Look, we’ve all been there. You drop into a mission in Helldivers 2 all hyped up, ready to spread democracy, and five minutes later you’re pancaked by your own airstrike, your squadmate’s mech lands on you, and the bugs have made a buffet out of your limbs. It happens. But if you’re tired of rage-quitting and want to actually level up without being a walking disaster, you’re in the right place.
This is your no-nonsense, gamer-friendly guide to sucking less at Helldivers 2. Whether you’re a total newbie or just can’t seem to stop getting friendly-fired into oblivion, these tips will help you level up, stay alive longer, and maybe even earn a few high fives from your squadmates. Let’s dive in.
1. Stop Panic-Calling Stratagems
Stratagems are the heart of Helldivers 2 gameplay and one of the fastest ways to accidentally turn your squad into a crater. They let you call down game-changing tools like turrets, mechs, and airstrikes, but in the heat of combat, they can become a recipe for disaster. Panic-typing a stratagem code while you’re surrounded by bugs often leads to dropping the wrong thing or, worse, calling a pod directly onto your teammate’s head. The trick is to practice those inputs until they’re second nature. Spend some time in a calm zone memorizing the combinations you use most. Trust me, the more fluent you are with those arrow combos, the less likely you’ll turn your team into a cautionary tale.
2. Stick With Your Squad
This isn’t a solo hero story, Helldivers 2 is built around teamwork, and wandering off on your own is basically asking to get turned into bug chow. If you want to succeed, you need to stick close to your squad, cover each other, and revive fallen teammates fast. Use pinging or voice chat if you’re not on a mic, and make sure someone is always watching your six. Squad cohesion isn’t just a nice bonus, it’s survival 101. The game rewards coordinated teams, especially during intense objectives or last-minute extractions. So if you’re always off doing your own thing, expect to be the first one chewed up when the swarm hits.
3. Learn the Enemies (and Respect the Bugs)
Helldivers 2 doesn’t just throw generic enemies at you. Each faction, Terminids and Automatons, has its own quirks, attack patterns, and deadly tricks. Terminids are fast and swarm-heavy, ideal for players who underestimate them to get mobbed within seconds. Automatons bring a tech-heavy arsenal with armor and ranged weapons, forcing you to prioritize smarter gear and more tactical approaches. Knowing which enemies you’re facing before you drop in means picking the right loadout, stratagems, and formations. If you walk into a Terminid mission with slow-firing weapons and no area denial, you’re basically volunteering to be lunch. Treat every enemy type like a unique puzzle and solve it with firepower and strategy.
4. Upgrade Smart, Not Flashy
It’s tempting to unlock the biggest, baddest gear in Helldivers 2 as soon as you can, but not all upgrades are created equal. The coolest-looking weapons or armor aren’t always the most effective for your playstyle or your team’s needs. Focus on upgrades that improve survivability, like faster call-ins, more durable armor, or versatile stratagems that support your whole squad. A well-timed resupply or a healing beacon can carry a mission way more than a giant laser cannon that overheats in 10 seconds. Think about what your team lacks and build your loadout to complement it. Flashy gear might get screenshots, but smart gear wins missions nets you that sweet XP boost.
5. Know When to Retreat
You don’t get bonus points for dying with style. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do in Helldivers 2 is call for an extraction and survive to fight another day. When things get messy, when the swarm won’t stop coming, your squad’s scattered, or you’re running out of ammo, know when to regroup and get out. Hitting the extraction point alive means you keep your XP, your gear, and your dignity. Charging into certain death might feel heroic, but your progress tracker won’t care. Smart Helldivers assess the situation, fall back when needed, and live to drop another stratagem. The mission ends when you’re on the ship, not in a pile of limbs under a bug pile.
6. Stop Shooting Your Friends
Repeat after me: friendly fire is always on. One shotgun blast, misplaced grenade, or wild turret can turn a win into a full-blown disaster in seconds. In Helldivers 2, awareness of your squad’s position is essential. Always look before you launch that airstrike, and don’t just spray bullets into a crowded fight. Area-of-effect weapons are powerful, but only if you know how to use them responsibly. If you find yourself with the highest team kill count every mission, it’s time to reevaluate your playstyle. Communicate before you deploy anything dangerous, and remember: Helldiving is about spreading democracy, not taking out your allies in the process.
7. Embrace the Chaos (But Learn From It)
This game is a glorious mess and that’s kind of the point. Helldivers 2 thrives on unpredictable chaos: bugs swarming from nowhere, objectives going sideways, a turret turning on you because you stepped into its line of fire. It’s all part of the fun. But chaos doesn’t mean mindless button mashing. Every failed mission is a chance to level up your awareness, improve your reflexes, and tighten your strategy. Ask yourself what went wrong: bad loadout? Poor communication? Too much solo wandering? Take notes, make adjustments, and dive again. The more you lean into the madness while staying thoughtful, the more rewarding each mission will be, the faster you’ll climb the ranks.
Bonus: Build a Beginner-Friendly Loadout
Starting out in Helldivers 2? Don’t overthink it. Keep it simple and effective. A solid loadout for new players includes a balanced rifle (like the Liberator), a grenade for dealing with swarms, a resupply stratagem for ammo management, and a turret for holding zones. Light to medium armor offers decent mobility while still taking a few hits. Avoid high-complexity gear until you’ve got a few missions under your belt. And remember: support gear like healing stations and ammo drops are often more valuable to your team than damage-dealing options. The key is consistency and survival—not flashy kills.
Quick Start Guide for New Players
New to Helldivers 2 and feeling overwhelmed? Here’s your crash course:
- Play the tutorial and absorb every detail. It teaches the core mechanics you’ll rely on in every mission.
- Start on lower difficulties to learn the ropes without getting steamrolled.
- Stick with your squad. No, seriously. STICK. WITH. THEM.
- Revive teammates ASAP, they’ll save your butt later.
- Don’t hoard stratagems. Use them smart and use them often.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by Helldivers 2, just know you’re not alone. It’s a brutally fun game that thrives on mayhem and teamwork. But once you dial in your stratagems, learn enemy patterns, and stop blowing up your friends, you’ll start to see real progress. No one’s great right out of the gate, this game is all about trial, error, and laughing through the chaos.
Whether you’re gunning for max XP, cooler gear, or just fewer deaths per mission, these tips are your first step to leveling up and actually enjoying the ride. So grab your gear, sync with your squad, and dive back into the madness. The bugs aren’t going to exterminate themselves.
Which of these tips helped you the most in Helldivers 2?
Do you have your own squad-saving advice? 
