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On its surfaceHelldivers 2may seem like your run of the mill squad shooter, but there’s a lot of heavy hitting mechanics just under the surface that are worth looking into. From helpful facts like knowing your penetration ability to the benefits of squad synergy, Helldivers 2 has a lot of moving parts that are fun to chew into if you have the time.
One particularly interesting facet of the game is ergonomics. Now this won’t greatly affect your overall average playstyle, but if you want to shave off a few seconds of your reaction time to threats then grab a chair, sit down, and read a little. Because here’s what you need to know about ergonomics in Helldivers 2.
What Are Ergonomics In Helldivers 2?
People familiar with firearms will already be familiar with ergonomics, but for those that aren’t then don’t worry it’snot particularly complicated. Boiled down to its basics, ergonomics refers tohow quickly your weapon snaps up to the centre of the screenwhilst either turning the camera, moving, or standing still. In Helldivers 2 the ergonomics of a firearm arerepresented by aweapon stat, and the higher the number, the faster you can pull it up.
For example, something small likea side arm will have a high ergonomic value. This is reflected in gameplay as you are able towhip it right up there to the centre of the screensuper quickly. Whilst if you held an LMG, a heavy machine gun, or a chunky sniper rifle that you called in as a support weapon then you’re going tofeel it chuga little as you lift that heavy weapon up.
A good way to remember this is,the smaller the weapon, the faster your lift speed. This also applies to launchers and support weapons.
This is something you can then factor in for your weapon choices when facing a particular threat and it will allow you to respond to things just that little bit faster. Which is often the difference between surviving for a few more brief minutes, or being turned into a blood covered ragdoll that’s flying across the battlefield at Mach five.
As an example to elaborate further,Terminids are fast moving threats. So high reaction speeds are required to deal with them, especially the sneaky Predator boys that like to cloak as they approach. The Automatons on the other hand are oftenbig, slow, and lumbering. So you can lean more toward theheavier gear. Then there’s the Illuminate, which area mix of both. It’s a small stat difference that can often make the difference in a firefight.
How To Improve Your Ergonomics In Helldivers 2
Originally when Helldivers 2 launched there wasn’t much you could do to improve the ergonomics of weapons, you could onlygrab whatever suitedthe moment. But now, at time of writing, there’s a few things you can do to buff up those stats.
The first thing you can try doing is toswap around some attachments. A lot can be tweaked on your weapons and a general rule of thumb, if you want those lighter ergo stats, is toaim for lighter attachments. These tend to have a higher ergonomic rating than something a bit chunkier hanging off your gun. Removing things from other weapons can also help with your ergonomics.
For example,pulling scopes off a high powered riflethat you can then use at short range with an iron sight, ortaking off an under barrelthat might be weighing you down. Orgetting rid of a laser sighton an assault rifle that doesn’t need to be there. Chop and change your kit without remorse and you’ll find what works for you fairly quickly.
Whilst changing attachments keep in mindthe golden rulefor your ergonomic stats. Green is good and light, red is bad and heavy.
Outside of attachments, the other thing you’re able to tweak with to boost your ergonomics is your Perk choice. Although itdoes requirebuying a Warbondand equipping an armor set. In this case your main choice should be Peak Physique with the PH-9 Predator armor which increases weapon handling and is available from theViper Commandosset. It also boosts melee damage as an extra bonus.
Ergonomics And Weapon Sway, The Contested Connection
It’s a bit of a hot topic in the Helldiver 2 community that eventhe developers themselves have had to weigh in on, but there is a tenuous connection between sway and weapon ergonomics. They’re two separate stats, but they cansynergize with your ergonomic statsto impact your weapons overall handling.
Sway is essentiallyhow much your weapon reticle moves around whilst you’re standing stilland aiming, or firing whilst aiming. According to Arrowhead, this can beimpacted by things like your stance. Which means standing, crouching, or lying prone. And the type of weapon that you’re holding.
In gameplay terms,the lighter the weapon, the more it will sway. The heavier the gun, the less it will sway.
So something like a pistol will snap up to the centre fast, but it willwobble around quite a bitdepending on your stance and the situation. Whilst if you popped off a few rounds with a heavy machine gun, or a high calibre sniper rifle then it’snot going to swaytoo much.
There’s a bit ofdebate around the communityabout whether this makes a noticeable change, but there’s been enough balance patches to suggest that it does. Such as the timeArrowhead increased the sway stats of small armslike pistols and SMGS in a hotfix.
Keeping this in mind whilst tweaking your ergonomic stats will help youbuild a gun that should hit the centre fast and barely twitchafterwards as you send some democracy downrange.
Sway also applies toone-handed and two-handedweapons. One hand has increased sway, whilst two-handed guns are significantly more stable.
