Helldivers 2 Guide on How to Fight the Illuminate: Tips, Tricks, and Weaknesses

Image Credits: Arrowhead Game Studios, Helldivers 2

The Illuminate in Helldivers 2 are a dangerous enemy faction who use advanced technology, swarm tactics, and strong armor. Here’s a guide with some tips and tricks on how to take them down.

Enemy Types and Tips

Voteless

• Description: These zombie-like enemies attack in swarms. They come in three types: light, medium, and heavy.

• Weakness: Aim for their knees or torsos. Damaging these areas makes them bleed out, saving ammo.

• Best Weapons: Flamethrowers are great because fire forces them into bleed-out mode quickly.

Watchers

• Description: These drones call reinforcements and stun you with taser-like attacks.

• Weakness: Shoot their central eye or fins. Any hit to these areas kills them instantly.

• Best Strategy: Take them out quickly to avoid reinforcements.

Overseers

• Description: Leaders of the Illuminate, armed with staffs or rifles. Some have jetpacks.

• Weakness: Shoot their heads or jetpacks to kill them instantly.

• Best Weapons: Flamethrowers and explosives bypass their armor, making them very effective.

Harvesters

• Description: Large tripod enemies with shields and deadly lasers.

• Weakness: Shoot their leg joints. Destroying a leg kills them instantly.

• Best Weapons: Use anti-tank weapons or heavy ballistic guns for maximum damage.

Drop Ships

• Description: Reinforcement ships that deploy enemy units.

• Weakness: Target the warp port on the bottom of the ship. Destroying it prevents reinforcements.

• Best Weapons: Recoilless launcher or anti-tank weapons.

General Tips for Fighting the Illuminate

1. Target Weak Spots: Always aim for heads, jetpacks, or leg joints to kill enemies faster.

2. Use Fire and Explosives: Flamethrowers and plasma weapons ignore shields and armor, making them very effective.

3. Stay Mobile: Avoid standing still, especially near Harvesters or in large groups of Voteless.

4. Destroy Structures First: In Illuminate bases, destroy spawners and Tesla towers to stop reinforcements and avoid heavy damage.

5. Equip Arc Resistance: Use Arc-resistant armor to reduce damage from Watchers and Tesla towers.

Best Weapons Against the Illuminate

• Flamethrowers: Great for dealing with swarms and bypassing armor.

• Recoilless Launcher: Perfect for drop ships and heavily armored units.

• Machine Guns: High-rate-of-fire weapons work well against Overseers and Voteless.

• Anti-Tank Weapons: Use these for Harvesters and other heavy units.

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