Helldivers 2: Best Loadouts for the Illuminate

Conquer the Illuminate in Helldivers 2: Three Top-Tier Loadouts

The Illuminate in Helldivers 2 present a significant challenge with their advanced technology and overwhelming numbers. This guide details three effective loadouts to counter their strengths and exploit their weaknesses, ensuring victory against this formidable foe. Each loadout balances crowd control with the ability to take down heavily armored units.

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• Laser Cannon Loadout: Superior Anti-Squid Power
• Lightning Loadout: Stunning and Staggering the Enemy
• Machine Gun Loadout: Unrelenting Firepower

The Core Strategy: Success against the Illuminate hinges on a balanced approach. You must effectively eliminate both their lighter units (chaff) and their heavily armored elites. Neglecting either will leave your strategy vulnerable.

The Laser Cannon Loadout: Superior Anti-Squid Power

The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier excel at eliminating Overseers, including airborne units, and are equally effective against lighter enemies. Siege-Ready enhances their effectiveness with increased ammo and faster reloads. The Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol combo efficiently destroys warp ships: the Strafing Run removes shields, and the grenade finishes them off. The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" provides excellent flanking defense against elite units. The A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry or Orbital Laser provides area denial or anti-heavy support, respectively. The LAS-98 Laser Cannon melts Overseers and Harvesters with ease, especially when targeting weak points after a Strafing Run. On higher difficulties (9 or 10), the Orbital Laser becomes essential for dealing with multiple Harvesters.

The Lightning Loadout: Stunning and Staggering the Enemy

This loadout utilizes the chain-lightning effects of the ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower for crowd control and stunning enemies. The Arc Thrower, in particular, renders Overseers nearly immobile. The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower provides consistent area denial, especially effective against groups of flying Overseers. The Eagle Strafing Run and Grenade Pistol again handle warp ships. The Orbital Railcannon Strike or Orbital Laser provides anti-heavy support. This loadout is exceptionally powerful when coordinated with teammates.

The Machine Gun Loadout: Unrelenting Firepower

The MG-43 Machine Gun is the star of this loadout, providing exceptional versatility against all enemy types. Its high fire rate effectively depletes shields, making the Eagle Strafing Run less crucial for warp ship destruction. The LIFT-850 Jump Pack enhances mobility, especially during reloads. Choose between the Engineering Kit or Peak Physique armor passive depending on your preference. Turret sentries provide area control or objective defense. The Orbital Railcannon Strike or Orbital Laser again serves as anti-heavy support. The StA-52 Assault Rifle provides sustained firepower.

These three loadouts offer diverse strategies for tackling the Illuminate threat. Experiment and find the one that best suits your playstyle and team composition. Remember, coordination is key to success against this challenging enemy faction.