A core component of the gameplay loop in Helldivers 2 revolves around the multiplayer shooter’s three enemy factions—Terminids (bugs), Automatons (bots), and Illuminate (squids). Each Major Order (MO), which is essentially the primary goal players all work collaboratively toward as a means of loose narrative progression, will commonly center around one or two factions, whether that’s to kill a certain ludicrous number of them or liberate a planet belonging to its distinct quarter of Helldivers 2’s Galactic Map. In an ideal scenario, each faction would have its day in the sun.
Helldivers 2 has hurled squids at players for quite a while now. The Battle of Super Earth was a momentous occasion and its win was worthy of celebration, but having them back so soon now has arguably led to a weary experience. The game’s current MO thankfully divides its objectives between both Illuminate and Terminids, though, and it’s been neat to see where players’ efforts have been devoted since.
After Helldivers 2's Meridia Storyline Ends, the Automatons and Terminids Must Respond in Kind
Meridia's black hole ripping apart planets has been the most high stakes storyline yet, but the game's other two factions need to up the ante as well.
Squid Fatigue is Real in Helldivers 2, But That Won’t Stop Squiddivers
Helldivers 2’s newest MO, with two days and some change remaining, reads:
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Execute Illuminate fugitives and cull Terminid abettors to collect overdue war reparations.
- Kill 290,000,000 Illuminate
- Kill 2,900,000,000 Terminids
At the time of this writing (with percentages and statistics sure to soon be drastically different), the Illuminate half of the MO is in the lead with 55.5% and the Terminid half is trailing behind at 13.2%. The Terminid objective will obviously be far more difficult to achieve within this severe time constraint as it tasks players with slaying 2,900,000,000 bugs versus the squids’ 290,000,000, but the fact that over 300 million bugs have already been killed in pursuit of this MO victory is a great illustration of how popular the Bugdiver front is and always will be. Bugdivers would’ve already completed their half of the MO if only 290,000,000 of them needed to be killed, for example, and it’s interesting to see how this divide has landed thus far.
Plus, anyone who is reveling in the Battle of Super Earth’s win and donning Helldivers 2’s Protector of the Heart commemorative cape will likely be pleased that the Illuminate presence is still predominant. As the MO numbers would suggest, a big portion of the community is either full of eager Budgivers or relieved that another enemy type shares the MO so they can take a hard-earned break away from squids, regardless of how significant and fun squids have been.
Newly invaded Helldivers 2 Mega Cities are phenomenal with skyscrapers disfigured into Illuminate monuments as an eerie blue glow permeates the entire map.
Helldivers 2’s Botdivers Deserve Recompense for Their Continued Patience
Helldivers 2 has no obligation to accommodate any individual faction enjoyers, and yet Automatons haven’t had a big event in a long time. The Illuminate are still Helldivers 2’s MO focus following the Battle of Super Earth, which is great news for Squiddivers and anyone who was hoping to see that event through to a honeymoon phase.
Squids have earned their ‘main’ playerbase as they’re the newest enemy faction in Helldivers 2 and are the latest to receive new enemy types. Perhaps squids are the primary focal point right now with surprises in store for bugs and bots at some point, and it’s terrific that Bugdivers have had their fill lately, too. Either way, it’ll be intriguing to see if squids continue to reign supreme for the foreseeable future as their invasions have only become more daunting since the Battle of Super Earth, even if they are no longer on Super Earth itself.
Helldivers 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
