Helldivers 2 has plenty of different loadouts for players to try out, but not every item is created equal. Here’s the best armor to equip right now in Helldivers 2.
Helldivers 2 has had a phenomenal launch, breaking records on Steam and garnering plenty of praise from fans mostly because of how they are allowed to tackle the game and unlock the story from both co-op and solo modes.
As with any third-person shooter, the armor is the first line of defense for any intrepid defender of democracy in Helldivers 2. So, to help you pick the ones that suit you best, here are the best armors for every type of build in the game.
Best armor for more health in Helldivers 2
Those looking to last longer in combat can’t go past armor with the Democracy Protects passives.
DP-40 Hero of the Federation
- Armor Rating: 100
- Speed: 500
- Stamina Regen: 100
- Passive: Democracy Protects – 50% chance to not die when taking lethal damage.Prevents all damage from bleeding if chest hemorrhages.
Best armor for speed
Avoiding combat is a perfectly legitimate playstyle in Helldivers 2 and provides just as much of a challenge as diving in headlong into the fray. Players opting for speed should aim for armor with the Scout passive.
SC-30 Trailblazer Scout
- Armor Rating: 075
- Speed: 525
- Stamina Regen: 113
- Passive: Scout – Markers placed on the map will generate radar scans every 2.0s.Reduces the range in which enemies can detect the wearer by 30%.
Best armor for solo players in Helldivers 2
Solo players will want a well-rounded armor set to help them tackle everything the game’s going to throw at them. A Light armor set is best, and the Scout passive is a solid pick to help avoid unnecessary combats. The Med-Kit option isn’t bad either if survivability is more of a concern. Both the CM-09 Bonesnapper and the SC-30 Trailblazer Scout mentioned above are good options. But for a solid early-game pick, players can try the Infiltrator.
SC-34 Infiltrator
- Armor Rating: 075
- Speed: 525
- Stamina Regen: 113
- Passive: Scout – Markers placed on the map will generate radar scans every 2.0s.Reduces the range in which enemies can detect the wearer by 30%.
Best armor for different builds
Tank builds
Those players who want to take the brunt of the damage for their team will need some of the beefiest armor Helldivers 2 can offer. Both the Democracy Protects and Servo-Assisted passives make good choices for tank builds. The DP-40 Hero of the Federation, mentioned earlier, is a great pick for tank builds, but there are some other choices later in the Warbonds too.
DP-11 Champion of the People
- Armor Rating: 100
- Speed: 500
- Stamina Regen: 100
- Passive: Democracy Protects – 50% chance to not die after taking lethal damage.Prevents bleeding damage when chest hemorrhages from attacks.
SA-25 Steel Trooper
- Armor Rating: 100
- Speed: 500
- Stamina Regen: 100
- Passive: Servo-Assisted – Increases throwing range by 30%Provides +50% limb health
One thing to note about the Servo-Assisted passive: it’s only available on armors in the Premium Warbond or from the Superstore.
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Players can save up their Super Credits to purchase the Premium Warbond and gain access to the SA-25 Steel Trooper armor. The Premium Warbond costs 1,000 Super Credits.
Sniper builds
While there aren’t any specific classes in Helldivers 2, there’s plenty of flexibility in loadouts to try different builds. Those wanting to kit out a sniper-style diver can check out armors with the Engineering Kit passive or the Fortified passive.
CE-35 Trench Engineer
- Armor Rating: 100
- Speed: 500
- Stamina Regen: 100
- Passive: Engineering Kit – Further reduces recoil when crouching or prone by 30%.Increases initial inventory of holding capacity of grenades by +2.
FS-05 Marksman
- Armor Rating: 144
- Speed: 456
- Stamina Regen: 56
- Passive: Fortified – 30% reduced weapon recoil while crouched or prone50% percent explosive damage resistance.
Support builds
Support builds provide staying power and focus on reinforcing their teams. And when it comes to keeping a team of divers alive, players can’t go past armor with the Med-Kit passive. The CM-09 Bonesnapper is always a good option in the early game. For those wanting something a little fancier looking with comparable stats, there’s another option for 70 Medals.
CM-09 Bonesnapper
- Armor Rating: 100
- Speed: 500
- Stamina Regen: 100
- Passive: Med-Kit – Increase initial inventory and holding capacity of stims by +2.Increases stim effect duration by +2.0s.
CM-14 Physician
- Armor Rating: 100
- Speed: 500
- Stamina Regen: 100
- Passive: Med-Kit – Increase initial inventory and holding capacity of stims by +2.Increases stim effect duration by +2.0s.
How does armor work in Helldivers 2?
The main thing to know about armor in Helldivers 2 is that there are 19 different sets available at launch and they are divided into three types: Light, Medium, and Heavy. Light and Medium armor provide the best mobility, while Heavy sets sacrifice movement speed and regen for durability.
But armor stats in Helldivers 2 aren’t as important as the Passive buff they provide. There are seven armor passives available, and each one provides a different perk. Some decrease the chance of dying from lethal damage, or the chances of enemy detection. Others provide perks like additional capacity to carry stims or grenades.
That’s all there is to know about the best armor in Helldivers 2. If you’re short of cash to buy some of these options, here’s how to get free Super Credits. Don’t forget to check the best Stratagems to use, as well as their codes, and if you’re a fan of flying, see how to unlock ship modules.
