Helldivers 2 Patch Update Adds New Enemy Types and Loadout Customizations

The latest Helldivers 2 Patch Update added the Illuminate faction alongside weapon loadout customization. Arrowhead Game Studios also fixed various bugs that were plaguing the game. 

The new weapon customization feature update grants primary weapons levels that are achievable by completing missions; this unlocks new attachments and patterns obtainable through Requisition. As for the new enemies, there are three: Stingray, Crescent Overseer, and Fleshmob. The full patch notes go into more detail regarding the enemies. 

Here are the full official Helldivers 2 Patch 01.003.000 Notes: 

New Illuminate Enemies

• Stingray: Jetfighters providing aerial support with targeted strafing runs.
• Crescent Overseer: Capable of launching barrages on Helldivers taking cover.
• Fleshmob: A brute enemy composed of failed Voteless experiments.

Balancing

Weapon Balances

Spread

Spread has been significantly reduced across primary, sidearm, and support weapons, particularly targeting SMGs and sidearms.

Drag

Drag has been increased for pistol-caliber ammunition (SMGs and some sidearms), making them less effective at longer ranges.

Sway

Sway adjustments primarily affect primaries and sidearms, with weapons having lower ergonomics experiencing less sway and sidearms naturally having more.

Melee Weapons Stamina Cost

Stamina cost for all melee weapon attacks has been reduced from 0.1 to 0.05.

• CQC-30 Stun Baton
• CQC-19 Stun Lance
• CQC-5 Combat Hatchet
• Entrenchment Tool

Shrapnel Spawning

Shrapnel now spawns in a full 360-degree spread. Its effectiveness against armor at poor impact angles has been reduced.

These changes affect:

• R-36 Eruptor
• G-6 Frag Grenade
• AC-8 Autocannon

Balance Changes:

• Armor Penetration decreased on shrapnel projectiles from 3-3-3-0 to 3-3-2-0.

Frag Grenade

• Increased Shrapnel spawned from 30 to 35.

Autocannon Flak

• Increased Shrapnel spawned from 25 to 30.

Fire and Flamethrowers

Fire damage is now better balanced between direct hits and burn effects, with damage scaling based on enemy size. Larger enemies take more burn damage over time but are slightly more resistant to ignition. Direct fire damage also scales with enemy size.

• Burning damage now scales with enemy size, dealing more damage over time to larger enemies.
• Fire direct damage also scales with enemy size. Base damage of direct fire hits has been lowered.
• Larger enemies now take longer to ignite.
• Robotic enemies are harder to set on fire than organic ones.
• Incendiary Ammunition and Lasers are now less effective at igniting enemies, but the resulting burn damage is more impactful.
• The Helldiver is now slightly more resistant to being set on fire.
• Burn damage taken by the Helldiver remains unchanged.
• Magazine capacity of FLAM-66 Torcher and FLAM-40 Flamethrower increased.

Primary Weapons

• AR-23 Liberator: Spread decreased from 4 to 2.
• AR-23P Liberator Penetrator: Starting magazines increased from 5 to 6; Max spare magazines increased from 7 to 8.
• AR-23C Liberator Concussive: Spread decreased from 24 to 4.
• StA-52 Assault Rifle: Spread decreased from 4 to 2.
• AR-23A Liberator Carbine: Spread decreased from 4 to 3.
• AR-61 Tenderizer: Spread decreased from 4 to 1.
• SMG-37 Defender: Spread decreased from 20 to 5; Drag increased from 0.3 to 0.6; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• SMG-72 Pummeler: Spread decreased from 20 to 5; Drag increased from 0.3 to 0.6; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• MP-98 Knight: Spread decreased from 25 to 5; Drag increased from 0.3 to 0.6; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• StA-11 SMG: Spread decreased from 25 to 5; Drag increased from 0.3 to 0.6; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• SMG-32 Reprimand: Spread decreased from 40 to 5; Drag increased from 0.3 to 0.6.
• JAR-5 Dominator: Sway decreased from 1 to 0.8.
• R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper: Sway decreased from 1 to 0.8.
• FLAM-66 Torcher: Magazine capacity increased by 25%.
• R-36 Eruptor: Spread decreased from 10 to 5; Ergonomics increased from -14 to 25; Sway decreased from 1 to 0.8; Fire rate increased from 25 to 32; Fixed animation cancel bug.
• PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle: Drag decreased from 1.5 to 0.1; Now categorized as an energy weapon.

Sidearm Weapons

• GP-31 Ultimatum: Now affected by the Hellpod Optimization Booster; Explosion damage increased from 1000 to 2000; Explosion inner radius decreased from 4 to 2 m; Projectile damage decreased from 3500 to 1000; Demolition strength decreased from 50 to 40; Sway increased from 1 to 1.3.
• P-2 Peacemaker: Decreased Spread from 30 to 10; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• P-19 Redeemer: Decreased Spread from 35 to 10; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• P-113 Verdict: Decreased Spread from 30 to 8; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• PLAS-15 Loyalist: Decreased Spread from 25 to 10; Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• LAS-58 Talon: Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• P-72 Crisper: Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• GP-31 Grenade Pistol: Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• LAS-7 Dagger: Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• P-11 Stim Pistol: Sway increased from 1 to 1.2.
• SG-22 Bushwhacker: Sway increased from 1 to 1.3.
• P-4 Senator: Decreased Spread from 30 to 8; Sway increased from 1 to 1.3.

Stratagems

• RS-422 Railgun: Decreased Spread from 10 to 0.1.
• FLAM-40 Flamethrower: Magazine capacity increased by 30%.

Backpacks

• LIFT-850 Jump Pack: Increased break force on landing.

Eagles

• Eagle 110mm Rockets: Stagger strength increased from 35 to 40; Increased armor penetration at certain angles.

Enemies

Automatons

• Bunker Turret: Spread increased from 20 to 50.
• Conflagration Devastator: Reduced damage per pellet; More pellets required to ignite.
• Automaton Gunship: Body armor value reduced from 4 to 3; Main body health increased from 700 to 950; Increased fire rate and slightly improved aim.
• Bulk Fabricator: Health increased from 1500 to 5000.
• Conscripts: Fixed a bug causing them to reload after every shot.

Terminids

• Spore Spewers: Demolition level decreased from 60 to 50.

Illuminates

• Landed Warp Ships: Easier to kill with Anti-Tank weaponry once shields are down.

Fixes

Crash Fixes, Hangs and Soft-locks:

• Fixed a crash when returning to the Super Destroyer from a host parked at a planet with the Democracy Space Station.
• Fixed a crash when writing a specific sequence of text in the chat.
• Fixed a crash that could occur after partially destroying an Automaton convoy.
• Fixed crash when attempting to drop into a mission on Tien Kwan.

Weapons and Stratagems

• The SMG-37 Defender no longer triggers anti-tank mines.
• Improved the effectiveness of flashlight attachments.
• Fixed a bug causing the camera to be stuck in ADS mode when discarding the MLS-4X Commando in that mode.
• Cancelling laser weapon reloads no longer grants infinite ammo.

Miscellaneous Fixes

• Fixed an issue with intermittent flickering of distant visual effects.
• Fixed an issue where the FRV and embarked Helldivers would get covered in blood incorrectly.
• Spore Scavengers can now properly attack.
• Vehicles now correctly display appropriate enemy blood colors.
• Lowered the target node for the Illuminate tesla tower.
• No longer shows the reconnect popup if the host leaves while on the Destroyer.
• Fixed an issue where momentum could be reset at the end of moving emotes.
• Sample containers can now be properly pinged again.
• Corrected misaligned logo of the Borderline Justice Warbond.
• Fixed an issue with the Illuminate Cognitive Disruptor not turning off correctly for hot joining players.
• Decreased a significant hitch during the dropdown sequence.
• The game now shows the correct amount of total samples on missions.
• Fixed a bug causing held stratagems to be stuck after taking fall damage.
• Performance improvement in the particle subsystem.

As of November 2024, Helldivers 2 has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Additionally, the game has already received 16 awards and two honorable mentions across various categories at multiple industry-recognizing ceremonies.