-
A Guide to Damage and Armor in Helldivers 2
Understanding how damage works in Helldivers 2 is crucial for tackling higher difficulties efficiently. The system is more complex than it first appears, going beyond simple health bars. Here’s a breakdown based on community testing and common in-game experiences.
How is an Enemy’s Health Structured?
Enemies are not single health pools. Each creature is composed of multiple parts (limbs, armor plates, weak points), each with its own health, armor value, and sometimes a durability rating. There is also a central “Main” health pool. An enemy dies when either its Main health reaches zero or a critical, often fatal, part is destroyed.
For example, shooting a Berserker in its unarmored abdomen with a weapon like the JAR-5 Dominator transfers 100% of that damage to its Main health. However, destroying a Charger’s leg armor won’t kill it; you must then damage the exposed flesh underneath or deplete its Main health.
What is “Bleedout” or Constitution?
Once an enemy’s Main health is depleted, it enters a “downed” state and begins to bleed out. This is governed by a second health pool called Constitution, which decays at a fixed rate until the enemy dies. For instance, a Charger has 750 constitution that decays at 100hp/s after being downed.
Some parts, like Factory Strider legs, have constitution that does not decay. These must be fully destroyed with further damage, effectively acting as extra health.
How Do Armor and Penetration Work?
This is a core mechanic. Every enemy part has an Armor Value (AV 0-10). Every weapon has an Armor Penetration value (AP 0-10). The interaction is straightforward:
-
If your weapon’s AP is greater than the part’s AV, you deal 100% damage (red hit marker).
-
If your weapon’s AP equals the part’s AV, you deal 65% damage (white hit marker).
-
If your weapon’s AP is less than the part’s AV, you deal no damage (ricochet).
The angle of your shot also matters. A direct, head-on shot has the best penetration. Shooting at a severe angle can reduce your weapon’s effective AP, causing a ricochet on a surface you could normally penetrate.
Key Takeaway: Always match your weapon to the target. Using an AP2 weapon like a standard Liberator against an AV4 Charger’s front plate is useless. You must aim for its unarmored rear, use stratagems, or bring a heavier weapon.
What’s the Difference Between Standard and Durable Damage?
Many enemy parts, like the Charger’s butt or a Bile Titan’s sacs, have a “Durability” percentage. This determines how much of a weapon’s two damage values it receives:
-
Standard Damage: The normal damage value.
-
Durable Damage: A separate, often lower, value for resistant, fleshy parts.
A part with 80% durability takes 80% of its damage from your weapon’s Durable Damage stat and only 20% from its Standard Damage stat. This is why a high-damage rifle might feel weak against a Charger’s rear—its durable damage stat is low.
The Solution: Explosives. Explosive damage deals 100% durable damage, making weapons like the Grenade Launcher, Recoilless Rifle, or orbital strikes highly effective against these high-durability weak points.
How Do Explosives Function?
Explosives are powerful but have specific rules. They deal damage in two radii:
-
Inner Radius: Deals full damage, stagger, and armor penetration.
-
Outer Radius: Damage and penetration fall off linearly to zero.
Explosives can damage multiple parts at once. If the explosion hits a vulnerable part, the damage transferred to the Main health can sometimes ignore armor. However, many heavy enemy parts have Explosive Damage Resistance (ExDR) to mitigate this. Some are even completely immune.
A common tactic is to use an explosion to strip armor (like a Charger’s leg plate), then finish the exposed flesh with a primary weapon.
What About Destroying Structures and Objectives?
Destroying bug holes, fabricators, or other objectives uses a separate “Demolition Force” stat, not raw damage. Each structure has a threshold. If your explosion or weapon meets or exceeds that threshold, the structure is destroyed in one hit. Armor penetration is irrelevant here. This is why a single Grenade Launcher shot can destroy a bug hole, but dozens of rifle shots cannot.
What are Some Practical Tips for Players?
-
Identify Weak Points: Most players learn that for Chargers, it’s the back legs/butt; for Bile Titans, it’s the underbelly and mouth; for Hulks, it’s the heatsink on the back. Aim there.
-
Bring a Balanced Loadout: In general, a balanced team has someone who can handle heavy armor (with a Railgun, Recoilless, or Spear), someone for crowd control, and support stratagems.
-
Ammo Management: Heavy weapons often require a backpack (Support Weapon Backpack) for maximum ammo. Coordinate with your team.
-
Stagger is Key: Weapons and explosions that cause stagger can interrupt enemy attacks, buying crucial time. This is vital against packs of Berserkers or to stop a Bile Titan’s spray.
-
Unlocking Gear: Progressing through the Warbonds and earning Super Credits is the standard path. While some players might look for shortcuts and search for offers to buy Helldivers 2 medals online at U4N, the most reliable and intended method is simply to play the game, complete missions, and complete Personal Orders.
Focus on learning enemy armor layouts and bringing the right tools. Experiment with different weapons to find what works for your playstyle against each faction. Good luck, Helldiver.
u4n.com
Buy Helldivers 2 Items Online: Medals & Super Credits | U4N
Buy Helldivers 2 Medals & Super Credits instantly at U4N. Fast delivery, safe payments, cheap prices—level up your fight today!
-
-
0 Replies
Sorry, there were no replies found.