Helldivers 2 already provides players with plenty of powerful weapons to help spread managed democracy around the galaxy, but one player wants to hone in on one of the game’s most powerful weapons that was tragically nerfed into oblivion. Following Helldivers 2‘s launch in February 2024, developer Arrowhead Studio was quick to issue a post-launch balance patch that made certain weapons less effective and some enemies more powerful. The Railgun, which was hailed by many as being the strongest firearm available, was severely affected by the update as its incredible damage decreased significantly.
Over on Reddit, user khoisharky shared the idea for increasing the Railgun’s general effectiveness while also retaining some of the nerfs published by Arrowhead.
Their plan suggests three firing modes that ramp up the weapon’s power significantly while also emphasizing its armor-piercing qualities. Safe Mod fires with a penetration score of 6+, enough to go through two Automaton Devastators, Unsafe Mode 75% can peel through three Devastators, while the maximum charge of Unsafe Mode 90% could crack through 4 Devastators with a single round, but there is a massive trade-off to all that power.
To balance khoisharky’s suggestion of an additional firing mode, their suggestion for the 90% option would reduce the Railgun’s effective range to just 50m, making it viable only at closer ranges. Having said that, the extra kick also comes with an explosive shot that dishes out splash damage in a 5m radius, meaning it could also be used for some minor crowd control. The game’s community has voiced their support for the suggestion as many believe the Railgun was hit too hard by Helldivers 2‘s first balance patch which removed it from many players’ standard loadouts.
In the months following the balance patch, the Railgun never really recovered and has since been replaced in most kits with more effective weaponry like the Quasar Cannon. The nerf, which remains controversial, reduced the firearm’s armor penetration abilities when fired in Safe Mode and decreased the amount of damage it inflicted upon durable enemy parts. Many complained that the Railgun’s identity as a support weapon was focused around armor penetration, so weakening that aspect of the gun robs it of some individuality.
Whether Helldivers 2 has any plans to reinstigate the Railgun back to its former days of glory remains unknown but in the meantime, the community still has plenty of toys to help dispense liberty. Shotguns remain some of the best guns in the game with the title of most powerful likely going to SG-225 Breaker for its impressive power and range. When it comes to enemies decked out with thick armor, the Quasar Cannon can’t be beaten when it comes to explosive damage and is useful when going up against a single Factory Strider or a squad of weaker Bots.
Source: khoisharky/Reddit