Helldivers 2: Illuminate Enemies Guide
Illuminating your enemies in Helldivers 2 is a crucial tactic for survival, especially when facing hordes of Terminids or the heavily armored Automatons. Knowing how to effectively light up the battlefield can significantly improve your team's combat effectiveness. This guide will walk you through the various methods to illuminate enemies, enhancing visibility and target acquisition in the darkest corners of the galaxy.
Why Illuminate Enemies?
Before diving into the how, let's discuss the why. In Helldivers 2, visibility can be severely limited by dense fog, nighttime missions, and the chaotic effects of combat. Illuminating enemies provides several key advantages:
- Improved Target Acquisition: Clearly visible enemies are easier to target, allowing you and your squad to focus fire and eliminate threats more efficiently. This is particularly important when dealing with fast-moving or heavily armored targets.
- Enhanced Awareness: Spotting enemies early can prevent ambushes and allow you to better plan your movements. This is especially useful in dense environments where enemies can easily blend into the surroundings.
- Strategic Advantage: Some Stratagems and weapon perks benefit from illuminated targets, increasing damage or applying status effects. Coordinating illumination with your team can unlock powerful synergies.
Methods to Illuminate Enemies
There are several ways to illuminate enemies in Helldivers 2, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here's a breakdown of the most effective methods:
1. The SEAF AV-8B Illuminator:
The SEAF AV-8B Illuminator is a stratagem in Helldivers 2 that is your go-to for providing large-scale illumination. This stratagem calls in an orbital support aircraft to blanket the target area in bright light. This is particularly effective in nighttime missions or areas with heavy fog. The stratagem is a game-changer because it offers sustained illumination, allowing your team to maintain visibility over a large area for an extended period. You will be able to see enemies from afar, and that will make you coordinate and strategize your gameplay with your teammates. The SEAF AV-8B Illuminator is best used preemptively to light up potential ambush points or to provide cover during retreats. It's also invaluable for clearing out nests and factories, making it easier to target vulnerable points. Make sure to communicate with your team when deploying the Illuminator to maximize its effectiveness.
2. Support Weapons:
Support Weapons in Helldivers 2 provide versatile options for illuminating enemies. These weapons can be deployed to provide both offensive capabilities and tactical advantages, such as illumination. The Support Weapons are powerful because they can be used on the move, providing illumination wherever your squad needs it most. This is particularly useful for clearing out buildings, navigating tunnels, or pushing through enemy lines. The downside is that they often require a backpack slot and may limit your ability to carry other essential items. Coordinate with your team to ensure someone is equipped with a Support Weapon for consistent illumination. The Grenade Launcher is a great option for clearing out nests and factories, while the Flamethrower can provide sustained illumination while dealing damage to enemies. The Arc Thrower is effective for crowd control, and the Railgun is ideal for taking down heavily armored targets. The Support Weapons allow for dynamic adjustments to the battlefield, giving you the flexibility to adapt to changing situations. Make sure you utilize Support Weapons in missions to secure your area.
3. Personal Equipment:
Personal Equipment in Helldivers 2 offers a variety of options for illuminating enemies, ranging from flashlights to specialized grenades. These tools are invaluable for individual Helldivers looking to improve their situational awareness. Personal Equipment is beneficial because it provides on-demand illumination, allowing you to quickly light up dark corners or identify threats in close quarters. This is particularly useful for scouting ahead, clearing out buildings, or navigating treacherous terrain. The downside is that Personal Equipment often has limited range and duration, requiring you to use them strategically. Consider equipping your Helldiver with a flashlight or Stun Grenades to improve your visibility and control the battlefield. Stun Grenades are effective for disorienting enemies and making them easier to target, while flashlights can provide a constant source of illumination in dark environments. The Personal Equipment enhances your ability to react to unexpected threats and maintain control in chaotic situations. Always be prepared with the right gear to ensure your survival and the success of your mission.
4. Environmental Awareness:
Maintaining Environmental Awareness in Helldivers 2 is a crucial skill for illuminating enemies. This involves paying close attention to your surroundings and using the environment to your advantage. Environmental Awareness is important because it allows you to identify potential threats and use natural light sources to improve visibility. This is particularly useful in outdoor environments where sunlight or moonlight can help illuminate enemies. The downside is that environmental awareness requires constant vigilance and can be challenging in dense or chaotic environments. Utilize natural light sources, such as the sun or moon, to improve your visibility during daytime or nighttime missions. Pay attention to shadows and dark corners where enemies may be lurking. The Environmental Awareness allows you to anticipate enemy movements and react quickly to threats. Always be mindful of your surroundings to enhance your tactical advantage and ensure the success of your mission. This not only helps in spotting enemies but also in utilizing natural light sources to your advantage.
Tips and Tricks for Effective Illumination
To maximize the effectiveness of your illumination efforts in Helldivers 2, consider these tips and tricks:
- Communicate with your team: Coordinate your illumination efforts with your squad to ensure consistent coverage and avoid overlapping effects. Let your teammates know when you're deploying an illumination Stratagem or using a Support Weapon to light up an area.
- Use illumination preemptively: Don't wait until you're surrounded by enemies to start illuminating. Use illumination to scout ahead, clear out potential ambush points, and provide cover during retreats.
- Combine illumination with other Stratagems: Synergize illumination with other Stratagems to maximize their effectiveness. For example, use an illumination Stratagem to light up a group of enemies before calling in an Eagle Airstrike or Orbital Bombardment.
- Adjust your brightness settings: Optimize your game's brightness settings to improve visibility in dark environments. This can make it easier to spot enemies even without active illumination.
Conclusion
Illuminating enemies in Helldivers 2 is a vital skill that can significantly improve your team's combat effectiveness. By utilizing the various methods outlined in this guide and coordinating with your squad, you can turn the tide of battle and emerge victorious against the Terminid and Automaton hordes. So, gear up, Helldivers, and bring the light to the darkest corners of the galaxy!