Helldivers 2: Top 10 Primary Weapons vs Illuminates by Pick Rate (April 2026)

Fighting the Illuminate is a different exercise entirely from dropping into Terminid or Automaton territory, and the weapons that Helldivers 2 players lean on against the squids reflect that.

The Voteless swarms, shielded Overseers, towering Harvesters, and the newly added Appropriators sub-faction, complete with their Veracitor and Gatekeeper constructs, demand a specific kind of firepower that doesn’t always overlap with what works on the bug or bot front.

On that note, below are the ten most-picked primary weapons against the Illuminate as of April 2026, courtesy of Helldive.Live.

Note: The pick rate data below is drawn from, as of writing, 3,700+ games and 9,500+ loadouts collected by Helldive.Live (admittedly a small sample size relative to the Helldivers 2 player base as a whole, but more than enough to point us in the right direction).

10 LAS-17 Double Edge Sickle (2.1%)

The Double Edge Sickle is on page one of the Servants of Freedom premium warbond (1,000 Super Credits), costing 35 medals. It builds on the standard Sickle’s infinite ammo concept but scales up to heavy armor penetration as heat increases, which is a meaningful upgrade against even the most armored squid.

The catch is that it starts burning its own user around the 26% heat threshold. So, if you’re going this route, we strongly recommend equipping a body armor with the Inflammable passive from the Freedom’s Flame premium warbond before dropping in.

9 CB-9 Exploding Crossbow (2.5%)

Found on page three of the Democratic Detonation premium warbond (1,000 Super Credits) for 80 medals, the Crossbow has always had a dedicated following despite its demanding playstyle. Against the Illuminate, it actually holds up better than its position here might suggest.

You can two-shot most Overseers with its explosive bolts, and the blast radius also handles groups of Voteless well at mid-range. The weapon’s real ceiling on this front, however, is self-awareness: the minimum arming distance means you are playing with your life in point-blank engagements, and Voteless have a habit of closing that gap fast.

8 AR-23 Liberator (2.6%)

The AR-23 Liberator is the standard-issue assault rifle of Helldivers 2, handed to every Helldiver right out of basic training at no cost. It asks nothing of your warbond budget, which already makes it unusual on a list otherwise full of premium unlocks.

Against the Illuminate, the faction’s threat profile actually works in the Liberator’s favor. Outside of Harvesters and Leviathans, most Illuminate units don’t require more than light armor penetration to deal with, which is exactly the Liberator’s range. Pair that with its consistent mid-range output and low recoil for keeping Overseers and Watchers in check, and the old rifle earns its spot here more honestly than you’d expect.

7 PLAS-1 Scorcher (4.1%)

The Scorcher sits on page ten of the free Helldivers Mobilize! warbond at 75 medals, making it the most medal-expensive unlock in the base pass. Its climb from number ten on the Terminid list to number seven here is no accident.

The weapon’s “plasma bursts” apply an incendiary effect on impact that stacks efficiently against grouped Voteless, while the medium armor penetration handles the tougher enemies without needing a dedicated anti-armor stratagem to back it up. For a free-to-play weapon, that kind of cross-threat flexibility is hard to find elsewhere on this list.

6 LAS-13 Trident (5.7%)

The Trident is on page one of the Siege Breakers premium warbond (1,000 Super Credits) for 35 medals, and it holds a nearly identical position here as it does against the Terminids, though for different reasons.

The wide beam spread is well-suited for cutting through Voteless in a single pass, and the infinite ammo trait removes the reload pressure that swarm situations tend to create. The main liability is Watchers: if one spots your squad and you’re still waiting on the Trident to cool down (especially on a non-cold planet), you’ll know about it quickly.

5 AR-23P Liberator Penetrator (6.4%)

The Liberator Penetrator is on page six of the free Helldivers Mobilize! warbond at 40 medals. Holding the same position against both the bugs and the squids is a quiet endorsement of how broadly useful armor penetration is, regardless of what you’re fighting.

Against the Illuminate, it earns its slot primarily through Overseer matchups. Both standard and Crescent Overseer variants carry enough armor to shrug off lighter rifles, and the Penetrator handles them cleanly without pulling your support weapon slot away from Harvester duty.

4 R-36 Eruptor (7.8%)

The Eruptor is on page two of the Democratic Detonation premium warbond (1,000 Super Credits) for 60 medals. Since its heavy armor penetration buff, it has quietly become a cross-faction staple in Helldivers 2, and the Illuminate front is no exception.

The explosive rounds clear any grouped Voteless efficiently, but the Eruptor’s real value against the squids is range. Harvesters are typically a support weapon problem, but the Eruptor gives you a legitimate primary option (being the only heavy armor penetrating one besides the Double-Edge Sickle) for chipping away at them while handling Overseers and Fleshmobs at distance.

3 AR-2 Coyote (11%)

The Coyote is from the Dust Devils premium warbond (1,000 Super Credits) and unlocks for 35 medals. It sits at the top of the Terminid pick rate list, and it carries that form into squid territory almost without losing a step.

The medium armor penetration punches cleanly through Overseer and Elevated Overseer armor, while the incendiary rounds dispatch Voteless in one to two shots and let the burn finish the job, keeping ammo consumption surprisingly low. The Coyote can also put in work against Harvesters by targeting their joints, which is more than most assault rifles can say.

2 SMG/FLAM-34 Stoker (11.5%)

The Stoker is the headline SMG from the Entrenched Division warbond, released in March 2026 (1,000 Super Credits). Its jump from number four on the Terminid list to number two here is a direct result of how well its dual-mode design fits the Illuminate threat mix.

The squids constantly shift between ranged Overseer fire and rushing Voteless swarms, and the Stoker handles both without asking you to swap weapons. SMG mode for Overseers and Watchers, incinerator mode for the Voteless that are trying to close the distance.

1 SG-97 Sweeper (13.6%)

The Sweeper shotgun is a Superstore exclusive (400 Super Credits), available when the Entrenched Division rotation is active. It is the second most-picked weapon against bugs and takes the top spot here against the squids.

Voteless are the Illuminate’s most constant threat, and the Sweeper’s full-auto flechette rounds tear through them faster than almost anything else in the primary slot. Its medium armor penetration, paired with a high DPS, also handles Overseers and Fleshmobs, and the bayonet is more than just a cosmetic feature the moment a Voteless rush closes to arm’s length.

The Illuminate faction throws a lot of bodies at you, and the Sweeper is built for exactly that.

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Here’s a quick breakdown of all ten most-picked weapons in Helldivers 2 against the Illuminate:

WeaponWarbondCost

1. SG-97 Sweeper	Entrenched Division (Superstore)	400 Super Credits
2. SMG/FLAM-34 Stoker	Entrenched Division	1,000 SC + 35 Medals
3. AR-2 Coyote	Dust Devils	1,000 SC + 35 Medals
4. R-36 Eruptor	Democratic Detonation	1,000 SC + 60 Medals
5. AR-23P Liberator Penetrator	Helldivers Mobilize!	Page 6, 40 Medals
6. LAS-13 Trident	Siege Breakers	1,000 SC + 35 Medals
7. PLAS-1 Scorcher	Helldivers Mobilize!	Page 10, 75 Medals
8. AR-23 Liberator	Helldivers Mobilize!	Page 1, 20 Medals
9. CB-9 Exploding Crossbow	Democratic Detonation	1,000 SC + 80 Medals
10. LAS-17 Double Edge Sickle	Servants of Freedom	1,000 SC + 35 Medals

And finally, some quick answers to questions that tend to come up around a list like this one:

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Which weapon are you running against the squids right now, and do you think the Sweeper deserves the top spot, or is there something outside the top ten that should be higher? Let us know in the comments below!