Top Weapons for Automatons in Helldivers 2

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Fighting against the Helldivers 2 Automatons requires bringing your top weapons to smash through their tough armor. Unlike the Terminids, these bots don’t depend as much on overwhelming numbers or melee attacks. Instead, they rely on extremely durable units and explosive weapons designed to destroy Helldivers quickly.

Because of this, Automaton enemies are considered among the hardest to defeat in Helldivers 2, especially on higher difficulty levels. Knowing their weaknesses and selecting the right weapons is crucial to completing your missions successfully.

There are many different types of Automatons, each with their own weapons, attack patterns, and behaviors. You can learn more about them in our Helldivers 2 enemy guide linked here.

Best Weapons and Loadouts for Automatons in Helldivers 2

Not all the best weapons in Helldivers 2 work well against the heavily armored Automatons. You need to plan your loadout carefully. While energy-based weapons can be effective, it’s best to include a mix of explosive and armor-piercing tools to take down these bots efficiently.

Here are the top weapons and tools for fighting Automatons specifically:

Main Weapons: Since the bots have heavy armor and prefer long-range combat, bring precise weapons with good armor penetration (medium or higher) to stand a chance against their relentless attacks.
Support Weapons:
- Railgun: Use it in the unsafe mode to maximize power, making it ideal for taking down Scout Striders, Devastators, and Hulks. If you’re below level 20, the Anti-Materiel Rifle is a good substitute.
- Quasar Cannon: With unlimited ammo and a laser shot that explodes, this weapon is excellent for hitting weak spots on Automatons.
- Spear: Its lock-on feature and explosive damage make it great for destroying armored units like Fabricators, Tanks, and Gunships.
- Autocannon: Good for sustained fire at range, this weapon can clear out smaller, faster bots from afar, though it may struggle against the heaviest armor.
- Command Rocket: This disposable rocket launcher delivers a lot of explosive damage quickly, perfect for destroying larger threat units such as Tanks.
- Portable Hellbomb: A special Stratagem from the Servants of Freedom, this powerful bomb can wipe out groups of large bots effectively.
Stratagems:
- Orbital Laser: A strong beam that works well to thin out clusters of Automatons.
- Orbital 380mm HE Barrage: Anti-tank HE shells that can rapidly destroy anything caught in the blast zone during intense fights.
- Orbital Precision Strike: A precise attack that hits directly, even on heavily armored targets, with a short cooldown allowing frequent use.
- Eagle 500kg Bomb: An old but reliable heavy bomb capable of clearing large enemy groups.
- Eagle Strafing Run: Despite not being an anti-tank strike, its high penetration and frequent usability make it great for thinning groups of attacking bots.
- EMS Mortar Sentry: Used wisely, it can stun Automatons, making them easier to deal with.

Weaknesses and Tips for Fighting Automatons

Automatons are tough enemies because they fight differently from Terminids, attacking relentlessly with lasers, missiles, and mortars. Their heavy armor can make them seem unstoppable, but they do have exploitable weak points:

The main weak point for most Automatons is their head or rear heat sinks (if they have them). For smaller types like Troopers, Raiders, Marauders, or Berserkers, aim for the glowing red eyes to hit their heads. Larger units like Hulks can take lots of damage from the red slit in their armor, but targeting orange heat sinks on their backs also works well.
For bigger units like Devastators and Hulks, try hitting their arms to disable their main weapons.
Use cover as much as possible, avoiding flimsy structures that can be destroyed easily. Dense trees, rocks, and hills are safer hiding spots. Consider bringing a Personal Shield Generator for extra protection.
Shooting at Automatons makes them less accurate, so suppressing fire — even if it doesn’t do much damage — can keep them less deadly and buy you time to reload or retreat.
Watch out for Cannon Turrets, which often appear on higher difficulty missions. They can shoot from across the map with lethal precision. Destroy them quickly or stay close to them, where they can’t target you directly. You can also try hitting their heatsinks or using Stratagems to take them out.
Avoid letting infantry Automatons fire red flares, as this signals more bots to arrive. Preventing flare signals can save you a lot of trouble.
Use powerful weapons to shoot down dropships, especially targeting their thrusters. With quick enough action, you can take out reinforcements before they arrive.

Fighting Automatons is tough, but knowing their weak points and how they operate gives you the edge. It’s also helpful to review our Helldivers 2 beginner tips and strategies before taking them on.