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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe LAS-98 Laser Cannon is a stratagem support weapon built around sustained beam damage rather than a conventional ammunition supply. Its usefulness depends on managing heat, keeping the beam on target, and aiming for armor or vulnerable areas; it is not a weapon with unlimited firing time. Current detailed figures below come from a community-maintained reference, so check the in-game weapon data after major balance updates.
What the LAS-98 does
The LAS-98 is a heavy, energy-based support weapon called in as a stratagem. The Ship Management Terminal description reproduced by The Helldivers Wiki calls it “A laser weapon firing a continuous beam. Doesn’t require ammunition, but will need heat sink replaced if it overheats.” In practice, that means it trades magazine management for heat management: you can fire without spending conventional ammunition, but you must stop firing to cool the weapon or replace a heat sink if it overheats.
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LAS-98 stats and what they mean
The Helldivers Wiki’s community-maintained reference, accessed October 8, 2026, lists the following values. These are reported game-data figures, not real-world measurements or independently verified test results.
| Stat | Listed value | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Laser damage | 350 DPS | Listed beam damage per second while it is damaging a target. |
| Fire damage | 100 DPS | A separate listed fire-damage value; do not assume every target will take it in the same way. |
| Armor penetration | Heavy | The reference classifies the weapon as having heavy armor penetration, but this alone does not establish how quickly it defeats a particular enemy or body part. |
| Heat capacity | 12.5 seconds | Listed firing capacity before the heat limit, not a guarantee of uninterrupted damage against every target. |
| Spare heat sinks | 2 | Listed replacement sinks available when the weapon overheats. |
| Overheat threshold | 100°C | The reference’s listed threshold for overheating. |
| Warm-up | 0.5 seconds | Listed time before the beam reaches firing output. |
| Beam range | 1,000 meters | The reference’s listed range; it is not evidence that every target can be hit effectively at that distance. |
All values in the table are from The Helldivers Wiki LAS-98 reference, accessed October 8, 2026. The page is community-maintained, and official sources cited for balance history do not provide a complete current stat sheet. Treat the figures as a reference snapshot rather than a promise that they remain unchanged in every game build.
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How to manage the LAS-98’s heat
Firing builds heat. Releasing the trigger gives the weapon time to cool; overheating means replacing the heat sink rather than simply resuming fire after a brief pause. The 12.5-second capacity is therefore best read as a ceiling under the reference’s stated game data, not as a universal firing window for every encounter.
- Use short firing windows when the target allows it. Stop firing when you have a safe opportunity rather than continuing until the weapon overheats.
- Plan for the pause. The beam’s half-second listed warm-up and the need to cool or replace a sink make target transitions and exposure important parts of using it.
- Save replacement sinks for situations that justify them. If the weapon overheats, replacing a sink restores use but consumes one of the two listed spares.
Where it fits in a loadout
The LAS-98’s clearest role is sustained beam damage with attention to aim. The community reference describes it as useful against armored targets and weak points, while its heavy-penetration classification makes it worth considering when the loadout needs a support weapon that can engage armor. Those descriptions do not establish enemy-specific time-to-kill results, and no matched live-play comparison is available here.
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When weighing it against another support weapon, compare the traits that change the encounter rather than looking at a single damage figure:
- Armor penetration and damage against durable parts.
- How long it can fire before cooling or a heat-sink replacement is needed.
- Handling and the time needed to keep the beam on a useful target area.
- Whether the target exposes a weak point that rewards precise aim.
It is a less natural fit when a situation demands repeated uninterrupted firing, or when keeping a beam accurately on a small vulnerable area is impractical. That is a trade-off implied by its heat cycle and beam-based operation, not a claim that another weapon is always better.
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Why older advice may differ
In March 2024, Arrowhead Head of Product Testing Patrik Lasota described the original intent: “Our original intent was that the Laser Cannon has the role of a Machine Gun, but with theoretically infinite ammunition.” Arrowhead said it increased damage against massive body parts, armor penetration, and ergonomics to bring the weapon closer to player expectations. The explanation is available in Arrowhead’s March 2024 Steam announcement.
Later, the official Steam patch notes for version 01.000.300, dated April 29, 2024, recorded a slight damage increase and a slight reduction in damage against large-volume bodies. That historical adjustment is documented in the 01.000.300 patch notes. Neither the March explanation nor those patch notes establish the weapon’s current balance or current stat values.
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How to read player impressions
A player may ask, “How’s it feel vs pre-patch?” That is useful wording for a comparison question, but one discussion is not evidence of a player consensus or a controlled before-and-after test. For a meaningful comparison, identify which patch is meant and compare the same target, aim point, range, and firing conditions; otherwise, impressions can mix balance changes with differences in aim or encounter setup.
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