Helldivers 2 has issued a Major Order that seems to be strongly hinting at the return of Illuminate units from the original game. High Command wants Helldivers liberating planets containing ancient Illuminate structures that predate the First Galactic War, and the community knows exactly what that means.
Dataminer IronS1ghts has leaked Zealots, Ghouls, Illusionists, and other void-powered cultists in game files for months. Now Arrowhead drops an order about archaeological sites with spacetime disruptions and underground extensions? The timing feels deliberate, especially with Liberty Day approaching October 26th.
Whether these ancient ruins will actually unleash the leaked cultist units remains to be seen, but the community is reading between every line of this suspiciously ominous briefing.
Are Helldivers 2′s Own Illuminate Cultist Units Finally Coming Home to Roost?
The latest Major Order briefing specifically mentions these archaeological sites showing “anomalous phenomena” including spacetime disruptions similar to the Meridian Singularity. That’s probably Arrowhead speak for “void magic portals are about to open and spew corrupted horrors at you.”
IronS1ghts’ leaked footage showed Zealot cultists opening lightning-spewing gates that summon Ghoul swarms. And it goes without mention that these aren’t your standard Illuminate forces. They are full-fledged religious fanatics wielding void energy to corrupt, convert, and overwhelm through sheer numbers rather than precision tactics.
The desperation is understandable. The original Helldivers featured Illusionists who could reverse player controls and summon entire armies. These cultist units represent psychological horror on top of tactical challenge, which, in other words, is exactly the kind of nightmare fuel that’d make fighting squids genuinely unsettling compared to bugs or bots.
It’s hard not to sympathize when you’ve been waiting since launch for proper cultist action. The briefing’s mention of Illuminate’s “disinformation campaigns” and “twisted versions of history” does sound suspiciously like a mind control setup. But whether that’s intentional foreshadowing or wishful thinking depends entirely on Arrowhead‘s plans.
Ministry Science Teams Are About to Make Things Much Worse
Here’s where the Major Order gets genuinely ominous. The dispatch goes on to mention that these ruins “may extend several meters into the ground,” with Ministry of Science archaeology teams beginning “careful excavations.” Does anyone remember the recent E-711 experiment document leak?
That’s right. The same Ministry that creates black holes and turns test subjects into mindless drones is now “carefully” excavating ancient squid sites with active spacetime anomalies. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course, the comparison to Warhammer 40K‘s Necrons isn’t accidental. The underground extensions discovered through ground-penetrating radar would be perfect for hiding religious zealots who’ve been sleeping beneath the surface for over a century:
That reply nails the community’s mix of dark humor and legitimate concern. If these archaeological sites contain dormant cultists, liberation missions might accidentally trigger awakening ceremonies. Whether that’s Arrowhead’s plan or just community speculation remains the million Super Credits question.
Do you think we’re getting Zealots and Ghouls by Liberty Day, or is the community reading too much into standard mission briefing flavor text? Drop your theories below!
