After losing their ride to Illuminate forces, a Helldivers 2 community member writes the definitive Leviathan hunting manual.
OVERVIEW
- Those enormous flying “apartment complexes” are something that one Helldiver is determined to stop ignoring.
- Everything from optimal weapon loadouts to weak points is covered in detail.
- Apparently, Eagle-1 is better off doing other things than assisting with enormous alien warships.
No one is more angry than a Helldiver whose ride was destroyed by a flying apartment building. One of Super Earth’s most driven members concluded that “just ignore the Leviathans” was no longer an adequate solution.
Their remedy? Write what could be the most in-depth analysis of the enemy in Helldivers 2. Damage calculations, mathematical accuracy, and enough technical detail to make High Command proud are all on the table.
In retrospect, referring to this guide as “comprehensive” is akin to referring to managed democracy as “slightly organized.” A masterwork of vindictive documentation, this thing is.
When it’s impossible to ignore enormous flying death machines
Since these Illuminate giants were dropped into Super Earth’s cities in the Heart of Democracy update, the Helldivers 2 community has been divided on Leviathan tactics. According to half of the subreddit, you should just leave them alone and flee. In the process of attempting to defend itself, the other half has been repeatedly destroyed.
Equipped with spreadsheets and virtuous rage, our unnamed hero arrives. Everything from the Leviathan’s 15,000 HP pool to the best Anti-Tank Emplacement placement is explained in their guide. They have determined damage overflow mechanics, dispelled myths within the community, and rated the effectiveness of each weapon separately.
There are some shocking facts in the guide (click the embed above to read the entire thing). Those “three weak spots” that everyone mentions? In fact, there is only one. The front circle is simply AP5 armor, just like the rest of the body. And the Orbital Cannon that everyone believes in? The fabled one-shot kill requires at least two to three shots.
Above all, they have demonstrated that it is not always possible to ignore these issues. On defense missions, leviathans spawn directly behind targets and actively target generators. Running is not an option when one of these flying fortresses determines that your missile silo must vanish.
Support from the community for the anti-Leviathan movement
An overwhelming amount of positive feedback has been received, with fellow Helldivers finally receiving the technical breakdown they required. The mathematical approach of the guide appeals to players who are sick of speculating and hearing urban legends about their weaknesses:
However, not everyone is happy with the way, well, aerial support is going right now. The obvious elephant in the room—or rather, the circling Eagle—has been identified by some divers. The irony is poignant because it draws attention to a real worry. Though it seems to stop short of apartment-sized alien warships, Eagle-1 can level entire outposts.
Eagle-1’s lack of detail is a real gameplay limitation, even though it has become a popular joke. Why their air support ignores the biggest threats on the battlefield is a mystery to players.
High Command must have their reasons, even though questioning military decisions is a surefire way to wind up in a reeducation camp.
The guide’s influence extends beyond basic tactics. A movement among players who don’t believe that “just run away” is a good strategy has been triggered by it. It is sometimes necessary to stand up for what is right, even in the face of flying fortresses.
What are your thoughts on Leviathan hunters’ strategies? Post your war stories and tactical observations below, please!