How to find and kill Devastators in Helldivers 2

Devastators are one of many vicious and disturbing enemies in Helldivers 2, and you need to know what they look like and how to kill them.

Despite the obvious satire and light-hearted nature of Helldivers 2, there’s a multitude of enemies to deal with, all unique with their own move set and weaponry. While the Devastator has a Terminator-esque appearance, the strategy for taking one out is far simpler than you would have thought. Here’s everything you need to know about where to find and how to kill Devastators in Helldivers 2.

Helldivers 2: Devastators difficulty and location

Rather surprisingly, Devastators are easy to find and kill when compared to other Automaton enemies. The standard Devastator variants reside in Easy levels and above. You can find these on any Automaton-controlled planet as long as you’ve unlocked Easy difficulty. This version of the Devastators has a single firearm, with relatively slow movement and a melee attack when they get close. They will often travel in pairs, guarding Outposts and main objectives, and sometimes patrol with other Automaton types.

As you venture into Medium level, Devastators will adopt new weaponry. These include shields and rocket variants. However, the shield variant can appear in Easy difficulty levels, specifically at the extraction point. The highest chance of meeting a Devastator is during Bot Breaches. This is where a Commissar or Raider calls for help, sending down a Dropship filled with enemies.

How to kill Devastators in Helldivers 2

The key to defeating Devastators quickly in Helldivers 2 is to aim for its weapon-wielding hand first. This will make the Devastator obsolete. Then use your primary weapon like the SG-225 Breaker or R-63 Diligence (scoped in) to deal critical damage onto its glowing red and exposed head. The Breaker, Spray&Pray, and Break-Action Shotgun (only obtainable as ground loot) are excellent close- to mid-range picks for the Devastator.

It is best to face the Devastators in Easy difficulty for the Forced Decommissioning Personal Order. You can also target them in Eliminate Devastator Missions. Killing 15 Devastators is easy if you have the right tools. Devastators are slow-moving enemies and can easily be wiped out with the G-12 High Explosive grenade. Alternatively, if you are looking for a quick kill, use support weapons like the Machine Gun, Stalwart, Anti-Material Rifle, or Grenade Launcher.

Use the environment to your advantage and keep a safe distance from the rocket and shield variants. You can easily dodge the rocket variant by running and holding the prone button. Explosives are best used against the Shield Devastator, similar to taking out a riot shield user in Call of Duty. The Shield and Rocket Devastator are also weak to explosive damage (Stratagems and grenades). But any weapon with high bullet penetration can kill any variant so long as you aim for their weak spots.