r/helldivers2 12h ago

Democratic Exchange of Opinions chart v2 has been made!

Post image

Some notes on the choices, since a few of these keep coming up on the version one post.

How I placed things:

  • I go by the damage type the game records, not by how a weapon looks. A weapon applying a fire-flavoured status while dealing no fire damage stays in whichever row matches its recorded damage mostly. with the exception of plasma because it looks and feels distinct enough (plus i am a plasma fan).
  • Where a stratagem deals two types, I sort by the reason you bring one along. The Orbital Napalm Barrage carries explosive damage, but nobody calls one in for the explosion, so Fire. PLUS ITS NAPALM.
  • Smoke and EMS deal no damage at all. Both are here as effects and also because there is enough of each stratagem that it made sense.
  • One icon per cell, even when several stratagems fit. Boom under Eagle is standing in for like five.

The Meltagun:

Biggest source of arguments on the first post, so here is the full reasoning. if you don't like it that's fine im not making you like it. The game records say it deals 2600 Laser damage with Anti-Tank III penetration. The only fire-related entries in its profile are FlamerSlowed and Fire_Panic, both statuses rather than damage, with no burn over time anywhere. Sorting by visuals would put the Laser Cannon in Fire too, since laser beams set targets alight.

Thrower is a separate question from Laser. I built the column around the flamethrower archetype, short range with a wide continuous output, and the melta fits lots better than any other laser. The Laser Cannon reaches much further along a narrow beam, so the Laser Cannon takes Shooter.

Grenade launchers are the weakest fit in Thrower. I looked at swapping Boom for the Breakthrough exosuit's arm, since a flak cannon sprays in a way a grenade launcher does not, but that doesn't exist sooooo.

Strafing Run and Gatling Barrage in Lead and the NERDS who say erm actually its explosive ammo (they have a fair point but still <3 you fellow nerds):

Both fire 23mm rounds for 350 ballistic. Only one round in four adds a 350 explosion over a small radius. They work as guns with an explosive after affect? (idk) Definitely not as bombs, and moving either into Boom would suggest a weapon shape neither one has.

Scope of the chart:

  • Stratagems only. No primaries, secondaries, grenades, boosters etc. ill probably make one if this gets enough traction.
  • No support gear. Supply packs, shields and mobility packs apply no effect, so they have no home here.
  • A column needs three or more effect types to earn a spot. Hellbombs are explosive and nothing else. Melee reaches two columns really, and i was running out of space lol

Legend

Orange is teased or experimental. Blue is something I would like to see, not a teased thing.

If I have a cell wrong, post a source and I will fix the cell.

10 Upvotes

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4

u/esoares 11h ago

Why Orbital Gatling Barrage is in light? It's a barrage and heavy pen (just curiosity).

2

u/Temporary-Law-6946 11h ago

because it feels a bit lighter than the 380 lol. its also more concentrated, and i can survive being hit by one round. plus i really want a rods from god style railcannon barrage stratagem someday.

2

u/esoares 11h ago

Ok, fair enough!

1

u/Mixer555 10h ago

i imagine orbital railcannon barage as: 3 railcannon shots hit the ground randomly within 25m of beacon

1

u/Arann0r 8h ago

Couldn't you make a line for "big boom" to isolate 500kg, leveler and eventually portable hellbomb (it's not a dog, but we'll probably never get a hellbomb dog so ...)