For experienced players in Helldivers 2, this may be common knowledge. But for newcomers getting started, this critical information to have before committing to higher difficulties.
Extraction Shuttle
The extraction shuttle is a core part of the game. Finish the objective, call down the shuttle. There are a few things to know about the shuttle.
The shuttle can only be called down when:
- Manually by players, after the objective is completed or failed.
- Automatically after the mission timer runs out.
When called down manually, the shuttle will (depending on difficulty / boosters selected) be called down in 1-3 minutes. It will land on the landing pad and sit there until the mission timer runs out, or until a player boards it.
When any single player boards the shuttle, it begins a 20 second countdown to takeoff, and depletes all extra lives left for the mission. Getting on the shuttle too soon can doom your teammates if they’re too far away. A player that dies after this countdown begins will not be able to be extracted.
When the shuttle is called down automatically after the mission timer expires, as soon as the shuttle lands it will start the 20 second countdown to takeoff, regardless of if any players are on it.
Squad Goals
Many players have different goals when playing the game. It’s important to know what the goal of your group is.
If you’re with a completionist group wanting to explore every POI on the map, finish every side objective, and push the time limit of the mission, that means absolutely no early extraction, and a 40 minute long session.
Or you may be with a casual group that takes out side objectives along the way, does the main objective and extracts. If they run into a POI along the way, that’s a convenience, but not a part of their routine.
Then there are dedicated farming groups. Whether that’s sample farming, super credit farming, or rapidly finishing the objective to farm experience (which levels up your equipped weapons, unlocking further customization).
Knowing which group you’re playing with is extremely important, as you’ll know what to expect. We definitely recommend finding a team to play with by joining the Official Helldivers 2 Discord and checking out the LFG channel.
The reason this is extremely important is because of that aforementioned bit about the extraction shuttle. Some players will preemptively extract, leaving you (and your samples) planetside. Others can be extremely toxic about not finishing all of the objectives. This usually only happens through random matchmaking, as we’ve never had a bad experience with people from the Discord.
Which Warbond to get first?
Every Warbond is different. We’ve put together a full tier list with a breakdown for each of our top picks.
Top Warbond Recommendations: Democratic Detonation, Urban Legends, Freedom’s Flame, and Polar Patriots.
Environmental Conditions
Certain planets feature unique environmental conditions that can significantly impact gameplay. These include Tremors, which are earthquakes that stun both players and enemies, Fire Tornadoes, Meteor Storms, Ion Storms that disable all Stratagems, as well as Sandstorms and Blizzards that drastically reduce visibility. Each planet is different, making it crucial to understand the conditions you will encounter before diving in.
When you hover over a planet, you can check the bottom right corner to see what effects are enabled for that mission.
It’s important to note that the difficulty can adjust what effects are enabled for the mission.
Operation Modifiers
Operation Modifiers aren’t exclusive to a planet, instead they depend on the difficulty.
There are only a few Operation Modifiers currently in game.
- Complex Stratagem Plotting – Stratagem Call-in time increased by 50%.
- Orbital Fluctuations – Stratagem cooldown increased by 25%.
- Poor Intel – Objective locations are hidden.
- Civilians and SEAF in Area – SEAF Soldier squads and Civilians are both on the battlefield.
Faction-Based Operation Modifiers
- Terminids: Atmospheric Spores – Map obscured by Bug Spores.
- Terminids: Roaming Shriekers – Flying Shrieker swarms traverse the battlefield.
- Automaton: Gunship Patrols – Flying Gunships patrol the battlefield.
- Illuminate: Leviathan Blockade – Flying Leviathan warships patrol the battlefield.