Helldivers 2: All factions & how to defeat them

Stephanie Zucarelli
Helldivers 2 Automaton

To defend Super Earth’s interests, you’ll need to face two of Helldivers 2’s main factions. Here’s every unit from both the Terminids and Automatons, and how to defeat them fast.

Helldivers 2 invites players to fight against intergalactic enemies that have been spreading throughout the galaxy. To defend Super Earth, users have to work with their teams to defend vital outposts with the best loadout and Stratagems they can get.

But before adventuring to the deep end of the galaxy to exterminate these life forms, it’s better to know what you’re up against. From Chargers to Hulks, every enemy has a weakness that you can exploit to finish them off quickly and efficiently.

Here’s everything you need to know about Helldivers 2 enemy factions, and how to defeat them.

Helldivers 2: The Terminids explained

In Helldivers 2, you’ll face the Terminids (also known as “The Bugs”). The Terminids are huge insect-like aliens, that usually try to swarm players in great numbers. They specialize in melee attacks and can shoot corrosive bile to damage large groups.

Chargers in Helldivers 2
Chargers are formidable enemies in Helldivers 2.

The Terminids have 8 different types of units, and 3 of them will only show up in special missions. Here’s the full list of every Terminid you’ll meet in Helldivers 2:

Terminid unitMission difficultyHow to defeat
ScavengersMost Terminids missions.Use the Stalwart of Liberator Assault Rifle, Drop Eagle Strikes, Orbitals, or Sentry turrets.
WarriorFrom Trivial to Helldive missions.Attack with shotguns or armor-piercing weapons on their underbelly or head.
HunterFrom Medium to Helldive missions.Using explosives or rapid-firing weapons to avoid getting swarmed.
StalkerMost Terminids missions.Attack them from a distance with heavy weapons, or aim for the green underside.
Bile SpewerFrom Medium to Helldive missons.Use Smoke Grenades after they’ve camouflaged, and then hit them with high-damage weapons.
Bile TitanFroom Challenging to Helldive missions.Attack their yellow patches using explosives, Anti-Tank, and Shotguns.
ChargerFrom Medium to Helldive missions.Attack their yellow patches using explosives, Anti-Tank and Shotguns.
Brood CommanderMost Terminids missions.Eliminate first their swarm with Eagle strikes, Orbitals, or Sentry turrets, and then shoot its limbs.

Helldivers 2: The Automatons explained

In Helldivers 2, you’ll have to put a stop to the Automaton faction (also known as “Bots”), which are cyborgs that use technology similar to the Helldivers. They specialize in ranged attacks and are heavily armored, which means that you’ll need to use plenty of defensive Stratagems and Ballistic Shields.

Helldivers 2 Automaton
You’ll first face waves of Troopers, Raiders, and Marauders from the Automaton faction.

The Automatons have 10 different types of units, but the Dropship unit is only used to bring more Automatons to the field. Here’s the full list of every Automaton unit you’ll meet in Helldivers 2:

Automaton unitMission difficultyHow to defeat
TrooperMost Automaton missionsEquipped with machine guns, they are susceptible to explosives and headshots.
RaiderMost Automaton missionsEquipped with Rocket Launchers, they are susceptible to explosives and headshots.
MarauderMost Automaton missionsEquipped with cannons, they are susceptible to explosives and headshots.
CommissarFrom Trivial to Helldive missions.Use grenades or ranged weapons for headshots.
Scout StriderFrom Medium to Helldive missions.Focus on wiping their legs with armor-piercing weapons, and then eliminate the Automaton controlling it.
BerserkerFrom Medium to Helldive missions.Attack their heads and middle part using armor-piercing weapons or shotguns.
DevastatorFrom Trivial to Helldive missions.Attack their limbs to slow them down, and attack their heads with Shotguns, explosives, Eagle Cluster Bombs, or Autocannon.
HulkFrom Medium to Helldive missions.Focus on their back, using Orbital and Eagle Strikes along with the Autocannon to go through their armor.
TankFrom Medium to Helldive missions.Use Orbital 380MM HE Barrage, Eagle 500KG Bomb, Sentries, or Eagle Cluster Bombs to attack them.
DropshipFrom Trivial to Helldive missions.You can use Anti-Tank Stratagems, or Grenade Launchers to destroy them before they drop more units.

And that’s everything you need to know about Helldivers 2 factions and how to defeat them. If you want to know more about Arrowhead Game Studios, you can check our guides below:

Will Helldivers 2 have DLC? | How to fix ‘failed to join’ error in Helldivers 2 | Is Helldivers 2 on Steam Deck? | Is Helldivers 2 on Xbox Game Pass? | Is Helldivers 2 open world? | Is Helldivers 2 on PS4? | How to kill Scout Striders in Helldivers 2 | All Helldivers 2 Stratagem codes: Inputs & how to use

Related Topics

About The Author

Stephanie is a Games Writer at CharlieIntel. After graduating as a journalist, she started working as a tech writer for Infobae, Channel 9, and Rolling Stone. She's currently focused on covering Diablo 4, Baldur's Gate 3 and Fortnite, but can't resist anything related to The Sims 4 and Stardew Valley. You can contact her at [email protected].