When you jump into a mission in Helldivers 2, one truth becomes clear fast: the right gear can be the difference between a clean extraction and a chaotic wipe. Loadouts matter, especially when you’re coordinating with a squad or tackling higher-difficulty operations. So today, I’m breaking down what I consider the Best Helldivers 2 Items—tools that consistently deliver value, save lives, and help your team stay in control even when the battlefield gets messy.

Below is a practical, player-friendly guide to the most useful stratagems, weapons, and support tools you should consider bringing into your next deployment. Whether you're new to the game or pushing deep into endgame content, these picks will make your runs smoother and your team more efficient.

Why Item Choice Matters in Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is built around fast decisions, teamwork, and adapting to ever-changing combat situations. Because missions throw everything at you—from sudden patrols to massive boss units—you want items that consistently solve problems. Good gear helps you survive longer, control the field, and carry squads through tough fights.

The items below aren’t just strong on paper—they’re reliable in real missions, whether you're clearing nests, defending objectives, or sprinting toward extraction with swarms behind you.

1. Orbital Laser: The Ultimate Crowd Eraser

The Orbital Laser has become a staple pick because of how flexible and forgiving it is. It excels at clearing large groups, but it's also fantastic for pinning down armored targets that would normally drain your ammo reserves. You don’t need precise aim—just drop it near the danger zone and keep moving.

What I love most is that it gives your squad breathing room. When you're pushed into a bad spot or a swarm suddenly appears behind a hill, calling in this stratagem can flip the fight instantly. Just be mindful of friendly fire, since its sweep can catch allies off guard if they rush in too fast.

2. Railgun: The Best All-Around Anti-Armor Weapon

Every squad benefits from at least one Helldiver running the Railgun. This weapon continues to dominate because it punches through armored enemies that other guns struggle with. The charge mechanic takes some getting used to, but once it clicks, the Railgun delivers reliable damage without eating too much ammo.

I’ve found it especially helpful in missions where heavy units spawn frequently, like Automaton tanks or Charger variants. When combined with team stun tools or slowing stratagems, the Railgun becomes even more powerful.

3. Shield Generator Pack: The Survival Must-Have

If you’ve ever been surrounded with no med-stims left, the Shield Generator Pack feels like a miracle. It offers temporary protection that often gives you just enough time to reposition, revive teammates, or fight your way out of chaos.

What makes it one of the Best Helldivers 2 Items is its consistency. It saves you from chip damage, projectile bursts, and sudden melee hits—basically the kinds of damage that tend to kill players the most in messy fights. While you sacrifice the utility of other back-slot items, the extra survivability is worth it in most missions.

4. Autocannon: Team-Friendly Firepower

The Autocannon shines when you need sustained fire against armored enemies but also want something that works at medium range. It’s a fantastic team weapon—if one player carries it and another helps reload, you can delete threats extremely quickly.

I personally like bringing it when running with newer players, because it gives the squad dependable damage output even if the rest of the loadout isn’t perfectly optimized. Just remember to secure a stable position before firing; moving while carrying this thing can leave you exposed.

5. Eagle Airstrike: Fast, Reliable, and Always Useful

There are plenty of orbital options, but the Eagle Airstrike stands out for its speed. The cooldown is fast, the impact is huge, and the stratagem code is short enough to punch in during panic moments.

This one is especially great when clearing bug nests or pushing through fortified Automaton areas. I’ve lost count of how many times a well-placed Eagle strike has saved my squad after we accidentally pulled more enemies than we could handle.

6. Guard Dog Rover: Perfect for Objective Defense

Defense missions can get overwhelming fast, especially when several waves of enemies approach from multiple angles. The Guard Dog Rover helps solve that problem by automatically targeting close threats.

While it’s not the strongest item on its own, its consistency and hands-free targeting make it extremely useful. It also helps cover blind spots, which is something players often overlook when holding a defensive point.

7. Supply Pack: Your Team Will Love You

If you enjoy supporting your squad, the Supply Pack is one of the Best Helldivers 2 Items you can bring. It keeps everyone stocked on ammo and stims and helps prevent your team from being forced into risky scavenging situations.

Players often forget how valuable this is during long missions with extended enemy aggression. And if you’re running with heavy weapon users, constant resupplies keep your entire team in the fight far longer than usual.

Tips for Choosing the Right Items

Here are a few quick suggestions based on personal experience:

• Bring at least one anti-armor tool. Even low-difficulty missions can throw tough enemies at you when you least expect it.

• Don’t rely on one teammate to carry all the damage stratagems. Spread roles across the squad for better balance.

• Pair survival tools (like shields) with high-risk weapons (like the Autocannon) to reduce the chance of sudden deaths.

• If you're new, start with forgiving, easy-to-use options like the Eagle Airstrike and Shield Generator Pack before trying more technical gear.

The items above aren’t the only strong picks in the game, but they consistently prove themselves mission after mission. In a fast-paced, chaotic game like Helldivers 2, you want tools that feel reliable in any situation. These stand-out choices are, in my experience, the Best Helldivers 2 Items for both new and veteran players.

Experiment with different combinations, talk with your squad, and don’t be afraid to adjust your loadout depending on mission type. With the right gear set up, even the toughest operations become a lot more manageable.