Wondering what the 5 best weapon combos to take on the Illuminate Invasion are in Helldivers 2? You’ve come to the right place!
After all, there are quite a lot of weapons to pick from in this game. Nonetheless, we’ve thing narrowed things down to 5 weapon loadouts that can fit different playstyles while still being extremely effective against all Illuminate.
Eager to defend Super Earth against the Illuminate? Read on to learn about these weapon combos.
Best 5 Weapon Combos for Illuminate Invasion | Helldivers 2
Scythe + Dagger + Laser Cannon

If you love just using lasers to delete the pesky Illuminate, this loadout is for you! Use the Scythe and Dagger mainly against the weaker mobs. Then, pull out the Laser Cannon against tougher Illuminate, such as the Harvesters. Make sure to cycle the weapons often while firing to prevent overheating and you’ll have an excellent damage uptime, too!
To help you deal with the large groups with these weapons, we recommend using Gas equipment and Stratagems. Bring Gas Grenades and the “Guard Dog” Dog Breath to bring some caustic death to the Illuminate!
Adjudicator or Reprimand + Dagger + Laser Cannon

For a bit of a more ballistic setup, these two weapon combos prioritize either the Adjudicator or Reprimand. Since they’re relatively similar combos, we’re grouping them together. The only thing that changes is the Primary weapon here.
If you prefer mid-to-long range options, the Adjudicator is your choice here. Make sure to get the Vertical Foregrip and either the Flash Hider or Compensator for it, too. These will help you deal with the gun’s strong recoil! Once you have the recoil under control, though, you can shred the Illuminate with ease.
If you instead prefer to get more up close and personal, go with the Reprimand! The Reprimand shines in particular when dealing with the obnoxious Overseers, making it an excellent choice when you need to go against groups of them. Just like with the Adjudicator, though, you’ll need to get used to the weapon’s recoil.
When you need to reload in a dire situation, swap to the Dagger instead. Just like the previous loadout, you can pull out your trusty Laser Cannon to melt the strongest of the Illuminate, too. For other equipment and Stratagems, we recommend the Pyrotech grenades and the trusty “Guard Dog” Dog Breath once again!
Eruptor + Dagger + Autocannon

If you want some big burst damage against the Illuminate Invasion, this is definitely one of the best weapon combos for you in Helldivers 2. The Eruptor on its own is fantastic for destroying groups of Illuminate with ease, thanks to its high explosive damage. Just make sure to stay out of close quarters with it!
Aside from the Eruptor, bring an Autocannon for even more explosive destruction. What’s more, it gives you some extra versatility due to the different ammo types. Its regular APHET rounds are devastating against Harvesters and Stingrays, while the Flak rounds are best against Voteless, Overseers, and Fleshmobs.
As you might imagine, though, the main issue this combo faces is that same explosive damage. It can be a danger to yourself if you’re not careful. Stay on the move and put some distance between you and the Illuminate at all times! Otherwise, you’ll just blow yourself up, and we don’t want that. If enemies do get too close, pull out your trusty Dagger instead.
Scorcher + Dagger + Anti-Materiel Rifle

This final weapon combo is another devastating one, thanks to how powerful the Scorcher is currently in the Helldivers 2. You’ll want to use the Scorcher against all of the Illuminate enemies besides the Voteless. When it comes to the Voteless, switch to the Dagger to quickly take them out before swapping back to the Scorcher.
When you need some extra range and oomph, switch to the Anti-Materiel Rifle. Use it to pick off Harvesters, Fleshmobs, and Overseers from a safe distance. If you find yourself in mid-range against larger targets with the AMR out, such as Fleshmobs, dumping your mag into them is extremely effective! Pair these weapons up with the Pyrotech grenades and any Stratagems you wish and you’re all set.
That’s the end of our list of the best 5 weapon combos to use against the Illuminate Invasion in Helldivers 2! If you need some extra help against the Illuminate, check out our guide on how to defeat their Leviathans. It’ll help you shoot these monstrosities down to clear the skies!

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