Helldivers 2: How to Use Equipment and Weapons More Effectively

A lot of players struggle in Helldivers 2 not because they lack damage, but because they use their tools at the wrong time or in the wrong way. The game rewards planning, positioning, and smart stratagem timing more than raw shooting skill. This guide focuses on practical ways to use weapons and equipment better, based on what usually goes wrong in real missions.

What should you think about before choosing a weapon?

The main thing is that your primary weapon is not meant to solve every problem. Many players pick a gun they like and then try to force it into every situation. That usually leads to ammo problems, slow clears, or being overwhelmed.

Instead, think in roles:

• Your primary handles basic enemies and medium threats.

• Your support weapon handles heavy armor or crowd control.

• Your stratagems cover emergencies, objective defense, or clearing waves.

If your primary is great at crowd clearing, then your support weapon should usually cover armor. If your primary is weak against groups but strong against medium enemies, then you need grenades or stratagems that clear swarms.

This mindset stops you from bringing four tools that all do the same job.

Why do you keep running out of ammo?

Ammo problems usually come from two habits: firing too early and firing too long.

In practice, many enemies don’t need to be killed immediately. If a patrol is far away and not alerted, you don’t need to dump half a magazine. Let them come closer, or avoid them completely. Shooting too early often creates longer fights, because you trigger reinforcements sooner.

The second problem is overcommitting to one target. Players often hold the trigger until an enemy dies, even when the enemy is armored or resistant. This wastes ammo and time.

A better approach is:

• Shoot until the enemy is staggered or slowed.

• Reposition.

• Swap to the correct tool for the job.

If you’re fighting a heavy target with your primary, you’re probably already losing the ammo battle.

When should you reload in Helldivers 2?

Reloading at the wrong time gets people killed more than most enemies do.

The key is to reload during movement, not during contact. A lot of players reload the moment the mag drops low, even while standing still in the open. That’s how you get swarmed or sniped.

A practical rule:

• If enemies are already in melee range, don’t reload unless you must.

• If you have space, reload while running toward cover.

• If you’re defending an objective, reload before the wave hits, not during it.

Also remember that panic reloads often cause wasted mags. If you reload constantly at half ammo, you’ll burn through supplies faster than you realize.

How do you use grenades effectively without wasting them?

Grenades are not just for damage. They’re for control.

Many players throw grenades only when they’re already surrounded. That works sometimes, but you get better value using grenades earlier to prevent a swarm from forming.

Good grenade situations:

• Choke points where enemies are funneled.

• Reinforcement calls (throw where the flare or bug call happens).

• Enemies clustered around objectives.

• Clearing nests or factories quickly.

Bad grenade situations:

• Single enemies.

• Open ground with enemies spread out.

• Targets that are armored enough to survive the blast.

If your grenade didn’t stop enemy pressure or clear an important threat, it probably wasn’t worth it.

How should you use support weapons without dying while calling them in?

Support weapons are powerful, but the call-in process is where many squads lose momentum.

A common mistake is calling in a support weapon right after landing, in the middle of an open area. That leads to chaos: enemies approach, you’re waiting for a drop, and your team starts scattering.

Instead, treat support weapons like a setup tool:

• Clear nearby patrols first.

• Choose a spot with cover and visibility.

• Call it in while the team is stable.

Also, don’t call your support weapon when your squad is already in trouble. If the situation is bad, you should stabilize first using airstrikes, sentries, or retreating. Then call in equipment.

Support weapons are strongest when you already have control, not when you’re losing it.

How do you deal with armored enemies more efficiently?

Armor is where many squads waste time. Players often keep shooting the toughest enemy because it feels urgent. Meanwhile, smaller enemies keep flanking and forcing reloads.

The best way to handle armor is to separate the fight:

1. Clear the smaller threats first, or at least create space.

2. Then focus armor with the correct weapon.

If you’re using anti-armor support weapons, aim for weak points rather than dumping shots into the thickest plating. In most missions, it’s faster to disable movement or break a critical part than to brute force full health.

Also, don’t underestimate teamwork. Two players shooting a weak point will usually outperform four players shooting random angles.

How do you use stratagems without accidentally killing teammates?

Friendly fire is part of Helldivers 2, but most teamkills are avoidable.

The main issue is that players throw stratagem beacons too close because they panic. They see enemies, throw the beacon at their feet, and then everyone has to run.

A safer habit is to throw stratagems ahead of your retreat path, not on top of your current position. That way you can fall back while the strike hits the enemies chasing you.

Another tip: always announce what you throw, even with quick voice or ping habits. In practice, squads survive much longer when people know whether an orbital strike is coming or just a resupply.

Also avoid calling large strikes near objectives that require interaction. Many missions are lost because someone wipes the console area or destroys mission-critical structures.

What equipment should you prioritize unlocking and purchasing?

Players often spend medals on gear that looks interesting, then realize later it doesn’t fit their mission style. Before buying, think about whether the item helps you solve common mission problems: ammo, armor, crowd control, or survivability.

If you’re looking at Helldivers 2 items to purchase, prioritize tools that improve consistency rather than niche tools that only shine in rare situations. Reliable equipment makes random squads easier to carry, and it reduces the number of situations where you feel helpless.

In general, the best early choices are things that either:

• help you survive mistakes,

• help you handle armor,

• or help you control crowds without relying on perfect aim.

This matters more than raw damage numbers.

How do you avoid wasting resupplies?

Resupplies are limited, and many teams fail because they treat them like personal loot.

Common mistakes include:

• calling resupply for one person,

• taking multiple boxes without checking others,

• or calling resupply too late, when everyone is empty.

A good habit is to call resupply when the team is stable and can defend the drop. If you call it during a retreat, you might never get to it.

Also, if you’re the one using a support weapon that eats ammo, you should be thinking about resupply timing more than everyone else. Heavy weapons can drain the team’s resources fast.

A simple rule: if you take more ammo than others, you should also be the one calling resupply.

How do you use sentries and defensive stratagems correctly?

Sentries are strong, but they punish bad placement.

Many players drop sentries directly next to the squad. That leads to friendly fire, blocked movement, and sentries getting destroyed quickly.

Better placement:

• behind your team, covering your retreat

• on high ground where it can see longer

• angled to cover a choke point instead of firing in every direction

Sentries are best when they shoot enemies before they reach you. If the sentry only starts firing once enemies are already on top of the squad, it’s too late.

Also remember that defensive stratagems are about buying time. You use them to hold objectives, reload, revive teammates, and reset the fight. If you place them randomly without a plan, they won’t save you.

What’s the best way to fight as a squad instead of four individuals?

Most missions fail because players spread out and fight separate battles.

A squad works best when everyone plays around the same rhythm:

• One player focuses on crowd control.

• One handles armor.

• One manages objectives and stratagem timing.

• One stays flexible, reviving and covering.

Even if your loadout is strong, you will struggle if you run ahead alone. Helldivers 2 punishes lone players because reinforcement calls stack, and one person can’t cover all angles.

If you want to improve fast, start doing one simple thing: stop shooting everything you see. Let your team choose fights, move together, and only engage when it benefits the mission.

Winning is mostly about keeping the situation controlled, not about killing the most enemies.

Practical advice: what should you do differently in your next mission?

If you want immediate improvement, focus on three habits:

• Don’t start fights you don’t need.

• Reload and call stratagems only when you have space.

• Use the right tool for the right enemy instead of forcing your primary weapon.

Most experienced players aren’t winning because they aim better. They win because they waste fewer resources, trigger fewer reinforcements, and keep the squad alive long enough to finish objectives.