From Newbie to Super Helldive Solo Veteran: Mastering Automaton Loadouts in Helldivers 2

Few challenges in cheap Helldivers 2 Items are as punishing — or as satisfying — as a solo Super Helldive against Automatons. These mechanized enemies are relentless: they flank intelligently, hit hard, and punish hesitation. Even veteran Helldivers can struggle without preparation. But with the right strategy, weapons, and stratagems, it’s possible to not just survive, but dominate. Enter the God-Tier Automaton loadout, a community-tested setup designed to make solo Super Helldive runs manageable and repeatable.

This guide breaks down the mechanics, strategies, and tips you need to transition from a newbie to a solo veteran, showing you how to wield this loadout like a pro.

Step 1: Understand Automaton Behavior

Before you pick weapons, grenades, or armor, you need to study your enemy. Automatons aren’t random mobs — they behave according to precise mechanics.

Key Traits of Automatons

• Medium and Heavy Armor: Most bots shrug off light weapons. You need weapons and grenades capable of breaking armor efficiently.

• High Burst Damage: Hulks, Devastators, and Striders can kill a solo player in seconds.

• Coordinated AI: Bots flank and adapt to your movement. Standing still is fatal.

• Objective Control: Fabricators and gunship nests dominate space, forcing you into dangerous paths.

Implication for newbies: Don’t expect to brute-force your way through. Survival requires planning, positioning, and timing.

Step 2: Core Loadout Breakdown

The God-Tier loadout is built around four pillars: primary weapon, secondary weapon, grenades, and armor — with stratagems complementing each.

Primary Weapon: JAR-5 Dominator

• Fires explosive rounds that shred medium armor and do splash damage to clusters.

• Excellent for mid-range engagement, balancing firepower and control.

• Pro tip: Fire in short bursts to maintain accuracy and manage recoil.

Secondary Weapon: GP-31 Grenade Pistol

• Perfect for cleaning up stragglers or targeting weak points on larger bots.

• Adds versatility, especially in tight spaces or behind cover.

• Pro tip: Lob grenades into choke points for maximum effect.

Grenade: G-123 Thermite

• Deals damage over time (DOT), melting armor and forcing hulks or devastators to stagger.

• Effective while you reposition or reload your primary weapon.

• Pro tip: Cook the grenade slightly before throwing for better contact and effect.

Armor: Heavy with Peak Physique

• Heavy armor absorbs rockets, lasers, and stray hits.

• Peak Physique reduces movement penalties, allowing dodging, sprinting, and repositioning.

• Pro tip: Don’t underestimate the value of survivability — one mistake in solo play can end a mission.

Step 3: Stratagem Usage

Stratagems are what take this build from “strong” to God-Tier.

Orbital Laser

• Best for crowd control and patrol denial.

• Use at warp points or chokepoints to clear clustered bots.

• Tip for beginners: Don’t spam — wait for grouped enemies to maximize efficiency.

Eagle 500KG Bomb

• Ideal for destroying fabricators and nests instantly.

• Provides a high-damage option without risking close combat.

• Tip for beginners: Save bombs for objectives, not every enemy cluster.

Recoilless Rifle

• High single-target damage against hulks and armored bots.

• Provides emergency firepower when your primary weapon isn’t enough.

• Tip: Use preemptively on high-threat units.

Rocket Sentry

• Acts as a temporary teammate in solo runs.

• Useful for zone control or protecting your extraction path.

• Tip: Place behind cover or at chokepoints.

Step 4: Mission Flow Tips for Solo Players

Solo Super Helldive missions demand discipline and planning.

Pre-Mission Prep

• Study patrol routes and objectives before deploying.

• Plan which stratagems to drop first based on terrain and enemy density.

Engagement Strategy

• Engage at range whenever possible — let bots come to you.

• Use terrain for cover and to funnel bots into kill zones.

• Layer stratagems — don’t rely on one tool to solve every problem.

Prioritization

• Fabricators first: Neutralize objectives that spawn reinforcements or strengthen enemies.

• Hulks/Devastators next: High burst threats can end the run if ignored.

• Patrol mobs last: Easier to manage once primary threats are eliminated.

Retreat & Recovery

• Don’t fight every patrol. Surviving and completing objectives is the goal.

• Reposition frequently to reduce AI advantage.

Step 5: Skill Development for Solo Play

Using this loadout teaches critical skills:

1. Situational Awareness: Learn enemy patrol patterns and anticipate flanking.

2. Resource Management: Stratagems have cooldowns — timing them is crucial.

3. Positioning: Map geometry can be a weapon.

4. Flow of Combat: Balance aggression with caution — overextending leads to death.

As you practice, you’ll notice your solo efficiency improving dramatically. Engagements that once felt overwhelming become controlled and predictable.

Step 6: Advanced Tips for Veterans

Once you’re comfortable with the base loadout, you can start customizing for style or efficiency:

• Swap Rocket Sentry for Anti-Tank Emplacement for higher armor damage.

• Experiment with mobility-based armor builds if you prefer kiting over tanking.

• Combine Orbital Laser + Eagle + Thermite in tight sequences for maximum bot thinning.

• Adjust grenade types depending on mission: thermite for armor, impact for CC.

The God-Tier loadout is flexible — it’s a framework for mastering solo Super Helldives.

Step 7: Mindset of a Solo Veteran

Solo Super Helldive missions aren’t just about weapons — they’re about mental toughness:

• Expect mistakes and learn from them.

• Patience beats reckless aggression.

• Use every stratagem wisely — the game rewards planning over brute force.

• Think like the enemy — anticipate AI behavior and control the engagement.

By combining the mechanical advantages of the God-Tier loadout with a disciplined mindset, you can transition from a beginner who struggles against Automatons to a solo veteran who clears Super Helldives consistently.

Final Thoughts

Soloing Automatons in Helldivers 2 is challenging, but entirely achievable with the right tools and approach. The subscriber-inspired God-Tier Automaton loadout offers:

• Armor penetration for tough bots

• Crowd control via grenades and stratagems

• High survivability with heavy armor

• Tactical flexibility for varied mission types

By understanding enemy mechanics, practicing engagement strategies, and mastering stratagem timing, even a newcomer can evolve into a Super Helldive solo veteran.

With this loadout and mindset, you don’t just survive — you dominate the battlefield and prove that even a single Helldiver can uphold Managed Democracy against overwhelming odds.