The best weapons for Automatons in Helldivers 2

The best weapons for Automatons in Helldivers 2 means a loadout full of explosive and energy options to deal with their armor. With devastating firepower and the ability to take a lot of hits without any damage, bots require very different tactics to the squishier bugs you can easily mow down. They're the tougher of the two factions, especially now they've received reinforcements from aerial Automaton Gunships and massive Factory Striders. 

But understanding Automaton weaknesses and which guns are best for exploiting them is imperative to helping you complete your Helldivers 2 missions with as few casualties as possible. Here are the best weapons to use in your loadout against Automatons, as well as some tips top defeat them.

Best weapons and loadouts for Automatons in Helldivers 2

Not all the best Helldivers 2 weapons and Stratagems are effective against the armor plating of the Automatons, so you'll need to plan your Helldivers 2 loadouts accordingly. Crucially, the bots are vulnerable to energy-based weaponry, but your team should bring a mix of explosive and armor-penetrating weapons to destroy all bots as easily as possible. 

Here are the best weapons and Stratagems for killing Automatons in Helldivers 2:

• Quasar Cannon: With infinite ammo, an exploding laser shot, and no backpack, the Quasar Cannon is undoubtedly one of the best anti-Automaton weapons available and fits nicely into you loadouts. It can destroy the deadly Gunships in a single shot, and many other bot types when focused on their weak points. Well-placed shots on vents can even destroy Fabricators!
• Spear: The lock-on capabilities and explosive power of the Spear make it an excellent anti-armor weapon, capable of destroying Helldivers 2 Tanks and even Fabricators. The Recoilless Rifle and Expendable Anti-Tank are excellent Spear substitutes too.
• Autocannon: The Autocannon is a versatile weapon that excels at sustained and explosive fire at range. The Laser Cannon also offers great sustained but focused firepower, and it doesn’t take up a backpack slot.
• Railgun: Use the Railgun in unsafe mode to maximize its power, making it great for easily bringing down Helldivers 2 Scout Striders, Devastators, and even Hulks. If you're under level 20, the Anti-Materiel Rifle Is a solid alternative.
• Stratagems: When it comes to non-support weapon Stratagems, you'll want to opt for the Orbital Railcannon Strike, Orbital Laser, or Eagle 500kg Bomb. All of them offer unrivalled power for single-target or area damage and can destroy structures too.

Helldivers 2 Automaton weaknesses and tips

There are loads of Automaton types, each with their own weapons, attack patterns, and behaviours which you can learn about in our Helldivers 2 enemies guide. However, if you're after some quick general tips to bear in mind when taking on the deadly robots, I've got you covered here.

• Automatons focus more on ranged attacks with lots of laser blasters, missiles, and explosive shots. This means you'll have to make use of far more protection, be it from physical cover or the Shield Generator Pack and Shield Generator Relay. Be aware of using flimsy buildings and objects as cover as powerful blasts or bulky bots can crash through them – try and use dense trees, rocks, or hills to break line-of-sight.
• Shooting at bots makes them less accurate, so spending a bit of ammo on suppressing fire, even if it does barely any damage, can be worthwhile. One of the best ways to do this is to use a one-handed weapon, such as the Redeemer machine pistol, and aim behind you as you're running away. Exploit this to protect teammates and yourself when reloading heavy weapons, healing, or repositioning.
• You can target the arms of larger Automatons, such as Helldivers 2 Devastators and Hulks, to disable their main weapons. In the case of Rocket Devastators, shoot their shoulder-mounted rocket pods.
• The weak point for most Automatons is their head or their rear heat sinks if they have them. For the smaller Automaton types, such as Helldivers 2 Troopers, Raiders, Marauders, Commissars, Berserkers, and Devastators, focus on their red, glowing eyes to easily hit their heads. Helldivers 2 Hulks can take heavy damage by targeting the red slit, but you can also focus on the orange heat sinks on their backs. For Tanks and Cannon Turrets, their only weak spot is the rear heat sink.
• Watch out for Cannon Turrets, which are common on high-difficulty missions. Cannon Turrets can snipe you from surprisingly far with explosive shots, so it's important that you destroy them quickly or work around them. The safest place is right next to one as they can't target you. From there, you can try to hit it with a Stratagem or shoot the heatsinks.
• Don't let Commissars and fire red flares into the sky as this calls in a Bot Drop. You really don't have much time to react if you see a robot load a flare, but you can save a lot of trouble if you are able to prevent reinforcements coming in. However, if you're suitably equipped with the Quasar Cannon, Spear, or similar, you can take down a dropship by shooting one of the four thrusters.

The main reason the Automatons are a tricky faction to deal with is that they fight very differently to the Helldivers 2 Terminids. Their ranged weaponry and armor mean they can feel quite unstoppable and can be tricky to deal with. You've got to come prepared and play a bit smarter by using cover, focusing key weak points, and using your movement to reposition or get the hell out. Above all, try not to let the Automatons march on your team and surround you entirely with Bot Drops, as this can lead to lots of reinforcements getting wasted.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.