This Helldivers 2 Primary Weapons Tier List breaks down the best-performing guns against Illuminate, Terminids, and Automatons.

All picks are based on combat effectiveness, engagement range, and how each weapon handles faction-specific threats. This list is current for Patch 6.0.2.

If your rifle feels underpowered lately, you are not imagining it. Patch 6.0.2 reshuffled the weapon balance, and the new Illuminate faction forced a rethink.

We tested and compared all the major primaries to see what still works, what dropped off, and what dominates depending on who you are fighting.

How This Tier List Was Built

Raw DPS is not enough. Plenty of weapons look good on paper but fall short in real fights. Some miss too often, some cannot stagger targets, and some break down under pressure. This list is based on how well each gun performs against each faction in live conditions.

Weapon effectiveness depends on who you are facing. Terminids and Illuminate rush you at close to mid range, so splash and crowd control are critical. Automatons come shielded and shoot from distance, so you need penetration and precision. A shotgun can save you in a cave but is nearly worthless against snipers or bots.

Every weapon here is viable in the right hands. The goal is not to tell you what not to use. It is to highlight what works best now. If you already have a loadout that works, keep it. If you are looking for an upgrade, start here.

Best Primary Weapons Against Illuminate

Illuminate forces rely on teleportation, energy shields, and group pressure. You need weapons that break shields and clear clusters fast.

S-Tier

  • PLAS-101 Purifier: High stagger and splash damage, great against Squid rushes
  • AR-2 Coyote: Reliable at mid range, strong against elites
  • ARC-12 Blitzer: Wild recoil, but huge AoE if you can aim the arcs
  • SG-8P Punisher Plasma: Shield-penetrating plasma with cleave, good for crowds

Helldivers S Tier Weapons vs Illuminate

A-Tier

  • CB-9 Explosive Crossbow: Slow, but high burst on single targets
  • R-36 Eruptor: Wide damage radius, works well on shielded enemies

Helldivers A Tier Weapons vs Illuminate

Stun builds fall short here. Illuminate enemies resist stagger, so pure damage and splash yield better results.

Best Primary Weapons Against Terminids

Terminids are all about swarm pressure. Fast, numerous, and brutal in close quarters. Splash and burn matter most.

S-Tier

  • DBS-2 Double Freedom: Tight spread, solid reload, fire ammo
  • SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary: Burns everything and blocks paths
  • AR-2 Coyote: Flexible, with good stagger even on tougher bugs

Helldivers 2 S Tier Weapons vs Terminids

A-Tier

  • MP-98 Knight: Steady damage, good synergy with sidearms
  • JAR-5 Dominator: Hybrid role, decent penetration, good stagger

Helldivers 2 A Tier Weapons vs Terminids

Fire effects stall swarm advances, giving you time to reload or reposition.

Best Primary Weapons Against Automatons

Automatons bring armor, shields, and long-range firepower. You need guns that hit hard and don’t waste time bouncing off plating.

S-Tier

  • R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper: Built for distance. Reliable against sniper units and commanders. If you can aim, it delivers.
  • PLAS-1 Scorcher: Plasma splash goes right through shields and punishes grouped enemies. One of the few primaries that stays useful under pressure.

Helldivers 2 S Tier Weapons vs Automatons

A-Tier

  • SG-8 Punisher Plasma: Solid fallback when anti-tank stratagems are down. Stagger and splash help control flanks, but it won’t carry a full squad.
  • PLAS-101 Purifier: Drops off at range, but paired with someone who can follow up, it gets the job done. Still better than most against shielded targets.

Helldivers 2 A Tier Weapons vs Automatons

SMGs and shotguns just don’t hold up unless your build is built around absorbing damage. If you can’t close the gap safely, leave them behind.

Attachments, Weapon Stats, and What Holds Some Guns Back

Attachments are a major power factor. A basic gun can become much stronger with the right scope, stabilizer, or mag.

But some weapons lack support entirely. Guns like the MA5C, StA-52, or M90A hit a ceiling early. Without mod slots, they do not scale into tougher content.

Important Stats

  • DPS: Great for clearing swarms fast, but numbers alone don’t show how a weapon performs in real fights.
  • Armor Penetration: Medium is a safe, reliable choice for most encounters.
  • Stagger: Often overlooked, but stopping enemy momentum can save your run.
  • Explosive: Strong against groups and useful for working around resistances.

The PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle looks great on paper thanks to its high DPS, but with no attachment support and long cooldowns between bursts, it’s easy to mess up your timing. Unless you’re landing every shot, it can feel clunky.

Compare that to the Breaker Incendiary. Lower DPS, sure, but it’s more forgiving, easier to control, and way better at handling pressure.

Balance Changes and Evolving Strategies

Weapon balance is still changing with each patch. This list is based on Patch 6.0.2 as of February 2026. Guns like the VG-70 Variable and R-2124 Constitution are gaining interest, but they haven’t proven reliable across all factions yet. Some players swear by them. Others bench them. For now, they’re wild cards.

Updates will follow as the meta evolves. For now, these are the weapons that hold up in actual missions, not just on spreadsheets.

Stay sharp, stay adaptable, and swap gear when the front lines shift. The war is always changing, so your loadout should too.