The latest Major Order in Helldivers 2 has put the Helldivers into a skirmish against the scheming Automatons. Players must step in to prevent the bots from taking control of the mining areas on the Mintoria planet and exploiting its tech for their own advancement.
So, before facing such a formidable enemy, Helldivers need to carefully pick weapons that can handle both small units and heavily armored machines. These five are some of the best for dealing with Automatons. Let’s dive into each one.
1. PLAS-101 Purifier (Primary)
The Purifier is a deadly weapon against most Automaton units. Its charged shots can kill multiple clumped Troopers and pierce through Devastator armor. If not killed, it can stagger them and even expose Heavy Devastators.
On top of that, the weapon can also stagger Berserkers to allow follow-up shots, while Tanks, Hulks, and Cannon Turrets can have their weak points destroyed with consecutive charged shots.
Even the gunships are not safe from this weapon, as just two charged hits on the thrusters can bring them down easily. Overall, the Purifier combines raw damage with precision targeting, making it highly effective against both small and heavily armored enemies.
2. SG-8P Punisher Plasma (Primary)
The Punisher Plasma is a great choice because of its excellent crowd control and the ability to stagger enemies. Its high stagger value can even lock down groups of Devastators, Berserkers, or Scout Striders from a distance, potentially saving teammates from danger.
Besides the stagger, its large AoE shots can wipe out patrols of Troopers, including MG Raiders, in just a few shots. Even against fixed emplacements, it is also effective, often taking out multiple enemies at once.
However, the weapon requires a little bit of team coordination and high skill. One thing to note is that against Jet Brigade units, their mobility can allow them to enter the weapon’s AoE radius.
3. RS-422 Railgun (Support)
The Railgun is going to be your best friend when taking out enemies from a long range, even against high-value targets. Enemies like Scout Striders and Reinforced Scout Striders can be killed with a single Safe shot to key components.
Bigger enemies like Berserkers and Devastators are also vulnerable to Safe shots, allowing players to eliminate enemies with precision. As for the Gunships, they can be taken down by targeting thrusters with 40% charged Unsafe shots, while the fuselage requires two fully charged Unsafe shots.
Even collateral damage is possible if the enemies are lined up perfectly (don’t rely on it), maximizing effectiveness. Overall, the Railgun’s precision and safe shots make it ideal for taking out high-threat Automatons before they can close in on your team.
4. FAF-14 Spear (Support)
Don’t be fooled by its name; it’s not anywhere near as weak as the melee weapons. In fact, the Spear is the ultimate anti-armor missile launcher. Each missile delivers 4,000 damage and has the highest armor penetration of any anti-tank weapon.
While it requires players to lock onto the target with the targeting system, once locked, it can take out most of the large enemies, including Scout Striders, Fabricators, Bulk Fabricators, and Dropships, with 1 or 2 shots, with a maximum range of 300 meters.
Learning how the lock-on system works is essential to maximizing its impact. Overall, the Spear excels at destroying heavily armored units and clustered targets, allowing Helldivers to clear the battlefield safely from a distance. Perfect for high-value targets, it’s a must-have in any Automaton engagement.
5. P-4 Senator (Secondary)
In the chaos of Helldivers 2‘s battles, having a reliable secondary weapon is a must. It helps out in a pinch situation and can be the difference between life and death. That’s where The Senator comes in.
Don’t go for its look. With its high-damage revolver rounds and heavy armor penetration, it can kill small enemies in a single shot and can even dispatch medium-sized foes with one or two headshots.
While it has only six rounds per cylinder, its ammo efficiency ensures unspent rounds aren’t wasted. Additionally, it can also stagger medium targets and even take down Hulks with three shots to the eye (its weak point).
With it being a one-handed weapon, it brings a variety of potential uses. It can be equipped alongside shields or other items. Overall, the Senator complements your primary and support weapons perfectly, offering reliable close-range stopping power when needed.
What is your go-to weapon against Automaton? Did any of them make the list? Comment below to let us know.
