Helldivers 2: Best Weapons Tier List & How to Get Them

There are 18 firearms in HD2, most of which can be unlocked by spending Medals. But I wouldn’t recommend purchasing all of them. Instead, here’s my tier list of the best weapons in Helldivers 2, including tips on how to get each of them.

What are the Best Weapons in Helldivers 2?

While I go into greater detail about each weapon I’ve chosen below, here’s a quick glance at the best weapons in Helldivers 2. My S-Tier includes the Sg-225 Breaker and the MP-98 Knight. My A-Tier list includes the P-19 Redeemer, the JAR-5 Dominator, and the SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary. Lastly, my B-Tier choices include the P-2 Peacemaker, R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper, and SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray.

Helldivers 2 S-Tier Weapons

SG-225 Breaker

• Weapon Type: Shotgun
• Damage: 330
• How to get the SG-225 Breaker: Purchase at Acquisitions for 20 Medals (Helldivers Mobilize Warbonds).

The SG-225 Breaker is a cheap but powerful automatic shotgun that takes my vote as the best weapon in Helldivers 2. It has the highest DPS of all weapons in the game, making it perfect for close and midrange encounters. I can easily penetrate light armor the weapon’s unique trait, Flechette Rounds. Typically, shotguns are slow to reload, but since the SG-225 Breaker has a magazine, I don’t need to reload every single shell, making it a balanced yet devastating option.

MP-98 Knight

• Weapon Type: SMG
• Damage: 50
• How to get: Pre-order bonus for Helldivers 2 Super Citizen Edition.

The MP-98 Knight is a weapon designed to demolish entire groups of enemies in close quarters. It also has the highest rate of fire among all other weapons. But my favorite part about this gun is that it uses Mini-Stun Ammo. This means that I can damage enemies and slow them down while shooting. And as battles get more intense, that can be a life saver.

Helldivers 2 A-Tier Weapons

P-19 Redeemer

• Weapon Type: Pistol
• Damage: 60
• How to get: Purchase at Acquisitions for 5 Medals (Helldivers Mobilize Warbonds).

The P-19 Redeemer isn’t your typical pistol. It’s a fully automatic machine pistol with a high magazine capacity. I think this gun is a monster in disguise because it’s affordable and has a very high rate of fire (although not as high as the MP-98). It really is more of a mini-SMG that can quickly deal with a large group of enemies. Just be cautious of its recoil and only use it at close range.

JAR-5 Dominator

• Weapon Type: Assault Rifle
• Damage: 200
• How to get: Purchase at Acquisitions for 80 Medals (Steeled Veterans Premium).

When it comes to dealing with Automatons, I need something that can deal heavy damage from a greater distance, such as the JAR-5 Dominator assault rifle. I can easily penetrate medium armor and deal significant damage to Automaton heads, making quick work of them. That’s because the JAR-5 Dominator uses special explosive rounds. Some players also recommend it for killing bugs, but I discovered that JAR-5 Dominator has a low fire rate, which makes it hard to deal with large groups of enemies.

SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary

• Weapon Type: Shotgun
• Damage: 180
• How to get: Purchase at Acquisitions for 60 Medals (Steeled Veterans Premium).

If I want a weapon to use against bugs and quickly cull their numbers, then I choose the SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary. This shotgun fires incendiary rounds that set enemies on fire, which is the best solution when dealing with insects. But if you can’t purchase it just yet, then opt for the regular SG-225 Breaker, as this one’s terribly expensive.

Helldivers 2 B-Tier Weapons

P-2 Peacemaker

• Weapon Type: Pistol
• Damage: 60
• How to get: Default starting weapon.

The P-2 Peacemaker is a fantastic starting weapon, which I highly recommend using as your secondary option. First, it costs nothing and has three cool upgrade options, including AP Ammo, Magazine Size, and Burst Fire. The last one is my favorite, as it allows me to switch from the regular one-shot mode to a three-round shot for higher damage.

R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper

• Weapon Type: Marksman Rifle
• Damage: 128
• How to get: Purchase at Acquisitions for 40 Medals (Helldivers Mobilize Warbonds).

Although Helldivers 2 combat is mainly about close-range engagements, there are occasions when I simply need a marksman rifle to get rid of distant targets. The R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper has a fine scope that helps execute precise shots. I don’t think it deals enough damage to heavily armored foes, but it’s effective against all other enemy types.

SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray

• Weapon Type: Shotgun
• Damage: 144
• How to get: Purchase at Acquisitions for 60 Medals (Helldivers Mobilize Warbonds).

Here’s another iteration of the fantastic SG-225 Breaker shotgun. But this time, it offers a higher rate of fire. So why did I put it in the B-tier? It has a very limited range and a wide bullet spread. Sure, it can stall a group of enemies due to that wide bullet spread, but the damage just isn’t enough to make a difference. The best version of this shotgun is the regular SG-225 Breaker.

That’s it for my best weapons tier list in Helldivers 2. Stay tuned for more HD2 tips and tricks articles, including the complete future content roadmap and how to check server status.