Getting better FPS and Stability in Helldivers 2

This guide will teach you how to force the game to run in DirectX11 mode instead of DirectX12. Mostly it will be working and increases your fps, but result may varies. Cheers

Introduction

I keep getting low fps and stuttering while on my laptop while playing Helldivers 2. Can't even aim properly. This helps me tremendously while boosting my frame per seconds in the game.

Disclaimer: There are reports that those who are on some specific modern hardware do not benefit from this guide and are better off using native DirectX 12. If it does work for you, I am glad to be of help. Game is funky, let's try and hope for the best. Cheers

If it doesn't work for you, revert the changes you made here.

The Way

For extra stability and increased frame per seconds:

• 1. update your graphic drivers to the latest

Go to Nvidia website or AMD website and get your latest driver for your graphics card. Remember to do a clean installation when prompted

• 2. To start the game in DirectX11, put one of the command line onto the game launch parameter (right click the game and properties, under "launch options";

--use-d3d11

or

dx11 / --use-d3d11

.

• 3. Delete the game shader cache at

C:\Users\yourusernamehere\AppData\Roaming\Arrowhead\Helldivers2\shader_cache
or type %appdata% into the start menu and navigate to the folder above



.

Delete EVERYTHING in that shader_cache folder.

.


.

Do all that BEFORE launching the game. Then launch it, the game will be having a black screen for few minutes, WAIT IT OUT. After that, the game should have better FPS and stability.

I get from 20-40fps with stuttering to 60-80fps smooth as baby's butt. I'm using RTX 3050 Laptop, give it a try.

My laptop specs:
16gb of ram
RTX 3050 Laptop
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H

My graphics settings are all Low, Native resolution, and Anti Aliasing On. The game is also in Borderless mode

Conclusion

So what do these steps do?

Step no. 1 is just a precautionary update, in case if you have an outdated driver. Some say certain older driver works better, but there are mixed reports. Drop a comment below for others to see which driver you are using.

Step no. 2 is running the game in DirectX 11, instead of running the game in native DirectX 12. DirectX 11 can be more stable and gives more FPS due to the nature of API is a lot more closed and being developed longer.

Step no. 3 is deleting shader cache, which will refreshes your game shader after DirectX changes. If you want to stay with DirectX 12, step no. 3 may also be beneficial after a game update.

Thanks, and cheers.

If DirectX11 doesn't work for you, you might want to stay on native DirectX12 and revert the changes that you made here by removing the command line and clearing the cache again. Else, if you want to squeeze more FPS by going super technical, you may refer to a guide here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3162103143

Patch no. 1.000.100 Onwards

Some user suggested that removing the command line and running the game in DirectX 12 AND THEN changing back to DirectX 11 did the trick to increase the FPS after the latest patch. Thanks @Dobidob

Try the following steps:

• 1. remove the command line.
  
• 2. launch the game and the load it into the ship.
  
• 3. Quit the game
  
• 4. Add one of the command line like --use-d3d11
  
• 5. Relaunch the game

Hopefully this fix works for you guys.

You can also try to clear DirectX 11 cache by using "Disk Cleanup" utility:

• 1. Type Disk Cleanup at the windows search bar
  
• 2. Pick C: drive
  
• 3. Click "Clean up system files"
  
• 4. Tick DirectX Shader Cache
  
• 5. Click "Ok".

You might also want to clear the cache at

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\shadercache\553850

and delete everything there. Note that your steam installation folders might differs to where you install steam.

Cheers

[Scratch]

of course this game has a dx11 option

[Hijinks]

As always, the GOAT for update day

[Carlos]

Nice, gave me a 10-20% boost, and I'm on an old card so every bit helps.
This also solved a different problem I had - I've recently changed from a 16:10 monitor (1920x1200) to 16:9 (1920x1080) and even though I changed the settings in game, everything looked 'squashed' like circles were more like sideways ovals. I think resetting the shader cache might have resolved it. Thanks

[TastyCake]

Thanks a lot! Switching to dx11 gave me +30 fps

[RikaRika]

Just putting it on dx11 mode improved performance by an absurd amount,I went from 26fps average to around 60 most times what in the heck XD

[Six]

Nah man this is crazy how effective this is! I have my game on Supersampling and have 60 FPS

[Brimstone]

Ok, it was AMD FreeSync that was the feature I disabled, but I think the virtual keyboard did it

[Brimstone]

I couldn't get d11 to work, but fixed the movement problem another way: did all this, plus removed virtual keyboard from devices (we all have like 5 apparently) but be very careful with that, check the type they are,a nd if there are duplicates then the latest one can go. Also turned off some fancy graphic "features" in adrinaline for amd. I did a lot of things, not 100% which one did it tbh

[Porceley]

Thank man, that worked for me.
use DXVK get me better stability too.

[Hailey Gallus]

After the Lossless Scaling 3.0 update I can finally get good FPS with minimal artifacting.
Good guide, a shame it doesn't work for AMD cards.