Beginner’s Guide#
Welcome to Super Earth’s elite forces! Helldivers 2 is very different from conventional shooters — friendly fire, stratagems, team coordination — this chapter gets you up to speed fast.
Core Controls#
Basic Controls#
| Action | Button | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | R2 | Shoot — check no teammate stands in your line of fire |
| Aim | L2 | Over-the-shoulder aiming |
| Sprint | × (hold) | Hold × to sprint — you can’t shoot while running |
| Crouch/Prone | ○ | Tap to crouch, hold to go prone |
| Interact/Reload | □ | Pick up, reload, operate terminals |
| Jump | ✕ (when not sprinting) | Climb over obstacles |
| Melee | R1 | Rifle butt — knocks back nearby enemies |
| Stratagem menu | L1 | Opens the stratagem selection menu |
| Activate stratagem | L1 + directional input | Input the up/down/left/right sequence to call a drop |
| Grenade | R1 (hold) + R2 to throw | Switch grenade type → throw |
| Ping | D-pad up | Mark enemies/locations/items for teammates |
| Map | Touchpad | Opens the tactical map |
PC Bindings#
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | WASD |
| Fire | Left mouse button |
| Aim | Right mouse button |
| Stratagems | Ctrl |
| Interact | E |
| Sprint | Shift |
| Crouch/Prone | C |
| Jump | Space |
| Melee | F |
| Grenade | G |
| Ping | Middle mouse button |
The Core Gameplay Loop#
→ Collect samples/Medals → call extraction → reach the extraction point → board the shuttle → return to your ship
→ Upgrade the ship / unlock gear → pick the next missionMission Phases Explained#
| Phase | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drop | Land from the ship in a solo pod or as a full squad. Choosing your landing spot matters — avoid open ground and dense enemies |
| Execute | Complete the main objectives (destroy/capture/activate, etc.) while handling side objectives and encounters |
| Collect | Gather XP samples, Super Credits and Medals from the map |
| Extract | Once all objectives are done, call the shuttle — reach the extraction point → fight off enemies → wait to board |
The Stratagem System#
Stratagems are the game’s core mechanic — you call in all kinds of support by inputting directional codes.
How to Input#
- Hold L1 (PS5)
- Enter the sequence with the D-pad (PS5)
- Release to throw the beacon — the drop lands where the beacon lands
Recommended Starter Stratagems#
| Stratagem | Code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Machine Gun | ↓,←,↓,↑,← | The all-rounder support weapon — clears bug swarms and bot infantry |
| Eagle Airstrike | ↑,→,↓,→ | Simple, effective area attack — a clear-out tool |
| Resupply | ↓,←,↓,↑,↑,← | Refills the whole team’s ammo and grenades — a squad essential |
| Orbital Precision Strike | ↑,→,←,↓ | High single-target damage — kills elites/destroys nests |
| Shield Generator Pack | ↓,↑,←,→,←,→ | Grants an extra shield — massively raises survivability |
Friendly Fire Warning#
This is the most important mechanic — friendly fire is always on
| Scenario | Advice |
|---|---|
| Shooting | Confirm no teammate is in your line of fire — Helldivers 2 bullets pass through allies and can hit them |
| Throwing stratagems | Stratagem beacons stick to teammates — if you see a beacon on someone’s back, move away immediately |
| Grenades | Grenade bounces are unpredictable — watch how walls redirect them |
| Airstrikes/Orbitals | After throwing a stratagem, leave the impact zone immediately — run at least 15 meters |
| After teamkilling | Press the interact key to apologize — but your squadmates may still kick you |
Golden rule: if you see a teammate melee-fighting an enemy — do not shoot that enemy — by the time you hit the enemy you’ve hit your teammate
Opening Advice#
| # | Advice | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Do the tutorial first | The game has a full controls tutorial — don’t skip it; stratagem inputs need muscle memory |
| 2 | Start on low-difficulty bugs | Terminids are the easiest faction. Difficulties 1–3 let newcomers learn the basics |
| 3 | Stick with your squad | Going solo = dying fast. Keep line of sight with teammates and cover each other |
| 4 | Call extraction when objectives are done | The moment all objectives are complete, call the shuttle — it takes 90 seconds to arrive |
| 5 | Collect samples to upgrade the ship | Green/orange/purple samples are the key resource for ship upgrades — grab them on sight |
| 6 | Don’t waste reinforcements | Reinforcement budget is shared across the squad — frequent deaths drain a team resource |
| 7 | Use voice chat | The ping system is great, but talking through tactics beats pinging by miles |
| 8 | Manage ammo | Ammo boxes are on the map and a squadmate can carry Resupply — don’t spray wildly |
| 9 | Understand extraction | All players must board the shuttle. If someone dies while boarding — the extraction counts as failed |
| 10 | Enjoy the chaos | Helldivers 2 is beautiful chaos — the whole squad exploding to your own airstrike is part of the fun |
Squad Role Advice#
| Role | Suggested kit | Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Assault | Machine Gun/Shotgun + Resupply | Frontline clearing, route pushing |
| Anti-armor | Recoilless Rifle/Quasar Cannon + shield pack | Kill heavy units, destroy structures |
| Support | Stim gun + turret | Heal teammates, provide covering fire |
| Recon | Stealth armor + marker loadout | Lead the way, mark high-threat targets, call airstrikes |
Note: in random matchmaking these roles are the ideal — in reality it’s more likely four people doing their own thing. Adapt on the fly
Newcomer FAQ#
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What should I buy first? | Unlock the SG-225 Breaker shotgun first — the best early-game primary |
| Are Warbonds worth it? | Max out the free Warbond first — then consider the premium Warbonds’ special gear |
| Which difficulty farms resources fastest? | Difficulties 4–6 balance efficiency and safety — higher difficulties give more samples but a higher fail rate |
| How do I level faster? | Clear every nest on the map + complete every side objective — maximum XP |
| What about friendly fire? | It’s a feature — play enough and you’ll get used to it. Feel free to shoot back |
Quick-Start Checklist#
| Level | Goal |
|---|---|
| 1–5 | Finish the tutorial — unlock basic stratagems — get comfortable with controls |
| 5–10 | Farm difficulties 3–4 — save up to unlock the Breaker and Resupply |
| 10–20 | Unlock the Quasar Cannon and 500KG — challenge difficulties 5–6 |
| 20–30 | Collect samples for ship modules — challenge difficulty 7+ |
Version History#
| Version | Changes | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Initial beginner guide | 2024-02 |
| 1.1 | Added the squad roles section — team coordination advice | 2024-04 |
| 1.2 | Updated newcomer weapon recommendations — adapted to the latest patch | 2024-07 |
End of beginner guide
Ship Module Upgrade Priorities#
| Module | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Assault | Stratagem cooldowns −10% | S-tier — max it first |
| Enhanced Resupply | Resupplies carry more ammo | S-tier |
| Enhanced Positioning | Wider enemy ping range | A-tier |
| Enhanced Scouting | Scans reveal elite enemies | A-tier |
| Enhanced Defense | Slight armor boost | B-tier — max it last |
Further Reading#
- Stratagems Guide — stratagem choices
- Weapons Guide — weapon recommendations
- Combat Tips — combat basics
- Armor Choices — armor and perks
End of the Helldivers 2 beginner’s guide
Remember: in Helldivers 2, death is routine — but every failure is a lesson. Most importantly: it’s the most fun when you play with friends!
The truly final end of the HD2 beginner’s guide
Pair this beginner’s guide with the guides below for the full picture of Helldivers 2!
The ultimate edition of the beginner’s guide