With dozens of stratagems, it’s hard to know which actually deserve your slots. Here’s our practical tier list: not a theoretical ranking, but what really performs on high difficulties, with the reasoning behind each tier.
How to read this tier list
A good loadout almost always follows the same skeleton: 1 anti-tank (support weapon) + 3 stratagems blending versatility, crowd control and anti-heavy. The “best” depends on the faction — we cover the nuances below.
S Tier — bring almost always
- Eagle Airstrike — pure versatility: bases, breaches, patrols, medium units. Short cooldown, multiple charges.
- Orbital Precision Strike — very short cooldown, huge single-target damage: perfect on isolated heavies (Hulk, Charger, turrets).
- Eagle 500kg — the finisher: Bile Titans, Factory Striders, clusters of heavies. Tight radius, low team risk.
- Recoilless Rifle / Quasar Cannon / EAT-17 — the mandatory anti-tank. They handle everything heavy on both fronts.
A Tier — excellent, situational
- Guard Dog Rover — automatic small-unit management, huge against Terminids.
- Orbital Laser — wipes a whole base on its own; save it for heavy objectives (3 uses/mission).
- Orbital Gas Strike / Eagle Napalm — dropped on a breach, they kill continuously: top against bugs.
- Orbital Railcannon Strike — one-shots the biggest enemy on screen. Long cooldown, save for critical moments.
B Tier — situational
- Sentries (Gatling, Autocannon, Rocket) — high stationary DPS, but fragile and, badly placed, they fire at nothing (or at you). Good for objective defense.
- Eagle Strafing Run — very short cooldown but limited damage; useful aggressive filler.
- Mines — can hinder the team as much as the enemy; avoid in pick-up groups.
Adapt to the faction
- Automatons (bots): precision and ranged anti-tank — Autocannon, Orbital Precision, anti-tank for Hulks/Striders. See our best anti-bot build.
- Terminids (bugs): fire + crowd control + anti-tank — Napalm/Gas, Rover, Recoilless. See our best bug loadout.
Common mistakes
- 4 offensive stratagems, 0 anti-tank → you’re stuck the moment a Charger/Hulk shows up.
- All Eagles → you run dry during ship rearms.
- Badly placed sentries → they hurt more than they help.
Conclusion
Remember the skeleton: 1 reliable anti-tank + Eagle Airstrike + 1 anti-heavy + 1 faction pick. With that base you’re equipped for Helldive on any front. Then fine-tune with the A tier depending on whether you’re running bots or bugs.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best all-round stratagem?
The Eagle Airstrike: short cooldown, 2-3 charges, it handles bases, breaches, patrols and medium units. The Swiss army knife you bring almost every time.
What's the best anti-tank?
The Recoilless Rifle and Quasar Cannon are top tier: they handle Chargers, Bile Titans, Hulks and Factory Striders. The Quasar has no backpack or reload (great solo), the Recoilless is faster with a teammate.
Eagle or Orbital, which to prioritize?
Eagles have short cooldowns and multiple charges but must rearm on the ship; Orbitals have a longer individual cooldown but unlimited charges. A good loadout mixes both.
How many offensive stratagems should I bring?
Usually 1 anti-tank support weapon + 3 offensive/utility stratagems. Adapt the mix to the faction and difficulty.
Related guides
Helldivers 2: How to Kill a Bile Titan Fast
Head weak spot, shots needed with Recoilless/Quasar, the Eagle 500kg spit-animation trick, orbital options: kill a Bile Titan fast and clean.
Helldivers 2: How to Kill a Charger (Every Method)
Dodge timing, weak spot, one-shot weapons, stun grenade combo: every way to kill a Charger (and the Charger Behemoth) fast in Helldivers 2.
Helldivers 2: Beginner Guide (Getting Started)
Stratagems, reinforcements, friendly fire, difficulty progression, objectives: everything a beginner needs to progress fast and survive in Helldivers 2.