The TRUE META (and why the META is pointless)

This is quite possibly the most effective way to play the game (and why you shouldn't do it).

21st March Update - This Guide May Now Be Out Of Date

It appears that Arrowhead Games are reworking the Liberation system to include an Impact multiplier. This means that progression will also be affected by the difficulty setting and (possibly) the objectives completed.

I will retain the guide below as is for now until we can find out more facts about the new Liberation system. It may be however, that the percentage gains in this guide are no longer accurate. Please do your due diligence and keep yourself informed on helldivers.io, if you would like to know more.

Brief

This guide will detail how to:

1. Complete a level in the fastest time
2. Progress the Galactic War in the fastest time
3. Reasons to completely ignore this and other META guides

The Method

1. Set the difficulty to TRIVIAL and select either of these two mission types:



2. Dive with a high explosive loadout



3. Find the target and run at the enemy with the charges armed. Kill yourself and the target.

4. Respawn and hold a live grenade or jump from a large height (for impact grenades, just throw at your feet). Repeat until all reinforcements are depleted. This should take between 90 seconds and 2 minutes.



5. Repeat.

The Galactic War

You will notice that the war progresses as the campaign is also completed. It usually moves by 0.0001% per player. This means for every 10,000 players who complete a mission this way, the progression advances 1% (not taking into account attrition). That's 1% every 2 minutes.

Why you shouldn't do this, or follow any META

Can you imagine playing the game like this for even 20 minutes? For science, I tried it and it was the most unpleasant, un-fun experience you can have with a video game.

Sure I still got 10 medals, 1k XP and probably advanced the board more than a 4 player dive doing anything else, however its stupid and dumb, just like weapon or stratagem META are. Playing bot defence for 5 minutes on Helldive would get me the same, but there's way more risk and you don't progress the macro game. Both are kind of pointless, since there's less game to play later.

In short: Just because it is the most effective way to play the game, doesn't mean you should do it.

There are so many fun ways to play that I would recommend. Try Automaton Blitz with the FAF-14 Spear and snipe automaton factories from +100m, or kite Bile Spewers and Chargers into nests on a bug hunt. Perhaps try a weapon other than the Breaker today? I would recommend sniping spore spewers with a Slugger, or practice good fire discipline and stance against bots with the LAS-5. Trust me, its better than many give it credit for, especially how it teaches you to use crouch more for more accurate bursts of damage. Just don't take it on a hot map, eh? You want to have fun remember?

I just thought I'd get this guide out there to remind you there is a fun game in here. Don't push yourself to play "the right way" no matter what anyone says, even me. If you like you could ignore this section and just break the meta game. See what the Mighty Joel has in store for you.

Thank you for reading

Prosperity and Liberty to you all!

[IrritatedCharizard]

A better way to enjoy the game is make all the primary guns able to kill mobs without having to die over and over and over again, btw the new meta is still two main primary guns... they didnt fix much of anything nerfing the breaker

[IrritatedCharizard]

The 5min bot mission was relaxing and fun, doing 20-40 min missions constantly is completely boring.

[rascotheG]

Heres my anti meta guide
https://youtu.be/yCjvNdZg1_8

[Peacook]

I didn't even read the one below me until now, lol

[Peacook]

Laser only is my favorite, just cuz it's fun to switch weapons after you're about to overheat and to also judge which weapon you're going to use based on the enemy's armor. Bile Titan or Charger? Stratagems/Laser Canon. Brood/Warriors? Laser Primary. Little babies? Laser Pistol

[IronFox]

LAS-5 and LAS-98 are my dream team combo! When one is near overheat...switch-aro and become the always-on flash light of death! Bonus points if you take the laser rover, orbital laser and LAS pistol for that full las set-up.

[type]

Except when the meta is determined by whats crashing the game.

[Sonar The Typhlosion]

True Meta: A preliminary build/strategy to follow when starting out, prior to finding your own build that works for you and more efficiently.

[Lunar Melody]

Literally was thinking about making this exact concept, check the guides, it's already here.

Beat me by weeks. Take my points, sir/madam. You earned them.

[Wobblestream Sam]

please tell me that the sg-8 punisher shotgun is meta