Helldivers 2 just received it’s first major patch since launch. While we don’t have the much-anticipated mech suits (yet), we are being treated to some balance tuning and inclement weather.
The Fun Stuff: Planetary Hazards
The only new content addition in this patch are Planetary Hazards, which seem to be mission modifiers that the game (or, more specifically, Game Master Joel) will throw at players. Mentioned in the patch notes are fire tornadoes, meteor showers, and “many more.” Many more, huh?
I’m left sitting at my day job champing at the bit to jump in and see just how impactful and varied these random weather events will be. Surely they’ll affect friend and foe alike; can you imagine a meteor striking a Bile Titan and decimating it in a single strike? Shudder.
The Less Fun Stuff: Balancing
Sorry railgun users, your time has come. Not only does this previously broken weapon have less armor penetration, “safe mode” doesn’t penetrate armor at all anymore. Here’s the full breakdown:
- Breaker: Decreased magazine capacity from 16 to 13, increased recoil from 30 to 55
- Railgun: Decreased armor penetration, decreased damage against durable enemy parts
- Flamethrower: Increased damage per second by 50%
- Laser Cannon: Increased damage against durable enemy parts, increased armor penetration, improved ergonomics
- Punisher: Increased total ammo capacity from 40 to 60, increased stagger force, increased damage from 40 per bullet to 45 per bullet
- Breaker Spray & Pray: Increased armor penetration, increased fire rate from 300 to 330, increased number of pellets from 12 to 16 per shot, decreased magazine size from to 32 to 26
- Energy Shield Backpack: Increased delay before recharging
- 380mm and 120mm Orbital Barrages: Increased duration of the bombardment, decreased spread
Some players are already being positively insufferable in the face of nerfs to their favorite guns. But let’s face facts: when some guns are so meta they’re “must picks,” the game becomes less fun for everyone. “Just bring the other weapons up to the level of the railgun!” I can hear you typing in our non-existent comment section. Yeah, that would be great if you wanted the game to turn into a point-and-shoot snoozefest. Things aren’t perfect: I do think Chargers are overly oppressive, but sometimes you gotta flatten the peaks before you raise the valleys.
The rumor mill is buzzing on when Mechs are dropping, with some indications pointing to a March 19 date. Here’s hoping my favorite democracy-dispenser arrives sooner than later.
