While calling down a 500kg bomb is great, your most reliable tool on the battlefield is the primary weapon in your hands. It’s what you’ll use to clear hordes, defend objectives, and stay alive between Stratagem cooldowns. With multiple Warbonds and dozens of options, choosing the right tool for the job is critical. This guide to the best weapons in Helldivers 2 will give you the edge you need.
We’ve tested every rifle, shotgun, and energy weapon to create the definitive tier list for general-purpose use on higher difficulties. This list will help you decide which weapons to spend your hard-earned Medals on first. For more loadout advice, don’t forget to check our guide to the best Stratagems in Helldivers 2.
Tier List Explained
- S-Tier: The absolute meta. These are the best weapons in Helldivers 2, offering top-tier performance in almost any situation.
- A-Tier: Excellent weapons that are highly effective and can feel like S-Tier in the right hands or against specific enemies.
- B-Tier: Solid, reliable weapons that get the job done but are generally outclassed by the options above them.
- C-Tier: Niche or underperforming weapons that are best avoided if you’re trying to optimize your loadout for high-difficulty missions.
What are the Best Weapons in Helldivers 2? (S-Tier)
These weapons define the meta. They have the best combination of damage, usability, and ammo efficiency in the game.
- SG-225 Breaker (Shotgun): The undisputed king of clearing hordes. This fully automatic shotgun has a surprisingly tight spread, good range, and an incredible fire rate. It can stagger and shred through everything from Warriors to Brood Commanders. Its damage output is so high that it remains the go-to choice for most high-level players against both bugs and bots.
- LAS-16 Sickle (Energy Rifle): The best all-around energy weapon. The Sickle fires a powerful laser beam that has near-perfect accuracy and infinite ammo, provided you manage its heat with the replaceable heatsinks. It excels at hitting weak spots on Automatons from a distance and has a fantastic time-to-kill on medium-sized enemies. Its ammo economy is unmatched.
- PLAS-1 Scorcher (Explosive Rifle): This rifle fires plasma projectiles that explode on impact, dealing AoE (Area of Effect) damage. This makes it fantastic for damaging groups of enemies and, more importantly, for hitting armored targets like Scout Striders and Devastators. It can even damage the tough armor on Bile Spewers, making it a uniquely versatile tool.
A-Tier Weapons: Highly Effective
While not S-Tier, these are still some of the best weapons in Helldivers 2. They are powerful and reliable, and many players consider them their personal favorites. They are excellent choices that are just a step behind the absolute meta.
- R-63 Diligence (Marksman Rifle): For players who value precision, the Diligence is a top-tier choice. It rewards accuracy with a high damage output, allowing you to pick off bots from a distance or pop the heads off Warriors before they get close. It struggles against swarms but excels at eliminating high-priority targets.
- SMG-37 Defender (SMG): The best SMG in the game, the Defender allows for one-handed use, meaning you can run with objectives like the SSSD Hard Drive while still having significant firepower. It has great stagger, a large magazine, and is surprisingly effective against medium-sized enemies.
- SG-8S Slugger (Shotgun): This shotgun fires a single, powerful slug instead of buckshot. This gives it incredible stagger power and range, allowing it to function like a heavy-duty marksman rifle. It can reliably stagger Devastators and even Chargers with well-placed shots, making it a fantastic utility weapon.
B-Tier Weapons: Solid & Situational
These weapons are perfectly viable and can feel great to use, but they have specific weaknesses that prevent them from being ranked among the absolute best weapons in Helldivers 2.
- AR-23P Liberator Penetrator (Assault Rifle): This modified Liberator trades some fire rate for medium armor penetration. This allows it to deal with Automaton Devastators and Hive Guards more effectively than most standard rifles, making it a solid niche pick against bots.
- JAR-5 Dominator (Explosive Rifle): A heavy-hitting rifle that fires explosive rounds. It has massive damage and stagger per shot but is held back by a small magazine and slow handling. It feels like a cannon but can be unforgiving if you miss.
- SG-8 Punisher (Shotgun): The pump-action sibling of the Breaker. It has incredible stagger power, capable of stopping a charging Charger in its tracks. However, its slow fire rate makes it very difficult to use against large swarms of enemies.
C-Tier Weapons: Best Avoided
These weapons are currently underpowered or too niche to be recommended for general use on higher difficulties. They can be fun to use but will put you at a disadvantage.
- AR-23 Liberator (Assault Rifle): The starting weapon. It’s a reliable workhorse, but you should aim to replace it as soon as possible as it lacks the damage and armor penetration needed for harder content.
- LAS-5 Scythe (Energy Rifle): The predecessor to the Sickle. It uses a continuous beam that has to be held on a target, which leaves you very exposed. Its damage output simply doesn’t compete with other top-tier options.
- CB-9 Exploding Crossbow (Explosive): While fun, the crossbow’s slow reload speed, projectile drop, and limited damage make it one of the least effective weapons in the game.
Best Secondary Weapon & Grenade
Don’t forget these crucial parts of your loadout!
- Best Secondary: P-19 Redeemer: This machine pistol is a lifesaver. When you get swarmed and your primary is empty, swapping to the Redeemer allows you to spray down enemies with an incredible rate of fire. It’s the best secondary by a huge margin.
- Best Grenade: G-16 Impact: The standard frag grenade is good, but the Impact grenade explodes the instant it hits a surface. This allows you to panic-throw it at a charging enemy and know it will go off in time. It is perfect for destroying Automaton Fabricators and closing bug holes with precision.
For a full, data-driven breakdown of every weapon’s stats, including damage numbers and recoil patterns, the community-run Helldivers 2 Wiki is a fantastic external resource.
Choosing from the best weapons in Helldivers 2 is about finding a tool that fits your playstyle and the mission ahead. Experiment with the S and A-tier options, and you’ll be spreading Managed Democracy more efficiently in no time.