GamesHelldivers 2How to get Helldivers 2 Armor Piercing RoundsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesHelldivers 2How to get Helldivers 2 Armor Piercing RoundsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sony)

Helldivers 2 armor piercing rounds and weapons are essential for getting beyond the mid-game difficulties, with increasing amounts of enemies protecting themselves with armor plating of varying degrees. If you can’t handle armored foes you’re not likely to get very far as a champion of democracy, so we’ll explain Armor Piercing in Helldivers 2 and what weapons can and can’t get through enemy armor.Armor Piercing rounds in Helldivers 2 explained(Image credit: Sony)Armor Piercing in Helldivers 2 - called “Armor Penetrating” in game - comes in three varieties:Light Armor Penetrating:The standard level of armor piercing, all weapons and even melee attacks can do this. The name is a little misleading - this level doesn’t really break through armor at all.Medium Armor Penetrating:This level of armor piercing will break through some - but not all - tiers of armor, usually good for mid-level bots like theHelldivers 2 Devastators.Heavy Armor Penetrating:At time of writing there’s no weapon actually labelled as such, but there are nonetheless weapons designed to punch through heavy armor plating - normally some of the Stratagem-dependentHelldivers 2 best weaponslike the Autocannon and Railgun.More Helldivers 2 guidesHelldivers 2 tipsHelldivers 2 errors and server statusHelldivers 2 not getting rewards after missionTo be honest, there’s no standard Primary weapon inHelldivers 2that’s got really good armor penetration -it’s far better to rely on Stratagem weapons, airstrikes and explosives instead, while just using a primary you’re comfortable with to fight enemies covered in armor plating.How to kill armored enemies in Helldivers 2(Image credit: Sony)The more dangerous armored enemies in Helldivers 2 should not be shot with regular weapons - bullets can actually bounce off and ricochet into you or others. The process is as follows:Look for a weak spot (such as the vents on theHelldivers 2 Hulks) to target.If no weak spot is apparent, you’ll be able to use Armor Penetrating and explosive weapons to break the armor, like you can do on aHelldivers 2 Bile Titan.This should reveal soft meat beneath - you’ve effectively created a weak spot. Target this with everything you have.(Image credit: Sony)If you’re having a lot of trouble with armored enemies, here’s some Stratagems we suggest bringing into the field.Stratagem WeaponsRailgunAutocannonExpendable Anti-TankRecoilless RifleSpearGrenade LauncherAnti-Material RifleStratagem AirstrikesAny Orbital CannonEagle Cluster BombEagle AirstrikeEagle 110mm Rocket PodsEagle 500kg BombOrbital Precision StrikeAnti-Personnel Minefield© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission
Helldivers 2 armor piercing rounds and weapons are essential for getting beyond the mid-game difficulties, with increasing amounts of enemies protecting themselves with armor plating of varying degrees. If you can’t handle armored foes you’re not likely to get very far as a champion of democracy, so we’ll explain Armor Piercing in Helldivers 2 and what weapons can and can’t get through enemy armor.
Armor Piercing rounds in Helldivers 2 explained
(Image credit: Sony)

Armor Piercing in Helldivers 2 - called “Armor Penetrating” in game - comes in three varieties:
More Helldivers 2 guidesHelldivers 2 tipsHelldivers 2 errors and server statusHelldivers 2 not getting rewards after mission
More Helldivers 2 guides
Helldivers 2 tipsHelldivers 2 errors and server statusHelldivers 2 not getting rewards after mission
Helldivers 2 tipsHelldivers 2 errors and server statusHelldivers 2 not getting rewards after mission
To be honest, there’s no standard Primary weapon inHelldivers 2that’s got really good armor penetration -it’s far better to rely on Stratagem weapons, airstrikes and explosives instead, while just using a primary you’re comfortable with to fight enemies covered in armor plating.
How to kill armored enemies in Helldivers 2
(Image credit: Sony)

The more dangerous armored enemies in Helldivers 2 should not be shot with regular weapons - bullets can actually bounce off and ricochet into you or others. The process is as follows:
(Image credit: Sony)

If you’re having a lot of trouble with armored enemies, here’s some Stratagems we suggest bringing into the field.
© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission
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