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Helldivers 2 Patch Update: Major Changes You Need to Know

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An image Helldivers erecting a flag for Super Earth for the Helldivers 2 Patch update article.
Last Updated on December 24, 2024 by Jake Whitlock

Helldivers 2 patch update just dropped and it’s one that wraps up the devs 60-day plan; sure it took 63 days, but who’s counting?​

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The Helldivers 2 Patch Update 01.001.104 from Arrowhead Games Studios brings significant changes, from major buffs to gear like grenades and sentries to some exciting weapon overhauls. Now is the perfect time to jump back into action!

Let’s break down what this important update means for you and how it could change your loadouts and strategies.

Buffs That Pack a Punch

Here’s what the developers had to say during their 60-Day plan conclusion and Helldivers 2 Patch update 01.001.104 notes:

Balancing for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

General changes:
  • Additional Supply items are now visible on the minimap.
    • Exosuits
    • Support Stratagems
    • They can no longer ricochet off of targets.
  • Helldiver armor tweaks.
    • Both Heavy and Light armor are now more effective.
    • Heavy armor reduces damage taken by 25%, up to from 20%
      • 5% more damage reduction
    • Light armor increases damage taken 25%, down from 33%
      • 8% less damage taken
  • Stratagems and Weapon tag description updates
    • They now show more information and are also categorized:
    • Armor penetration 2 is classified as Light armor penetrating
    • Armor penetration 3 is classified as Medium armor penetrating
    • Armor penetration 4 is classified as Heavy armor penetrating
    • Armor penetration 5+ is classified as Anti-tank

Primary Weapons for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

Plasma projectile  behavior

  • PLAS-101 Purifier
    • Projectiles can now be charged up with a damage multiplier that scales:
      • Minimum charge of 0.1 sec gives a 50% damage multiplier
      • Maximum charge of 1 sec gives a 100% damage multiplier
    • Maximum charge projectile damage increased from 100 to 200
    • Maximum charge projectile durable damage increased from 50 to 100
    • Maximum charge explosion damage increased from 150 to 300
    • The explosion doesn’t scale, but a fully charged shot has a different explosion effect:
      • Minimum charge (0.1–0.99 sec): Inner radius 1m, outer radius 2m, explosion damage 75
      • Maximum charge (1 sec): Inner radius 2.9m, outer radius 3m, explosion damage 300
  • PLAS-1 Scorcher
    • New weapon function: Auto fire mode
    • The fire rate increased from 250 to 350
    • Magazine capacity increased from 15 to 20
    • Spare magazines decreased from 6 to 5
  • SG-8P Punisher Plasma
    • Reduced recoil
    • The fire rate increased from 80 to 100
  • AR-23 Liberator
    • Horizontal recoil reduced by 30%
    • Ergonomics rose from 65 to 70
    • Reload duration decreased from 3 to 2.5 sec
  • BR-14 Adjudicator
    • Horizontal recoil reduced by 30%
    • Projectile damage increased from 80 to 90
    • Projectile durable damage increased from 16 to 23
    • Magazine capacity increased from 25 to 30
  • AR-61 Tenderizer
    • New weapon function: 600/850 RPMasdsd
  • JAR-5 Dominator
    • Moved from the Explosive weapon category to the Special weapon category

 

Sidearms for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

  • P-113 Verdict
    • Armor penetration increased from 2 to 3
    • Projectile durable damage increased from 13 to 32
    • Stagger strength increased from 13 to 15
  • P-4 Senator
    • Armor penetration increased from 3 to 4
    • Projectile damage increased from 175 to 200
    • Projectile durable damage increased from 35 to 70
  • P-11 Stim Pistol
    • Spread decreased from 30 to 5
    • Muzzle velocity increased from 80 to 200

Throwables for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

  • K-2 Throwing Knives
    • Uses increased from 8 to 20
    Armor penetration increased from 2 to 3
  • G-12 High Explosive Grenade
    • Armor penetration increased from 3 to 4
    • Projectile damage increased from 175 to 200
    • Projectile durable damage increased from 35 to 70
  • P-11 Stim Pistol
    • Spread decreased from 30 to 5
    • Muzzle velocity increased from 80 to 200

Stratagem Support Weapons for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

    • New weapon function: Programmable ammunition now allows you to switch between normal projectiles and flak projectiles
    • Flak projectiles are proximity-triggered shrapnel explosions with a larger explosion radius
  • GR-8 Recoilless Rifle
    • New weapon function: Programmable ammunition now allows you to switch between normal projectiles and High Explosive rounds
    • High Explosive rounds have a larger explosion radius, deal more explosion damage, less projectile damage, and are less effective against tanks
  • RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher
    • Reload duration reduced from 7 to 5 sec
  • M-105 LMG Stalwart
    • Ergonomics increased from 25 to 40
  • MG-43 Machine Gun
    • Magazine capacity increased from 150 to 175
    • Starting spare magazines increased from 1 to 2
  • MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun
    • Magazine capacity increased from 75 to 100

Backpacks for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

  • LIFT-850 Jump Pack
    • Cooldown reduced from 20 to 15 sec
    • Stronger thrust force
    • The thrust vector has been tweaked
    • Will have a slightly higher jump and more forward momentum
  • AX/AR-23 “Guard Dog”
    • Switch from AR-23 Liberator rounds to AR-23P Liberator Penetrator rounds
    • Armor penetration increased from 2 to 3
    • Damage decreased from 70 to 60
    • Magazine capacity increased from 30 to 45
  • Drone Backpacks now have a new toggle drone function
    • Activate: The drone leaves the backpack and starts to perform its tasks
    • Deactivate: The drone returns to the backpack into a passive standby state

Stratagem

  • Eagle Strafing Run
    • Explosion radius slightly increased
    • Explosion damage increased from 250 to 350
  • Orbital Airburst Strike
    • Salvoes increased from 3 to 4
    • Duration between salvoes increased from 3 to 4 sec
  • A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry
    • Magazine capacity increased from 125 to 175
    • Cooldown reduced from 120 to 90 sec
    • Life time reduced from 180 to 150 sec
  • A/G-16 Gatling Sentry
    • Magazine capacity increased from 400 to 500
    • Cooldown reduced from 180 to 150 sec
    • Life time reduced from 180 to 150 sec
  • A/MLS-4X Rocket Sentry
    • Cooldown reduced from 180 to 150 sec
    • Life time reduced from 180 to 150 sec
  • A/AC-8 Autocannon Sentry
    • Cooldown reduced from 180 to 150 sec
    • Life time reduced from 180 to 150 sec
  • MD-17 Anti Tank Mines
    • We are working on changes to the Anti-Personnel and Incendiary Mines. However, we are not yet happy with the fixes, as we feel they introduced too many new problems. We will continue working on these changes and include them in a future patch
      • The mines are now only triggered by heavier enemies like Chargers, Bile Titans, Impalers, Hulks
      • Damage increased from 800 to 2000
      • Explosion radius decreased
  • A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower
    • Reduced charge-up shots cooldown from 3 to 1 sec
    • Cooldown reduced from 150 to 120 sec
    • Lifetime reduced from 180 to 150 sec
  • FX-12 Shield Generator Relay
    • Removed charge delay between damage taken
    • Increased charge rate from 300 to 400 health/sec
    • Radius increased from 8 to 15m
    • Once the shield is down, it will no longer regenerate

Gameplay

Patrol Spawning:

Before the patch, once the mission was completed before extraction, we significantly increased patrol spawns across the entire map. Now, the increased patrol spawns are concentrated around the extraction site, with more patrols appearing the closer you are to it. This change should make patrol spawning feel more logical and reduce the penalty for players who complete the mission but still want to explore the map or collect samples. Please let us know if you still experience issues with the patrol spawning!

Terminids

  • Bile Spewers
    • Legs’ health reduced from 300 to 200
  • Nursing Spewers
    • Legs’ health reduced from 300 to 200
  • Hunters
    • Have a short shared area cooldown for their pounce ability
    • Can now totally blow up if affected by enough damage
  • Scavengers
    • Can blow up if affected with enough damage

Automatons for Helldivers 2 Patch Update

  • Automaton Targeting
    • Some enemies were able to shoot at you without needing proper line of sight, which caused them to fire into or through walls, track you even when hidden, and ignore smoke effects. We’ve addressed these issues, so now you should be able to use stealth more effectively against the Automatons, and they won’t be able to shoot through walls or see you when they shouldn’t. Please let us know if you still encounter issues like these!
  • Automaton projectiles
    • Normal small projectiles damage reduced from 40 to 35
      • Used by enemies like the Devastators, Emplacements and Conscripts
    • Heavy projectiles damage reduced from 65 to 60
      • Used by enemies like the Heavy Emplacements and Scout Striders
  • Hulk Bruiser
    • In response to their disapproval of a newly installed cannon on the Automaton Hulk Bruisers, Super Earth High Command sent a crack commando to sabotage their production facilities. The skilled operative promptly escaped into the shadows after completing their mission. Today, still wanted by the Automatons, they survive as a soldier of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can enlist… John Helldiver
      • As a result the Automatons had to revert back to using rocket launchers for their Hulk Bruisers
  • All Devastators
    • Head armor decreased from 2 to 1
      • Head health increased from 100 to 110
  • Berserkers
    • Head health decreased from 125 to 110
  • Heavy Devastator
    • The pause between their salvos has been slightly increased, providing Helldivers with a better opportunity to counterattack
  • All Tanks
    • Front armor reduced from 6 to 5
      • Our previous tweak didn’t have the intended effect on gameplay that we expected so we’ve reverted this back
    • The rear weak spots of the Tank’s body now have their own health pool, which matches the Tank’s previous total health. Once this health pool is depleted, the Tank will be destroyed. Additionally, these weak spots also deal 150% damage to the Tank’s main health
  • Annihilator Tank Turrets
    • The rear weak spots of the Tank’s body now have their own health pool, which matches the Tank’s previous total health. Once this health pool is depleted, the Tank will be destroyed. Additionally, these weak spots also deal 200% damage to the Tank’s main health
  • Shredder Tank Turrets
    • The rear weak spots of the Tank’s body now have their own health pool, which matches the Tank’s previous total health. Once this health pool is depleted, the Tank will be destroyed. Additionally, these weak spots also deal 200% damage to the Tank’s main health
  • Barrager Tank Turret
    • The Turret is now destroyed if the Tank body is destroyed

Fixes for this Helldivers 2 Patch Update

Resolved Top Priority issues:
  • Not enough enemies spawn to complete Eradicate missions
  • Some enemies were able to shoot at you without needing proper line of sight, which caused them to fire into or through walls, track you even when hidden, and ignore smoke effects
  • Patrol Spawning should now feel more logical and reduce the penalty for players who complete the mission but still want to explore the map or collect samples
Crash Fixes and Soft-locks:
  • Fixed crash that could occur when getting knock backed while wearing the energy shield backpack
  • Fixed potential crash when a peer leaves with unique armor customization
  • Various crash fixes
Miscellaneous Fixes
  • Fixed bug where helldivers wearing heavy armors would be immune to gas status effect

Known Issues

These are issues that were either introduced by this Helldivers 2 patch update and are being worked on, or are from a previous version and have not yet been fixed.
 
Top Priority:
  • The hive breaker drill may be inaccessible when called in
  • Players may not receive Friend Requests sent from another platform
  • Terminals may lose functionality blocking completion of a mission
  • Social menu is stuck on ‘Please Wait Democratically’ for some players
  • Title may crash during intro cinematic or title screen
  • Friends “Invite only” games can still be seen on the Galactic War Map but cannot be joined
Medium Priority:
  • Players are unable to shoot properly while in the air using a jetpack
  • Stratagem balls bounce unpredictably off cliffs and some spots
  • Some Eagle Stratagems may not drop when deployed on a swamp planet
  • Reinforcement may not be available for players who join a game in progress
  • Pelican-1 may sometimes be launched away if hit with an impaler tentacle
  • Supply packs may be incorrectly used if pressing down on a controller while calling in a stratagem
  • High-damage weapons will not detonate hellbombs already present on the map
  • Some enemies that bleed out do not progress Personal Orders and Eradicate missions
  • QWERTY keyboard numpad bindings do not save correctly after the Title restart

What’s Next for Helldivers 2?

An image of a patriotic salute by a Helldiver for the Helldivers 2 Patch update article.

Now that the 60-day Plan Helldivers 2 Patch update is out, players are wondering what’s next for Helldivers 2. While this update has made the game easier and more accessible, Arrowhead still has the challenge of creating more balanced harder difficulties. Right now, the game allows you to mow down hordes with ease, but maintaining that satisfying action while keeping the challenge alive will be their next hurdle.

If you’re eager to test out the new changes, now’s the time to jump back in. With the improvements to loadouts, weapons, and armor, Helldivers 2 offers an even more dynamic experience. The next time you drop into a mission, don’t forget to equip that P-4 Senator and see just how much it can do.

For more news, updates, and patch breakdowns, be sure to check out GameEels! Keep diving, Helldiver!

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