The Illuminate are one of the most advanced and challenging enemies in *Helldivers 2*, known for their overwhelming numbers, elite units, and high-tech capabilities. As you battle through waves of light infantry, elite Overseers and airborne threats will quickly close in, making it crucial to choose the right loadouts and strategies that counter their strengths effectively.

To succeed against the Illuminate, your build must strike a balance between dealing with chaff and handling armored or heavy units like Harvesters. Ignoring either type can render your strategy ineffective. Below, we explore three top-tier loadouts designed to help you dominate the battlefield and push back this technologically superior squid-like faction.

The Laser Cannon Loadout: Melting the Illuminate

The PLAS-1 Scorcher and PLAS-101 Purifier are currently among the best primary weapons in *Helldivers 2*. They deliver devastating damage to Overseers—including jetpack-equipped Elevated units—and the Voteless alike. Thanks to the Siege-Ready armor passive, you’ll enjoy faster reloads and increased ammo capacity, allowing you to maintain high DPS during intense engagements.

The combination of the Eagle Strafing Run and GP-31 Grenade Pistol is ideal for destroying grounded warp ships. Energy weapons struggle with shield depletion, but a single strafing run clears those shields efficiently, enabling follow-up grenade shots into open bay doors for explosive results. This is especially useful when clearing medium to large nests with multiple warp ships. While the G-13 Incendiary Impact can also be used, it’s more effective at clearing chaff, so save it for when necessary.

The AX/AR-23 "Guard Dog" offers excellent flank protection against medium-armored Overseers, taking them down with a single burst. Meanwhile, the A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry provides area denial and objective defense. For heavier engagements, especially against future additions like Harvester-class enemies, the Orbital Laser may be preferable.

Capping off this build is the LAS-98 Laser Cannon, an anti-squid powerhouse capable of melting Overseers and Chaff in seconds. It excels against Harvesters as well—use a Strafing Run to strip their shields, then target weak points like thighs and eyes. Its long range allows for precise, standoff engagements, making it one of the most versatile tools in your arsenal.

On higher difficulties (level 9–10), where multiple Harvesters spawn simultaneously, consider swapping in the Orbital Laser for its multi-target capability.

The Lightning Loadout: Shocking (& Staggering) the Illuminate

The ARC-12 Blitzer and ARC-3 Arc Thrower form a deadly duo against both melee and ranged Illuminate units. The Arc Thrower shines by chaining lightning strikes that stagger Overseers, keeping them locked down even mid-air. Back-to-back attacks ensure continuous suppression, giving Elevated Overseers no chance to retaliate.

While the Arc Thrower requires more hits to take down unshielded Harvesters, each strike builds up stun time, eventually incapacitating them long enough for clean kills. Pair it with the A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower, which delivers consistent crowd control and disrupts enemy formations, especially against groups of flying Overseers. Use the Arc Thrower to focus-fire priority targets and prevent enemies from reaching and destroying your Tesla Tower.

The Eagle Strafing Run and Grenade Pistol combo remains essential for eliminating warp ships. Since energy weapons struggle with shield penetration, these tools ensure quick destruction of enemy assets. The Blitzer and Arc Thrower should not be substituted unless another teammate can cover this role.

For heavy-hitting threats like Harvesters, the Orbital Railcannon Strike is invaluable due to its unlimited uses. Alternatively, the Orbital Laser can handle multiple Harvesters simultaneously, though its limited uses mean you’ll need to coordinate carefully with teammates.

This build excels in team coordination scenarios, offering powerful disruption and sustained control over large areas.

The Machine Gun Loadout: Shredding the Illuminate

The MG-43 Machine Gun stands out as the most versatile support weapon in the game, capable of tearing through both infantry and Harvesters. Compared to the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun variant, the standard MG-43 offers better mobility and faster engagement times, making it ideal for countering