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As someone who has spent countless hours spreading managed democracy across the galaxy, I’ve found that understanding your enemy is the first step to liberating them. One of the most common threats you’ll face, especially on the Automaton front, is their basic infantry: the Trooper. This guide breaks down what they are, how they fight, and the most reliable ways to deal with them based on how missions actually play out.
What are Automaton Troopers?
In general, Troopers are the backbone of the Automaton forces. The game’s lore describes them as expendable cannon fodder with heavy weaponry strapped to them, and that’s exactly how they function in practice. They are the most common enemy you will encounter. While a single Trooper is not a major threat, they are almost never alone. Their primary danger comes from their numbers and one specific, critical ability: calling for reinforcements.
They come in several variants, which usually start appearing more frequently as you ramp up the mission difficulty:
Trooper/Raider: The standard unit with an assault rifle. On higher difficulties, basic Troopers are replaced by Raiders, but they act the same.
Marauder: Heavier armor and a rapid-fire cannon. Identified by maroon-colored head and shoulders.
Brawler: Carries dual energy blades and will try to flank you for melee attacks.
MG Raider: Has a machine gun and a backpack with red heatsinks. These heatsinks can explode.
Rocket Raider: Armed with a rocket launcher. A high-priority target due to its lethal long-range accuracy.
Assault Raider: Uses a jump pack to close distance quickly, armed with a blade and pistol.
Special Variants (Jet Brigade, Incineration Corps): These are elite versions, often with jump packs, flamethrowers, or plasma weapons. They are more aggressive and have volatile equipment (like fuel tanks and jump packs) that can explode.
How Do Troopers Actually Fight in Missions?
Most players learn the hard way that ignoring the basic Trooper is a mistake. Here’s what you can expect from their behavior during an operation:
Reinforcement Calls: This is their most important tactic. Any Trooper variant can stop and fire a red flare into the air to call a Bot Drop. There’s a distinct audio cue when they start this animation. Killing them before the flare launches will stop the call, but if you kill one that’s already primed, another nearby Trooper might immediately shoot a flare instead. Because of this, they are always a high-priority target in any engagement.
Grenades: If you take cover, most Troopers will throw grenades. You can throw these back, which is very effective against groups or even into Fabricator doors.
Flanking and Rush Tactics: Brawlers won’t run straight at you; they’ll try to go around. Pyro Troopers (flamethrowers) and Jet Brigade variants will aggressively rush your position to get into their optimal deadly range.
Explosive Weak Points: Be careful with MG Raiders, Jet Troopers, and Pyro Troopers. Their backpack components (heatsinks, jump packs, fuel tanks) are lightly armored and explosive. Shooting these can trigger a chain reaction that wipes out a whole group, but it can also catch you in the blast. A common tactic for Jet Troopers at close range is to shoot their legs to make them collapse safely, rather than risk a body shot that sends their exploding pack flying at you.
Hordes: On Challenging difficulty and above, you can sometimes encounter a "Horde" patrol consisting of 30-40 Troopers. In these situations, area control is essential.
What’s the Most Effective Way to Eliminate Them?
The good news is that all standard Troopers are unarmored, meaning any weapon does full damage to their body. The goal is often crowd control and preventing reinforcements.
Targeting: For efficiency, most players aim for the center of mass. While a headshot is an instant kill, the heads are small and it's often not worth the precision in the middle of a swarm. Shooting their arms will make them drop their gun and prevent flare calls, forcing them into melee. Shooting their legs immobilizes them.
Recommended Loadout Approach:
Primary Weapons: You want weapons good at clearing groups ("chaff"). The SG-225 Breaker shotgun is a community favorite for its sheer stopping power at close-to-medium range. The Diligence marksman rifle can drop basic variants with one well-placed body shot if you prefer distance. For dealing with clustered patrols, weapons like the Arc-12 Blitzer or the GL-21 Grenade Launcher are extremely effective.
Stratagems: Almost any offensive stratagem works. Eagle Airstrikes and Orbital Barrages are great when you see a large patrol clustering up. For defensive play, automated turrets (like the Machine Gun Sentry or Gatling Sentry) or minefields (like the AT Mines) can hold a position and thin out approaching hordes effectively. It's worth noting that some players look for shortcuts, but securing your own cheap helldivers 2 items through gameplay is generally more reliable and ensures you learn the proper strategies for handling enemies like Trooper swarms.
In summary, never underestimate the Automaton Trooper. Their individual strength is low, but their collective ability to swarm you and call in heavier units makes them a foundational threat on the battlefield. Deal with them quickly and decisively to keep your missions under control.
What are Automaton Troopers?
In general, Troopers are the backbone of the Automaton forces. The game’s lore describes them as expendable cannon fodder with heavy weaponry strapped to them, and that’s exactly how they function in practice. They are the most common enemy you will encounter. While a single Trooper is not a major threat, they are almost never alone. Their primary danger comes from their numbers and one specific, critical ability: calling for reinforcements.
They come in several variants, which usually start appearing more frequently as you ramp up the mission difficulty:
Trooper/Raider: The standard unit with an assault rifle. On higher difficulties, basic Troopers are replaced by Raiders, but they act the same.
Marauder: Heavier armor and a rapid-fire cannon. Identified by maroon-colored head and shoulders.
Brawler: Carries dual energy blades and will try to flank you for melee attacks.
MG Raider: Has a machine gun and a backpack with red heatsinks. These heatsinks can explode.
Rocket Raider: Armed with a rocket launcher. A high-priority target due to its lethal long-range accuracy.
Assault Raider: Uses a jump pack to close distance quickly, armed with a blade and pistol.
Special Variants (Jet Brigade, Incineration Corps): These are elite versions, often with jump packs, flamethrowers, or plasma weapons. They are more aggressive and have volatile equipment (like fuel tanks and jump packs) that can explode.
How Do Troopers Actually Fight in Missions?
Most players learn the hard way that ignoring the basic Trooper is a mistake. Here’s what you can expect from their behavior during an operation:
Reinforcement Calls: This is their most important tactic. Any Trooper variant can stop and fire a red flare into the air to call a Bot Drop. There’s a distinct audio cue when they start this animation. Killing them before the flare launches will stop the call, but if you kill one that’s already primed, another nearby Trooper might immediately shoot a flare instead. Because of this, they are always a high-priority target in any engagement.
Grenades: If you take cover, most Troopers will throw grenades. You can throw these back, which is very effective against groups or even into Fabricator doors.
Flanking and Rush Tactics: Brawlers won’t run straight at you; they’ll try to go around. Pyro Troopers (flamethrowers) and Jet Brigade variants will aggressively rush your position to get into their optimal deadly range.
Explosive Weak Points: Be careful with MG Raiders, Jet Troopers, and Pyro Troopers. Their backpack components (heatsinks, jump packs, fuel tanks) are lightly armored and explosive. Shooting these can trigger a chain reaction that wipes out a whole group, but it can also catch you in the blast. A common tactic for Jet Troopers at close range is to shoot their legs to make them collapse safely, rather than risk a body shot that sends their exploding pack flying at you.
Hordes: On Challenging difficulty and above, you can sometimes encounter a "Horde" patrol consisting of 30-40 Troopers. In these situations, area control is essential.
What’s the Most Effective Way to Eliminate Them?
The good news is that all standard Troopers are unarmored, meaning any weapon does full damage to their body. The goal is often crowd control and preventing reinforcements.
Targeting: For efficiency, most players aim for the center of mass. While a headshot is an instant kill, the heads are small and it's often not worth the precision in the middle of a swarm. Shooting their arms will make them drop their gun and prevent flare calls, forcing them into melee. Shooting their legs immobilizes them.
Recommended Loadout Approach:
Primary Weapons: You want weapons good at clearing groups ("chaff"). The SG-225 Breaker shotgun is a community favorite for its sheer stopping power at close-to-medium range. The Diligence marksman rifle can drop basic variants with one well-placed body shot if you prefer distance. For dealing with clustered patrols, weapons like the Arc-12 Blitzer or the GL-21 Grenade Launcher are extremely effective.
Stratagems: Almost any offensive stratagem works. Eagle Airstrikes and Orbital Barrages are great when you see a large patrol clustering up. For defensive play, automated turrets (like the Machine Gun Sentry or Gatling Sentry) or minefields (like the AT Mines) can hold a position and thin out approaching hordes effectively. It's worth noting that some players look for shortcuts, but securing your own cheap helldivers 2 items through gameplay is generally more reliable and ensures you learn the proper strategies for handling enemies like Trooper swarms.
In summary, never underestimate the Automaton Trooper. Their individual strength is low, but their collective ability to swarm you and call in heavier units makes them a foundational threat on the battlefield. Deal with them quickly and decisively to keep your missions under control.