PSA for Helldivers New to the Illuminate

[The Hof]

1. The Overseers (the armoured guys) will die in one solid headshot with at least Medium Armour Penetrating. A Senator or Dominator shot will do the trick. For this reason, I recommend bringing the Senator.

2. If you don't want to aim for the head, you need to keep shooting in one specific spot. You'll strip the armour then do damage to the flesh underneath. It seems like you can't strip the helmet armour, so if you're using an automatic weapon, aim for the chest/limbs. Don't just spray them all over - their armour will soak it up.

3. The ONLY Illuminate enemy that can spawn in a patrol is the Drone - pay attention to them and pick them off when you can. They are very weak and an automatic weapon will make short work of them.

4. The Constitution's melee can handle hordes of Voteless (the zombies) by itself. It's also not a bad pick for the Overseers, as it seems can kill them in two well-placed headshots. This is easier said than done though.

5. For offensive stratagems, Orbital Napalm Strike, 500kg Bomb, Cluster Bomb, Strafing Run, Orbital Gatling Strike and Eagle Airstrike are all useful. Anything with multiple hits will be useful, as many Illuminate units and structures have shields.

6. The big Illuminate unit, the Harvester (shielded Tripod), is weakest in the leg joints. Firing there with a Recoilless Rifle seems to kill them in one hit. Quasar Cannon takes multiple hits. Small arms fire directly in its eye will work, but will take longer.

7. For ANY Illuminate unit with a shield, you may take down the shield with absolutely anything - small arms fire works well. Most weapons can down a shield in around half a magazine. For this reason, the Sickle, Scythe and Laser Cannon work well for conserving ammunition.

8. Landed Illuminate ships can be destroyed with a frag/explosive in their open door once their shield has been downed, just like an Automaton fabricator.

9. (Credit to SushiJaguar) The power source for the cognitive disruptor is a vertical rectangle with a small dip in the middle, and it glows blue. Usually attached to fuseboxes on building walls or small subunits placed around the base of the tower. The power sources look like the panels on the flat face of the tower itself.

[scratchy]

Thank you so much. I will try this and let you know how it works out.

[The Hof]

Also if anyone has anything I should add, let me know.

[Cat Nose Presser]

how do you take out the cognitive disruptor?

[The Hof]

Originally posted by Cat Nose Presser:

how do you take out the cognitive disruptor?

I'll add this one upon further research, technically I've done it twice but both times my squad dealt with it before I could even see what a power source looks like.

[Cigarette]

Adding onto this;

Arc Weaponry

Arc-Energy weapons like the shotgun, utility, and tower are all VERY good against the Illuminate. They offer great crowd control, and stun larger enemies.

[SushiJaguar]

The power source for the cognitive disruptor is a vertical rectangle with a small dip in the middle, and it glows blue. Usually attached to fuseboxes on building walls or small subunits placed around the base of the tower. The power sources look like the panels on the flat face of the tower itself.

[Gothic Purple Goblin]

Flying guys are weak in the jetpacks, much like striders get behind and 2 tap them.
Also the torcher melts the trash zombies, and the staff guys with a shield.
Also curious how the EM strike will affect shields, didnt get the chance to test it.

[Cat Nose Presser]

Originally posted by The Hof:

Originally posted by Cat Nose Presser:

how do you take out the cognitive disruptor?

I'll add this one upon further research, technically I've done it twice but both times my squad dealt with it before I could even see what a power source looks like.

I dropped a 500kg on it, didn't do anything. Then some of my teammates came over, I went over to another objective and they dealt with it.

[Thorstorm]

Originally posted by Cat Nose Presser:

Originally posted by The Hof:

I'll add this one upon further research, technically I've done it twice but both times my squad dealt with it before I could even see what a power source looks like.

I dropped a 500kg on it, didn't do anything. Then some of my teammates came over, I went over to another objective and they dealt with it.

You have to cut the power by blowing up the white vertical rectangle (sort of energy/power boxes) with a blue glow, they're on the walls around the tower.

[Xveers]

Originally posted by Gothic Purple Goblin:

Flying guys are weak in the jetpacks, much like striders get behind and 2 tap them.
Also the torcher melts the trash zombies, and the staff guys with a shield.
Also curious how the EM strike will affect shields, didnt get the chance to test it.

I've used the EM strike a couple of times; it doesn't seem to do any damage or have any effect to shields (Either on the landed ships or the harverster tripods).

[Keystone]

Stun grenades can stun an unshielded Harvester (tripod enemy)

Blitzer will stun Illuminates and one tap zombies

[The_Dipl0mat]

Grenades ignore Harvester shields, along with stratagem balls. Use that to deal heavy damage to one if you're bringing turrets or EATs to get a lil more out of em

[weirdee]

The Eagle Strafing Run in particular carries very hard here, being able to break shields and clear roads effectively, while also carrying 5 charges at a time with the upgrades.

If you pick an Arc weapon, be sure to pair it with a guard dog or something that can pile on additional damage while locking them down.