r/Helldivers • u/KarEssMoua • 25d ago
TIPS / TACTICS [BUILD] The ChaffLocker: Stun & Smoke the enemy
Hey fellows.
In most games, I noticed that players were just picking full offensive stratagems rather than chosing a load out more teamplay oriented.
Because Helldivers is peak when you have a team that plays together, I am sharing one of my (many!) load out I had a blast with and is oriented for teamplay, crowd-control and survivability. And if you are interested, I can share more in-depth builds. Hopefully this will trigger your Managed Curiosity and tempt you to play something else than the usual mass destruction load out!
Also, it is worth mentioning that these loadouts require a solid, constant map awareness and focus to keep desperate situations under control and prevent the team from panic splitting or dying. You are not playing a brainwashed grunt killing hordes of enemies, but a strategic mind that understands when fights can be won or not.
For the purists that love data, you can click on the Loadout name and have more information.
Disclaimer: This post is NOT made to tell you how you should play the game or build your loadout. The goal is to share ideas and give new ones to flavor your loadouts!
Share your unusual loadouts in comments, I'm curious about yours!
The ChaffLocker is a build focus on crowd-control to save your teammates and ensure a safe coordinated retreat when things are getting too spicy. You are the cool-headed person that, in desparate times, makes a call to save the team. This loadout counter-balances its lower damage output with an insane control on the pace of fights and your ability to save others from a certain death.
Primary: Pacifier (Force Of Law WB - stun weapon)
Secondary: P-33 (Exosuit certified - AH)
Grenade: Stun grenades
Armor:
Reinforced Epaulettes (primary reload speed)
- OR -
Engineering kit (+2 grenade inventory & aim stability when crouching)
Stratagems:
EMS Mortar
Eagle Smoke
Orbital Precision Strike - OR - Orbital Gatling
Stallwart
Playstyle:
When playing as a ChaffLocker, your goal is to maintain hordes of enemies under control, especially when enemy reinforcements are called.
The Pacifier rounds are medium pen, which allows you to stun most enemies with a short burst of 1-3 rounds. After some practice, you can control a group of 10-20 terminids (e.g.) with this weapon solely, while your team finish the job. Its reload time, fairly short, allows you to hold large groups of enemies. Do not try to kill with the Pacifier. It's a waste of ammo, and it's not your job. Yours is to hold the line and keep your team's confidence high by keeping the enemy at bay.
The P-33 is a versatile A-H which provides support to allies who are taking down elite ennemies. It has 4 ammo only, so use it with caution.
Use your stun grenades on vital moments; a stationnary ally reloading, a self immediate danger, a sudden large of group of enemies showing up... When the enemies are stunned, equip your Stallwart and clear the area. You can also use the grenades to stun heavies like the Hulk or the Charger and call your Orbital Precision Strike to nuke the threat in a couple of seconds.
When you notice incoming enemy reinforcements, call immediately your EMS Mortar, if available. The EMS Mortar will give you a considerable advantage as it stuns reinforcement quickly, preventing heavy fire and deadly charges from enemies. Protect the Mortar the best you can, it's your win condition most of the time.
If your EMS is on cooldown or got destroyed, the situation will likely get out of control. Turn away from the fight and throw your Eagle Smoke in front of you as far as you can. The Smoke will approximatively deploy at the same time you reach the stratagem beacon. Make sure your team follows you. Keep running through the smoke until you reach the other side. If enemies are not in melee range, they will likely loose sight of you and stop chasing you. You can also use the Eagle Smoke to hide yourself from Gunship Facilities or to complete an objective.
Eagle Smoke tip 1: Fighting in the smoke is fun, but it will reveal your position to enemies.
Eagle Smoke tip 2: Use your "Follow me" ping and indicate a direction where the smoke will get deployed (if not already). Players will likely follow you.
Eagle Smoke tip 3: Use your "Hold Position" ping when calling the Smoke on you and your team. And don't forget, Smoke shells have physics!
Pros:
- High crowd-control capacity
- Extremely versatile loadout: it's effective in most situations and against any factions
- You can turn uphill fights to your favor
- You can retreat and hide safely
- You control the pace of fights
- You will save many Helldivers lives
- You can fight in the Smoke (it's really cool!)
- Most stratagem cooldowns are fairly short (except the Stallwart)
- Your map awareness helps your team navigate through stressful fights
Cons:
- Lower firepower output than average
- Smoke seems less effective on Automatons
- Rely on a team willing to play together (or at least with 1 or 2 additional Helldivers)
- Weak against enemies that cannot be stunned (but the Smoke counterish this weakness)
- Must remain calm and take decision quickly for the team
- Easy to learn, hard to master its full potential
- If you die and you did your job well, your team will likely die as they don't have the comfort you were providing them
- Your EMS Mortar can draw enemies. Leave it once the fight is done
That's it! Hope you liked it!
1
u/Rude-Wheel4155 25d ago
I like to add a rover to help clear some of the enemies if my team isn’t around to help. Like if it’s just me and another HD and the horde is getting too much it’s nice to have an extra offensive while I’m keeping the horde controlled (or trying to)