The Illuminate has finally arrived in Helldivers 2, with the faction's surprise shadow drop at The Game Awards leading to a brutal invasion of the colony world of Calypso. Offering a unique challenge unlike anything the Terminids or Automatons have thrown at Super Earth forces thus far, the squid-like aliens and their hordes of zombified "Voteless" humans have proven to be a grave threat. However, well over one million brave Helldivers jumped into the co-op shooter during their opening weekend, skyrocketing the game to the stop of Steam charts and ultimately completing the Major Order to save Calypso.
My friends and I were amongst the countless fireteams battling the menace in Calypso's streets around the clock, and as we fought, we extensively tested out a variety of different weapons, stratagems, and other equipment considerations. With that in mind, I thought I'd share what's become my go-to loadout against the Illuminate for most missions, along with some tips on how to use it and why I prefer it over other options:
