Boosters are powerful passives inHelldivers 2that players equip before deploying into missions. Think of them as tactical modifiers that affect the whole squad, ranging from increased health and stamina to improved mobility and radar range, among other benefits.
Some boosters work in combination to provide enhanced utility and support, while others are special enough on their own to warrant a slot. However, with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which boosters to equip and why. That’s why we have ranked the best boosters inHelldivers 2to make that job easier.
From mission-critical favorites to the ones best left unequipped, here are theboosters to get and useregardless of the mission or enemy type.
Cost
60 Medals
Firebomb Hellpodsmay as well be a booster designed for players to troll each other.It causes every Hellpod to land with an explosion, dealing incendiary damage to everyone (and everything) in a small radius.
It so happens that most players often forget about the booster and end up killing themselves when their support weapons arrive. Even worse than the mass friendly fire is that the boosterreduces the physical damage a Hellpod usually does on impact. With so many negatives,Firebomb Hellpods solely exist as a fiery gimmick.
150 Medals
In theory, being able to reinforce players more times than normal sounds like a good idea. However, if players are dying more than the allotted 20 times, they are doing something wrong. Maybe theirTerminid loadoutsare not packing enough firepower to deal with armored enemies, or there’s too much friendly fire.
That said,Increased Reinforcement Budgethas to be one of the worst boosters inHelldivers 2.It only increases initial reinforcements by 1 per player. That’s hardly worth sacrificing a valuable booster slot, especially when there are so many better options available.
55 Medals
Yet another booster that desperately needs a rework,Expert Extraction Pilotlowers the time it takes for Pelican-1 to arrive at the extraction beacon. However, players will only be saving around 18 to 37 seconds on 2- to 4-minute extraction timers. If a team can hold out for nearly 2 minutes, they can hold out for an additional 18 seconds. The harsh truth is thatthis booster is not worth unlocking.
75 Medals
Helldivers 2cuts down the number ofreinforcements players can useto respawn themselves at higher difficulties. While theFlexible Reinforcement Budget boosterhelps reduce the time until new reinforcements are granted, it onlyshaves off around 12 seconds. That slight reduction rarely makes a meaningful difference, making this booster one of the least impactful options in the game.
18 Medals
It’s in the name.Localization Confusionis a rather confusingly designed booster that increases the time between enemy encounters. Understand that it does not reduce enemy spawns.It only delays the next enemy reinforcement call, such as the first Automaton Dropship flying in or the first Terminid bug burrowing out of a breach.
Localization Confusion can be somewhat useful in defense and eradication missions. However, its impact is highly situational, making it one of the less reliable boosters in most mission types.
4015 Medals
Motivational Shocksis a highly situational booster inHelldivers 2.It reduces slowing effectsto help players recover faster. The problem is that the booster only works for acid attacks, seismic tremors, and dense foliage.
Muscle Enhancement does this better and more. It not only mitigates the same slowing effects but also improves movement through mud, snow, blizzards, and even uphill terrain. For players looking to boost mobility across a wider range of conditions, Muscle Enhancement is simply the better choice.
Sentries and Guard Dogs are thebest stratagems inHelldivers 2to watch a player’s flank. However, for those looking for something else,Armored Resupply Podsoffer a somewhat decent fallback. The boosterattaches a Liberator Penetrator rifle to every Resupply Podthat will automatically fire on any enemy within 30 meters, providing some additional firepower.
However, it’s no substitute for an actual sentry. If players are serious about holding a position, they are better off bringing the real thing.
40 Medals
The mini-map inHelldivers 2only reveals enemies that are near the player. TheUAV Reconbooster helpsincrease this radar range by 50 percent, giving players a significantly greater scanning radius. While helpful in avoiding patrolling enemies, the UAV Recon only works for the player equipping it, and not the entire squad, limiting its overall effectiveness.
For stealth-loving players, combine the UAV Recon booster with the Scout armor passive to sneak past enemies and locate objectives faster on the map.
70 Medals
Some planets have rough terrain and weather conditions that make it difficult for players to traverse.Muscle Enhancementhelpsovercome these obstacles by negating movement penaltieswhen moving through snow, mud, foliage, blizzards, sandstorms, etc. The booster alsoreduces movement-impairing effectslike the acid attacks from Terminids, allowing players to recover more quickly, no matter what the environment throws at them.
80 Medals
This is easily one of the top five boosters inHelldivers 2at any given time.Experimental Infusiongives players specially enhanced stims thatheal, increase movement speed, and reduce damage takenfor a few seconds. Theseexperimental stims allow players to defy death, giving them a literal burst of survivability and mobility in the middle of combat. Never leave home without them.
Experimental Infusion stims also restore all stamina, so consider injecting one to reach the objective faster.
