If you've ever been knee-deep in bugs or dodging bot rockets while yelling at your squadmate to “call in the damn railgun already,” then you know how much stratagems define Helldivers 2. Picking the right tools makes the difference between a flawless op and a squad wipe. I've tested these across Super Samples, Eradicate missions, and late-game Boss Hunts—and here's the up-to-date tier list for 2025.

These are the ones I never leave orbit without. They're strong, reliable, and save runs on higher difficulties.
| Stratagem | Why It's S-Tier | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Railgun | Melts Chargers and Titans when charged properly. | Always bring for armored enemies. |
| Orbital Laser | Huge AoE, long duration. Clears swarms fast. | Bug Exterminations and Hold-the-Line missions. |
| Eagle 500kg Bomb | Drops a nuke on demand. | Boss fights or when you're outnumbered. |
| Recoilless Rifle | Quick-to-call and consistent anti-armor. | Best for squads with teamwork (needs loader). |
| Shield Generator Pack | Extra survivability when things go sideways. | Any difficulty 7+ run. |
| Quasar Cannon | Flexible heavy hitter with infinite ammo. | Soloing objectives or duo play. |
Step 1: Call in one heavy anti-armor option (Railgun, Quasar, or Recoilless).
Step 2: Pair with one AoE clearer (Orbital Laser or 500kg Bomb).
Step 3: Add a defensive option like Shield Generator for emergencies.
When I run these S-tier picks together, the game feels way smoother—less panic, more control. Railgun for armor, Orbital Laser for swarms, and Shield Pack for those “oh no” moments. If you want to speed up your grind and unlock these powerhouses faster, you can always buy helldivers 2 super credits and skip the wait.
Great picks if you build around them or know the mission type.
| Stratagem | Why It's A-Tier | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Expendable Anti-Tank (E.A.T.) | Fast cooldown, easy anti-armor throwaway. | Titan kills, drop-ship busting. |
| Autocannon | Reliable with loader support, good sustained DPS. | Defensive missions, escort ops. |
| Grenade Launcher | Clears groups fast but risks friendly fire. | Bug missions with tight chokepoints. |
| Orbital Gas Strike | Forces enemies into kill zones. | Bugs—pair with Napalm or Eagle strikes. |
| Patriot Exosuit | Tanky mobile firepower. | Bots and medium swarms. |
Tip: Combine E.A.T. with Orbital Laser for double Titan insurance.
I use these when I want variety, but they're often overshadowed.
| Stratagem | Why It's B-Tier | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Orbital Precision Strike | Fast cooldown, accurate, but weaker than laser. | Popping Bug Holes or AA Guns. |
| Stalwart | Solid sustained DPS, but weaker than Autocannon. | Early-game or filler. |
| Arc Thrower | Fun lightning chaos, but risky with friendly fire. | Swarms in open space. |
| 120mm HE Barrage | Good firepower, long cooldown. | Hold-the-Line ops. |
| Jump Pack | Great mobility, but eats up a strat slot. | Scout builds or solo runs. |
Step 1: Only bring one B-tier per loadout.
Step 2: Use them as fillers if squadmates already cover the S-tier tools.
Work in very specific setups, but usually outclassed.
| Stratagem | Why It's C-Tier | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Pack | Team ammo mule, but eats a slot. | Squad with lots of grenade launchers. |
| Orbital Gatling Barrage | Short cooldown, weak vs. bots. | Bug breaches. |
| Machine Gun Sentry | Okay fire support, easily destroyed. | Low-difficulty swarm missions. |
| Tesla Tower | Good defense, but situational. | Base defense missions. |
I never see these win games—too weak or too slow.
| Stratagem | Why It's D-Tier |
|---|---|
| Ballistic Shield Backpack | Just bad—slow and clunky. |
| Eagle Smoke Strike | Almost zero impact. |
| Orbital Smoke Strike | Waste of a slot. |
For Bugs (Super Earth 7+):
For Bots (Super Earth 7+):
For Mixed Missions (Random Queues):
If you want to survive the toughest missions in 2025, focus on a mix of anti-armor (Railgun, Quasar, Recoilless) and crowd control (Orbital Laser, 500kg Bomb, Napalm). Don't forget survivability—Shield Generator Pack is clutch. The rest? Fun for style points, but S and A tiers carry squads through Hell.
Now it's your turn—try swapping in one A-tier with your S-tier core and see how it fits your playstyle. Trust me, once you nail your stratagem combos, missions go from chaotic messes to smooth ops.