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Helldivers 2: 10 Tips and Tricks for Facing Automatons

Match armor penetration to Automaton targets, aim for weak points, and adapt your tactics as difficulty and weapon balance change.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Against Automatons, match your weapon’s armor penetration to the target, aim for vulnerable areas, and adapt to the mission’s difficulty and current patch. Arrowhead says its Into the Unjust 6.0.1 update made difficulty 9 and above more intense across factions, with the biggest change expected on the Automaton front. The tips below focus on durable tactics and flag where patch changes can make specific advice age quickly.

10 tips for facing Automatons

1. Check the difficulty and current patch

Before choosing your approach, check the mission difficulty and the latest update notes. Arrowhead’s Into the Unjust 6.0.1 notes say high-difficulty missions became more intense across all factions, with the biggest effect expected on the Automaton front. A loadout or tactic that felt manageable before an update may need adjustment at difficulty 9 and above. Read Arrowhead’s 6.0.1 update notes.

2. Match armor penetration to the target

Automaton enemies are not interchangeable targets. Arrowhead’s balance notes describe changes to armor penetration, anti-tank weapons, and enemy armor and health, so a weapon that works well on one target may be ineffective against another. Check the weapon’s penetration role and the target’s armor rather than assuming that damage alone will solve the problem. Arrowhead’s 01.000.400 patch notes explain the relevant armor and weapon changes.

3. Aim for vulnerable areas

When a target has a weak point, deliberate aim is more valuable than spraying armored body parts. Arrowhead’s March 25, 2024 commentary on the Railgun said that efficient damage depended on hitting heads and other weak points. That statement describes the weapon’s design intent at the time, not a guarantee of its current balance, but the practical lesson remains: look for exposed or vulnerable areas and place shots carefully. Read the March 25, 2024 developer commentary.

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4. Keep pressure on Devastators

Arrowhead’s 01.000.400 notes say Devastators flinch when hit, worsening their aim. Sustained, accurate hits can therefore help disrupt their attacks as you deal damage. Use that behavior as an opening to manage the threat, not as a promise that any weapon or a fixed number of shots will stop one.

5. Expect Fabricators to take weapon-dependent effort

Do not count on every Automaton Fabricator falling to one hit. The 01.000.400 notes say Fabricators gained health and armor, and that high-penetration weapons may need multiple hits depending on the weapon. Choose a suitable option and be prepared to follow up rather than assuming a universal one-shot method.

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6. Treat Hulks as armored targets; look for the rear weak spot

Hulks are armored, but Arrowhead’s 01.000.400 notes document a vulnerable area on the back. If the opportunity arises, use that weak spot instead of repeatedly firing into armor. The patch notes also describe changes to Hulk durability and health, so avoid relying on a fixed shot count or assuming an old tactic will perform identically after later updates.

7. Bring anti-tank capability for targets that call for it

Arrowhead’s armor-and-health rework distinguishes dedicated anti-tank weapons from general-purpose weapons. Build a squad approach that includes a way to handle heavily armored targets, then use that capability where it is appropriate rather than spending it indiscriminately. The cited notes do not establish a current best weapon or a universal ranking; check current in-game behavior and patch notes before treating any specific weapon as the top choice.

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8. Avoid firing on autopilot at armored bodies

When shots are not producing useful results, change the angle or target rather than continuing to pour fire into the same armored area. The Railgun commentary’s emphasis on heads and weak points is a reminder that accuracy and placement matter. This is especially important when ammunition or time is limited.

9. Read enemy behavior and the battlefield

Use what enemies are doing as a cue to adjust: a Devastator flinching under fire, for example, gives you a chance to disrupt its aim. But do not assume that enemy projectile behavior is permanent. Arrowhead has changed Automaton projectile deviation limits in earlier updates, showing that enemy behavior can shift between patches. The 01.000.300 notes document earlier Automaton behavior changes.

10. Revisit your approach after updates

Weapon balance, enemy durability, and difficulty can change. Treat any named weapon recommendation you encounter as version-dependent, then check the current patch notes and how the weapon performs in-game before building your plan around it. The available official notes support durable principles—match penetration to armor, seek weak points, and adapt to enemy behavior—but they do not establish a timeless weapon tier list.

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