The first major balance patch for Helldivers 2 just dropped, adding some dangerous planetary hazards, as well as nerfing some of the game’s most popular loadouts. Here’s what you need to know.
Helldivers 2’s patch 01.000.100 has introduced various balance changes to the game. Additionally, it includes some new Planetary Hazards and a host of bug fixes across the board. The balance update aims to address some of the game’s meta loadouts as a way to encourage players to try out more weapons and Stratagems at higher difficulties. The patch is now available on PC and will drop on PS5 shortly. Read on to find out all the juicy details!
Helldivers 2 Patch Balances Weapons & Adds Planetary Hazards
Patch 01.000.100 for Helldivers 2 aims to address balancing for weapons, Stratagems, and the previously farmable Eradicate missions. It also adds Planetary Hazards and a variety of bug fixes. It’s currently out on PC and will drop very soon for PS5 users.
The most prominent changes this patch brings to Helldivers 2 are the balancing adjustments to some of the game’s most popular weapons and Stratagems. Some seem to believe this will make the game harder. Most notably, the Railgun and Breaker Shotgun weapons and the personal Energy Shield Backpack received heavy nerfs to encourage the use of other loadouts. The Breaker Shotgun has a reduced magazine capacity and increased recoil after the update, while the Railgun is now much less effective at taking on armored targets. Similarly, the Energy Shield Backpack has increased its delay before recharging.
Before the update, running a loadout with these weapons and Stratagems was seen as the meta. It was a great all-rounder that packed a serious punch and allowed players to survive for longer at higher difficulties. Post-patch, this likely will no longer be the case. That’s not to say that the build won’t be viable; it just won’t be anywhere near as strong as it once was. Arrowhead Game Studios wants you to try other builds and hopes these changes will encourage that.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Some of the game’s most underpowered weapons received sizable buffs in the new update. This includes buffs to the Flamethrower and the Laser Cannon, which may make them more viable to take out in the field. It seems like you’ll need more options, as the popular Medal farming method of running Eradicate missions has been nerfed. Now, you’ll need to kill many more enemies, and the time to complete them will be twice as long. Ouch.
Lastly, the new patch will add more Planetary Hazards to the game. The patch notes refer to these as extra “environmental challenges” that will appear randomly while playing. These include fire tornadoes and meteor showers, with more not yet revealed. To get a complete list of all the updates and bug fixes that are part of the patch, check out the official Helldivers 2 patch notes here.
That’s everything you need to know about patch 01.000.100 for Helldivers 2. For more on the game, feel free to check out our Guide Hub.