How to Get Armor-Piercing Rounds in Helldivers 2

You generally don’t unlock or pick up a universal armor-piercing ammo item in Helldivers 2. Instead, equip a weapon with the penetration level suited to your target in the Armory. Only weapons with selectable ammunition or programmable modes let you switch rounds; use that weapon’s function control to do so.

Choose a weapon with the right armor penetration

1. Open the Armory and inspect the traits shown for your primary, secondary, or support weapon.
2. Compare its penetration category with the armor you need to get through, then equip the weapon that fits your loadout.

Arrowhead Game Studios’ Patch 01.001.104 maps penetration levels as follows:

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A category is a guide to penetration, not a guarantee that a shot will defeat every enemy or hit a vulnerable spot. The official notes cited here do not provide a complete weapon-versus-enemy matchup chart, so check the selected weapon’s current Armory traits rather than relying on an old list.

Switch ammunition only on weapons that support it

Some weapons have distinct ammunition or programmable modes, but those options are specific to the weapon—not a universal AP-round pickup. Arrowhead’s Patch 01.001.104 identifies normal and flak projectiles for the AC-8 Autocannon, and normal and high-explosive rounds for the GR-8 Recoilless Rifle.

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When a weapon offers a mode, follow its weapon-function prompt. In Arrowhead’s Into the Unjust: 6.0.1 patch notes, the studio says: “Weapon function modes that affect Programmable ammo, Ammo types, Volley modes, Safe modes, Guided modes will now be in the left direction.” The control applies to weapons with those functions; it does not mean every gun can switch to armor-piercing ammunition.

Check the mode’s trade-offs

Choosing a mode can change what a weapon is good at. The 01.001.104 notes say the Recoilless Rifle’s high-explosive rounds have a larger explosion radius and more explosion damage, but less projectile damage and are less effective against tanks. Pick a mode for the job rather than assuming an explosive round is automatically better against armor.

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Use ricochets as a practical warning

Shacknews’ 2024 guide to armor-penetrating rounds explains that a ricochet icon indicates a shot failed to penetrate the armor it struck. Treat it as a cue to try a weapon with a more suitable penetration category or aim for a less-armored area. It is a practical indicator, not a complete guide to every enemy’s weak points.

Trust the live Armory display over old weapon lists

Penetration values and their displayed categories can change. Arrowhead’s 6.0.1 notes report that the GL-21 Grenade Launcher was raised from medium to heavy penetration. Its 4.1.0 patch notes also corrected the displayed category for several melee weapons and the G-7 Pineapple grenade from medium to light. Check the in-game traits and the weapon’s function prompt for your current version before setting a loadout.

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