It’s been a dramatic 24 hours for Helldivers 2 gamers after the sport’s first steadiness patch set the cat among the many pigeons with its nerf to the perfect loadout.
Patch 01.000.100 nerfs the Breaker, Railgun, and Defend Generator Backpack, three gadgets thought of important to larger issue play and Helldivers 2’s finest loadouts. But it surely additionally buffs weaker weapons and stratagems, together with the Flamethrower (extra on that later), Laser Cannon, Punisher, and the 380mm and 120mm Orbital Barrages.
It’s the nerfs to the Breaker, Railgun, and Defend Generator Backpack which have sparked probably the most vociferous dialogue inside the Helldivers 2 group, given their reputation. On larger difficulties, Helldivers 2 throws an typically overwhelming variety of highly effective enemies at you, a lot of which require hard-hitting weapons and stratagems to take care of. The Railgun specifically was a preferred choice for taking on Helldivers 2’s hardest enemies, such because the closely armored Bile Titan and Charger.
Developer Arrowhead had already mentioned the pondering behind these adjustments, admitting ‘having your favourite toy nerfed completely sucks’, however referred to as on gamers to give the nerfed gadgets an opportunity. Now it’s gone into extra element in a blog post by Patrik Lasota, the designer on the primary Helldivers and presently Head of Product Testing at Arrowhead.
In discussing the nerf to the Breaker, a shotgun thought of the perfect major weapon within the recreation, Lasota commented on major weapons normally, revealing that their lack of energy and lack of ability to take care of all of the enemies is completely intentional.
“That is very a lot intentional, you want to rely on your stratagems, and the stratagems of your group to take care of all of the enemies successfully,” Lasota stated. “Both by Eagle Airstrikes, Orbitals, Assist Weapons, or Turrets, a few of your loadout/group ought to be tailoring their loadout to killing the weaker stuff extra effectively.
“This doesn’t imply that your major weapon shouldn’t really feel good to use, however please perceive that it’s major solely within the sense that it’s one thing you at all times spawn with.”
In fact, Railgun is certainly a stratagem, however Arrowhead nerfed this too. A lot of the response to the replace stems from what occurred to the Railgun, which high-level gamers used to soldier by the toughest difficulties. The Railgun’s secure mode is now able to penetrating medium armor, reminiscent of Automaton Scout Walkers, however no more closely armored enemies like Chargers and Bile Titans. For these targets, gamers now should run the Railgun in unsafe mode and overcharge it. In the meantime, Arrowhead reigned within the Railgun’s capability to injury large physique components, which suggests so as to use it effectively gamers should rating hits on heads and different weak factors.
Which brings us neatly to the Flamethrower, which was one in all Helldivers 2’s least efficient assist weapons. With the Railgun within the filth, gamers are searching for out alternate options, and it seems just like the just lately buffed Flamethrower could now be viable. Players are reporting that the Flamethrower now effectively cooks Chargers, if utilized in a focused style, and given how bloody annoying Chargers are, the Flamethrower is now having fun with its time within the solar.
Flamethrower can kill chargers fairly quick now | #Helldivers2
🎥 BadassMinh pic.twitter.com/zK4DVaUIrC
— HELLDIVERS 2 Updates (@Helldivers2HQ) March 7, 2024
“The Flamethrower is actually the embodiment of stepping right into a queen’s lair and torching all her eggs, as finished by a badass motion heroine,” Lasota stated. “It ought to be highly effective up shut and an inconvenience to enemies which might be lit on fireplace or need to stroll by the fireplace and flames. As many have commented the flamer has felt slightly too anemic, not outputting injury at a fee that’s warranted by a weapon with a shorter vary and huge volatility such because the Flamethrower.
“We now have elevated the Flamethrower direct injury to give you the chance to barbeque enemies that get shut a lot sooner. Please get pleasure from your Terminid Barbecue Machine responsibly, as this additionally makes it much more unstable for any Helldivers caught within the stream.”
The emergence of the Flamethrower, nonetheless, has finished little to calm the controversy round Helldivers 2’s nerfs, with some gamers complaining that larger difficulties at the moment are nigh-on inconceivable given the sheer variety of Bile Titans and Chargers they throw at you once you play on a Terminid planet. It’s price declaring that Helldivers 2 is simply a month previous, so Arrowhead will probably be eager to collect as a lot information as potential from these first weeks to inform its decision-making later.
Lasota additionally supplied useful perception into Arrowhead’s philosophy when it comes to steadiness adjustments, and it sounds just like the developer is eager to nerf and buff, as opposed to solely buff. “I’ve, because the recreation launched, seen many who say ‘don’t nerf, solely buff’ and different related concepts,” Lasota stated. “Nonetheless as a designer I can inform you this isn’t an awesome concept, however I perceive the place the sentiment comes from. All too typically within the video games business the core fantasy, and what makes a weapon really feel good and enjoyable, is ignored for the sake of steadiness.
“I consider gamers are terrified of nerfs, as a result of it is going to damage the fantasy of a weapon, damage their enjoyable. It’s additional vital to us to tread rigorously in order that we don’t damage fantasy and enjoyable after we do nerfs. We hope you, our gamers, will inform us after we cross that line inadvertently.”
There’s so much taking place on this planet of Helldivers 2, together with a latest new technique that entails hugging. The galactic conflict continues, after all, as gamers await the arrival of mechs.
This week, IGN reported on how Helldivers 2 has develop into one of many shock hits of 2024 since launching in February, topping the charts on Steam and (*2*). In accordance to no less than one analyst, it is nonetheless rising. Take a look at IGN’s Helldivers 2 evaluation to discover out why it is happening so effectively, in addition to the finest loadouts.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.