Helldivers 2 Mythbusting: Debunking the Most Persistent Player Beliefs
Posted: 11 Oct 2025, 09:33
In the chaotic world of Helldivers 2, misinformation spreads almost as fast as bugs and bots. With hundreds of missions, complex mechanics, and minimal in-game explanations, it’s no wonder players have come up with their own theories — some right, many wrong. In a recent video, content creator Thomas Arai put several popular myths to the test, bringing data, explosions, and plenty of humor to the battlefield. Here’s a breakdown of the findings, along with a few insights for those looking to refine their strategies and gear up more effectively.
1. Diving Grants You Invincibility Frames — Busted
Many players believe that performing a dive gives temporary invulnerability (i-frames), similar to dodge rolls in other games. After multiple experiments involving bile titan acid, orbital strikes, and even the LYFT 182 warp pack, the results were clear: diving doesn’t make you immune to damage.
The only times players survived explosions were when they successfully escaped the blast radius — not because of any invulnerability window. If you’ve seen someone miraculously survive a hit mid-dive, it was likely a desync issue.
Takeaway: Use diving for repositioning or quick escapes, not as a substitute for armor or timing. If you need survivability, invest in better gear or support stratagems rather than relying on animation myths.
2. Melee Weapons Have Only Light Armor Penetration — Busted
Tooltips in the armory can be misleading. Despite most melee weapons being labeled as “light penetration,” real tests show they can pierce medium armor just fine.
Against Hive Guards — which are covered in thick, medium plates — every melee weapon successfully dealt damage through armor. The only uncertain case was the standard pistol butt, which still managed to stagger enemies effectively.
Takeaway: Don’t underestimate melee tools. If you prefer close combat, they remain perfectly viable even against armored targets. When you buy helldivers 2 items from reliable sources like U4GM, consider melee options for flexibility in your loadout.
3. Activating Side Objectives Spawns Patrols — Busted
This myth feels intuitive: whenever you activate an artillery objective, enemies seem to appear out of nowhere. But after detailed solo testing, patrols didn’t increase or change their routes after activation.
Instead, players attract enemies by simply being noisy or visible in open terrain. Patrols have preset paths — understanding these is key to completing objectives stealthily.
Takeaway: Patience and stealth matter. Use scout armor, avoid unnecessary combat, and remember that not every enemy you see is “spawning” because of your actions.
4. Saluting Raises the Flag Faster — Confirmed
Surprisingly, this one’s true. Tests showed that saluting during “Spread Democracy” missions reduced flag-raising time compared to doing nothing. Solo saluting took around 1 minute 26 seconds, while a full squad saluting together raised it even faster.
It’s a fun touch that reinforces the game’s tongue-in-cheek patriotism — and a rare myth that actually holds up.
Takeaway: When capturing points, have your team salute for a minor but real time advantage.
5. Bots Don’t Take Fire or Gas Damage — Busted
While bots are metal and resistant to flames, Helldivers 2’s “Freedom’s Fire” is more than just heat — it’s sticky incendiary oil that burns everything. Once ignited, bots take consistent damage over time.
Gas also affects bots by disorienting them, often causing them to shoot wildly or reveal weak points. Combining both can disrupt enemy formations and make tougher enemies easier to manage.
Takeaway: Fire and gas remain highly effective against bots. Equip napalm or gas-based stratagems to control crowds and weaken strong targets.
6. Primary Weapons Are Your Main Damage Source — Busted (Sort of)
One of the biggest takeaways from the tests was that stratagems, not primaries, do most of the heavy lifting. When the team played a full mission using only primaries, they achieved solid kill counts. But when relying exclusively on stratagems, the numbers skyrocketed.
Between orbital strikes, turrets, and EATs, stratagems cleared far more enemies with less risk and effort.
Takeaway: Primaries still matter for mobility and sustained damage, but true firepower comes from your support tools. To stay effective in higher-level missions, manage your stratagems wisely — and ensure you’re stocked up on the right ones when you buy helldivers 2 super credits or upgrade your arsenal through trusted services like U4GM.
Helldivers 2 continues to evolve as players experiment, share findings, and challenge assumptions. Many long-standing myths have been definitively debunked — but others, like saluting, reveal that the game’s humor sometimes hides real mechanics.
Understanding what’s true and what’s not helps you play smarter, survive longer, and support your squad more effectively. So next time someone tells you diving makes you invincible or that bots can’t burn — you’ll know better.
1. Diving Grants You Invincibility Frames — Busted
Many players believe that performing a dive gives temporary invulnerability (i-frames), similar to dodge rolls in other games. After multiple experiments involving bile titan acid, orbital strikes, and even the LYFT 182 warp pack, the results were clear: diving doesn’t make you immune to damage.
The only times players survived explosions were when they successfully escaped the blast radius — not because of any invulnerability window. If you’ve seen someone miraculously survive a hit mid-dive, it was likely a desync issue.
Takeaway: Use diving for repositioning or quick escapes, not as a substitute for armor or timing. If you need survivability, invest in better gear or support stratagems rather than relying on animation myths.
2. Melee Weapons Have Only Light Armor Penetration — Busted
Tooltips in the armory can be misleading. Despite most melee weapons being labeled as “light penetration,” real tests show they can pierce medium armor just fine.
Against Hive Guards — which are covered in thick, medium plates — every melee weapon successfully dealt damage through armor. The only uncertain case was the standard pistol butt, which still managed to stagger enemies effectively.
Takeaway: Don’t underestimate melee tools. If you prefer close combat, they remain perfectly viable even against armored targets. When you buy helldivers 2 items from reliable sources like U4GM, consider melee options for flexibility in your loadout.
3. Activating Side Objectives Spawns Patrols — Busted
This myth feels intuitive: whenever you activate an artillery objective, enemies seem to appear out of nowhere. But after detailed solo testing, patrols didn’t increase or change their routes after activation.
Instead, players attract enemies by simply being noisy or visible in open terrain. Patrols have preset paths — understanding these is key to completing objectives stealthily.
Takeaway: Patience and stealth matter. Use scout armor, avoid unnecessary combat, and remember that not every enemy you see is “spawning” because of your actions.
4. Saluting Raises the Flag Faster — Confirmed
Surprisingly, this one’s true. Tests showed that saluting during “Spread Democracy” missions reduced flag-raising time compared to doing nothing. Solo saluting took around 1 minute 26 seconds, while a full squad saluting together raised it even faster.
It’s a fun touch that reinforces the game’s tongue-in-cheek patriotism — and a rare myth that actually holds up.
Takeaway: When capturing points, have your team salute for a minor but real time advantage.
5. Bots Don’t Take Fire or Gas Damage — Busted
While bots are metal and resistant to flames, Helldivers 2’s “Freedom’s Fire” is more than just heat — it’s sticky incendiary oil that burns everything. Once ignited, bots take consistent damage over time.
Gas also affects bots by disorienting them, often causing them to shoot wildly or reveal weak points. Combining both can disrupt enemy formations and make tougher enemies easier to manage.
Takeaway: Fire and gas remain highly effective against bots. Equip napalm or gas-based stratagems to control crowds and weaken strong targets.
6. Primary Weapons Are Your Main Damage Source — Busted (Sort of)
One of the biggest takeaways from the tests was that stratagems, not primaries, do most of the heavy lifting. When the team played a full mission using only primaries, they achieved solid kill counts. But when relying exclusively on stratagems, the numbers skyrocketed.
Between orbital strikes, turrets, and EATs, stratagems cleared far more enemies with less risk and effort.
Takeaway: Primaries still matter for mobility and sustained damage, but true firepower comes from your support tools. To stay effective in higher-level missions, manage your stratagems wisely — and ensure you’re stocked up on the right ones when you buy helldivers 2 super credits or upgrade your arsenal through trusted services like U4GM.
Helldivers 2 continues to evolve as players experiment, share findings, and challenge assumptions. Many long-standing myths have been definitively debunked — but others, like saluting, reveal that the game’s humor sometimes hides real mechanics.
Understanding what’s true and what’s not helps you play smarter, survive longer, and support your squad more effectively. So next time someone tells you diving makes you invincible or that bots can’t burn — you’ll know better.