Top Loadouts for the Illuminate in Helldivers 2

Within the universe of Helldivers 2, the Illuminate present a potent challenge. Renowned for their sophisticated tech and overwhelming forces, this enemy faction can quickly encircle unwary players. As you fend off their light infantry, elite units are likely to attack from the air and ground. Success hinges on strategic loadouts and builds that not only target the Illuminate’s vulnerabilities but also provide robust defense against their formidable technology.

Mastering the combat against the Illuminate requires a nuanced understanding of weaponry, support gear, and effective stratagems tailored to counteract their formidable strengths. Achieving an equilibrium between equipment that addresses swarming infantry and tougher armored units is critical; neglecting either category may lead to an unsatisfactory combat performance against the relentless Illuminate forces.

This guide will explore optimal loadouts and builds designed specifically for combat with the Illuminate. Regardless of your experience level, these tactics will enhance your effectiveness in battle against this alien foe. It’s time to prepare and engage with the Illuminate head-on.

The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate

Primary	PLAS-1 Scorcher / PLAS-101 Purifier
Secondary	GP-31 Grenade Pistol
Grenade	G-13 Incendiary Impact
Armor Passive	Siege-Ready
Stratagems	LAS-98 Laser Cannon (Support) AX/AR-23 “Guard Dog” Eagle Strafing Run A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / Orbital Laser

The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier represent some of the most powerful primary weapons available in Helldivers 2. They excel in obliterating Overseers, including the jetpack-wielding Elevated units, and serve effectively against the Voteless. With the benefits of the Siege-Ready armor passive such as faster reloads, you can consistently engage priority targets, ensuring every shot has maximum impact.

These weapons also synergize brilliantly for taking down parked warp ships. While energy weapons typically struggle against enemy shields, a well-timed Stratifying Run can dismantle them swiftly. Following this, firing a grenade into the opened bay doors results in spectacular explosions—a strategy particularly effective when tackling clusters of medium to heavy Illuminate nests where multiple warp ships are regrouping.

In addition, the AX/AR-23 “Guard Dog” is invaluable for countering medium-armored units like the Overseers. This stratagem can effectively manage your immediate flanks, ensuring you have protection against quick enemy breaches.

For defensive purposes or crowd control while holding specific areas, employing a Machine Gun Sentry is advantageous. If you anticipate heavier adversaries emerging, an Orbital Laser can provide swift, decisive attacks, particularly when targeting vulnerabilities like the thighs or eyes of Harvesters.

Ultimately, the Laser Cannon within this loadout stands out as a premium option, effortlessly dealing with enemy troops and making swift work of Harvesters. Aiming accurately and maintaining distance will yield the best results, especially when facing numerous foes on higher difficulty levels.

The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate

Primary	ARC-12 Blitzer
Secondary	GP-31 Grenade Pistol
Grenade	G-13 Incendiary Impact
Armor Passive	Electrical Conduit / Med-Kit
Stratagems	ARC-3 Arc Thrower (Support) Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser Eagle Strafing Run A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower

The Illuminate’s varied unit types, including both melee and ranged attackers, necessitate a flexible approach; hence the ARC-12 Blitzer and the ARC-3 Arc Thrower come highly recommended. Together, these weapons can efficiently handle groups of foes, with the Arc Thrower having a notable advantage in stunning Overseers. By continuously delivering arcs of electricity, you can effectively immobilize aerial units, creating openings for additional strikes.

The Arc Thrower is particularly effective against unshielded Harvesters, gradually stunning them with each hit. Additionally, the Tesla Tower stratagem is a crowd control powerhouse against all Illuminate units, hence maintaining field control during skirmishes is simpler.

While the Grenade Pistol and Eagle Strafing Run are essential for demolishing stationary warp ships, remember that they work best after disabling shields first. Situational awareness is key during engagements with larger foes; employing the Orbital Laser can tackle multiple adversaries effectively, especially with coordinated team strategies.

The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate

Primary	StA-52 Assault Rifle
Secondary	GP-31 Grenade Pistol / CQC-19 Stun Lance
Grenade	G-13 Incendiary Impact
Armor Passive	Peak Physique / Engineering Kit
Stratagems	MG-43 Machine Gun (Support) LIFT-850 Jump Pack Orbital Railcannon Strike / Orbital Laser A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry / A/G-16 Gatling Sentry

As an adaptable offensive solution against the Illuminate, the StA-52 Assault Rifle ranks among the top choices. This weapon excels in neutralizing light to medium-tier foes, including Harvesters, providing a balance of efficiency and flexibility. Unlike its heavier counterparts, the standard Machine Gun offers superior maneuverability and faster action against enemy infantry.

When equipped with the Engineering Kit or Peak Physique armor passive, you receive enhanced control and targeting precision, especially invaluable when engaging dynamic aerial threats. With its rapid-fire capacity, this loadout allows for straightforward shield depletion, potentially removing the need for relying on Stratagems to obliterate grounded warp ships.

The primary limitation of the Machine Gun is its stationary reload; navigating this terrain can be streamlined with the LIFT-850 Jump Pack, enabling rapid repositioning while under fire. This strategic shift is essential for dealing with persistent threats like Harvesters, particularly when paired with a reliable orbital stratagem to deliver devastating area damage against multiple foes.

This is an exceptional loadout choice when strategizing against the Illuminate forces, particularly effective when utilized in team scenarios for the greatest combat efficiency.

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