Helldivers 2 patch 1.001.100 arrived on September 17, 2024, as a broad combat and quality-of-life update. It reworked armor penetration and anti-tank damage, adjusted weapons and enemies, changed how damage to Helldivers worked, and added a Galactic War map feature and an emote wheel. This is a historical explainer of that release, not a guide to the game’s current balance.
When did Helldivers 2 patch 1.001.100 come out?
Arrowhead Game Studios released patch 1.001.100 on September 17, 2024. SteamDB recorded the release as build 15696454. SteamDB’s patch record reproduces the detailed notes; the official Steam announcement explains Arrowhead’s stated goals.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![HELLDIVERS 2 - Standard - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61k+kwN16PL._SL160_.jpg)
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HELLDIVERS 2 - Standard - PC [Online Game Code] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![HELLDIVERS 2 - Super Citizen Edition - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416-zlk3QfL._SL160_.jpg)
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HELLDIVERS 2 - Super Citizen Edition - PC [Online Game Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![PlayStation Helldivers 2 [ 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ioRcoq-PL._SL160_.jpg)
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PlayStation Helldivers 2 [ 5] | $44.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Helldivers Super Earth Ultimate Edition | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Why did Arrowhead make such a broad balance update?
Arrowhead said players felt constrained by a small number of effective tools. The update aimed to make more weapons viable and loadouts more versatile by changing armor penetration, anti-tank behavior, enemy defenses, and weapon performance. The developer cautioned that overall difficulty might decrease slightly and said it would monitor the results and wanted player feedback. That was the stated design intent, not a guarantee that every weapon or encounter would feel better to every player.
What changed to armor, damage, and Helldiver survivability?
Partial damage became less punishing
The patch increased partial damage from 50% to 65% of full damage, according to Arrowhead’s notes. The developer said the earlier rate was overly punishing and encouraged reliance on high-penetration weapons. This adjustment was part of a wider overhaul of armor penetration, health, and armor interactions.
#1 Best Overall
- BECOME A LEGEND - You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
- LOADOUTS - Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armour and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
- REQUISITION - Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
- THREATS - Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behaviour – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
Headshots caused less extra damage to Helldivers
Before the update, a headshot dealt 100% extra damage to a Helldiver; patch 1.001.100 reduced that bonus to 50%. Damage to other body parts increased slightly. Arrowhead described the aim as making incoming damage more consistent and reducing sudden damage spikes. These percentages are values stated in the 2024 patch notes, not current live-game stats.
How did the patch change weapons and anti-tank options?
The notes covered a wide-ranging balance pass rather than one isolated weapon change. A few examples illustrate its direction:
Rank #2
- BECOME A LEGEND - You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
- LOADOUTS - Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armour and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
- REQUISITION - Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
- THREATS - Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behaviour – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
| Weapon or category | Patch-note change |
|---|---|
| Liberator and Liberator Carbine | Damage increased from 60 to 70. |
| Eruptor | Shrapnel returned: the notes listed 30 projectiles at 110 damage each, alongside lower explosion damage and a larger explosion radius. |
| Dedicated anti-tank options | The Recoilless Rifle, Quasar, Commando, Expendable Anti-Tank, SPEAR, and Patriot Exosuit rockets received significant damage boosts. |
| Selected support weapons | The Laser Cannon, Anti-Materiel Rifle, Heavy Machine Gun, Flamethrower, and Autocannon gained the ability to damage specified heavily armored enemies. |
The listed Eruptor projectile count and damage, like the Liberator figures, are patch-note values rather than independent test measurements. The broader changes altered how weapons interacted with armored targets; the notes do not establish that these exact values or behaviors remain in the live game today.
Which enemy changes were included?
Arrowhead reduced armor on several armored enemy types and changed the behavior or durability of multiple threats. The notes specifically describe changes to Chargers, Bile Titans, Hulks, Impalers, and Automaton Fabricators. Rocket Devastators and Gunships received limited rocket supplies. Together with the anti-tank and penetration changes, these adjustments were intended to make a wider range of tools useful against armored enemies.
Rank #3
- Join the Helldivers and fight with friends for freedom:
- Immerse yourself in the battle for freedom - We need brave citizens traveling through the galaxy to free unpredictable, hostile worlds and spread our message of peace, freedom and guided democracy - in fast, fast-paced and wild missions.
- Become a legend - As part of the elite troops of Over-Earth, you have the entire power of the military at your disposal. Rise in the ranks as you complete vital missions, turn the tide in battle and protect the front.
- The Galactic War - As the Galactic War rages on multiple fronts, campaigns are fought, won and lost. Our enemies abandoned by the flag fight us at every turn, but we will not rest until every being has its freedom!
- Pre-order now for three armour sets: "TR-7 Brand Ambassador" - SUMY Corp advertising armor. As part of a hugely successful marketing campaign for Frozen Yogurt, "TR-62 Knights" - Designed to provide justice even in the darkest corners of the galaxy. & "Cavaliers of Democracy TR-9" - Carriers of this armour do not ride a horse, but are carried into battle on the faithful horse of freedom.
What new features and fixes did the update add?
Galactic War map information and an emote wheel
The Galactic War map gained a feature for showing strategically important assets. Players could also equip up to four emotes for the new emote wheel, making it possible to choose among equipped emotes without relying on a single selection.
Gas effects, platform support, and bug fixes
Orbital Gas Strike shifted toward crowd control: its gas blinded and confused both enemies and Helldivers, while dealing less damage over time. On PS5, the notes announced Dolby Atmos support. The update also included crash, mission, aiming, and other bug fixes.
What does this patch tell players about the game today?
Patch 1.001.100 documents what Arrowhead changed in September 2024 and what goals it stated for that release. These notes alone do not establish the present-day weapon values, enemy behavior, or overall balance: later updates may have changed them. Treat the figures above as historical patch values, not recommendations or current specifications.
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