How to get and use SG-451 Cookout in Helldivers 2

The Freedom’s Flame Warbond adds multiple new weapons to Helldivers 2, only one of which isn’t a flamethrower—the SG-451 Cookout. Here’s everything you need to know about the SG-451 Cookout and whether it’s worth unlocking.

How to unlock SG-451 Cookout in Helldivers 2

The SG-451 Cookout is available in Helldivers 2 as a part of the Freedom’s Flame premium Warbond, which means you have to spend 1,000 Super Credits on the Warbond first. You can buy Super Credits for around $10 or farm them in missions.

Once you have the Freedom’s Flame Warbond, you can unlock the SG-451 Cookout on the first page of the Warbond for 20 Warbond Medals.

Cookout is an incendiary version of the SG-8 Punisher pump action shotgun that can set enemies ablaze with its pellets. It features light armor penetration and rounds reload, just like the original gun.

Here are the SG-451 Cookout stats:

• Damage: 320
• Capacity: 16
• Recoil: 100
• Fire Rate: 80

The SG-451 Cookout has less base damage and slightly lower recoil as it leans more into DoT with fire. The remaining stats are the same as on other pump-action shotguns currently available in Helldivers 2.

Is SG-451 Cookout worth it in Helldivers 2?

In light of the latest nerfs to the SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary shotgun, the SG-451 Cookout seems like a decent alternative. It’s similar to Breaker Incendiary in terms of use, but offers more stagger, making it easier to control crowds.

The Cookout is also more ammo efficient compared to SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary, as you can’t just spray and pray with the pump action. At the same time, the round reload helps avoid wasting any spare rounds.

It’s a solid pick against Terminids. I still prefer the regular SG-225 Breaker due to its higher damage and fire rate, but the stagger and DoT of the Cookout are quite satisfying. Against the Automatons, the weapon performs as bad as expected. Incendiary weapons were never a choice for fighting bots, and neither is the SG-451 Cookout.