Surprise Helldivers 2 Balance Patch Drops: All Changes in Patch 4.1.0 Detailed
Just when we thought we’d have to wait, Arrowhead Game Studios pulled a fast one on the community by releasing Patch 4.1.0 unexpectedly. “We pushed hard yesterday and I’m happy to announce we have released the patch!” the developers stated.
This update focuses on making the game a better experience, addressing community feedback with over 200 bug fixes, significant balance updates, and several quality-of-life improvements.
Here’s a full breakdown of all the changes:
General Balancing Changes
This update reshapes the game’s overall balance, from primary weapons to Stratagems.
- Light vs. Medium Armor Penetration: Light and medium penetration weapons now have more distinct advantages. Light-pen weapons will now deal a higher percentage of their total damage against durable parts, making them a more viable choice compared to their medium-pen counterparts.
- SMGs and Pistols: These weapons have been re-tuned to emphasize their close-quarters identity. They now feature higher close-range damage but suffer from increased damage falloff, making them deadlier up close but less effective at a distance.
- Melee and Throwables: Each melee weapon and throwable has been improved to feel more impactful and serve a unique function on the battlefield.
Weapon Balance Changes
Nearly every weapon in the arsenal has received an adjustment. Here are the highlights:
Primary Weapons
- SG-8P Punisher Plasma: Projectile damage decreased from 100 to 0, but explosion damage increased from 150 to 225. (Developers noted that since the projectile detonates on proximity, its direct damage was never applied anyway, so they boosted the explosion damage instead.)
- SG-8S Slugger: Damage increased from 280 to 330, and durable damage increased from 75 to 90.
- AR-23 Liberator & AR-23A Liberator Carbine: Damage increased from 80 to 90, durable damage from 15 to 22.
- AR-23P Liberator Penetrator: Damage increased from 60 to 65.
- AR-23C Liberator Concussive: Damage increased from 65 to 75, durable damage from 30 to 35.
- AR-61 Tenderizer: Durable damage increased from 22 to 30.
- AR-32 Pacifier: Damage increased from 50 to 55, stun value per projectile increased from 1.5 to 2.
- SMG-37 Defender: Damage increased from 80 to 100, durable damage from 8 to 18. Drag increased.
- MP-98 Knight: Damage increased from 70 to 90, durable damage from 7 to 18. Drag increased.
- SMG-32 Reprimand: Damage increased from 125 to 135. Drag increased.
- SMG-72 Pummeler: Damage increased from 70 to 85, durable damage from 7 to 18, stun value from 1.5 to 2. Drag increased.
- LAS-16 Sickle: Damage increased from 55 to 60, durable damage from 5 to 6.
- MA5C Assault Rifle: Damage increased from 80 to 90.
- M7S SMG: Damage increased from 70 to 80, durable damage from 7 to 16. Drag increased.
- StA-11 SMG: Damage increased from 70 to 90, durable damage from 7 to 18. Drag increased.
- PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle: Extra spare magazines increased from 8 to 12, ergonomics from 40 to 60.
Sidearms and Melee Weapons
- CQC-2 Saber: Damage increased from 110 to 125, durable damage from 55 to 65.
- CQC-5 Combat Hatchet: Damage increased from 110 to 160, durable damage from 55 to 80, but attack speed has been slightly reduced.
- CQC-42 Machete: Damage increased from 170 to 200, durable damage from 80 to 100.
- P-2 Peacemaker: Damage increased from 85 to 95, durable damage from 25 to 30. Drag increased.
- P-19 Redeemer: Damage increased from 60 to 70, durable damage from 5 to 12. Drag increased.
- P-113 Verdict: Damage increased from 125 to 135. Drag increased.
- P-92 Warrant: Drag decreased to 0, and gravity multiplier has been reduced.
Throwables and Stratagems
- TED-63 Dynamite: Damage increased from 700 to 1000, armor penetration increased from Medium to Heavy. It can now close Bug Holes. Uses decreased from 4 to 3.
- G-7 Pineapple: Shrapnel count from the main explosion increased from 7 to 18, and shrapnel damage increased from 70 to 100. Lifetime on shrapnel has been removed.
- G-50 Seeker: Now prioritizes flying enemies. Marked targets are its highest priority. Damage increased from 400 to 500.
- PLAS-45 Epoch: Time until explosion increased from 3 to 3.25 seconds. Standard projectile explosion damage increased from 400 to 500, and the overcharged projectile’s demolition strength is now 30, allowing it to close Bug Holes.
- APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle: Durable damage increased from 180 to 225, and it now starts with more magazines.
- AC-8 Autocannon: Damage increased from 260 to 325.
- MS-11 Solo Silo: Health increased from 800 to 1500, and enemies will no longer attack it.
- Orbital Railcannon Strike: Cooldown decreased from 210 to 180 seconds.
- EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit: Missile armor penetration at poor angles has been improved. The rotary gun’s ammo capacity has been increased from 1000 to 1350.
Enemy Changes
Significant updates have been made across all three enemy factions.
Illuminates
- Fleshmob: Their faces are now weak spots, taking extra damage to their main health pool.
- Elevated Overseer: Main health has been reduced, but head health increased. However, its head armor has been lowered from 3 to 2, making it vulnerable to light armor-penetrating weapons.
- Leviathan: Is now equipped with beam-based weaponry and will no longer appear in missions outside of cities.
Terminids
- Rupture Warrior: Slower when moving underground and must surface more often. It can no longer destroy deployable turrets while burrowed.
- Dragon Roach: Spawn rate has been decreased across all difficulty levels. Destroying its wings will now result in an instant kill.
Automatons
- Base Alarming: Automaton troopers in bases will now require a clearer line of sight before calling in reinforcements, making stealth approaches more viable.
- War Strider: Fires fewer grenades per salvo and attacks less frequently. Weak spots have been added to its “eyes” and the vents on its back.
These extensive changes are set to significantly shake up the meta. Let us know what you think of the new balance in the comments below