Image: Arrowhead Game Studios
Helldivers 2’s second major patch has arrived with a raised level cap, multiple balance changes and new Automaton enemies.
Arrowhead Game Studios has released a new patch for Helldivers 2, bumping up its level cap significantly and adding various balance updates, new planetary hazards and more. The update has also sneakily added all-new Automaton enemies, which are now showing up unannounced during matches to give players a hard time.
Malevelon Creek might have been liberated from the Automatons, but it looks like these machines are just getting started.
Helldivers 2 raises level cap and adds new enemies
Patch 01.000.200 has dropped for Helldivers 2 on PlayStation 5 and Steam, immediately raising players’ level cap from 50 to 150. It doesn’t look like the increased level cap comes with any additional rewards, so the satisfaction of grinding your way to the top will have to suffice. Two new planetary hazards will also now show up during certain matches: blizzards and sandstorms.
There are a few balance changes to look out for too. Civilian defence missions are going to be a little easier, with enemies now spawning further away from the objective to give you more time to prepare. Higher difficulties will demand for less priority civilians to reach the shuttle. Operation modifiers that increase stratagem cooldowns or call in times have had their negative effects halved, making things a lot easier for anyone dealing with these often annoying modifiers.
Weapons like the arc thrower, anti-material rifle and diligence counter sniper have been slightly buffed, making them a little more viable for use in combat without pushing them into the meta too aggressively. The mechs have been nerfed, with their missiles now penetrating armour only on direct hits. Heavy and medium armour are also getting buffed up, with a 10% and 5% boost respectively. You can find the full patch notes here.
If you’re dropping into this update, you might also want to keep an eye out for some surprising new enemies on the battlefield. Players are now reporting two new types of enemies appearing on Automaton planets specifically, with one being an AT-AT-like Factory Strider and the other being a flying Automaton. That’s right - they fly now.
The Factory Strider is a much more serious threat, taking the form of a massive four-legged machine armed with laser cannons, miniguns and a factory that churns out Devastators on the move - making it a walking robot factory armed to the teeth with weaponry. The gunships might be more annoying for some, however, as they throw down enemy fire from above and move around quickly. These flying automatons fly around in packs and fire both missiles and lasers.
Here’s a look at the Factory Strider:
And here are the gunships:
All that is to say: if you’re planning to take on an Automaton planet this week, good luck!
