How to kill the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2

The Hive Lord is one of the toughest enemies you can fight in Helldivers 2 following the Into the Unjust update. If you’ve finally stumbled upon it, welcome to one of the most intense battles in the game.

The Hive Lord packs an insane amount of health and can obliterate you with its acid attacks and crushing moves. However, with the right strategy, weapons, and teamwork (if you’re not playing solo), you can take it down without draining too much health.

Here’s everything you need to know about killing the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2.

Where to find the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2

The Hive Lord is a massive, heavily armored sandworm boss that you encounter on high-difficulty hive planets in the Terminid sector, from difficulty seven up to level 10.

The fact that it has around 150,000 HP and attacks with ground eruptions, flying debris, acidic bile sprays, and crushing flops makes it very difficult to beat, especially if you’re playing solo, although it’s not impossible. Since it goes underground, you have to watch out for ripples and sand disturbances that will indicate its approach.

How to beat the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2

First and foremost, you should never stand still. The Hive Lord’s attacks include acid sprays, slam attacks, and lunges. You can clearly get an indication of these attacks through earth trembling or sand swirling. Try to dodge laterally to avoid damage, especially staying to its side to evade the front lunges.

Since it periodically emerges from underground, its head and underbelly are exposed, meaning those are the vulnerable spots to strike. These moments open a short DPS window using focus Hellbombs, anti-tank shots, and heavy weapons to deal substantial damage.

While the Hive Lord doesn’t attack in phases, it switches patterns from aggressive slams, tunneling, to aerial acid sprays. So, you’ll have to adapt your movement accordingly. When it tunnels, anticipate its re-emergence, and when it’s airborne, take cover and time your stims.

Crowd control plays a critical role here as smaller Terminids (Shriers) will swarm relentlessly. During these moments, you have to rely on grenades, flamethrowers, and Stratagems to deal massive damage. You can also try to lure these smaller enemies into the Hive Lord’s crushes or sprays acid to deal accidental and indirect crowd control.

Tips for solo players

Prioritize mobility and ammunition efficiency while playing solo. Rely heavily on escape tactics, avoidance, and timed bursts with heavy weapons.

Use stims wisely and have at least two resupply points. Flamethrower or Blitzer offers survivability against the swarms.

Tips for team play

If you’re in a team, it goes without saying that coordination will be the game-changer. Assign roles to your mates: some focus on anti-tank damage, while others on crowd control or resupply.

Call in Anti-Tank Emplacements from the Urban Legends Warbond for massive sustained damage. Communicate constantly to avoid overlapping resupplies and maximize DPS during openings. Overall, it can be a 10 to 20-minute fight with multiple waves of smaller enemies.

Best loadouts to kill the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2

There are three effective loadouts to kill the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2:

• Heavy Anti-Tank DPS focus
• Crowd control with sustained damage
• Team support and damage combo

The first loadout includes either the Railgun or Spear as the primary weapon. These are ideal for dealing high single-target damage and excellent armor penetration, making them effective at hitting vulnerable spots. For a secondary weapon, the Recoilless Rifle or Blitzer is ideal for safer and sustained damage with good range. You should use the Hellbombs, 500kg Bombs, and Orbital Railcannon Strike Stratagems for bursts of heavy damage during the Hive Lord’s vulnerable moments.

The second loadout is ideal for solo players or smaller squads who require crowd control and survivability. The Cookout Flamethrower should be your go-to primary weapon as it’s great for controlling Shriers while poking at the Hive Lord occasionally. Your secondary weapon should either be the Blitz Rifle or Blitzer Shotgun, as these are versatile for mid-range damage. For Stratagems, use Area-effect grenades, Hellbombs, and Resupply Packs.

The third loadout is more reliant on coordination and is suited for full squads focusing on sustained DPS while managing crowds. The primary weapon should include the Heavy Machine Gun or Railgun for DPS teammates, while the Flamethrower or Grenade Launcher for crowd controllers. The Anti-Tank Emplacement Stratagem from the Urban Legends Warbond will be crucial for constant high damage. Use the Shield Generator Stratagem to protect teammates while providing lots of Resupply Packs and Hellbombs for DPS bursts.