Yes, Anti-Tank weapons are absolutely the best way to deal with Automatons in Helldivers 2. Anyone saying otherwise is either lying or hasn’t tried clearing a bot drop on Super Helldive without thermite grenades. If the question is whether they’re “mandatory” for spreading managed democracy in the bot front, the answer is clearly different.
Reddit has been losing its collective mind over this debate since High Command blessed us with a proper bot-focused Major Order after weeks of bug-cooking. Half the community insists you need Anti-Tank weapons or you’re dead weight to your squad.
The other half swears that skilled players can handle anything with medium penetration and good positioning. Both sides have valid points, but they’re missing the bigger picture—because the reality sits somewhere between these extremes.
Why Anti-Tank Weapons Are Your Best Friend Against the Bots
Lower difficulties give you room to experiment because the really dangerous stuff shows up less often. You can take down Devastators and Scout Striders with medium penetration weapons without breaking a sweat. Hulks spawn occasionally and usually by themselves, which gives you plenty of time to line up those perfect eye shots that everyone loves to brag about.
Everything changes once you hit Extreme difficulty and above, though. Multiple heavy units start spawning at the same time while swarms of smaller bots flood the battlefield around them. That perfect rear heat sink shot on an Annihilator Tank, for instance, becomes nearly impossible when three Devastators are launching rockets at you and two Berserks are charging from your left flank.
This is where Anti-Tank weapons cut through all the chaos and complexity. One thermite grenade turns any tank into scrap metal, regardless of what angle you’re at or how many other threats are nearby. Recoilless rifles delete Hulks and even Factory Striders in two shots maximum. Quasar Cannons handle pretty much everything with unlimited ammo, though you’ll need to manage that charge time carefully.
You can still pull off those precision weak point shots if you’re skilled enough and the situation allows for it. But why make things unnecessarily difficult when you could be spreading democracy more efficiently?
Combat Experience Beats Equipment Every Time in Helldivers 2 Though
All things considered, veteran Helldivers who’ve spent hundreds of hours learning Automaton behavior patterns can absolutely terrorize bots without any Anti-Tank support (yes, even War Striders). These players know exactly when that Hulk will stop to fire, giving them the perfect window for a clean eyeshot. They understand Devastator positioning well enough to safely disarm them without taking any damage in return.
What makes these true “botdivers” look superhuman is their positioning and timing rather than their gear choices. They can make even the P-4 Senator seem overpowered because they know exactly where to go prone, where to stand and when to pull the trigger. And most importantly, they know how to make their loadout complement their own playstyles.
Jump Packs let you get behind tanks with the tap of a button for those satisfying rear shots. Hover Packs give you elevated angles on command. The newer Warp Pack can literally teleport you into perfect position behind your target if you know how to use it.
The Helldivers 2 community often forgets that player skill matters way more than whatever meta loadout you’re running.
A genuinely good player with “suboptimal” weapons will consistently outperform average players who are carrying all the recommended meta gear. Experience teaches you which threats need immediate attention and which ones you can safely ignore while handling priority targets.
What’s your take on this whole Anti-Tank debate? Do you swear by thermite grenades for bot missions, or have you mastered the art of weak point shooting? Let us know in the comments below!
