Helldivers 2 Best Weapons Tier List? We got new Helldivers 2 Weapon Balances? What are the best Helldivers 2 Primary Weapons or best guns in Helldivers 2 after update 01.000.300? Helldivers 2 received one of the biggest updates to date so far. Cue in the new April 29 Helldivers 2, 01.000.300 update which promised some bug fixes, and balancing changes. The patch notes in themselves are incredibly long, and they’ve sparked tons of controversy in the community. So, let’s delve into the Best Gun or Primary Weapon Tier List for Helldivers 2, for the millionth time…
With a few unwarranted weapons nerfs along with some welcome buffs to Helldivers 2 guns, things seem to be fairly decent in that department. But things do seem a get sketchy when you delve into the balancing and enemy spawn rate changes at different difficulties, especially if you crawl your way into Helldive missions as a solo player. But this time around, we’re going to be looking at the Best Guns in Helldivers 2 with our updated Helldivers 2 weapon Tier List, post-Patch 01.000.300.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Tier List: Primary Weapons or Best Guns Changes in Helldivers 2 (Updated)
With so many weapon and balance updates added into the mix, the state of primary weapons and guns in Helldivers 2 has never stayed the same. In this updated Best Guns or Primary Weapons Tier List, we’ll focus on the main changes made to these weapons, how they feel, and what sort of efficacy they produce when going up against either Automaton or Terminid enemies.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Best Weapon Tier List Changes: AR23 Liberator Weapon Changes — GOD TIER — S-Tier
The AR23 Liberator is the first weapon every Helldiver receives as a tool to dispense democracy across the galaxy. It did a great job as a starter weapon as you moved up to the beefier and better energy and marksman options, but it’s been given some love this time. The damage on the AR23 Liberator has been increased from 55 to 60 which is one of the best things they could do for this weapon.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: Damage Buff On The AR23 Liberator Feels UNREAL
That’s not to say that the AR23 Liberator was a bad weapon to begin with. It was good, and It’s so much better now! If you’re going up against medium-armored enemies, you can still chew through them, despite the light-penetration factor on this weapon. For some reason, the recoil on this weapon seems to be nonexistent this time around, and it’s seriously punching above its weight if I’m being very honest. With Supreme accuracy, no recoil, and great against both Automaton and Terminid factions, the AR23 Liberator is back in action.
Still, you’re going to have trouble with larger enemy types like Heavy Devastators, Rocket Devastators and Chargers–which is entirely understandable. Yet, I can’t seem to look beyond the fact that just a bump in 5 points of damage buffed this weapon so hard, that it’s capable of making a serious comeback. I could be biased, but let me know what you guys think in the comments below.
Helldivers 2 Best Weapon: AR23 Liberator Pros
- Increased damage
- Excellent accuracy
- Low recoil
- Versatile against factions
AR23 Liberator Cons
- Weak against heavy armor
Helldivers 2 Best Weapons : Diligence Counter Sniper Rifle Weapon Changes — It’s WORTH IT — S-Tier
The Diligence Counter Sniper Rifle has been the go-to Marksman Sniper Rifle in Helldivers 2 ever since the game came out. And it gets a huge buff this time. The damage on this bad boy has been increased from the previous 128 DMG hit points to a staggering 140 units. With improved ergonomics, weapon sway is all the more fluid, allowing you to snap between targets with ease. It’s a quick-scoping marksman rifle now, with loads of potential in the longer-range sight lines.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes THE Diligence Counter Sniper Rifle Is Snappy, OP, And Goated
Line up your shots on an Automaton enemy like a Devastator, and one headshot can literally obliterate it. Snap onto the next target due to the fluid weapon sway–rinse and repeat. It’s all the more fun now for those sniper enthusiasts in Helldivers 2. The same goes for Medium-armored Terminid enemies as well. Anything lesser than a Charger or Bile Titan for that matter.
Diligence Counter Sniper Rifle Best Weapon Pros
- Massive damage increase
- Improved handling (less sway)
- Fast target acquisition
- Devastating against medium armor
Diligence Counter Sniper Rifle Cons
- Ineffective against heavy units
- Requires precision aiming
Helldivers 2 BR14 Adjudicator Weapon Changes — OP AF NOW! — S-Tier
The BR14 Adjudicator was a decent weapon from the get-go. It was introduced in the Democratic Detonation War Bond, and it gets some massive buffs that I’ve seriously enjoyed. The BR14 Adjudicator is now a Full-Auto weapon by default
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes The BR-14 Adjudicator Enjoys A Magazine Bump
The cherry on top is that the Helldivers 2 devs decided to give this little puppy reduced recoil. Adding to the buffs, we also get a bump in the magazine department. The BR-14 Adjudicator now holds 8 mags, in contrast to the previous 6 magazines. When you run out, call in a resupply, and you get back to square one with ammo full to the brim.
The BR14 Adjudicator didn’t get a lot of love as it was overshadowed by the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow as well as the Eruptor. But with these changes, it seems that this Assault Rifle is going to be used much more frequently, owing to the latest update.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: Don’t Go Full-Auto Inside With The BR-14 Adjudicator
Previously categorized as a Marksman Rifle, the BR14 Adjudicator was shelved as players went with the good old Diligence Counter Sniper Rifle. But now, it’s been categorized as a Full-Auto Assault Rifle, with the highest base damage amongst all AR’s.
After trying it out for a fair bit, the Full-Auto capabilities paired with its medium-penetration factor is worth the salt, when you’re decimating Automatons and Terminids. Though, the only problem that’s annoyed me is that it only holds 25 rounds. But since the BR-14 Adjudicator’s gotten some justice, I think it’s best to stop pinging the devs for more. Though 40 rounds would be a sweet spot, but that’s just me.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: A Few Gripes With The New BR-14 Adjudicator — Scope Inaccuracy
And here’s where the ranting starts. With only 25 rounds in the chamber, you’re forced to reload all the time when you go full-auto. But players can also choose to go single-fire as well, considering it’s a full-auto AR and Marksman Rifle tied into one.
Another pet peeve I’ve discovered is that the bullets tend to not hit the mark, making your shots a bit inaccurate. The scope is a big no-no when it comes to ranged sight lines. But otherwise, the BR-14 Adjudicator has been done justice by the Helldivers 2 devs at Arrow Head Games Studios.
BR14 Adjudicator Pros
- Full-auto capability
- Increased damage output
- Larger magazine
- Reduced recoil
- Versatile against factions
BR14 Adjudicator Cons
- Small magazine capacity
- Inaccurate at long range (with scope)
- Encourages full-auto overuse (ammo drain)
JAR 5 Dominator Weapon Changes — Nothing’s Really Changed For The Worst — A-Tier
According to the latest Helldivers 2 Update 01.000.300, the JAR-5 Dominator has technically been nerfed. The JAR-5 Dominator enjoyed a tasty damage output of 300 which has now been reduced to 275. But what about in practicality? That’s where the in-game tests come in since Helldivers 2 has been notorious for misrepresenting damage and armor values since launch.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: JAR 5 Dominator Damage Nerf Doesn’t Seem To Add Up
The JAR-5 Dominator performs as well as it did before the update and nerf. It still has a kick to it and does decent damage when going up against Automation enemies. That’s not to say that the JAR-5 Dominator doesn’t dominate Terminid enemies as well. Where the JAR-5 Dominator truly shines is in the Medium-Penetration Armor department.
It can still shred through any medium-armor enemy, as well as those juicy but tiny weak points on the Factory Striders, such as the knees–giving them spaghetti legs. The JAR-5, despite the nerf, can still chew through Devastators and practically one-shot any small fry Automaton bot or Terminid bug. For the most part, the JAR-5 Dominator feels exactly the same as it did before the post-nerf update. Wrapping things up, the JAR-5 Dominator is still one of the best guns or primary weapons in Helldivers 2.
JAR 5 Dominator Pros
- Damage nerf negligible
- Still retains high damage
- Excellent against medium armor
- Effective against multiple targets
JAR 5 Dominator Cons
- Potential stat misrepresentation
SG-8 Plasma Punisher Weapon Changes — Balanced — A-Tier
The SG-8 Plasma Punisher was one of the better energy-based weapons in Helldivers 2, but it’s received a few nerfs with the latest update. The Magazine size of the SG-8 Punisher has been significantly reduced from the previous 12 to 8 mags.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The SG-8 Plasma Punisher Gets A Mag Drop With A Mag Resupply Increase
Similar to the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow, you get a bump in resupply mags from 6-8 which is somewhat beneficial. The devs stated that the projectile speed of the Plasma Punisher has been improved while keeping the range pretty much the same. That means that we’ll get a reduced damage fall-off as compared to prior updates, which is pretty neat if you ask me.
The SG-8 Plasma Punisher Still Has Insane Stagger Potential
The stagger potential on the SG-8 Punisher Plasma still sticks around. It has the best staggering effect out of any primary weapon in Helldivers 2. I mean, you could literally stun-lock a Devastator right about as it’s readying up to fire its rockets. A drop in the magazine size was somewhat of an annoying balance update.
Yet the increased projectile speed, paired with the already impeccable staggering potential of this weapon, still puts it up there with some of the best guns or primary weapons in Helldivers 2.
But the stagger or stun-lock potential of this weapon does have a few caveats when you’re going up against larger-than-life enemies. While you’re going to be fine going up against smaller Terminid enemies, Brood Commanders, Stalkers, and Hunters. It doesn’t really fare all that well when it comes to staggering larger enemies like Factory Striders, Bile Titans, and Chargers. But when it comes to Automatons, the SG-8 Punisher Plasma just really kicks the nuts and bolts out of those bots.
It’s also pretty effective if you’re looking to take out Scout Striders, too. Since Scout Striders have received a buff in explosive damage resistance, staggering them and following up with some good old lead would be quite the beneficial route to approach.
If you’re looking for an OP Crowd Control weapon to hold off choke points and give your teammates some breathing room, the SG-8 Punisher Plasma is certainly worth the salt after the Helldivers 2 Update 01.000.300.
SG-8 Plasma Punisher Pros
- Reduced damage falloff
- Excellent stagger potential
- Effective against crowds and Automatons
- Useful for holding choke points
SG-8 Plasma Punisher Cons
- Reduced magazine size
- Less effective against large enemies
Helldivers 2 ARC 12 Blitzer Shotgun Weapon Changes — Now An Energy Weapon? A-Tier
The ARC 12 Blitzer Shotgun graced our screens when it first popped up in the Cutting Edge War Bond. And boy has this weapon been buffed this time around. Previously categorized as a shotgun, the ARC 12 Blitzer has been recategorized as an Energy Weapon with the latest update.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The ARC 12 Blitzer Enjoys An Increased Rate of Fire To 45 RPM
The rate of fire on the ARC 12 Blitzer in Helldivers 2 has been greatly improved. We’ve gone from 30 shots per minute to an extra 15 shots, adding up the total rounds per minute to 45. And this, indeed, makes a huge difference. While the ARC 12 Blitzer was never really designed to take out Automatons, it still does a banger job now.
While it lacks range, the ARC 12 Blitzer can pack a punch, provided you position yourself carefully against Automaton enemies. The high rate of fire is where it truly shines now, especially when it comes to Berserkers who wield those crazy chainsaws. A few shots from the ARC 12 Blitzer stun-locks Berserkers, and then you’re pretty much free to shred them to smithereens.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The ARC 12 Blitzer Is A Terminid Control Freak
Now the Terminids is where the ARC 12 Blitzer really shines. You can expect to solo dive at Level 7 with the ARC 12 Blitzer. Despite the updated increased patrol spawn rate, you can go up against Brood Commanders, Gatherers, Stalkers, Hunters, and everything under the Sun.
The fact that the Arc or Lightning on this weapon links up with enemies allows you to take out multiple Terminids at the same time. Just make sure you don’t get stun-locked by an enemy. Otherwise, you’re in for a heap of trouble, considering the ARC 12 requires you to stay up close and personal with enemy factions.
While it does great for a plethora of Terminid enemies, the ARC 12 Blitzer is not designed to take out larger and stronger Terminid units like Chargers or Bile Titans. You’re better off saving your ammo and going for a solid Support Weapon or Stratagem.
ARC 12 Blitzer Pros
- Reclassified as an energy weapon (benefits from perks)
- Significantly increased fire rate
- Effective crowd control against Terminids
- Powerful stagger potential
ARC 12 Blitzer Cons
- Short range
- Ineffective against large enemies
- Requires close-quarters positioning (risky against Automatons)
Helldivers 2 Las 16 Sickle Weapon Changes – Where’s My Heat Sinks??? — B-Tier
With the Las 16 Sickle, the devs decreased the number of magazines from 6 to a whopping 3 mags. While that has sparked some community outrage, the Las 16 Sickle still works as intended. It’s an auto-rifle that feels and fires like a solid auto-rifle. Where it really shines is in the accuracy department and just does great when it comes to mowing down enemies. But you’ll have to be pretty careful about ammo management now.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The LAS 16 Sickle Magazine Nerf From 6 to 3 Doesn’t Seem All That Bad
The devs are taking the fun out and putting players on their toes, encouraging them to put an emphasis on strategy. While the mags or heat sinks have been reduced, you still get unlimited amounts of ammo, provided you keep the overheating aspect of the weapon in mind. Personally,
I’ve only reloaded this weapon once or twice and kept it under cool-down while switching to the Redeemer sidearm. So, as long as you don’t let the Las-16 Sickle overheat, you’ll still be good to go. It’s still a great crowd-control weapon and still works well with a Redeemer along with some well-needed support Stratagems added into the mix.
LAS 16 Pros
- Still offers unlimited ammo (with heat management)
- Excellent accuracy
- Great crowd control potential
- Pairs well with the Redeemer sidearm
LAS 16 Cons
- Halved magazine capacity (heat sinks)
- Requires careful heat management
- Encourages over-reliance on the weapon
Helldivers 2 R63 Diligence Marksman Rifle Weapon Changes — B-Tier
One of the worst Marksman Rifle in Helldivers 2 has to be the R63 Diligence Sniper Rifle. The base damage on this rifle has been upped to 125. Surprisingly, the R63 Diligence now feels like a better overall weapon when going up against Automaton units. For example, the new R63 Diligence is capable of two-shooting Devastators in head. While it’s still not as good as the Counter Diligence Sniper Rifle, it’s still capable of holding up on its own, thanks to the increased ammo count.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The R63 Diligence Marksman Is Better But Not Quite Good
But when it comes to the Terminid enemy faction, the R63 Diligence still struggles as the light-armor penetration factor just doesn’t give it the kick that it needs, despite the capability of firing off shots rapidly. It’s annoying when Terminids put their arms up to protect their heads-those damn sentient bugs. All-in-all, the Regular R63 Diligence is somewhat better compared to what it used to be. It’s viable when going up against Automatons now, but there are still better options out there.
R63 Diligence Marksman Rifle Pros
- Increased damage output
- Larger ammo capacity
- More effective against Automatons
R63 Diligence Marksman Rifle Cons
- Still struggles against Terminids
- Outperformed by other marksman rifles
- Requires precise headshots
Helldivers 2 AR23 Liberator Concussive Weapon Changes — It’s Just Fine Now — B-Tier
The AR23 Liberator Concussive is a primary assault rifle or weapon which we all started off with. Without a doubt, I found it to be one of the best-starting weapons to use in Helldivers 2. And it gets some well-needed buffs.
The damage on this weapon has been increased from 55 to 65, and it does feel like it does more damage when going up against automatons. The staggering potential of this weapon is still insane, allowing you to stop enemies in their tracks. While the damage numbers on this weapon aren’t all that crazy, the 10 magazines that you get allow you to get some extra ammo without needing to always resupply or rely on ammo crates.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The AR23 Concussive Is Still Ineffective Against Terminids
The AR23 Liberator now seems like a viable option when going up against Automaton enemies but what about the Terminids? Well, let’s just say it still blows them back like it used to. It still doesn’t fare well at killing Terminids. It just pushes them back… If you’re planning to use it, Solo, it’s definitely not worth it, but if you’re packed together with the boys, then the Liberator concussive could give you some pushback on Terminid hordes while your friends do all the killing for you.
AR23 Liberator Concussive Pros
- Increased damage output
- Excellent stagger potential
- Large magazine capacity
AR23 Liberator Concussive Cons
- Ineffective against Terminids
- Better in group settings
- Not ideal for solo missions
Helldivers 2 R36 Eruptor Changes — Did It Need A Nerf? C-Tier
The Helldivers 2 community has a few mixed feelings about this weapon’s changes because the R36 Eruptor was basically the best weapon in the game. Owing to its huge magazine size of 12, it never seemed to run out of ammo.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: Insane Magazine Drop on the R36 Eruptor Has the Helldivers 2 Community Enraged
These Helldivers 2 weapon changes have not been welcome at all. the R36 Eruptor’s magazine size has been dropped from 12 to 6. Personally, I think this weapon did deserve a Nerf, despite what the naysayers have to say. You’d always find an ammo crate or get a few extra mags from a resupply, but the R36 Eruptor does feel like a challenging, yet balanced weapon now.
Still, it’s not a negative update or the end of the world. You’re just forced to play it on the safe side of things and rethink your strategies instead of going haywire pre-update 01.000.300. In addition, the explosive damage fall-off has been increased but in testing, it seems that it’s barely noticeable. But when you go up against the likes of Scout Striders, you’ll definitely notice a bit of a difference. Previously, you could one-shot a Scout Strider with the R36 Eruptor, but it now takes more than 3 shots, or less, depending upon the angle.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The R-36 Eruptor is Ricochet-Killing Helldivers!
Something that’s really bothering the community right now is how the R36 Eruptor’s bullets ricochet off of heavy armor, and it can be bothersome. Imagine that you’re emptying your magazine into a heavy-armor enemy and out of nowhere, a ricochet bullet bevels your skull in and kills you right on the spot. Not something fun to experience.
Another problem players are facing is that the R36 Eruptor, being an explosive weapon, has the propensity to ricochet even shrapnel. The damage value is high enough that it can kill you or a fellow teammate. This is something that the devs addressed in their Official Discord, and we hope to see further weapon balances in the near future.
R36 Eruptor Pros
- Still powerful explosive rounds
- Decent damage against targets
- Balanced by ammo reduction
R36 Eruptor Cons
- Magazine size reduction is significant
- Damage falloff is more noticeable
- Dangerous ricochet potential (friendly fire)
Las 5 Scythe Changes — C-Tier
In terms of Helldivers 2 Weapon changes and updates, the Las 5 Scythe also got a buff in the damage department. The base damage on the Las 5 Scythe has been increased from 300 to 350, but things seem fishy when you check out the magazines. The magazine supply has been reduced from 6 to 4. Since the Las 5 Scythe works via Heat Sinks, akin to the Las 16 Sickle, you need to keep your eyes peeled for those overheating heat sinks. Keep them cool down, switch to a secondary, and save up those heat sinks. Unlimited ammo is still an option with this energy-based weapon
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: Las 5 Scythe Mag Nerf Is Fine, But It Overheats Faster???
The Nerf to the mag or heat sinks is pretty much unnoticeable if you’re conservative about the rate of fire on this energy weapon. But let’s move on to the damage department now. While it feels great chewing through Automatons and Terminids, I do have a bit of a gripe with this weapon. It feels like the Helldivers 2 devs did something sketchy since it seems to heat up faster than usual – or maybe it’s just me. In addition, if you’re going up against medium-armored enemies, expect to almost waste a heat sink’s worth of energy.
The best approach here would be to pair it with a decent secondary weapon such as the P-32 Redeemer, similar to the Las 16 Sickle. You can also go with the Senator if you’re keen on using it, considering, it does some crazy damage. Despite the upsides, the reduced number of heat sinks, being the real nerf, doesn’t seem to be the real problem. The Las-5 Scythe overheats really fast, so I’m not a big fan of it. It’s just mid at best as of now.
Las 5 Scythe Pros
- Increased damage output
- Unlimited ammo (with heat management)
- Effective against Automatons and Terminids
Las 5 Scythe Cons
- Reduced magazine capacity (heat sinks)
- Overheats extremely quickly
- Best paired with a secondary like the Senator
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes and Updates: CB-9 Exploding Crossbow — It’s Almost Garbage At This Point — F-Tier
The CB-9 Exploding Crossbow, as released as a part of the Democratic Detonation War Bond, has been subsequently nerfed following the latest update. I personally enjoyed the pre-update CB-09 Exploding Crossbow, owing to its capability of decimating small Terminid patrols with its high AOE.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: Smaller AOE, Smaller Magazine
But that’s where things have gotten a bit stale in terms of Helldivers 2 weapon changes. While the new CB-9 Exploding Crossbow has a smaller explosion radius, reducing the overall AOE, it tends to increase the stagger time of enemies. Other noticeable and unwelcome changes include the reduction of the number of magazines from 12 to just 8. I mean why? But on the flip side, if you call in a resupply, you can get an additional 2 magazines from the former 6 magazines. TL;DR, the resupply magazine size has been increased from 6 to 8.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: The CB-9 Exploding Crossbow Feels Weird Now
Despite stats and damage values, every weapon or gun in Helldivers 2 has a feel to it, and It’s sad to say that the CB-9 exploding combo has changed for the worst. I’ve noticed a bit of sluggish weapon sway with a bump in the muzzle velocity department. The CB-9 Exploding Crossbow wasn’t the best gun in Helldivers 2, and it deserved a well-needed buff. Instead, it got a nerf which ruins the fun of this newer explosive primary weapon.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: How Does The CB-9 Exploding Crossbow Fare Against Enemies? Pretty Useless
Putting ergonomics and stats aside, how does it fare against enemies now? Not so well. No one was particularly using the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow except for a few users I ran into, just for the fun of it. You tend to run out of ammo faster than usual, as you have five shots before you need to reload.
Medium-armored enemies like Devastators need to take a direct hit of those five shots for the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow to be effective, and at times, more than just that. The Stagger effect does indeed work on medium-armored enemies like the Devastators, but then again, the trade-off in the damage and ammo department can’t seem to make up for the staggering potential, Don’t you guys agree?
Automaton Devastators put aside, what about larger and tankier enemies like Hulks, Chargers, or Tanks? Well, the CB-9 becomes absolutely useless in this case.
The reduced explosion radius has seemingly reduced the viability of the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow. Before the update, this explosive weapon was effective at taking out smaller groups of Automatons and Terminids right as they spawned. Now, with a smaller splash damage and smaller AOE, there’s not much left to be said.
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes; The Only Beneficial Buffs to the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow
A smaller magazine, lower splash damage, and the need to recall multiple resupplies just don’t cut it for me anymore. In addition, Scout Striders have been buffed to receive lesser amounts of explosive damage, which makes the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow basically redundant at this point.
There are a few upsides to the new, yet nerfed CB-9 Exploding Crossbow and it’s the bump in muzzle velocity paired with the longer range of the weapon. Previously, the CB-9’s explosive bolts fell off at 30m, but now they can hit targets much more effectively at distances of up to 80 meters. These Helldivers 2 weapon changes are for the better, but overall, the exploding crossbow just doesn’t seem worth the salt anymore.
CB-9 Exploding Crossbow Pros
- Increased projectile range
- Slightly increased muzzle velocity
CB-9 Exploding Crossbow Cons
- Reduced magazine capacity
- Smaller explosion radius (less AOE)
- Less effective against medium armor
- Useless against heavy units
- Feels sluggish to use
Helldivers 2 Weapon Changes: Updated Helldivers 2 Best Guns and Primary Weapons Tier List — Summarized
That pretty much wraps up everything you need to know about the updated Helldivers 2 weapon changeswhich have switched up my personal Helldivers 2 Best Gun Tier List. Stay tuned for more updates, guides, news, and more on Esports Eclipse. Make sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
