Helldivers 2 Stratagem tier list (April 2024): The best Stratagems in the current meta

Want to know which Stratagems you should be on the lookout for in Helldivers 2? Then this tier list is for you.

Stratagems are powerful ordinances that can sway the tide of battle, ranging from guns to air strikes. In Helldivers 2, players can select up to four Stratagems to take on any given mission and deploy them by inputting a series of button presses. 

In this article, we'll aim to rank each Stratagem to help you pick the best ones for your build. We'll take into account how hard they are to get and their gameplay impact. 

Helldivers 2 Stratagem categories 

Before we begin with our tier list, you should know that there are four types of Stratagems in Helldivers 2:

• Supply Stratagems: Players can equip themselves with defensive drones, utility and supply backpacks, and heavy weaponry for combat
• Defensive Stratagems: These grant the player access to both operable and automated turrets and mines
• Offensive Stratagems: Enables the player to launch a variety of firebombs and airstrikes, all aimed at engaging the enemy directly
• Mission Stratagems: Grants the player the ability to deal with mission-specific problems and aren't as accessible as other forms of Stratagems

Helldivers 2 Stratagem tier list

Now, unto our tier list. First, let's quickly explain what each tier means:

• S-Tier: These are the most overpowered Stratagems in the game right now and are must-picks on every loadout
• A-Tier: These Stratagems are perfectly balanced and go well with virtually any build. Good choices if you don't have access to the best ones 
• B-Tier: These Stratagems can prove quite useful if you have picked a suitable loadout that compliments them
• C-Tier: They can be fun, off-meta Stratagems, but for the most part, they are not the most efficient tools
• D-Tier: Boring and useless. Avoid at all costs

There are a total of 52 Stratagems currently in the game, with Exosuits added soon after players managed to retake Tien Kwan and four new ones on March 12. These are:

• MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun
• ST-1 Stinger
• MLS-4X Commando
• MS-220 Missile Silo

We've yet to try these Stratagems as they just only been released but judging by the 4X Commando's description it's definitely one of the highlights of this update. This gem is an expendable missile launcher capable of shooting four guided rockets. 

S-Tier Stratagems

• Patriot Exosuit
• Shield Generator Pack
• Eagle Airstrike
• Railgun

• EMS Mortar Sentry

• Autocannon
• Grenade Launcher
• Orbital Laser

• Expendable Anti-Tank

• Mortar Sentry
• Eagle 500kg Bomb
• LAS-99 Quasar Cannon

These are the best of the best Stratagems in Helldivers 2 for us. No surprise, but the Patriot Exosuit is a beast if you have the ability to unlock and deploy it. Unlocking it requires you to be level 25 so you'll need to grind for a bit but it's absolutely worth it.

The standouts also include the Railgun, which continues to be the most overpowered weapon Stratagem in the entire game and is useful in virtually every situation. Big AoE offensive tools like the Eagle Airstrike and the Orbital Laser are a must if you have them unlocked.

A-Tier

• Guard Dog Rover
• Recoilless Rifle
• Orbital Precision Strike
• Eagle Cluster Bomb
• Autocannon Sentry
• MG-101 Heavy Machine Gun
• Orbital Railcannon Strike

We still have amazing picks in this tier, with some more utility-based ones such as the Guard Dog Rover. It's available at level 10 so it's not too hard to acquire, it provides an autonomous drone equipped with a laser, perfect for going on small solo missions without your team.

If possible, try to get one of your teammates to run with a Recoilless Rifle, it's a perfect weapon to take care of vehicle armor and large beasts. Another neat way of taking down big enemies is the Railcannon Strike, although it's not in S since you need to reach level 20 to purchase it.

B-Tier 

• Machine Gun
• Eagle Napalm Airstrike
• Jump Pack
• Gatling Sentry
• Supply Pack
• Incendiary Mines
• HMG Emplacement
• Anti-Materiel Rifle

This is where we start getting into the niche or good but far from being the best of the best section. Of course, can't go wrong with the Machine Gun, especially since it's one of the free Stratagems you'll get in the game, perfect for a newcomer.

There are some traversal ones here as well like the Jump Pack, unlocked at level 8. If you want to feel like a Mandalorian, this is a perfect way to do it, but offers very little all things considered so it's up to you to waste a Stratagem slot in it. 

Overall, if you want to rock these gems you'll have to be wary of what type of mission you'll be tackling, as they might not be ideal.

C-Tier

• Stalwart
• Flamethrower
• Orbital Gatling Barrage
• Spear
• Tesla Tower
• Rocket Sentry
• Machine Gun Sentry
• Guard Dog
• Arc Thrower
• Shield Generator Relay
• Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods
• Orbital EMS Strike
• Eagle Smoke Strike
• Orbital Airburst Strike
• Orbital Walking Barrage

Probably the biggest tier in the list and for a reason. A lot of what makes good Stratagems in Helldivers 2 revolves around versatility, raw damage or utility, fun factor, or how easy they are to get. These severely lack in multiple facets, although they can still be relatively useful depending on the mission.

Take for instance the Guard Dog. The Guard Dog Rover is just outright a better pick, they're both unlocked at level 10 and have the same cooldown time, but the Rover has more armor penetration as it uses a laser compared to the assault rifle ammo from the normal Guard Dog.

Examples like the above can be made about every Stratategem in this tier. Not to say they're completely useless, but you're handicapping yourself by choosing these over the ones in the tiers above.

D-Tier

• Orbital 120MM HE Barrage
• Orbital 380MM HE Barrage
• Eagle Strafing Run
• Eagle Smoke Strike
• Orbital Gas Strike
• Orbital Smoke Strike
• HMG Emplacement
• Anti-Personnel Minefield
• Laser Cannon
• Ballistic Shield Backpack
• Arc Thrower

The absolute worst Stratagems with cero redeemable qualities. You'll find outright better picks in their respective categories, bar none; using these is a complete waste of time as they don't even have the fun factor going for them.

Both Barrage gems are slow and barely cover enough distance to make them worthwhile, especially considering the other array of AoE attacks already available. 

The Arc Thrower concept looks cool on paper, but once you realize the small lightning bolt that discharges through multiple targets amounts to little more than a scratch on enemies, it's laughably bad.

We can only hope Arrowhead Studios gives these a buff to make the variety in Stratagems more interesting. For more content, check out our Helldivers 2 weapon tier lists.