Helldivers 2: Top Loadouts to Counter the Illuminate News - Latest Updates and Information

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The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate
The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate
The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate

The Illuminate are a formidable enemy in Helldivers 2, known for their advanced technologies and overwhelming precision. As you tackle their light infantry, be prepared for their elite units to close in from both the ground and air. The key to success against the Illuminate lies in selecting the right loadouts and builds that exploit their weaknesses while countering their powerful tech.

To effectively combat the Illuminate, you need to balance your weapons, support gear, and stratagems to handle both their chaff and armored units. Neglecting either type can render your loadout ineffective against the full force of the Illuminate.

In this guide, we'll explore the best loadouts and builds tailored specifically for fighting the Illuminate. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, these strategies will enhance your combat effectiveness against this challenging, squid-like faction. Let's gear up and prepare to face the Illuminate head-on.

The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate

The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier are among the top primary weapons in Helldivers 2, excelling at melting Overseers, including jet-pack-equipped Elevated units, and effectively handling the Voteless. The Siege-Ready armor passive enhances their performance by providing additional ammunition and quicker reloads, crucial for tackling multiple priority targets. The increased damage per second is vital when every shot counts.

The Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol form a potent combination for destroying parked warp ships. Energy-based weapons struggle to deplete their shields, but a single Strafing Run can strip the shields from multiple grounded warp ships in a line. Follow up by shooting a grenade into their open bay doors to cause an explosion. This tactic is particularly effective when clearing medium or heavy Illuminate nests with multiple warp ships. While the G-13 Incendiary Impact can also be used in the open bay doors, it's more effective against chaff, so reserve it for when you're using the Grenade Pistol.

The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" proves surprisingly effective against medium-armored Overseers, with each burst capable of taking down a single elite unit. It's an excellent choice for watching your flanks against the Illuminate.

The A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry is ideal for locking down areas during objective defense. If crowd control isn't your priority, consider swapping it for an Orbital Laser to target Harvesters or future heavy units.

Finally, the LAS-98 Laser Cannon rounds out this loadout, melting Overseers and chaff within seconds and proving highly effective against Harvesters. Use a Strafing Run to deplete their shields, then target the Harvesters' weak points (thighs/eyes) with the Laser Cannon. A single clip is sufficient if your aim is steady. The Laser Cannon's long range allows you to engage targets from a distance, making it a perfect anti-squid weapon.

On higher difficulties (levels 9 or 10) where multiple Harvesters are common, an Orbital Laser becomes essential.

The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate

The Illuminate's mix of melee and ranged units makes the ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower ideal for covering both threats. These weapons easily dispatch chaff, but the Arc Thrower's ability to chain and stagger lightning arcs can render Overseers nearly useless, stunning them briefly. Continuous ranged attacks can keep Elevated Overseers permanently stunned in mid-air.

The Arc Thrower can also take down unshielded Harvesters, requiring about a dozen hits, each causing a moderate stun that accumulates over time.

The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower is highly effective against all Illuminate types, particularly flying Overseers, providing consistent crowd control and disruption. Combined with the Arc Thrower, you can lock down an entire area with multiple chained lightning attacks. Prioritize targeting key enemies with the Arc Thrower to prevent them from reaching your Tesla Tower.

Harvesters prioritize sentries, so avoid deploying your Tesla Tower or other sentries if you're already engaging them.

The Eagle Strafing Run and Grenade Pistol remain essential for destroying parked warp ships, as the Blitzer and Arc Thrower are less efficient at depleting their shields during combat. Don't replace them unless another teammate can handle this task.

For dealing with heavy units, the Orbital Railcannon Strike is invaluable due to its unlimited uses. The Orbital Laser is effective against multiple Harvesters but limited to three uses, requiring coordination with teammates. Always use a Strafing Run to disable their shields first. This build is one of the most powerful against the Illuminate, especially when coordinated with a team.

The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate

The MG-43 Machine Gun is the most versatile support weapon against the Illuminate, making it a top choice for this loadout. It efficiently shreds light and medium enemies, as well as Harvesters. Compared to the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun, the standard Machine Gun offers better handling and faster infantry dispatch.

It's a true all-rounder against the squids, balancing power and reliability. Pair it with the Engineering Kit to reduce recoil or the Peak Physique armor passive to minimize drag, aiding in targeting flying Overseers or Watchers.

The high fire rate of the Machine Gun is effective at depleting shields, eliminating the need for the Eagle Strafing Run to destroy grounded warp ships. Instead, opt for turret sentries to manage large crowds or defend objectives.

The Machine Gun's stationary reload animation is a drawback, but the LIFT-850 Jump Pack helps you quickly relocate to safety and navigate urban maps more easily.

While the Machine Gun can handle Harvesters by targeting their weak spots, having an Orbital stratagem in your build is crucial for dealing with multiple heavies. The Orbital Laser can manage two to three shielded Harvesters simultaneously, whereas the Railcannon Strike is effective only against unshielded targets.

For the primary weapon, consider the StA-52 Assault Rifle from the Helldivers 2 x Killzone 2 crossover. It features a large drum magazine and provides sustained fire with light-armor-penetrating capabilities, matching the damage output of the standard Liberator.