Helldivers 2 Launches Major Update: Illuminate Full Invasion & Weapons Customizations

As teased a couple of weeks ago and following the reveal of the Masters of Ceremony Warbond, Arrowhead unleashes a galactic-sized update for Helldivers 2, which includes the full invasion by the Illuminates, and Helldivers can now customize weapons.

Full Illuminate Invasion

Arrowhead released a promo “Galactic Emergency” trailer showing off the full Illuminate invasion, which includes new enemies.

“Incoming! Major update! New Illuminate faction enemies! New Weapon Customizations and Progression! More! Back again in your favorite democratic video format!” states the video description.

New enemies

The new enemies include Stingray jetfighters that provide Illuminate support from the sky with devastating strafing runs, the Crescent Overseer, which has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover, and Fleshmob: a Frankenstein’s monster of Voteless parts turned into a brute battlefield force that the Helldivers must work hard to destroy.

The announcement also notes there have been sightings of other, even larger ships, though details remain unclear on their abilities.

Watch the Helldivers 2 – Galactic Emergency Trailer:

Helldivers 2 weapon customizations

Helldivers now have access to a new weapon customization system for most primary weapons.

Helldivers 2 Patch Notes – Patch 01.003.000

Here are highlights from the latest patch:

New Illuminate Enemies

• Stingray: Jetfighters that provide Illuminate support from the sky, targeting Helldivers and lining up devastating strafing runs.
• Crescent Overseer: Has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover.
• Fleshmob: A failed Illuminate experiment made up of Voteless parts turned into a brute battlefield force that the Helldivers must work hard to destroy.

Balancing

Weapon balances:

• Spread
• Drag
• Sway
• Melee weapons stamina cost
• Shrapnel spawning
• Fire damage

Fire and Flamethrowers:
This update aims to better balance fire damage between direct hits (like those from flamethrowers) and burn effects over time, while also introducing scaling of fire damage depending on the size of the enemy. Previously, burn damage didn’t scale well against larger enemies, making putting them on fire feel less effective in those encounters.

Now, the larger the enemy, the more damage they take while burning. However, bigger enemies will also be slightly more resistant to ignition. Additionally, direct fire damage now scales with enemy size—so large enemies like Chargers will still take roughly the same damage as before, while smaller enemies will take slightly less.

We have also increased the magazine capacity of the FLAM-66 Torcher and the FLAM-40 Flamethrower because putting stuff on fire is fun!

Full patch notes on Steam.