By Mark Davis The AR-2 Coyote has quickly become the go-to weapon for many Helldivers 2 players against every front. With its versatility and powerful performance, it has earned a reputation as the rifle that finally feels “just right” in the chaos of the galactic war.
However, this dominance made players worried that it would get the nerfs (especially when Arrowhead “unleashed” Niklas & Lennart). Thankfully, those fears have been put to rest, as Developer Jojo on Discord recently assured the community that the Coyote isn’t getting nerfed anytime soon.
Why the AR-2 Coyote Stands Out in Helldivers 2
The AR-2 Coyote has dominated the battlefield because it has hit the perfect balance between power, utility, and survivability. Its medium armor pen works wonders with its incendiary rounds, making it deadly against hordes, heavy enemies, and the new rupture strains and other Hive enemies weak to fire.
Unlike many rifles that feel situationally good, the Coyote delivers consistent value across different missions and against the various factions, giving players a reliable all-purpose choice.
This effectiveness is also due to the fact that other primary weapons are not getting the love they deserve. Sure, there are a few weapons that can easily compete or even be more powerful than Coyote, but that’s rare and depends on loadout.
Naturally, seeing this dominance sparked concern that it would be targeted for balance adjustments. But, on official Discord, Developer Jojo confirmed that “we aren’t nerfing the Coyote,” giving players a collective sigh of relief.
Many see this decision as a win for the community, as the weapon finally feels like a rifle that matches the difficulty curve rather than breaking it. For now, divers can continue shredding bugs without fear of losing their favorite tool.
Arrowhead Needs to Balance the Arsenal Beyond the Coyote
Keeping AR-2 Coyote the same may be a smart call by the devs, but it also places a big spotlight on the balancing challenges coming Arrowhead ways. With one rifle finding the sweet spot of utility and power, other weapons simply feel underwhelming in comparison.
Some loadouts can compete or even outperform the Coyote, but among the wide choices, most rifles simply don’t measure up, making the Coyote feel like the only “safe” choice for many players. (especially with Dust Devils being a great weapon in itself)
That’s where the upcoming balance patch becomes a very tough puzzle to solve. Like always, the ball is in Arrowhead’s court, but the question is: can the devs elevate the rest of the arsenal? It doesn’t matter where the buffs or utility come from, whether through buffs or alternate fire modes.
If this is done correctly, the game can move toward a healthier balance as the enemies are only getting tougher to beat. However, if the gap between weapons (even stratagems or throwables) remains wide, the studio risks backlash for forcing players into one dominant meta.
For now, the Coyote is safe, but the balancing act is just beginning. What weapon would you like to see buffed in the next balance patch? Let us know in the comments below.
