Helldivers 2 has players take on multiple enemy factions in their fight to save their homeland. The Illuminate faction is one of those, boasting some powerhouse enemies who can take you down if you aren’t prepared. Fortunately, every Illuminate enemy has a handful of weaknesses that you’ll want to keep in mind if you want to come out on top.
What Is the Illuminate Faction in Helldivers 2?
The Illuminate is one of the main factions in Helldivers 2, along with Terminids and Automatons. Unlike the robots and bugs, this faction consists of aliens that are sometimes referred to as squids. They have extremely advanced technology, making them a major threat in this game.
There are a couple of identifiable traits that those of this faction possess. These traits include energy shield, pressure-related gameplay, and urban-styled maps that have a lot of buildings that you have to watch out for. They combine swarming enemies with powerful ranged attacks to make quick work of any Helldiver unfortunate enough to stand in their way. Aside from you, of course.
How to Beat All Illuminate Members in Helldivers 2
Knowing the key qualities and counters of every member of this faction can help you win. Generally speaking, Illuminate enemies use coordinated tactics. This includes flushing players out of cover and surrounding them to force bad decisions. While this is annoying, it also adds a sense of strategy to the otherwise straightforward game.
Regardless of who you’re up against, you’ll want to use hit-and-run tactics and stay on your feet at all times. Manage your ammo in case they start sending hordes to take you down, and stick with your team so you don’t get overpowered.
Leviathan
The Leviathan is the biggest threat in this faction. This enemy attacks from a long distance, making it tough to kill. These enemies also have massive health pools and often appear as roaming battlefield threats.
The goal is to deny his area and apply constant pressure across objectives. Instead of fighting this enemy head-on, you want to avoid it or disable its weapons, letting you finally take it down. Remember, this enemy is basically a raid boss that you’ll want to work with your friends to take down.
Harvester
Harvesters are the heavy-duty laser units. These enemies can instantly take you down if you aren’t careful, which is an even bigger problem when you consider that they attack you from a defensive position. This enemy usually has a defensive shield that absorbs damage, and also has electric-based attacks to use if caught in close range.
Harvesters are a problem, regardless of whether you try to take them down from a distance or at close range. While it’s pretty manageable when alone, it can get really tough if it comes for you alongside other enemies. If you get its aggro and it isn’t alone, then the best thing to do is to just run. Otherwise, hold your ground, find cover, and start shooting.
Stingray
Stingrays are jet-like aircraft enemies that patrol the sky and target players. They drop bombs and use strafing attacks to execute players. Since this enemy’s main strategy is to repeat attacks and then run, it tends to force players out of cover. Stationary teams are punished, and there’s constant aerial pressure on you.
The good news is that taking Stingrays down really isn’t hard. This enemy is extremely fragile and can easily be shot down. Just be careful, because it can wipe out entire squads if left unchecked.
Fleshmob
This is essentially the tank enemy of this faction with fairly high health. These enemies charge directly at players and appear alongside Voteless packs as bullet sponges. They not only soak ammo, but they also force movement, essentially forcing players to shoot them instead of going for other enemies.
There isn’t much when it comes to taking these enemies down. While they’re tanky, they aren’t really all that dangerous, especially compared to most of the other enemies that are part of this faction. Stay at a distance and keep shooting at them until they eventually fall.
Overseer
Overseers are the main soldiers of the Illuminate faction. These enemies have energy staffs that they can use for ranged and melee combat, making them fairly balanced. They also have directional energy shields and usually lead Voteless groups in combat. There are three types of Overseers that you’ll see while in the wild:
- Standard Overseer
- Elevated Overseer
- Crescent Overseer
Watcher
Watchers, as the name suggests, are scout drones that control the flow of battle. They detect players and call Warp Ship reinforcements to overpower you. They do use arc electricity attacks that slow and drain stamina, but they aren’t really all that dangerous when fighting them alone. The best course of action is to take them down as soon as you see them. If you don’t, you may see constant hordes of enemies attempting to defeat you.
Voteless
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Voteless the grind enemies of this Helldivers 2 faction. They’re essentially mind-controlled humans who have been turned into zombie-like units. It isn’t tough to take them down individually, but they usually rush at enemies in large numbers. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by them, so you’ll have to play it safe regardless.
