New Helldivers 2 players should spend their first Requisition on one anti-tank option and one Eagle strike, play on difficulties 1 to 4 until extraction feels routine, and save Medals for the free Helldivers Mobilize Warbond. A balanced loadout covers four jobs: killing armour, clearing crowds, closing bug holes or fabricators, and keeping the squad alive.
Updated November 7, 2026.
Helldivers 2 is a four-player co-op shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on PS5, PC and Xbox Series X|S. You can follow the official update feed on the PlayStation Helldivers 2 news page. This guide is for players in their first ten or so hours. For news and links to every guide, use our Helldivers 2 hub.
What should you do in your first few hours?
- Finish training to unlock the Galactic War map and the Trivial difficulty.
- Play a full Operation on each level up to Challenging (4), which is where Rare samples begin.
- Learn the stratagem inputs for reinforce and resupply until they are muscle memory.
- Respect friendly fire: it is always on, and many early deaths come from teammates.
- Extract with samples, because anything not carried onto the shuttle is lost.
Our difficulty levels and progression explainer covers what each level unlocks.
Which stratagems should beginners buy first?
Stratagems are bought with Requisition Slips and are gated by your account level. Rather than chase a single "best" list, think in roles. Every squad needs answers to armour, swarms and objectives.
| Role | Good early picks | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-armour | EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, Recoilless Rifle | Handles chargers, tanks and heavy walkers |
| Crowd control | MG-43 Machine Gun, Grenade Launcher | Clears small enemies and patrols fast |
| Area strike | Eagle Airstrike, Orbital Precision Strike | Short cooldowns, destroys nests and bases |
| Survival | Supply Pack, Shield Generator Pack | Keeps you topped up and protected |
| Defence | Machine Gun Sentry, Autocannon Sentry | Holds objectives and covers extraction |
Exact unlock levels and prices change across updates, so check the Ship Management screen on your Super Destroyer for the current cost.
What are the best beginner loadouts for each front?
The three enemy factions punish different mistakes, so adjust your four stratagem slots to the planet you pick.
Terminids (bugs)
- Machine Gun or Grenade Launcher for swarms.
- Expendable Anti-Tank for chargers and larger bugs.
- Eagle Airstrike to close multiple bug holes at once.
- Machine Gun Sentry to cover your back while you work.
Automatons (bots)
- Recoilless Rifle or Expendable Anti-Tank for tanks and heavy walkers.
- Shield Generator Pack to survive incoming fire.
- Orbital Precision Strike for fabricators and other bot structures.
- Eagle Airstrike for clustered bases.
Illuminate
- A fast-firing support weapon such as the Machine Gun for shielded and swarming units.
- Expendable Anti-Tank for larger walkers.
- Supply Pack to keep ammunition high during long fights.
- An Eagle strike for groups and structures.
If you own the Ironclad Democracy Warbond, its Surplus EAT Allocation Booster gives two free uses of Expendable Anti-Tank per mission, which suits any of the loadouts above.
How should you spend Medals and Super Credits?
Medals unlock pages in Warbonds, which are permanent battle passes that never expire. Start with the free Helldivers Mobilize Warbond, since it contains solid general-purpose weapons and armour. Super Credits, which you can find on the map in small amounts, unlock Premium Warbonds. Collecting them during missions over time is enough to unlock Premium Warbonds without spending money.
For the newest Premium option, see our Scope of Authority Warbond and 7.2 patch notes guide.
What habits make the biggest difference?
- Stay together but not stacked, so one explosion does not wipe the team.
- Call reinforcements somewhere safe, not into the middle of the fight that killed you.
- Avoid fights you do not need; stealth through patrols when the objective is elsewhere.
- Use cover against bots and keep moving against bugs.
- Check the Major Order before choosing a planet, since it pays Medals to everyone who helps.
How do Ship Modules make you stronger?
Samples you extract are spent on Ship Modules, which give permanent upgrades such as shorter cooldowns or extra Eagle uses. Common samples drop from the first difficulty, but Rare and Super samples need higher levels, so steady difficulty progress is the real key to getting stronger.
Starter rule: one anti-tank, one crowd-clear, one strike and one survival pick will carry you through the early game on any front. RankSurge is independent and is not affiliated with Arrowhead Game Studios or Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What stratagems should beginners get first in Helldivers 2?
Start with one anti-armour option such as the Expendable Anti-Tank, one Eagle strike such as the Eagle Airstrike, and a crowd-control support weapon like the Machine Gun. These cover most early threats. Add a survival pick such as the Supply Pack or Shield Generator Pack when you can afford it. Unlock levels and prices change between updates, so check Ship Management for current costs.
What is the best loadout against Automatons for beginners?
Against Automatons, bring a dedicated anti-tank weapon such as the Recoilless Rifle or Expendable Anti-Tank for tanks and heavy walkers, a Shield Generator Pack to survive incoming fire, an Orbital Precision Strike for fabricators and other structures, and an Eagle Airstrike for clustered bases. Use cover and break line of sight often, because bots punish players who stand in the open.
What is the best loadout against Terminids for beginners?
Against Terminids, a Machine Gun or Grenade Launcher handles swarms, the Expendable Anti-Tank deals with chargers and larger bugs, and the Eagle Airstrike can close several bug holes at once. A Machine Gun Sentry covers your back while you complete objectives. Keep moving rather than holding still, because bugs flank quickly and call for reinforcements.
Should I spend money on Super Credits in Helldivers 2?
You do not have to. Super Credits appear in small amounts on the map during missions, and collecting them over time is enough to unlock Premium Warbonds without spending money. Medals, which you earn by playing, unlock the free Helldivers Mobilize Warbond and the pages of any Warbond you own. Warbonds never expire, so there is no time pressure to buy.
What difficulty should a new Helldivers 2 player use?
New players should begin on Trivial and work up through Easy and Medium while learning stratagem inputs and extraction. Challenging, difficulty 4, is a good next goal because Rare samples start appearing there. Most squads find Suicide Mission, difficulty 7, a comfortable target once they have good ship upgrades, since it is the first level with Super samples.