Helldivers 2's next major patch will address armor penetration in the coming weeks

I love Helldivers 2 but not automatons. Since day one, I've felt a little bummed whenever the current Major Order didn't target terminids. The reason is simple: It's not fun to shoot at a killer robot without getting anything done. The Helldivers are unable to punch through the armor of the automatons, and because the automatons have a lot of armored enemies. This has led to a gradual reduction in the number of loadouts worth bringing along. Arrowhead is looking to change this later this month.

In a Steam News post published earlier today by Arrowhead, the company detailed its plans to implement sweeping changes in combat balance that will be live on September 17, 2020. Arrowhead's 60-day update program has begun with "in-depth review and adjustment of various system, from weapon balance and enemy behavior to the overall game mechanics." The first overhaul is armor penetration.

The patch for September 17 will include an "initial balance pass" that will adjust the armor penetration values of over 30 weapons and stratagems. This is to ensure Helldivers are able to bring more loadouts onto the field, without having their anti-armor strategies on cooldown. Arrowhead stated that "weapons like the Autocannon Heavy Machine Gun and Anti-Material Rifle" will be more efficient, allowing for greater loadout flexibility. Also, improvements to flamethrower weapons are in the works.

Arrowhead has also adjusted the enemies who will be receiving the weapons. The armor values of enemy automatons will be reduced, so you won't have to use the most powerful firepower possible to take on Hulks. Rocket-launching enemies will not fire as many missiles. This should allow me to spend more time on my feet fighting robots and less time being launched across the map. Armored bugs such as chargers, impalers and bile Titans will also have their armor values softened.

Arrowhead stated that "We are fully dedicated to ensuring Helldivers2 meet the high standards expected by all of us," and noted throughout the news article that its changes were based directly on player feedback. "We read the steam reviews, and we hear your feedback loud and clear."

This patch is also Helldivers 2’s first attempt at pre-patch testing. Arrowhead has been conducting closed beta testing for the upcoming updates over the past two weekends. The studio is reportedly hoping to expand its playtests in the future patches. Arrowhead stated that they were starting small in order to make sure everything works smoothly before expanding. "They've been a testbed program and we intend on expanding it in the future. We invite a wider range of testers to playtest the upcoming updates."