Helldivers 2 bottom barrel guns have become the new top dogs after a 'buff-everything' patch.

Helldivers 2 is the best game I've played this year. But it's strange to think how different it was a few short months ago. The choice of loadouts back then was always a compromise. There were only a few guns and stratagems that could take on the Terminids and Automatons, and there was a huge gap between the "best" guns and my "favorite".

I'm happy to say that isn't the case anymore. While I miss the boss fights in Helldivers 2, its meta, which revolved around a small group of nukes and railguns that could punch through even the thickest armors, has never felt more inclusive. Two months after Arrowhead's "buff everything patch" I no longer ask myself "What will work?" Before launching into a mission, ask yourself "What would not work here?"

Arrowhead's new balance direction is also well received by the community. The community was not happy with the changes Arrowhead made to its numbers. Many divers who still play the game daily think it's never been better. Dr. Pooplove is another Helldivers 2 YouTuber that constantly assesses weapons in useful weapon tier lists, with the goal to not take the comedic coo-op shooting game too seriously.

Dr P. told PC Gamer via email that, while the game was still not perfect at this point, it was in its most enjoyable state. I also love that there is no single'meta-game' anymore. "Many different strategies and loadouts feel strong, viable and most importantly, fun to bring on the battlefield."

It's true. I see people playing the Arc Thrower and Laser Cannon in random squads. I even see my beloved Adjudicator, which is misunderstood. Helldivers 2 has never felt better balanced, and the community is less concerned about sticking to the "meta" - a trend Dr. P will get used to.

"Even if a certain loadout is 'the best', I find it more fun to mix up things and try new strategies and synergies using the variety of tools that this game offers," Dr. P said. "I think this game is meant to have a lighthearted, satirical feel to it. Accidents are bound to occur and the odds may not always be in your favor. So I don't take it too seriously because failure can be fun."

Helldivers 2 has a meta even in an environment where is good for everything. It's just more exciting than it used be. Rocket launchers and nukes, which we relied on in February to defeat high-difficulty mission, are still effective. But weirder weapons, which existed on the fringes for months, are now not only viable, but are proving to be absolute powers. Here are some notable juggernauts of our modern Helldiving time:

Explosive weapons kill everything

The explosive weapons are perhaps the biggest winners of Arrowhead's changes to enemy armor. The JAR-5 Dominator , JAR-5 Eruptor and JAR-5 Explosive Crossbow are the standout primary weapons for their ability blow the head off of just about any enemy in the game. These guns are so powerful that they can often fill the role of a support weapon. But that's fine, because a slow-firing weapon like the Stalwart can take up the slot normally reserved for a support weapon.

The Eruptor, Dominator, and Crossbow may have a hefty drop, and they handle like semi-trucks, but this hasn't stopped my teammates from choosing them. The popularity of these weapons shows that explosive damage is the best type of damage in Helldivers.

Arc-12 Blitzer: Don't Sleep on It

The Blitzer, when it first appeared in the game, was a joke. It was a primary variant to the Arc Thrower except that its fire rate, range, and damage were so low, it was useless. Arrowhead gave it some love by boosting almost all of its stats. Now, it's my favorite. Its chain-targeting is very effective at melting enemies who cluster up.

Fire guns are finally worth it

Barbeque's on the menu. Helldivers 2 has a small collection of incendiary weapons that are now able to do their job against Terminids. The incendiary shots are particularly powerful. The Breaker Incendiary stands out for its wide spread, rapid fire rate and ability to set a whole horde on fire in seconds.

The Crisper is a secondary flamethrower that has a small frame but carries a big bite. This is the perfect backup weapon. It's fast to draw, kills enemies quickly, can clear swarms off your back and gives you the flexibility to use the rest of your arsenal.

The PLAS-101 Purifier has become a bot-killing phenom

The PLAS-101 purifier, a gun that was initially a disappointment, has been upgraded to one of the best guns in Helldivers 2 history. Purifier, which inherits some of the qualities from its cousin, PLAS-1 Scorcher can now be fired as semi-auto bolts, or charged to cause area-of effect damage. It is a perfect bot killer. It can be fired accurately and quickly to take out the weak spots of armored robots, take down smaller enemies individually or in one big charaged explosion, and its explosive blasts can even take out shielded Devastators and armored Scout Striders.

The full-auto Scorcher has its own unique features. You can't go far wrong with either one at this point, but both have the same downside: low ammo capacities.

The Senator

Arrowhead said, "We heard that you liked the revolver so we made it penetrate heavy armour.." It's amazing how a secondary weapon can decapitate Devastators and even take out gunship engine by itself, but the Senator seems to be perfectly balanced in its role. You only get six shots, and even with a speedloader it takes forever to reload. The hand cannon will help you finish off your enemies, but won't save you from an advancing horde as the Crisper or P-19 Redeemer.