Helldivers 2 Unveils Major Balance Changes to Transform Players into ‘Glass Cannons’

Though an upcoming update promises buffs, Helldivers 2 developers have indicated that additional nerfs are on the way.

The popularity of Helldivers 2 has declined, partly due to controversial balance updates. In August, Arrowhead implemented a patch that nerfed the Flamethrower and the SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary, along with significant changes to Stratagems like the Orbital Walking Barrage.

To address these issues, a new update is scheduled for September 17, aiming to buff the Flamethrower, Breaker shotgun, and more.

While players anticipate these changes, a developer made it clear that further nerfs are inevitable. Community Manager Thomas ‘Twinbeard’ Petersson emphasized on Discord, “Will there be more nerfs? Of course, there will. Anytime you balance a ton of things, others will need looking over as well.”

Petersson clarified that the September 17 patch would include numerous buffs to ensure that guns and equipment feel viable, aiming to enhance gameplay dynamics by making players vulnerable to mistakes while allowing for greater effectiveness when using the right tools.

In a follow-up Discord post, Petersson shared that the goal is to restore the gameplay experience to what it was in HD2, where players can still wield immense power if executed correctly.

The upcoming nerfs in Helldivers 2 will be a response to the anticipated balance update, leaving uncertainty about which weapons and Stratagems might be affected after the mid-September patch.

Fans hope that future nerfs won’t lead to overcorrection, as seen in previous updates. For instance, the Flamethrower adjustments aimed for realism but resulted in unsatisfactory performance for players.

In addition to increasing the Flamethrower’s damage by 33 percent, the upcoming major update will also nerf enemies like Rocket Devastators, reducing their available rocket projectiles once the update is released on PC and PS5.

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