Helldivers 2 is designed as a cooperative shooter, but sometimes you’ll find yourself facing the chaos of Super Earth’s enemies alone. Whether your squad is missing in action or you just want a challenge, soloing a map can sharpen your skills and teach you new strategies. I’ve spent countless hours testing loadouts, dodging patrols, and experimenting with weapons, so here’s a guide for those brave enough to go it alone.

Why Play Solo?

Playing solo in Helldivers 2 is a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s no backup, meaning every decision is yours to make—and every mistake is yours to bear. Enemy patrols can feel unfair, and bases with multiple war striders can quickly overwhelm the unprepared. But going solo has its perks. You learn how to rely on your own skills and develop strategies that are often overlooked in team play.

Polishing your solo skills also prepares you for moments in team missions where you might get cut off from your squad. Being comfortable making split-second decisions under pressure can mean the difference between success and failure. Additionally, the restrictions solo play imposes force you to streamline your loadout, cutting out unnecessary weapons or gadgets and leaving only what truly works.

If you’re looking to quickly expand your arsenal for solo runs, some players choose to buy Helldivers 2 medals through U4GM. This can help unlock useful weapons or equipment faster, though I still recommend learning the basics on your own first—it makes the victories that much sweeter.

Essential Skills for Going Solo

Time Management

Time is your biggest enemy in solo missions. Whether stealthing past a bot patrol or clearing a bug breach, always ask yourself: do I have time for this fight? Unnecessary battles eat into the clock and can jeopardize mission completion. When you do engage, commit fully. Set up your sentries, deploy grenades, and take out enemies efficiently. And if things spiral out of control, don’t hesitate to retreat and regroup. Learning when to fight and when to reposition is a skill in itself.

Situational Awareness

Solo play requires you to know your environment like the back of your hand. Keep track of cover points, objective locations, and resupply stations. I often use my map during stressful moments to find breaks in enemy formations or locate resources to escape tight spots. Developing this “spider sense” for incoming threats can prevent disastrous surprises, like patrols spawning directly behind you.

Weapon Mastery

Every weapon in Helldivers 2 can shine if used correctly. When solo, you lack extra primaries, grenades, and strategies, so your loadout needs synergy. After each mission, review your kit: what did you actually use, and what caused trouble? Adjust your loadout to remove dead weight and add tools that tackle persistent threats like war striders or bug breaches.

Resupply Strategy

Think of your resupply as a safety net. You can fully restock your inventory with just two boxes, making every resupply a tactical advantage. Always call in supplies whenever off cooldown—it’s your lifeline in tight situations.

Faction-Specific Solo Strategies

Clankers (Bots)

Bots rely on brute force over intelligence. Their attacks are predictable, making them ideal targets for cornering and line-of-sight tricks. Weapons like the M90A or pocket verdict are perfect for solo runs, as they allow you to take down waves efficiently. Always plan your base clears—bots have weak spawners that glow visibly, letting you line up precise attacks and minimize unnecessary engagements.

Bugs

Bugs thrive on mobility and swarm tactics. The key to soloing them is controlling breach locations and managing crowds. Use explosives, gas effects, or orbital barrages to thin their numbers. Prioritize high-threat targets like stalkers, impalers, and hunters, while low-priority units like hive guards can often be ignored until the main threat is neutralized. Mechs are invaluable here; with just three uses, you can brute force your way through tough objectives.

Squids

Squids combine high health with moderate intelligence, making them a challenge to solo. Their urban maps mean support weapons like MG43s and railguns often spawn naturally, freeing you to focus on mobility and firepower. Sentries like Terry or Gary can help manage hordes, giving you space to clear objectives. Remember: this is the only faction where melee weapons shine, as silent takedowns against voteless hordes keep you safe while conserving ammo.

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Solo play in Helldivers 2 is challenging but rewarding. It forces you to refine your time management, situational awareness, and loadout efficiency while testing your combat skills against each faction. While the game is ultimately social and best enjoyed with friends, learning to survive alone can make team missions far more manageable. So, dive in, experiment with your gear, and embrace the chaos—Super Earth won’t liberate itself.