There are a plethora of weapons to pick up and master in Helldivers 2, but some, such as the Flamethrower, will only be useful if you know how to use them for maximum effectiveness.
Helldivers 2 has a slew of Stratagems for you to unlock and learn as you work through every difficult mode in missions around the galaxy. However, some are easier to use than others. Weapons like the Flamethrower and Stalwart take some getting used to initially but can be incredibly powerful assets once you’re in the groove. To improve your loadout, we’re breaking down how to use the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2 most effectively.
How to use the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2
The best way to use the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2 is as crowd control. This weapon deals a lot of damage across a wide area, meaning you can decimate a group of enemies in pretty much no time at all. However, I will caveat this by saying that the Flamethrower probably isn’t the best weapon to take into an Automaton mission. While it’s effective, their metal bodies defend much better against the heat and damage your fiery friend produces.
If you’ve got a Personal Order to rack up as many kills as possible with the Flamethrower, call it in at the start of a mission. This will give you the weapon you need from the word go, so you can pull it out exactly when you need it and not a second later.
The best way to maximize kills with the Flamethrower is to head out into Terminid missions. The bugs succumb to fire much faster than Automatons, and there are many squishy little runts in their numbers, which count for easy kills when you find a group of them. Just point your barrel at their carapace and let them feel the flames.
Something you should be careful of is friendly fire with the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2. It burns Helldivers just as well as it burns bugs, but humans are much more flammable. Keep an eye on your squad and ensure no one steps in front of you when you’re about to fire, though, and you should be good.
Lastly, the Flamethrower can make a big difference in defensive missions or the final moments of other missions while you’re waiting for Pelican-1. Enemies rush you in both instances, and having something that can deal damage as quickly and efficiently as the Flamethrower could be the difference between everyone evacuating or dying on the surface of a bug-infested world. When you’ve called for an evac, make sure you’ve got yours handy just in case it’s needed.
How to get the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2
To get the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2, you must purchase it from the Stratagems tab in the Ship Management menu. It’s not an early game Stratagem you should be getting by any means, but it’s a decent one to pick up by the time you’ve unlocked Impossible difficulty. Which is where it really shines.
Best loadout for the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2
The best loadout in Helldivers 2 is always the one you know best. Using Stratagems and gear you’re comfortable with makes all the difference in the heat of a mission. However, I’ve noticed a few Stratagems that gel better with the Flamethrower than others, so I’ve listed those below as a starting point for you to figure out what’s best for you.
- Flamethrower
- Anti-Personnel Minefield
- Guard Dog Rover
- Orbital Precision Strike
With this loadout, your Flamethrower is ready to kill anything that moves too close to your position. The Anti-Personnel Minefield can make short work of enemies storming your position from a secondary angle, providing some protection.
The Guard Dog Rover will also give you some much-needed protection while you’re focused on burning enemies elsewhere. No need to perish because some bugs snuck up behind you. Finally, the Orbital Precision Strike is perfect for finishing off enemies when you’ve run out of ammo and have no time to reload or wait for backup. Just drop it and run.
When it comes to your basic weapons and gear, you should definitely go with what you know. These help you play to your natural strengths, while the Stratagems above will give you an edge on top of those that will help see you through on the toughest difficulty levels.
