New Helldivers 2 Pistol Is Way Better Than You Might Think

Summary The new Democratic Detonation Warbond adds explosive weapons to Helldivers 2.

The Grenade Pistol frees up space for alternate grenade choices in loadouts.

Stun and Impact grenades can be strategic options in combat with the Grenade Pistol equipped.

The next Helldivers 2 Warbond is introducing a new type of pistol that sounds like it could be a lot of fun, but it also has the potential to legitimately change the game. So far, Warbonds are releasing on a consistent cycle, deploying on the second Thursday of each month. Purchasing a Premium Warbond doesn't have to instill any particular urgency, however, as they're permanently unlocked and can be completed at any time after acquisition.

The Premium Warbond arriving on April 11 is named Democratic Detonation, promising an explosive update to assist in the spread of Managed Democracy across the galaxy. This sentiment is strongly expressed through the lineup of additional firepower options included in the Warbond. The BR-14 Adjudicator Rifle is punchy enough, but everything else commits fully to the detonation ideal. The R-36 Eruptor Rifle hurls plenty of shrapnel, and the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow does what it says on the tin. Secondary weapons power up with a G-123 Thermite Grenade and a GP-31 Grenade Pistol — again, it's what it sounds like.

Related This Underrated Helldivers 2 Weapon Makes Killing Automatons Easy Automaton missions can be frustrating in Helldivers 2, but one weapon that not many soldiers are using can make these challenges a lot more fun.

The Helldivers 2 Grenade Pistol Is A Game-Changer

The Grenade Pistol Makes Destroying Helldivers 2 Outposts Easier

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The appeal of having a Grenade Pistol as a secondary weapon is self-explanatory on a basic level, but envisioning just how impressive the full scope of its possibilities in Helldivers 2 is might not be as obvious. Traditionally, firing propelled grenades in Helldivers 2 has required the use of the FL-21 Grenade Launcher, which is excellent at taking out Helldivers 2 enemy outposts. Although there are plenty of powerful alternatives when it comes to most objectives in gameplay, it's hard to come up with any other choices that can deliver the same kind of base-destroying action that a Grenade Launcher can.

Related One Helldivers 2 Strategy Is Going To Save You A Lot Of Reinforcements Helldivers 2 provides plenty of firepower for spreading the managed democracy of Super Earth, but a more muted approach can help certain situations.

There's one problem with the Grenade Launcher, however — it takes up a primary weapon slot. Considering the Grenade Launcher's limited ammo, this can leave a Helldiver at a loss for many general encounters, forcing a disproportionate reliance on a secondary weapon. In a full squad that's sticking together, this imbalance can be generally accounted for, but if things start going south, it's easy to let the designated Grenade Launcher wielder down.

Opening Up The Helldivers 2 Grenade Slot Is Powerful

Alternative Grenade Types Can Be Equipped Without Consequence

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The Grenade Pistol might not be as powerful of a Helldivers 2 weapon as the Grenade Launcher, but it's still a strong iteration of the concept that eliminates this consequence entirely. For anyone who was relying on lobbing grenades rather than a Grenade Launcher, its benefits might be even more interesting. By effectively freeing up the grenade slot, the Grenade Pistol makes it easier for soldiers of Super Earth to opt for Stun or Impact grenades instead.

Related Helldivers 2 Grenades Have A Special Use You Never Even Thought Of Grenades in Helldivers 2 can be used in various ways through missions, but one special way that many Helldivers don't think about can be helpful.

Neither Stun nor Impact grenades are useful tools for destroying enemy outposts, but they have a lot of utility in other regards. Impact grenades are more useful to deploy quickly in a fray, especially against weaker enemies that will immediately succumb to the blast. Stun grenades, a more recent addition to Helldivers 2, can make for some exceptionally powerful builds when used intelligently. Stunning enemies in place opens them up to accurate heavy weapons fire against weak spots or the easy deployment of a hardcore option like the Eagle 500kg Bomb.

Stun grenades can also be useful in opening up a second to breathe in Helldivers 2, whether a teammate is getting mobbed or there's no safe window to call in a Stratagem.

Switching to the Grenade Pistol might not make sense for a Helldivers 2 build that's heavily dependent on the secondary weapon, but it's not uncommon for this to be the most inessential slot in a setup. For anyone who isn't currently making much use of their secondary, the benefits of at least trying out the Grenade Pistol are hard to deny. Although mastering the weapon can be a slightly steeper learning curve than just lobbing grenades, it doesn't require any exceptional level of precision to use in a generally efficient way.

The Grenade Pistol definitely isn't the only new Helldivers 2 Warbond addition that should be fun to use, and the flavor that the Exploding Crossbow adds is another strong contender for the main attraction. In any scenario, however, the Grenade Pistol isn't a weapon to underestimate. Helldivers 2 strategy keeps shifting with the introduction of new tools to employ in the Galactic War, and the way that the Grenade Pistol opens up loadout options might be one of the most exciting evolutions yet.