How To Defend Planets in Helldivers 2

In Helldivers 2, all players participate in the galactic war between humanity, the Automatons, and the Terminids. While capturing planets held by the opposing factions is essential to protecting Super Earth, Helldivers are regularly called to defend planets that have already been liberated. Liberty is never safe in Helldivers 2, and to preserve democracy, it’s important to know how to defend planets under Super Earth's control.

Defending a planet is a game-wide goal that all Helldivers 2 players can participate in. Although you work in a squad of four to complete your specific missions, thousands of Helldivers all ultimately contribute to the same goal. The missions between offensive and defensive campaigns can differ, so it’s best to know exactly what you’re diving into before starting a mission.

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How To Defend Planets In Helldivers 2

Best Missions For Defending Planets

There are two types of campaigns: Liberation and defense campaigns. Liberation campaigns are offensive strikes meant to take Terminid or Automaton-controlled planets for Super Earth. In contrast, defense campaigns fend off Super Earth-controlled planets from either of the two current enemy factions in Helldivers 2.

Defense campaigns can be identified on the galactic map by large crosshairs and timers placed above the planet. To join the war effort, click on the planet and start your own game or join Quickplay.

Each successful mission contributes toward the overall progress of a defensive campaign. Completing side objectives at higher difficulty levels increases the amount your squad directly contributes to the cause.

Any planet at risk of defense also has two health bars. The blue bar represents the Helldivers and Super Earth forces. The bottom bar, either green for Terminids or red for Automatons, represents progress made by enemy forces.

Helldivers need to reach 100% completion before the enemy does to pull off a successful defensive campaign. How fast either Terminids of Automatons complete their progress bar depends entirely on the intensity of the invasion. The progress bars are always visible so long as the campaign is active, so be sure to check in regularly.

How To Complete Defensive Missions In Helldivers 2

Defensive campaigns usually have two mission types: eradication and rescue. Compared to the usual liberation campaign missions in Helldivers 2, which involve anything from launching ICBMs to turning off illegal broadcasts, these are much shorter. In the span of anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, you need to be able to eliminate hundreds of enemies or ensure the safe extraction of a designated number of civilians. Like all orders, defense missions have their own quirks and special tactics.

No matter the mission type, defensive stratagems are generally more useful. Turrets and orbital strikes can help thin out the herd of opponents before they breach your gates. Stratagems or weapons with large area-of-effect damage can often be more troublesome than it’s worth. Considering that you will face massive waves of enemies, investing in guard dogs or shields is also highly beneficial for self-preservation.

Tips For Extraction Mission

In extraction missions, you need to ensure that a designated number of high-priority Super Earth citizens make extraction points on a very condensed map. The first step is to locate where you will extract the civilians. These are usually small bunkers with a terminal that signals for citizens to funnel out. It is best to wait until there is a break between enemy waves to escort citizens. It is equally important to ensure you do not have any turrets pointed where civilians might run past.

Tips For Eradication Mission Tips

Eradication missions are as simple as the title suggests. After landing, there is a certain number of Terminids or Automatons that you need to slay before you can request an extraction. High-damage weapons and stratagems work best here. Since there are no survivors to protect in eradication missions, you can get a little more reckless here, but make sure that your reinforcement numbers don’t drop too fast.

Be sure to pack plenty of armor-piercing weapons, as heavily armored enemies can quickly overwhelm these relatively small arenas. It takes coordination in both your immediate four-person squad and the entire Helldivers 2 player base to defend a planet successfully.