Helldivers 2 Patch Notes: Balancing Overpowered Warbonds Weapons

Overview of Helldivers 2’s Latest Update

The newly released Patch 01.002.103 for Helldivers 2 addresses various bugs and recalibrates the balance of Warbonds weapons, aiming to enhance player satisfaction.
Significant adjustments have been made to the LAS-17 Double-Edge Sickle and GP-31 Ultimatum, prioritizing risk management to ensure engaging gameplay.
In celebration of its first anniversary, Helldivers 2 introduces a special cape for players.

Helldivers 2 has launched Patch 01.002.103, which not only addresses various bugs but also aims to rectify the unexpected overpowered nature of some recently introduced Warbonds weapons. Following a tumultuous initial release period, the game is now enjoying a more stable relationship with its community, and this update reflects a commitment to maintaining that momentum.

Historically, Arrowhead Game Studios has responded swiftly to community concerns regarding weapon power imbalances. This often led to tension between the players and developers. However, after navigating several challenges, the two parties are now on a much better footing. Recent findings indicate that weapons added in the Servants of Freedom update, while exciting, are outperforming their intended design. Instead of simply nerfing these weapons, Arrowhead has opted for a more nuanced approach.

The Servants of Freedom Warbond introduced powerful gear, including a grenade pistol and a chargeable laser rifle. While players enjoyed these formidable new tools, the developers acknowledged that some design oversights resulted in weapons exceeding their intended capabilities.

Notably, the LAS-17 Double-Edge Sickle underwent rebalancing to enhance its risk/reward aspect. The adjustment introduces increased fire range and self-damage values, allowing players to deal more damage at the potential cost of hurting themselves. Moreover, players will now have access to slightly more ammunition.

Another key focus of this patch is the GP-31 Ultimatum pistol. This weapon, which has garnered considerable player approval, presented balancing challenges. Arrowhead recognized its excessive strength but did not want to diminish the joy it brings to players. Consequently, the GP-31 will no longer benefit from the Hellpod Optimization Booster or the Siege Ready armor passive, requiring players to employ more skill to maximize its potential.

In conjunction with the update, Helldivers 2 is also celebrating its first anniversary. A recent post on the PlayStation Blog highlighted the game’s journey and successes over the past year, alongside the introduction of a commemorative cape for players.

Patch Notes for Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.103

Weapon Balancing Adjustments

Primary Weapons

LAS-17 Double-Edge Sickle

The recent rebalancing of this weapon aims to strengthen its risk/reward dynamics, ensuring it delivers substantial firepower while aligning with its inherent high-risk nature. Previous iterations did not quite meet the expectations we set.

OLD Specifications

0-25% heat: AP3 55 damage – No damage to players
26-90% heat: AP3 55 damage – 10 damage/second to players
+91% heat: AP3 55 damage – 50 damage/second to players + fire status effect

NEW Specifications

0-25% heat: AP2 55 damage – No damage to players
26-50% heat: AP3 55 damage – 10 damage/second to players
51-90% heat: AP3 70 damage – 20 damage/second to players
+91% heat: AP4 70 damage – 50 damage/second to players + fire status effect

Magazines

Starting magazines increased from 1 to 2
Spare magazines increased from 2 to 3

Sidearms

GP-31 Ultimatum

This weapon has induced varying feedback among players. While some find it makes certain challenges too simple, others see its addition as beneficial. As such, Arrowhead has made adjustments to reduce its ammunition accessibility while preserving its identity as a powerful option. Players will now need to strategize and exert more effort to wield its full potential, as synergies with armor and boosters have been altered.

The GP-31 Ultimatum is no longer influenced by the Hellpod Optimization Booster or the Siege Ready armor passive.

Bug Fixes and Improvements

Top Priority Issues Resolved:

Adjusted alignment of scope aim-center with projectile trajectory across all weapons, particularly noticeable in aiming down sights (ADS).

Crash Fixes, Hangs, and Soft-locks:

Resolved a rare crash that could occur when players joined others who were swapping weapons.
Fixed a rare crash when joining missions with SEAF artillery objectives present.
Addressed a crash issue related to language changes while subtitles were displayed.
Fixed a crash when closing the game during a cutscene with the Democracy Space Station.
Resolved a crash triggered by changing language mid-mission.
Fixed a crash occurring due to language-switching activities.
Addressed crashes caused by player disconnections from sessions.
Fixed a crash that occurred when emoting after dropping a support weapon.

Weapons and Stratagems:

Rectified an issue where the B-100 Portable Hellbomb backpack could inadvertently be activated upon entering the FRV.

Miscellaneous Fixes:

Fixed level generation issues causing some objective terminals to be non-interactable.
Addressed an inconsistency where the Integrated Explosives armor passive would sometimes fail to trigger.

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