Helldivers 2’s Latest Update Officially Introduces Two Deadly New Terminid Variants

In case you missed it, Helldivers 2 has received a new content update, bringing the “Noxious” Terminid strain into the Galactic War alongside two new enemy variants: the Noxious Scavenger and Noxious Spewer. Both creatures inflict poison, while the larger variant can also trap Helldivers with its web attacks. And, full disclaimer, neither one looks or sounds particularly welcoming.

The November 3 update also expands the appearance of Terminid caves across more planetary biomes. That means players now have underground encounters to worry about in non-Hive World planets too, and heading into the next bug mission without the right equipment might be a particularly bad idea.

Meet the Two New Noxious Terminid Variants in Helldivers 2

The Noxious Scavenger might look like the regular bug you’ve been shooting by the dozen, but it has a nasty surprise. It moves faster than its regular counterpart, and every bite inflicts poison. It can also chain its attacks quickly, making it easy to get caught off guard when several close in on you.

Thankfully, the little pests don’t take much punishment. Arrowhead (read: High Command) recommends shotguns, flamethrowers, and grenades to clear them out before they overwhelm your squad (via Steam). After all, there’s little point in carefully lining up headshots when a few well-placed blasts can do the job.

The Noxious Spewer is a different problem altogether. It moves faster than regular Spewers despite its bulk, and its “Web Spit” attack can stop you from sprinting when it connects. Its bite also delivers a stronger dose of venom than the Scavenger’s, leaving you with fewer options when other Terminids start closing in.

The Spewer’s head has medium armor, but its abdomen is unarmored. Shooting the web-filled sac triggers a Web Explosion that snares nearby Helldivers and Terminids. You can use this to catch a group of bugs off guard, but make sure to watch your positioning as getting trapped by your own attack while trying to clear a swarm is hardly a glorious way to serve Super Earth.

Both variants also introduce two levels of the new quintessential “poison” status effect. Light poisoning causes hazy vision and gradual health loss, while heavy poisoning increases damage over time and prevents sprinting. A new HUD indicator lets you keep track of your condition, and Arrowhead confirms that Stims can cure the effect. Keep one handy, because you don’t want to find out how quickly said poison drains your health when you’re surrounded.

Helldivers 2 Now Has Terminid Caves Across More Biomes

Don’t forget to bring your trusty flamethrower. | Credits: Arrowhead Game Studios/YouTube

The November 3 update also expands Terminid cave appearances across more planetary biomes. These underground networks can now show up on worlds beyond the usual Hive environments, including scorched deserts and other previously unexplored terrain. Arctic biomes remain excluded, but there’s still plenty of new ground for Bugdivers to cover.

There’s also a reason some players have been calling this the “34th October update.” Arrowhead’s final 2026 roadmap had listed an October content deployment featuring a new enemy, biome, missions, and other additions. However, the Noxious Terminid content only arrived on November 3, prompting the joke about October apparently gaining a few extra days.

Helldivers 2‘s official X account has since acknowledged that some players were disappointed with the timing, and offered the clarification that its roadmap was meant to communicate what content players could expect, rather than guarantee any specific release dates. The studio also promised to make that distinction clearer in future roadmaps. Fair enough, but October probably won’t be getting its own extension next year.

Have you encountered the Noxious strain yet, and how are you finding the latest additions? Let us know in the comments below!