Oh good, Helldivers 2's new Automaton Gunships are very real and here to obliterate Super Earth’s forces from the skies

GamesActionHelldivers 2Oh good, Helldivers 2’s new Automaton Gunships are very real and here to obliterate Super Earth’s forces from the skiesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesActionHelldivers 2Oh good, Helldivers 2’s new Automaton Gunships are very real and here to obliterate Super Earth’s forces from the skiesWhen 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: Arrowhead)

Helldivers 2

Much to the detriment of Super Earth’s forces,Helldivers 2players are now contending with deadly Automaton Gunships.

A few short hours ago,Helldivers 2 players began spotting huge cloaked Gunships in the skies above the Automaton worlds. Now, unfortunately, brand newHelldivers 2 Automaton Gunshipsare pummelling players into the ground as they’re unleashing volleys of laser cannons, making battles a living hell.

We’ve seen the new flying Gunships for ourselves, and they look like a brutal combination of Hulks and airships - bringing both laser guns and missiles to bear against players. They also boast great armor, so you’ll need excellent armor-piercing shots from Stratagem weapons to take the gunships down.

Making matters worse, the Gunships also pinpoint your location with a huge red laser. They scan the Automaton worlds beneath them while combing the planet, searching for Super Earth soldiers to obliterate, so if you find a red laser tracking your Helldiver, run like hell.

Making matters worse is the fact that the Gunships are relatively high up in the air - in short, primary weapons just aren’t going to take them down. If you’re running in a squad of four, we’d highly recommend at least one player take the Spear Stratagem into battle with you as a reliable anti-gunship measure.

Mercifully, Game Master Joel has seemingly made the Expendable Anti-Tank Stratagem free for all Helldivers 2 players to use for a limited time. Even if you haven’t unlocked the weapon, you can now gain access to it in missions, which should help players deal with the new Gunships.

For a lovely look at how horrible the new Gunships are, look no further than the clip below. “I guess when you’re on the brink of extinction, you pull out the big guns…literally,” writes one comment, referencing the Automatons losing ground to Super Earth’s forces. As a famous line in Star Wars Episode 9: Rise of Skywalker read: “They fly now!”

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This isn’t to say that these new Gunships are the same ones that players have reported seeing cloaked above planets over the last day, however. It’s clear that those Automaton ships are far bigger than the new Gunships we’re dealing with on Automaton planets now, which means Arrowhead could well have another nasty surprise in store further down the line.

ConsideringHelldivers 2 players have just been celebrating conquering the infamous Malevelon Creekafter many months of fighting, Arrowhead clapping back at players felt somewhat inevitable. We’ll have to wait and see how the game’s player base reacts to the new Gunships - Arrowhead has never been averse to tweaking and changing enemies based on player feedback, so look for this to continue here.

Check out our latestHelldivers 2 weaponsguide for a full look at our complete tier list for every gun and Stratagem.

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

1

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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1

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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