Helldivers 2: Best Loadouts vs Illuminate

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• The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate
• The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate
• The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate

The Illuminate present a formidable challenge in Helldivers 2, boasting advanced technological capabilities that overwhelm players through precision strikes and relentless numbers. As you engage their basic infantry, highly specialized units will flank from all directions - demanding strategic loadouts that target faction weaknesses while providing adequate defense.

The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate

The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier currently stand as premier primary weapons against Illuminate forces. Their plasma-based attacks instantly dispatch Overseers and Elevated units while maintaining effectiveness against basic troops. The Siege-Ready passive enhances sustained combat capability through improved reload speeds and ammunition reserves.

The Eagle Strafing Run combines devastatingly with the GP-31 Grenade Pistol against stationary Warp Ships - neutralizing shield protections before explosive follow-ups. This pairing proves invaluable when clearing multiple medium/heavy Illuminate nests.

The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" provides reliable flank protection against medium-armor Overseers, while sentry options establish defensive strongpoints. The LAS-98 Laser Cannon serves as the centerpiece - delivering precision strikes against priority targets including Harvesters when paired with shield-disabling strategies.

The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate

Electric-based weaponry creates unparalleled crowd control against Illuminate forces. The ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower chain lightning attacks that continuously stagger Overseers - effectively neutralizing aerial threats through constant disruption.

The A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower amplifies this strategy with area denial capabilities, particularly against grouped Overseers. Coordinated strikes maintain pressure while orbital options handle shielded Harvesters. This loadout shines brightest in team coordination scenarios.

The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate

The versatile MG-43 Machine Gun serves as the cornerstone of this balanced approach, delivering sustained firepower against all Illuminate unit types. Its high rate of fire efficiently dismantles shields while maintaining effectiveness against armor when targeting weak points.

Mobility becomes paramount with stationary reload requirements - making the LIFT-850 Jump Pack essential for repositioning during intense engagements. Supplementing with sentry options creates overlapping fields of fire, while orbital stratagems provide emergency responses against heavy units.