exploding 500kg bomb in helldivers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to use the Eagle 500KG Bomb to maximize kills in Helldivers 2

Drop that bomb.

Few Stratagems strike as much fear into the enemies of democracy in Helldivers 2 as the Eagle 500KG Bomb. This thing wipes pretty much anything from the surface of a planet, including the most imposing soldiers among every enemy faction. However, it’s important to use it well to maximize your kills.

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The Eagle 500KG Bomb Stratagem in Helldivers 2 is a weapon that’s probably killed as many players as it has enemies. It’s hugely powerful. A bomb bigger than anything else in the game that transforms the landscape into a desolate, firey crater from which nothing can emerge. With this weapon being so lethal, it’s hardly surprising that it’s tough to maximize kills with. But that’s exactly what you must do when it pops up for a Personal Order.

How to use the Eagle 500KG Bomb to maximize kills in Helldivers 2

eagle 500kg bomb explosion helldivers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

To maximize kills with the Eagle 500KG Bomb in Helldivers 2, you need to wait to use it until the very last second. This bomb takes a few seconds to detonate and create a blast zone so lethal that Super Mutants from the Fallout series would struggle to survive, so you need to bait those enemies into the area.

I manage this by kiting enemies around the map, throwing the Stratagem in front of me, and running across the beacon so there’s roughly enough time for it to detonate and kill everything chasing me. I can’t stress enough that you need to keep moving. The shockwave from this bomb will knock you off your feet and cause a tonne of damage if you’re not prepared and moving away.

The Stratagem will also rack up loads of kills if you throw it into groups of unsuspecting enemies. Automatons are best for this because you can drop it amongst a few Fabricators and wait for them all to be blown to pieces. If you’re battling against Terminids, then look for a collection of Bug Nests to drop this one on and watch those insects cook.

Finally, you should carefully consider using this Stratagem against the biggest enemies among the enemy’s ranks. Mobile Fabricators and Bile Titans are slow-moving, but the Eagle 500KG Bomb is also pretty big. It can miss its mark and end up killing you instead if you put the beacon on a moving target.

Do yourself a favor and throw the beacon on the floor near these big foes. That way, it’ll hit and deal damage regardless, but it won’t miss and end up killing your Helldiver in the process.

How to get the Eagle 500KG Bomb in Helldivers 2

buying the eagle 500kg bomb in helldivers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

To get the Eagle 500KG Bomb in Helldivers 2, you need to purchase it from the Stratagems tab of the Ship Management menu. It costs 10,000 Requisition Slips, so it’s not cheap by any means, but this is one of the most powerful bombs you can call down from your Superdestroyer, so the price is about right. Especially considering how much it likely costs citizens to return to Super Earth.

Best loadout for the Eagle 500KG Bomb in Helldivers 2

calling down eagle 500kg bomb in helldivers 2
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The best loadout for the Eagle 500KG Bomb in Helldivers 2 should, first and foremost, be something you’re comfortable using. Knowing what you’ve got in reserves is way more important than synergizing your Stratagems. If you don’t know what to go with first, though, I’ve got a good baseline loadout for you below.

So with this loadout, you have your 500KG Bomb ready to go whenever you need it. As I’ve mentioned above, it works best with groups of enemies, so launch it as soon as you’ve got a good group pulled together. The Stalwart is a fantastic machine gun you can use while sprinting, and it will make short work of anything that gets too close to you. Perfect for when you’re running away from the 500KG Bomb while also looking out for the explosion.

The Anti-Personnel Minefield is a good Stratagem to call in right after the 500KG Bomb because it creates a blanket of explosives that can atomize anything that emerges from the smoke that your bomb managed to miss. Finally, the Guard Dog Rover is a great backpack that’ll clean up smaller enemies sneaking up on you. I always have this equipped because it’s saved my Helldivers more times than I can count.

Please note that when it comes to weapons, I really recommend using the ones you’ve grown comfortable with in your time with Helldivers 2. Weapons are so interchangeable that the best ones to double down on with every loadout are just those that work for your play style.


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Author
Image of Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie is a Staff Writer on Destructoid who has been playing video games for the better part of the last three decades. He adores indie titles with unique and interesting mechanics and stories, but is also a sucker for big name franchises, especially if they happen to lean into the horror genre.