G-123 Thermite — Helldivers 2 weapon guide

The G-123 Thermite is a special adhesive throwable that sticks to whatever it hits, burns for a few seconds, then detonates in a massive explosion. It's designed as an anti-vehicle / hard-target tool with a heavy delayed payoff — great when you can stick it to the right spot and guaranteed death when the timing and placement line up.

Quick facts & primary stats

• Type: Special Throwable (adhesive thermite grenade)
• Fuse (burn) time: 2.9 seconds before DOT begins, burns for 6.5 seconds total
• Thermite DOT: 150 fire damage per second for 6.5 s (≈975 fire)
• Explosion damage (inner): 2000 explosion damage
• Approximate total damage (thermite + explosion): 2,975 (per in-game stat block)
• Penetration: Anti-Tank III on direct hits / inner AoE; outer AoE values drop to Anti-Tank II or Heavy depending on angle
• Inner AoE radius: ~1.5 m; outer AoE radius: ~2–2.5 m; shockwave up to 4 m
• Stagger / demolition: strong AoE demolition (demolition force up to 30 in AoE)
• Carry capacity: 3 thermites by default (Engineering Kit passive adds +2 capacity, effectively increasing to 5)
• Procurement: 15 Medals (Democratic Detonation Premium Warbond first page)

What the numbers mean

Throw one G-123 at a target and it sticks. While it burns, the target takes high DPS fire damage, and after the burn it detonates with a huge explosion. If you manage to stick it on vulnerable main components (vehicle body, turret main, etc.) the combined damage will usually destroy most non-boss enemies. The sticky nature makes it useful against tanks, fabricators and stationary mechanical targets — as long as it actually adheres.

Strengths

• Massive single-target punch: when it sticks to the right spot, the final explosion plus DOT will one-shot or severely cripple most armored enemies.
• Anti-tank penetration: inner blast has Anti-Tank III penetration — very effective vs armored components.
• Sticky — hits moving, irregular geometry and structures that normal grenades might bounce off.
• Good demolition: high demolition force and AoE makes it capable of destroying buildings, Bug Holes, or objective devices when used correctly.
• Synergy with Engineering Kit: extra grenade capacity means you can carry more Thermites for demolition runs.

Weaknesses

• Long effective wait: the weapon relies on >6s of burn before the big explosion. It's not an instant anti-tank answer like disposable EATs.
• Misses and bounces: Thermite can unpredictably bounce off hard surfaces or fail to stick to some targets (Scout Striders, fast/cylindrical parts).
• Friendly fire risk: 2–3 m blast radius can injure or kill allied Helldivers standing too close.
• Dangerous on fast targets: stuck thermite on a moving enemy can detonate near you or teammates if the target moves close.
• Cooking is fatal: holding (cooking) before throwing causes you to drop the burning thermite at your feet; do not cook.
• Limited quantity: three default thermites means limited uses per drop if you don't have grenade capacity passives.

Practical use cases

• Taking down enemy vehicles (Annihilator, Factory Strider, tank chassis) when you can stick a Thermite on the main component or turret.
• Destroying key mission structures like Automaton Fabricators or grounded Warp Ship components — Thermite will ignore many shields if placed correctly.
• Clearing Bug Holes or other destructible cover when precision placement is possible.
• Finishing off high-HP targets that survived other volleys — stick and wait, then capitalize on explosion.
• PvE crowd control is possible but risky because of friendly damage; prioritize single high-value targets.

In tougher missions where vehicle armor or structure health becomes a real obstacle, having the right tools on hand makes a big difference. If you need reliable gear support, you can buy helldivers 2 items from U4GM to round out your loadout and stay prepared for higher-tier engagements.

Common mistakes and safety tips

• Don't “cook” Thermite — the animation looks like spikes deploy, but if you let the thermite start burning while you're still holding it, you will drop it and suffer constant burn damage; this is deadly.
• Avoid throwing Thermite in tightly clustered friendly positions. Call out your throw so teammates can back off.
• Don't rely on Thermite as your only anti-armor tool. It's situational; pair it with instant anti-tank options for emergencies.
• Aim for the “Main” part of the vehicle (body/turret main) — damage applies directly to main health pools, so placement matters more than lucky hits on appendages.

Build guide — loadouts and playstyles that make Thermite shine

Primary goal: get the Thermite on the right component, survive its burn duration, and collect the reward (target dies or is disabled).

Recommended perks / stratagems:

• Engineering Kit (armor passive) — high priority. +2 grenade capacity (66.7% increase) lets you carry more thermite and other grenades; excellent synergy.
• Anti-Armor backup: carry at least one instant anti-tank stratagem (EAT-17 expendable or heavier ordnance) for situations where you can't afford to wait.
• Mobility/escape: personal dash or defensive perk (if available) so you can place thermite, retreat, and avoid its blast if it detonates unpredictably.
• Team stratagem coordination: have a teammate with heavy direct-damage tools (AT rockets, railguns, Strafing) to soften targets so your Thermite finish is cleaner.
• Ammo/secondary: choose a reliable primary with armor penetration to help you keep a target busy while Thermite burns (AP rifle or cannon).

Tactics:

• Close the distance safely, stick the Thermite to the main body, back out 3–4 m, and wait for the burn to finish. Coordinate with team to not shoot the attached target in a way that dislodges or cancels the adhesion.
• For stationary targets (fabricators, grounded warp ship), throw from a safe angle that maximizes sticking probability (avoid glancing blows).
• Use Thermite when you have control of the engagement area so teammates aren't in blast radius when it detonates.
• Against fast or flying targets, aim for predictably slow parts (turrets, legs during attack animations). If the target moves too much, Thermite risk outweighs reward.
• Combine Thermite with suppression (stuns, EMP) to keep targets in-place for the burn duration.

Reviews — player impressions and meta role

Players who favor planned, surgical plays tend to love Thermite. It's immensely satisfying to stick a thermite onto a big target and watch it melt and explode. In coordinated squads, Thermite is a high-value tool for objective destruction and anti-vehicle work.

However, in pickup or chaotic runs it's often frustrating: missed sticks, friendly casualties, and long waits make it less forgiving than instant anti-tank options. Many players treat Thermite as a niche specialist tool — bring it when you can commit to placement and timing, but don't expect it to bail you out in frantic firefights.

When to pick Thermite (short checklist)

• The mission will have armored targets or important destructible objectives.
• Your squad can provide space/time for the burn to finish.
• You have Engineering Kit or other ways to boost grenade count.
• You're confident in placement or have teammates to pin the target.

Advanced tips & quirks

• Thermites can transfer between two living targets if they touch; use this to chain damage (but be careful — chain transfers are unpredictable).
• It will stick to structures and will destroy certain objectives even through shields when placed correctly.
• Visual “spikes deploy” animation does not require cooking — you can throw immediately without holding to get adhesion. In fact, throwing immediately is safer.
• Factory Strider can be hard to kill due to its burn hit spot; aim for main engine/body rather than peripheral armor.
• Thermite can be used as a deterrent: stick one on a vehicle to force it off objective or to slow enemy pushes.

G-123 Thermite is a high-risk, high-reward tool. In the right hands and with proper coordination it's one of the most satisfying anti-vehicle and demolition tools in Helldivers 2. It rewards planning, patience and placement more than raw reaction speed. If you prefer fast, immediate anti-armor answers you'll probably keep an EAT or rocket; if you enjoy surgical takedowns and mission-level demolition, Thermite is a fantastic specialized choice. Always respect the fuse, don't cook, and call your shot to teammates.

Summary

The G-123 Thermite sticks, burns, and then detonates with huge explosion and Anti-Tank penetration. It deals heavy DOT and a massive explosion that can obliterate vehicles and mission objects when placed on main components. Its main advantages are raw single-target destructive power and demolition utility; its disadvantages are long burn timing, unpredictable bounces, and friendly-fire risk. Use Engineering Kit to carry more, pair Thermite with instant anti-tank options for emergencies, and always prioritize safe placement and team communication. Don't cook it — throw it.