Helldivers 2 Stratagems Explained: How to Use and Unlock Them

Stratagems are the support you call down from your Super Destroyer in orbit: airstrikes, orbital bombardments, heavy weapons, backpacks, turrets, mines, exosuits and vehicles. You call each one by entering a short arrow sequence, then throwing a beacon where you want it to land. Picking the right four is the biggest decision you make before every drop.

Last checked: November 9, 2026.

How to call in a stratagem

1. Hold the stratagem button. On PS5 that's L1. On PC you hold the stratagem key and type the sequence with the arrow keys.
2. Enter the code. Each stratagem has its own sequence of directional inputs, shown in your stratagem list. On a controller you use the D-pad.
3. Throw the beacon. Your Helldiver pulls out a glowing ball. Throw it where you want the strike, weapon or turret to arrive.
4. Wait for the call-in time and cooldown. Each stratagem takes a few seconds to arrive and then needs time to recharge before you can use it again.

The inputs are easy on your ship and much harder when a Charger is running at you. If you own the Super Citizen Edition, the Stratagem Hero minigame on your ship is a fun way to practice. Since September 2026, every Super Destroyer has its own Stratagem Hero leaderboard.

Your loadout: four stratagems and a booster

Before each mission, every Helldiver picks up to four stratagems plus one booster. Boosters are passive bonuses that apply to the whole squad, so it pays to agree on them before you drop.

Some stratagems are always available and don't take up one of your four slots. The most important is Reinforce, which brings a dead squadmate back in a new Hellpod. Your squad shares a limited pool of lives, and the person calling reinforcements can choose where the new Hellpod lands. The SOS Beacon is another: throw it to invite other players into your mission.

The main types of stratagems

Some support weapons share a backpack for ammunition. Since August 2026, a squadmate can help reload those weapons as long as either the shooter or the helper wears the matching backpack, which makes team reloads much easier to pull off.

Exosuits have long cooldowns. In June 2026, Arrowhead cut the exosuit cooldown from 10 minutes to 8.

How to unlock and upgrade stratagems

New stratagems are bought at the Ship Management terminal on your Super Destroyer, using Requisition Slips. You earn slips by completing objectives, missions and operations. Each stratagem also has a level requirement, so new ones open up as your Helldiver ranks up. The terminal shows both the price and the level for every stratagem.

There are a few other sources:

• Warbonds. Some Warbonds include stratagems, such as the Dust Devils Warbond's Expendable Napalm and Solo Silo. You unlock those with medals after buying the Warbond; see our Warbonds guide.
• Major Orders and campaigns. The community has unlocked stratagems by winning in the Galactic War. The Anti-Tank Mines and Orbital Napalm Barrage arrived this way in 2024. Some campaign rewards only go to players who logged in during the campaign. These rewards don't show in Ship Management; you'll only see them on the loadout screen.

You upgrade stratagems with ship modules, also bought in Ship Management, using samples you collect in missions. Modules improve whole groups of stratagems at once. One example is the Donation Access License, which adds extra magazines. Higher upgrades need rare and super samples, which only spawn on higher difficulties; see our difficulty levels guide for where each type appears.

Good first picks for new players

You don't need a perfect loadout to start. You need to cover a few jobs, and your squad can split them:

• Something for armor. Big armored enemies, such as the Terminid Charger, shrug off most primary weapons. Arrowhead's own advice is to bring an armor-piercing support weapon like the Recoilless Rifle or the Autocannon. Both can be reloaded faster by a teammate.
• Something for crowds. An Eagle strike or an orbital strike clears groups and can take out bug holes and bot fabricators. Arrowhead points to precision orbital strikes for wiping out clusters of bug eggs.
• Something to hold ground. On defense missions, sentries, Tesla Towers and shield generators protect the squad while you work. Place Tesla Towers away from your team; they will shock you too.
• A reliable machine gun. The Stalwart hits hard and carries plenty of ammo. Call it in early, and anyone in the squad can pick it up.

Coordinate before the drop. A squad of four Helldivers carrying four anti-tank weapons and no crowd control will struggle, and so will the reverse. What works best also depends on the front; our enemy factions guide covers what to bring against bugs, bots and squids.

Stratagem tips that save missions

• Mind your throw. Friendly fire is always on. Your own airstrikes, mines and turrets will hurt you and your squad.
• Don't call reinforcements into danger. Throw the Reinforce beacon somewhere quiet, or drop the new Hellpod right on top of an enemy.
• Watch for jammers and storms. Enemy stratagem jammers and Ion Storms can block your stratagems. Destroy the jammer or wait out the storm.
• Caves limit support. In the cave systems added in September 2025, your Super Destroyer can't give full support. Holes in the cave roof let some stratagems through, but plan to rely on what you carry.
• Pick up your gear. If you die, your support weapon and backpack stay where you fell. Your replacement can collect them instead of waiting for a cooldown.
• Check the patch notes. Arrowhead adjusts stratagems often. In October 2026, for example, it cut the Orbital Airburst Strike's cooldown from 100 to 90 and raised the Breaching Hammer's spare charges from 7 to 10.

Frequently asked questions

How do you use stratagems in Helldivers 2?

Hold the stratagem button (L1 on PS5), enter the arrow code shown next to the stratagem, then throw the beacon where you want it. It arrives after a short call-in time and then goes on cooldown.

How many stratagems can you bring in Helldivers 2?

Each Helldiver can bring up to four stratagems and one booster. Mission stratagems such as Reinforce and the SOS Beacon are always available on top of those.

How do you unlock more stratagems?

Buy them at the Ship Management terminal on your ship with Requisition Slips. Each one also has a level requirement, and a few come from Warbonds or Galactic War rewards instead.

What are the best stratagems for beginners?

Cover the basics: one anti-armor support weapon such as the Recoilless Rifle or Autocannon, one airstrike or orbital strike for groups, and a defensive tool such as a sentry. Split the jobs across your squad so you aren't all bringing the same thing.

Why can't I call in stratagems?

You may be near an enemy stratagem jammer or inside an Ion Storm, both of which block call-ins. The stratagem may also still be on cooldown, and support is limited inside caves.

Where are my campaign reward stratagems?

They don't appear in the Ship Management menu. Look for them on the loadout screen when you prepare for a mission. If you didn't log in during the campaign, you won't have received the reward.

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