Helldivers 2 Sidearms: Which Secondary Weapons Are Worth Your Slot?

In Helldivers 2, your primary weapon does most of the heavy lifting, but the secondary slot can quietly decide whether a mission stays under control or turns into a frantic retreat. A good sidearm is not just a backup plan. It can finish off weakened enemies, save your primary ammo, rescue you when reloading goes wrong, or bring a valuable utility tool that changes how you approach objectives.

What makes secondaries so interesting is that they do not all serve the same purpose. Some are compact pistols built for quick bursts of damage. Others are specialized weapons that can crack armor, apply crowd control, or even support teammates. Because of that variety, the best choice depends less on raw power alone and more on how you want to solve problems during a mission.

This guide breaks down the main roles that Helldivers 2 sidearms can fill, highlights the standout options, and explains how to think about them when facing Terminids, Automatons, or Illuminate threats. Instead of ranking every gun in a strict ladder, the focus here is on how each kind of secondary performs in real play and why certain picks rise above the rest.

What a secondary weapon should do for you

Sidearms exist to cover the gaps in your loadout. If your primary is slow to reload, a secondary with a snappy draw time can keep you alive. If your main weapon struggles against armored targets, a sidearm with better penetration may be the answer. If you are running a support-focused build, a utility weapon can add more value than another damage dealer ever could.

When choosing a secondary, it helps to ask three simple questions:

• Can it reliably kill the enemies that escape my primary?
• Does it offer something unique, such as stun, healing, or explosive utility?
• Will I actually use it, or is it just sitting there as an emergency button?

The most effective sidearms are the ones that solve a specific problem without asking you to change your entire build around them. That is why some weapons with modest damage numbers still end up feeling essential in the field.

Reliable pistols: the safest all-round choices

For many players, the best secondary is simply one that feels dependable in almost any mission. Standard pistols and fast-firing handguns fit this role well because they are easy to draw, easy to control, and flexible enough to help in a wide range of situations.

A strong general-purpose sidearm should usually do three things well: finish off small enemies quickly, stay useful when your primary runs dry, and remain accurate enough to punish weak points. That combination makes it especially appealing for newer players or anyone who prefers consistency over gimmicks.

These weapons are usually not the most dramatic picks, but they often deliver the most value over the course of a mission. They work best when you treat them as a natural extension of your primary rather than as a standalone damage source.

Armor-piercing options for tougher targets

Some secondaries stand out because they can punch above their weight. A pistol that carries armor penetration changes the way you engage heavier enemies, especially when you are isolated or caught without stratagem support. These weapons are particularly useful against bots and other foes that rely on protected weak points.

Armor-piercing sidearms tend to reward careful aim. Instead of spraying bullets, you get more from controlled shots to the head, exposed joints, or other vulnerable areas. Their lower magazine capacity is usually the tradeoff for being able to threaten enemies that a basic handgun would barely scratch.

These are excellent picks if you like carrying a flexible main weapon and want your sidearm to answer problems your primary cannot handle. They are also a smart choice for players who frequently fight in tight spaces, where switching weapons quickly matters more than sustained fire.

High-damage revolvers and hand cannons

Revolvers in Helldivers 2 occupy a special place. They are slower and less forgiving than some other pistols, but they hit with real authority. A good revolver can clear weaker enemies with a single shot and still pose a serious threat to medium targets when you land your aim correctly.

These weapons appeal to players who enjoy deliberate, high-impact shots. They are not about volume of fire. They are about stopping power. If you like sidearms that feel meaningful every time you pull the trigger, revolver-style weapons can be extremely satisfying.

The main drawback is that revolvers often require better timing and positioning. Miss too many shots and their lower capacity becomes a real problem. Still, when used well, they are among the most efficient tools for preserving ammo and finishing off dangerous targets before they close the gap.

Explosive utility: when your sidearm becomes a tool

One of the most valuable categories in Helldivers 2 is the utility secondary. These are the sidearms that do something beyond straightforward damage, and they can be game-changing in the right hands. An explosive or grenade-style secondary can destroy enemy structures, close out nests or factories, and help you deal with clustered threats without spending stratagems.

Utility sidearms are especially attractive for squad play. If your team already has enough raw damage, carrying a weapon that helps with objectives can increase the group’s overall efficiency. Even if the gun itself is not the strongest in a one-on-one duel, the mission-level value can be much higher than a standard sidearm’s.

The tradeoff is obvious: you are usually giving up direct combat power. But if you spend a lot of time targeting objectives, fighting on difficult maps, or supporting teammates, utility options can be the smartest choice in the slot.

Support-focused secondaries for team play

Not every sidearm is about killing things faster. Some are built to help your squad survive. In a game where co-op coordination matters so much, support tools can be surprisingly influential. A healing pistol, for example, may not deal meaningful damage at all, but it can keep an ally mobile and ready to fight when there is no time to stop and use a stim.

These weapons shine in coordinated groups where players understand each other’s roles. A support secondary is especially useful if you are running a loadout that already has strong primary damage and stratagem coverage. In that case, the sidearm becomes a quality-of-life tool that lets you save teammates in awkward moments.

Support picks are usually less glamorous than hard-hitting weapons, but they can be a quiet force multiplier. Missions often swing on survival, not just damage, and the right utility pistol can make a major difference in chaotic fights.

Close-range specialist picks

Some secondaries exist to dominate in point-blank encounters. Shotgun-style sidearms and compact burst weapons can erase nearby threats before they have time to overwhelm you. These are excellent if you tend to fight in corridors, around objectives, or in terrain that forces enemies into short engagements.

Close-range secondaries are particularly effective against swarms of light and medium enemies. If a weapon can instantly break up a pack or drop a charging target in a single exchange, it reduces pressure on the rest of your loadout. That can be the difference between holding a line and being overrun.

The downside is obvious range limitation. Once enemies spread out, these weapons lose efficiency. But if your playstyle already leans aggressive and mobile, a close-range secondary can feel almost like a miniature primary weapon.

How to choose the right sidearm for each faction

Different enemies reward different secondary choices. Terminids tend to pressure you with numbers, so quick-firing or close-range weapons usually perform well. Automatons punish poor positioning and often benefit from armor-piercing or precision-based secondaries. Illuminate-style threats, depending on the mission and enemy composition, can make flexibility and quick response especially important.

If you want a simple rule of thumb, start with this:

• Against swarms: choose speed, spread, or close-range burst.
• Against armored enemies: choose penetration or heavy single-shot damage.
• For objective-heavy missions: choose utility, explosions, or support tools.

That approach keeps your secondary useful instead of ornamental. The best loadout is not always the one with the highest paper damage. It is the one that covers the weak spots in your mission plan.

Loadout synergies that make secondaries shine

Secondary weapons become much stronger when they are paired thoughtfully with your primary and stratagems. If your primary is a slow but devastating rifle, a fast sidearm can protect you during reload downtime. If you run an area-denial stratagem setup, your secondary can focus on picking off survivors. If your build relies on mobility, a compact weapon with fast handling is usually ideal.

Here are a few useful pairings:

• Slow primary + quick sidearm: gives you breathing room during reloads.
• Anti-armor primary + utility secondary: creates a versatile mission kit.
• AOE stratagems + precise sidearm: helps clean up what survives the blast.

The more your secondary solves a specific gap, the better it feels. A sidearm should never be dead weight; it should be the tool you are glad to have when a plan goes sideways.

Quick recommendations by playstyle

If you want the simplest possible decision-making aid, think of secondaries in terms of your preferred pace.

• For beginners: pick a straightforward pistol with a comfortable reload and predictable handling.
• For aggressive players: use a high-damage close-range option or a revolver that rewards fast target swaps.
• For tactical players: try a utility secondary that helps with objectives or group support.
• For anti-bot missions: consider an option with better penetration or precision damage.
• For bug-heavy missions: lean toward something that deletes close threats quickly.

There is no single perfect sidearm for every mission. But there are plenty of excellent choices that can feel almost tailor-made for the kind of Helldiver you want to be.

Frequently asked questions

Are secondary weapons meant to replace primaries?

No. They are backup tools, though some special secondaries can do more than people expect. Their real job is to handle gaps, emergencies, and niche opportunities.

Is damage the only thing that matters?

Not at all. Utility, armor penetration, handling speed, and mission flexibility can matter just as much as raw damage numbers.

Should I always use the strongest-looking sidearm?

Only if it fits your playstyle. A weapon that looks weaker on paper may be better if it gives you faster swaps, objective utility, or better coverage against your usual enemies.

What is the best secondary for new players?

Usually a reliable pistol with simple handling. New players benefit most from consistency and low downtime rather than highly specialized gimmicks.