Helldivers 2 Best Assault Rifle For Bots, Illuminate, Automatons, Bugs, Terminids 2026

Helldivers 2 Best Assault Rifle For Bots

While the "best" weapon often depends on your playstyle, the following assault rifles are consistently ranked as top-tier choices for taking on the Automaton threat in Helldivers 2.

Top Picks for Bots

• AR-23P Liberator Penetrator: A favorite for many "Botdivers" due to its Medium Armor Penetration. This allows you to damage Devastators and Scout Striders through their armor, though its lower damage per shot compared to the standard Liberator requires precise aim at weak spots to be most effective.
• AR-61 Tenderizer: Often called the "new king" for bots, this rifle is praised for its extremely low recoil and high precision. It excels at "tapping" the small heads of Devastators at medium range.
• BR-14 Adjudicator: Classified as a Battle Rifle, it offers Medium Armor Penetration with higher damage per bullet than the Liberator Penetrator. Its high recoil can be tricky, so it is best used in short bursts or semi-auto mode.
• AR-2 Coyote: A newer addition highlighted for its burn damage and solid stats. It provides medium penetration and can effectively clear crowds by setting them ablaze, making it a strong versatile choice for high-difficulty missions.

Key Strategies for Bot Combat

• Aim for the Red: Regardless of the rifle, bots have distinct glowing red weak spots (usually the head or back vents). Rifles like the Tenderizer are built for this precision.
• Armor Choice: Pair these rifles with armor featuring the Fortified perk (like the B-01 Tactical) to reduce recoil by 30% when crouching and gain 50% explosive resistance.
• Support Complement: If your AR lacks penetration, bring a support weapon like the Autocannon or Anti-Materiel Rifle to handle heavy targets like Hulks and Gunships.

Best Assault Rifle For Illuminate

Based on current community meta and performance testing against the Illuminate, the best assault rifles (and AR-style energy weapons) are those that combine high fire rates for "Voteless" hordes with enough precision or penetration to strip energy shields and target elite weak points.

Top Assault Rifle Picks

• LAS-17 Double-Edged Sickle: Widely considered the best "primary" against the Illuminate. It functions like a standard Sickle but ramps up to extremely high damage and armor penetration, making it effective for stripping shields and mowing down close-to-mid-range enemies.
• AR-2 Coyote: A highly reliable mid-range option that is particularly strong against elite units and Flesh Mobs.
• AR-61 Tenderizer: Excellent for mob clearing and targeting Overseers. It is most effective when the RPM is adjusted to 850, allowing it to "tear through" enemies quickly.
• BR-14 Adjudicator: Favored for its hard-hitting medium armor penetration. It is controllable in full auto and can slice through both crowds and Overseers, though a Supply Pack is often recommended to sustain its high ammo consumption.

Key Strategies for Illuminate Combat

1. Shield Stripping: Illuminate units rely heavily on energy shields. Use weapons like the Double-Edged Sickle or Stalwart (Support Weapon) to quickly deplete these barriers before focusing on the weak points underneath.
2. Crowd Management: To handle swarms of Voteless, weapons with high fire rates or horizontal "sweep" potential (like the Sickle) are essential to keep from being overwhelmed.
3. Loadout Synergy: Many players pair these assault rifles with a Guard Dog (Ballistic or Laser) to provide passive protection while reloading or kiting enemies.

Best Assault Rifle For Automatons

Against the Automatons, the best assault rifle is often considered to be the LAS-16 Sickle or the AR-23P Liberator Penetrator, depending on your focus on ammo economy or armor penetration.

• LAS-16 Sickle: Widely regarded as a top-tier choice for its infinite ammo (if heat is managed) and near-zero recoil. Its high rate of fire and pinpoint accuracy make it excellent for landing headshots on Devastators and clearing out waves of light troopers.
• AR-23P Liberator Penetrator: A strong pick if you prefer traditional ballistics. It features medium armor penetration, allowing you to damage more heavily armored bot units that standard rifles can't touch.
• AR-2 Coyote: A newer favorite for mid-range engagements, noted for its reliability against elite automaton units.
• Adjudicator: While technically a battle rifle, it is often grouped with assault rifles; it offers high damage and medium penetration, though it has more significant recoil.
• MA5C: Cited as a powerful alternative to the Liberator Penetrator, offering higher damage for body-shotting Devastators and destroying Hulk vents.

For the best results, pair these rifles with armor that includes the Fortified or Peak Physique perks to reduce recoil and improve weapon handling while under heavy fire.

Best Assault Rifle For Bugs

While shotguns generally dominate the bug front, several assault rifles are highly effective if you prefer high-fire-rate precision and better engagement range.

Top Assault Rifles for Bugs

• AR-61 Tenderizer: Widely considered the best-in-class assault rifle. It has the highest damage in the category (105 per bullet) and extremely low recoil, allowing you to pop the heads of Warriors and Brood Commanders with pinpoint accuracy.
• BR-14 Adjudicator: The go-to choice for Medium Armor Penetration. It is essential for dealing with Hive Guards and Bile Spewers without needing to aim for tiny unarmored gaps.
• AR-23C Liberator Carbine: Best for Close Quarters Combat (CQC). It has a significantly higher fire rate than the standard Liberator, making it a "shredder" for clearing swarms of Hunters and Scavengers that get too close.
• LAS-16 Sickle: Technically an energy weapon but functions as an assault rifle with infinite ammo. It is excellent for sustained fire against light bug swarms, though it can overheat quickly in hot environments.

Which One Should You Choose?

Pro Tip: If using a light-penetration rifle (Tenderizer or Carbine), pair it with a GP-31 Grenade Pistol to close Bug Holes and a support weapon like the MG-43 Machine Gun for heavy crowd control.

Best Assault Rifle For Terminids

While shotguns often dominate the bug front, several assault rifles excel at keeping the Terminid swarms at bay through superior fire rate or armor-piercing capabilities.

Top Assault Rifles for Terminids

• BR-14 Adjudicator: Widely considered one of the best for high-difficulty bug missions like Super Helldive. Its medium armor penetration allows it to punch through the carapaces of Hive Guards and Brood Commanders. It is best used in semi-auto or short bursts to manage its high recoil and smaller magazine.
• AR-16 Tenderizer: A high-precision choice with exceptionally low recoil and high stopping power. It is highly effective at sniping the weak points of Hunters and Shriekers, though it lacks medium armor penetration.
• AR-23 Liberator: The standard-issue rifle remains a top-tier choice due to its large 45-round magazine and smooth handling. It is ideal for "chaff" clearing (small bugs) but requires support weapons for armored targets.
• LAS-16 Sickle: Technically an energy-based rifle, it is a favorite for its theoretically infinite ammo and 750 RPM fire rate. It shreds light bugs but requires heat management and a brief "wind-up" time before firing.
• AR-23C Liberator Carbine: Found in the Viper Commandos Warbond, this rifle features a higher fire rate and faster reload speed, making it an excellent "sidegrade" for close-quarters bug dogpiles.

Situational Choices

• Liberator Concussive: Excellent for crowd control; its rounds stagger enemies, stopping Bile Spewers from spitting and knocking Stalkers back.
• Liberator Penetrator: While popular for its medium penetration, many players find its lower damage and higher recoil less effective against the high-health pools of Terminids compared to the Adjudicator.