In the most recent Escalation of Freedom update for Helldivers 2, players have discovered an important and unannounced change: laser guns can now set enemies on fire. The news has already begun to reshape combat strategies within the game, catching many in the community off guard.
Last week’s patch brought with it several new planets, missions and enemies for Helldivers 2, among those additions were some controversial tweaks. Most notably, fire weapons like the Flamethrower and Breaker Incendiary Shotgun were nerfed reducing their effectiveness. This came as a surprise because Freedom’s Flame Warbond was planned to release just a few days later which added the new Cookout Shotgun.
Helldivers 2 players discover this weapon type got a massive secret buff in the Escalation of Freedom update 🔗: https://t.co/VbSeUUwVQV
— HELLDIVERS 2 Updates (@Helldivers2HQ) August 13, 2024
Lasers are setting the Helldivers 2 Meta ablaze
However, it has been discovered that laser weapons received an enormous buff in secret during the Escalation of Freedom update. According to Reddit user U/fireheart1029‘s post, any weapon that fires a beam can now set enemies on fire after a few seconds of sustained fire. This applies not only to smaller units but also larger ones like Terminid Chargers or Automatons.
This ability significantly increases the damage output of lasers making them more useful for combat as they were considered weak crowd-control tools or damage dealers such as Dagger, Scythe, Laser Pistol and Laser Cannon now turned strong. Players can use fire damage against big guys like Devestators or Hulks who will be easier to take down because of it along with these new strategic elements added by ignitions.
The secret buff’s effect is already changing the Helldivers 2 meta. Now, many players are experimenting with all-laser load-outs and discovering that they can deal with waves of enemies without worrying much about running out of ammo. This might change how missions are approached by players who may now prefer laser weapons for their increased versatility and power.
The changes have had mixed feelings from the community as some people feel let down because fire-based weapons have been nerfed, while others are excited about what this could mean for combat with lasers involved. People found out about this hidden stat increase through forums and social media sites which has led them to share stories along with tips on how best to use laser guns etcetera to achieve maximum damage output.
