The aptly namedChargeris one of the primary heavy units of the Terminid faction inHelldivers 2. Their main job is to disrupt and throw squads into disarray, giving their smaller brethren the chance to pick the defenders of Super Earth off one by one.
Chargers are a little tricky to handle at first, especially if the squad doesn’t have any hard-hitting stratagems or armor-piercing weapons with them. However, you don’t necessarily need either of these to take a Charger down. Here’s how you can deal with these big bugs easily inHelldivers 2.
Updated March 15th, 2024 by Russ Boswell: Chargers are one of the most frustrating enemies found in Helldivers 2. These hulking bugs can be a nuisance for players, as their thick armor makes it very difficult to destroy them. Thankfully, once players know how to deal with Chargers, they can be pretty simple to dispatch, though they can still be frustrating when surrounded by many other Terminid. To better help players understandhow to defeat Chargers in Helldivers 2, the following guide has been updated with a video.
Helldivers 2: Charger Behavior and Weaknesses
You’ll regularly encounter ChargersinChallenging difficultyand above, though they might appear as extermination targets inMediummissions as well. These guys are basically battering rams with legs — they will attempt to run players over or crush them with their big, meaty claws. The Charger’s thick, angled carapace candeflect shotsfrom Anti-Materiel Rifles and shoulder-mounted Autocannons, limiting the number of support weapons that are effective against them.
If you’re being chased by a Charger, the best thing you can do is lure it away from the team or have it ram against a flat wall. Dive away only when the bug is very close to you, as it can still change its direction while charging. They turn very slowly when they’re running, so use that to your advantage.
Best Weapons to Use Against Chargers
The quickest way to kill a Charger is touse aGR-8 Recoilless RifleorEAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tanklauncher. Two rockets are often enough to kill a Charger as long as both are aimed towardone of its legs. Also, if you shoot a rocket at any of Charger’s armored parts, the carapace will get blown off, exposing the bug to small-arms fire. TheRailgunis also quite strong against Chargers, especially if youturn off the weapon’s safetyand overcharge each shot.
Mostexplosive anti-tank stratagemswill also work against these enemies, though they may not die outright unless they are hit directly. Keep in mind that certain stratagems can stick onto targets, potentially increasing the chances of scoring a direct hit. Also, it’s worth noting that shots from theA/AC-8 Autocannon Sentrydon’t appear to bounce off Charger shells, though it’s unsure if this is a bug or an intended feature.
If you have neither support weapons nor stratagems, your best bet at dealing with a Charger is toshoot its fleshy backside. You may need to aim a bit below its back for bullets to connect, though. Considerunlocking the SG-225 Breakerearly, as it is one of the best weapons for this job. It can chew through a Charger’s health in just one or two magazines, depending on how many pellets connect.
