Weapons on the armory wall in Helldivers 2
Screenshot by Prima Games.

How to Unlock More Weapons in Helldivers 2

For Freedom!

Helldivers 2 is all about gunning through the enemy factions across the Galactic War, and you need plenty of weapons to pull that off. I can help you start filling up the armory options at your ship in this guide.

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How to Get New Weapons in Helldivers 2

All standard weapons are unlocked by earning Medals and spending them on the Warbonds in the Acquisitions tab. Warbonds serve a similar purpose to a Battle Pass, each having eight different tiers. Some tiers are just cosmetics you can apply to your character, while others are straight-up weapons you can equip in the armory.

Helldivers 2 screenshot of the SG-8 Punisher shotgun in the Warbonds menu
Screenshot by Prima Games

The first weapon you can unlock is the SG-8 Punisher Shotgun, which only requires a few Medals. Once you spend enough of those medals, you can move to the next tier of the Warbonds and unlock the R-63 Diligence Marksman Rifle. Basically, the gameplay loop is to earn more currency to get better weapons to take on tougher content.

There are more powerful support weapons that you can unlock by spending Requisition Tickets on the Ship Management screen. You can find all the unlocks in the Stratagems tab; some will be tied to level requirements. Unlike the standard weapons, though, these Stratagems can only be used as drops within a Mission.

How to Equip Weapons in Helldivers 2

To equip new weapons, head to the armory on your ship and swap out the standard assault rifle. If you want to see other options in the weapon slots, you must ensure that some of them are unlocked in the Warbonds pass. Otherwise, you are stuck with the same assault rifle and pistol for your Galactic War missions.

Best Weapons in Helldivers 2

More weapons will likely be added to Helldivers 2 over time, but currently, there are around 17 standard weapons (not including grenades) and an extra 12 weapons that function as Support Stratagem. Some of the best weapons in Helldivers 2 include

  • Railgun (Stratagem).
  • SG-225 Breaker Shotgun.
  • Plas-1 Scorcher Plasma Rifle.
  • P-19 Redeemer Pistol.
  • AR-23 Liberator Assault Rifle.

When it comes to the best weapons in Helldivers 2, your Stratagem will typically be your best friends. The Railgun, in particular, is a go-to enemy melter that can pierce right through armor. But for standard weapons, the Breaker is a powerful shotgun with good range, making it quite versatile in the heat of combat. This shotgun can be unlocked for 20 Medals on the fourth page of the free Helldivers Mobilize Warbond battle pass. You also shouldn’t look down on your standard Liberator Assault Rifle; it may be your starting weapon, but it has a strength and versatility to it that will always make it reliable.

Most secondary weapons aren’t going to be quite as good as your standard weapons, but the Redeemer Pistol does (ahem) redeem itself as the best secondary weapon in the game. This small gun eats bullets like nobody’s business, but its extremely high rate of fire can mow down a few enemies and save you in a pinch. You can unlock the P-19 Redeemer for 5 Medals on the second page of the free Helldivers Mobilize Warbond battle pass.

And if you’re looking for premium weapons while you’re fighting for freedom in Helldivers 2, don’t forget to secure some Super Credits out in the field.


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About the Author

Daniel Wenerowicz

Dan has been writing gaming guides, news, and features for three years after graduating with a BA in writing . You can find him covering Call of Duty for eternity, action-adventure games, and nearly any other major release.