Helldivers 2 offers a pretty substantial list of weapons right now, just a few weeks after its launch. And with more Helldivers 2 weapons likely to be added with free post-launch updates, your arsenal will only get bigger. But, which of the guns available currently are worth grabbing and spending Medals on? After a few hours with the game, we have put together a solid initial list of the best weapons in Helldivers 2 that will ensure you are able to fight for democracy and make it back to your ship alive.

Best Guns in Helldivers 2 - Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns¶

The best weapons in Helldivers 2 are:

• SG-225 Breaker - best shotgun
• AR-23P Liberator Penetrator - best assault rifle
• LAS-5 Scythe - best energy-based weapon
• JAR-5 Dominator - best explosive weapon
• P-19 Redeemer - best pistol
• G-12 High Explosive - best grenade
• Railgun - best heavy weapon
• Flamethrower - best group-damage weapon

SG-225 Breaker¶

Quite simply, the best weapon in Helldivers 2 right now is the SG-225 Breaker. This shotgun can be unlocked quite early on and does significant, sustained damage thanks to it being an automatic weapon. It has a solid amount of shots in each magazine, even afte rthe latest nerf, good reserves, and a decent damage fall-off so you can actually wipe out enemies from quite far away.

This gives the Breaker an unparalleled level of flexibility that just isn’t matched by any other weapon right now. You will have to compensate for the high recoil the shotgun now has after the last patch, but it is still quite strong.

AR-23P Liberator Penetrator¶

The AR-23 is a solid assault rifle on its own. However, the Liberator Penetrator variant gives you a nice upgrade in the form of its trait: Medium Armor Piercing. This allows you to smash right through the outer armor shells of many of the tougher Terminids and Automatons, doing more damage than if you were using the base variant.

Assault rifles are one of the most consistent weapon types in the game right now, capable at all ranges, and being able to match that flexibility with strong damage is a huge asset for your team, especially if you prefer playing from range too.

LAS-5 Sycthe¶

The LAS-5 Scythe has been the talk of Super Earth since its launch thanks to its strong damage output. It is one of the highest-damage weapons in the game (outside of a shotgun) and can stun enemies instantly, dealing damage and also burning them. As such, it is particularly strong against the Terminids, piercing their armor and melting it away.

However, the weapon does have a higher skill ceiling, which means you will have to learn how it behaves and the best range to use it at, which is from medium to long range. It also pairs well with a machine gun, to cover those close-range fights or take on hordes, while the Scythe is used for single-target damage.

JAR-5 Dominator¶

While you will have to spend a long time ranking up the Steeled Veterans Warbond, the JAR-5 Redeemer is by far one of the best weapons in the game right now. Being the only explosive weapon, it can completely obliterate hordes of Terminids and also penetrate armor well thanks to its trait. Its capacity is a little low, however, it works excellently with the Railgun, allowing you to pick people off at long range and combine it with the explosive capabilities of the JAR-5.

Just watch out and be aware that the explosions can also kill your fellow Helldivers.

P-19 Redeemer¶

There aren’t that many secondary weapons in the game right now, but the P-19 Redeemer is by far the best option. With solid damage against low-health Terminids and Automatons, it can wipe out a horde quickly if you are being chased.

It has a limited effective range, so you can’t pick enemies off from afar - plus its magazine reserve size is small. However, as a backup choice for when you are in a pinch, there isn’t much better.

G-12 High Explosive¶

Despite offering several grenade options in the game, the initial grenade you get in Helldivers 2 is still the best option. This high-impact explosive has a mix of the best damage, strong armor penetration, and a middling fuse time. It can be a great addition to almost any loadout in the game.

Railgun¶

The Railgun is still quite strong compared to all the other support weapons in the game. It is one of the last unlocks for a reason and that is because it does an insane amount of damage, has a lot of shots in its reserves, and is usable at both close and long-range. It effectively acts like a super-powered shotgun with no range limit on the shots. The Railgun is capable of piercing through most armor, dealing substantial damage to Helldivers 2’s Chargers, Bile Titans, and Tanks. The latest patch has nerfed its penetration slightly in the safe mode, however it is still quite strong.

Additionally, it comes with a ‘Unsafe’ mode you can toggle in which can substantially increase the damage of your shots. However, charge a shot too much and you will kill yourself, so you do have to take into account how much health you have. While the Machine Gun, Flamethrower, and other support weapons are solid options, nothing quite matches what the Railgun is capable of in the game right now.

Flamethrower¶

After the latest update, the Flamethrower has become easily the best crowd-control weapon in the game. It now shoots 50% faster which is a huge boost, and is therefore able to kill enemies a lot faster. The Flamethrower is best used against the Terminids, rather than the Automatons, and used to take on swarms of bugs rather than any of the larger bosses and enemies.

Additionally, it has solid reserves meaning you can spread democracy easily and often!

That covers our picks for the best weapons in Helldivers 2. If you want to learn more about the best support weapon stratagems, see our Best Support Weapons page!