Helldivers 2 patch provides the best builds, but throws fire tornadoes into the mix

Hell divers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios rolled out a new patch for the game on Wednesday that will impact the way you manage democracy across the galaxy. Patch 01,000,100 for Hell divers 2 brings some serious nerfs to popular weapons like the Breaker and Railgun, as well as the Energy Shield Backpack.

But at least you could get burned by a fire tornado, thanks to the new planetary hazards added Hell divers 2‘s new patch, which is out now on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. So it’s not all bad!

If you don’t use one Hell divers 2‘s favorite builds, and you’re instead a big fan of flamethrowers or the Punisher, you might feel differently about the game’s new patch. Arrowhead developers say the nerfs aren’t meant to undermine the fun of the game’s best weapons, but to make everything shine. That’s why there are enthusiasts for many of the game’s lesser-used weapons and strategies.

“Our goal is to give you a wide variety of weapon choices, where each weapon has its purpose and no weapon is strictly better than another,” said Arrowhead developer Alex K on the official Helldivers Discord. “Sure, you will have your own favorite, but that should come from your personal preference, not from the universally agreed upon knowledge of which weapon is the strongest.”

Here’s what some of those changes look like, from Arrowhead’s patch notes:

Primary, secondary and support weapons

• Breaker: Reduced magazine capacity from 16 to 13, increased recoil from 30 to 55
• Railgun: Reduced armor penetration in safe mode, reduced damage against durable enemy parts
• Flamethrower: Increased damage per second by 50%
• Laser Cannon: Increased damage against durable enemy parts, increased armor penetration, improved ergonomics
• Punisher: Increased total ammo capacity from 40 to 60, increased stagger power, increased damage from 40 per bullet to 45 per bullet
• Breaker Spray & Pray: Increased armor penetration, increased rate of fire from 300 to 330, increased pellet count from 12 to 16 per shot, reduced magazine size from 32 to 26

Strategies

• Energy Shield Backpack: Longer delay before charging
• 380mm and 120mm orbital barrage: longer bombardment duration, reduced dispersion

Naturally, some players haven’t reacted too kindly to seeing the nerf of their beloved Railgun, but Arrowhead is urging players to reevaluate their loadouts and give the changes a chance.

Arrowhead’s Alex K notes that the Breaker, Railgun, and Shield Generator Backpack were “quite strong with too few drawbacks, overshadowing all other options on higher difficulties.”

“However, we strongly believe that the changes will not ruin this build, but rather help the affected items find their place among the other options and remain effective in capable hands,” the developer said. “On a more personal note, I know that getting your favorite toy nerfed absolutely sucks. It’s an incredible dedication for you to invest countless hours into mastering a weapon. That’s the main reason we’re making this game in the first place. And then having that weapon weakened feels like a punishment for being too good at the game. But I beg you not to compare a modified item with the older version, but to evaluate the existing one as it is and see if it still has a place in your heart.”

More hopeful is that Helldivers will soon get some more help in the field thanks to the impending arrival of mechs, which Arrowhead says are coming “soon.”