilless Rifle provides repeated anti-armor shots with a supply backpack and can be assisted by a teammate when the group needs sustained fire. Quasar Cannon trades ammunition for a charge and recharge cycle, rewarding a player who waits for a clear shot on armor or structures. Railgun, Spear, and Orbital Railcannon Strike are also specialized answers, but each works best when you understand its charge, lock-on, or availability constraint before the target arrives.

Autocannon is a versatile support weapon for both Terminids and Automatons because it can pressure armor and engage targets from range, though it uses a backpack. Anti-Materiel Rifle rewards long sightlines and accurate shots at weak points, particularly against Automatons and Illuminate, but close Terminid pressure makes that style harder to use. Grenade Launcher is useful for bug holes, groups of Automatons, and some armored enemies, while Stalwart is built to keep light-armored enemies under control without giving up mobility. Arc Thrower can strike multiple targets from range, so it fills a different space from a single-target anti-armor weapon.

Orbital Gas Strike clouds an area, disrupts enemies moving through it, and helps cover an entrance or exposed flank. Orbital EMS Strike temporarily stops enemies, creating a window for the squad to focus fire or follow up with another Stratagem. Eagle Napalm Airstrike and Orbital Napalm Barrage are area-control choices that are especially useful for holding back Terminids, covering a retreat, or responding to pressure around nests and breaches. Orbital Walking Barrage advances across a large enemy area, so it can soften or clear a base when the squad gives the bombardment room to move ahead safely.

Machine Gun Sentry and Gatling Sentry help hold back advancing groups, especially when they are positioned to cover a gap rather than fire through the squad. Mortar Sentry can reach enemies behind walls and help clear enemy sites, but it becomes dangerous when enemies are close to teammates. Autocannon Sentry, Rocket Sentry, and Anti-Tank Emplacement add heavier fire against armored threats and large targets. Tell the squad where each firing line is, keep teammates away from targets under rocket fire, and do not place a sentry where its strongest angle points through friendly movement.

Supply Pack gives a team additional ammunition when the shared Resupply is not enough for sustained fighting. Guard Dog Rover provides autonomous coverage around the player and helps keep smaller threats away while you move or charge another weapon. Shield Generator Pack gives extra protection in high-pressure situations, but using it changes which backpack-dependent support weapons fit the same loadout. Pick the backpack for the problem you expect to have: ammunition for a hungry team, close protection for mobile play, or a buffer against incoming pressure.

Against Terminids, fire and area-control tools help contain close-range pressure, while anti-armor remains important for their larger armored threats. Against Automatons, precision, range, and cover-aware support weapons become more valuable because targets can be engaged through specific weak points and long firing lanes. Against Illuminate, sustained damage and crowd control help manage groups, while long-range anti-armor tools answer their heavier units. The faction does not force one exact loadout, but it changes which role is most likely to be missing when the mission starts.

New Stratagems are unlocked from Ship Management on the Super Destroyer after meeting their requirements and spending Requisition Slips, while some are tied to Warbonds. Ship upgrades can reduce call-in or cooldown pressure and improve the tools you use most often. Do not spread a loadout across every possible job if it leaves no answer to the objective or the faction’s major threat. Balance updates can change how a Stratagem feels, so keep the role-based approach and replace a tool when another one better covers the mission you are about to play.