Eruptor, The Best Thing In The Game [Explained and Detailed]

The go to guide for the new sniper, which is in my opion the best weapon in the entire game

Basic stats

At the cost of 1000 super credits, 60 metals [plus the roughly 60 extra to unlock the ability to buy it]
The R-36 Eruptor is given to the player

"This bolt-action rifle fires jet-assisted shells that explode shrapnel in all directions upon impact. Not recommended for close-quarters use."

Featuring 7 mags [1 to start, 6 reserve] each with 5 shots, leading to 35 total.
Each shot does 570 damage on a direct hit, with an explosion on impact. Despite what the in-game description says, Arrowhead removed shrapnel as it would randomly oneshot Helldivers, even if they weren't very close to the explosion.

As a bolt action rifle, it shoots slow. It has a recoil of 75, but since the fire-rate is so slow, this is null.


Tips and Perks
As it shoots a fast moving projectile, it is not hitscan [damage is not taken as soon as weapon is shot] so leading shots is required.

It can kill bug holes, flyer nests, and bot spawners [also everything life throws at you ;}]. Flyer nests are easy, but for bug holes, try to shoot inside the hole and shoot into the vents for bot fabricators.

You should get around 3 mags for each small ammo box, reloading before restocking is often a good idea

Bullets explode a short time after being fired, even if they don't hit anything, so you have to get somewhat close if you want to shoot something.

It can one shot teammates. Use this information wisely.

Eruptor vs Them

ALL TESTED IN THE "extreme" DIFFICULTY! HOWEVER, MOST OF THIS CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE HARDER DIFFICULTYS!


Bugs

Every single small bug in the game [scavangers, warriors, and hunters] can be killed by a direct shot or a close range shot, if a group of these are present, shooting the middle of them is a surefire way to kill multiple.

Medium
Bile spewers
Can be killed with 3 shots to their glowing abdomen or 2 shots to the head.

Nursing spewers
Take 2 shots to the abdomen or 1 to the head.

Hive guards
Take 1 or 2 shots, and you can still do damage if you shoot them right in the armor.

Commanders can be killed with 2 or 3 shots to the head/body.

Shreikers
Can be oneshot, but they're very hard to hit

Stalkers
Can be killed in around 3 shots, but they close the distance too fast for the Eruptor to be effective against them, so you should use your secondary or support weapon against them.

Heavy
I was unable to figure out how many shots chargers take, as I was always swarmed before the charger died. Support weapon or stratagem usage advised.

Bile titans are not worth your time, you can shoot their belly to remove their bile ability, but they will still be left alive. Stratagem usage advised.







Bots

All small automatons can be easily oneshot, with a direct hit or not.

Berserkers [chainsaw rushers]
Can be killed with a headshot or a few body shots.

Striders [the guys in the walker thing]
Can be killed by hitting the rider or the hip area [where the legs connect to the top part].

Devastators [all 3 types]
can be killed with a headshot or a few body shots. You can also kill them in 1 or 2 hits to the stomach area.

Hulks
Can be killed in _ shots to the glowy bit on their back, but this is only useful if a teammate is being attacked and you have no other way to kill it. Support weapon or stratagem use advised.

Tanks
Cannot be killed with Eruptor. Grenade, support weapon, or stratagem use advised.

Cannon towers
Cannot be killed with Eruptor. Grenade, support weapon, or stratagem use advised.

Gunships
Cannot be killed with Eruptor. Support weapon use advised.

Dropships
Cannot be taken down with Eruptor. Either use a support weapon or just don't shoot them down.

Factory strider
Cannot be killed with with Eruptor. Support weapon use advised for the cannon on top, stratagem use advised for killing it.


Although the Eruptor is ineffective against the heavier automaton units, it's still a good choice if you bring the right support weapon and stratagems, as the ability to kill medium units with relative ease is extremely helpful against the automatons.

Eruptor and You

This part is about secondaries, stratagems, and mindsets


Secondary weapons


The peacekeeper [pistol]
The PK is an ok choice, it's nothing special and is easily outclassed by the other weapons. That is all i will say

The Redeemer [smg]
The Redeemer is my go to for this weapon, as it has good capacity, damage, and is not hard to aim with, it is good with fighting small bugs at close range, simply clicking once can kill most small bugs, and it has good panic damage for medium bugs in a pinch, and its good for covering a retreat. The only poor part is the small mag amount.

The Senator [revolver]
While a good gun for other weapons, the Senator is one of the lesser options for the Eruptor, it is outclassed by the gun itself and the small capacity. it is good for one-shotting small bugs however, and the "one at a time" reloading can keep you always at full ammo. The overall ammo is good too [46].

The Dagger [laser pistol]
I don't have the dagger, however, the "unlimited ammo" seems like a good option. sort of a mix between the revolver and smg.

The Grenade pistol
Don't use it with the Eruptor.

Basically, bring a secondary that can cover retreats (because the Eruptor is bad at that) and that can kill individual small enemies that you don't want to waste primary ammo on.

Grenades
Not going over everything this time

Stuns are the best option without a doubt, they help for landing weakspot hits and are great for retreats.

If you don't want to use stuns, impacts are also great, as they're pretty much the perfect general use grenade.


Armor

You can truly run whatever armor you would like. "Fortified" is a good passive for not killing yourself accidentally, as it lessens explosive damage. "Med-kit" is a good passive against the bugs because getting swarmed while using the Eruptor is a death sentence if you can't get out of the swarm.


Stratagems [oh my!]

Offensive
For Offensive stratagems I would recommend the orbital laser, it helps with big enemes and you barely need to aim it, 500kg is also good [for large groups]. And general use stratagems like the Eagle airstrike are always nice to have.

Supply
For supply, the flamethrower is good for super large groups, while things like the spear and EAT-17 or Quasar can be used for heavy enemies. For backpacks, the guard dogs can kill stragglers and protect you, the shied can help protect you passively, [I've personally been saved by it multiple times] and the jetpack can help you lose fall damage and get to better places, also with bugs it can help easily get out of swarms.

[Fun fact, while guns shoot weirdly as you jetpack jump, nades do not, so bombing runs can be achieved]


Defensive

The EMS Mortar is good for the same reason stuns are good. Plus, if you go off alone, you can have "someone to watch your back" [this is good for soloing bug hole groups].





Mindset

I personally like going off alone and clearing far away bug holes. with the help of the EMS Mortar, stuns, and the orbital laser, you can get a good fair few groups without even needing to get more ammo.

Thank you kindly

this took me a while to make, while i wont ask you to give it awards, tell your friends about the Eruptor and if you meet me in-game say hey





also special thank you to adolf "daddy logan" rizzler for helping me get and test the weapon
*Note from Adolf Rizzler: I also updated this because DrinkDrinker stopped playing this incredible game because it "gEtS rEpEdItIvE" (traitor).




now go out there and maim a spitter for me ;}