Helldivers 2: Best SMG Weapons

Helldivers 2 has a host of primary weapons to choose from, each with its statistics and features. However, developer Arrowhead has been light on SMG weapons, having only two in the game until recently. With the release of the Polar Patriots Premium Warbond, there is now a big enough lineup to ask: “Which SMG is the best?”

The answer to that question is, unsurprisingly, not straightforward. Different players will gravitate to different playstyles and may get more use out of one gun over the others as a result. However, there are overall benefits of some firearms that justify a higher ranking, such as versatility, utility in higher tiers of play, and straight-up DPS. Keep reading to find out which SMGs Helldivers should take on their next mission.

Updated by January 23, 2025, by Abigail Angell: Helldivers 2 has continued to add new weapons for players to sink their teeth into, including two new SMGs. The StA-11 SMG and the SMG-32 Reprimand are the latest additions to the submachine gun lineup, bringing the total number in the game up to five. While the StA-11 is similar to the other guns in this category, the SMG-32 Reprimand shakes up the meta by being the first SMG to include the Heavy Armor Penetration tag.

5

SMG-37 Defender

A Solid Multitasking Gun

The SMG-37 Defender is the most basic of the SMGs in Helldivers 2. It has solid stats, but no standout features. The primary reason to use this gun (other than simply preferring the feel of an SMG) is that it is one-handed. This makes it ideal for using the Ballistic Shield or carrying SSDs on relevant missions. To unlock the SMG-37 Defender
, players will need to purchase it with Medals from the third page of the Helldivers Mobilize Warbond.

In addition to being usable one-handed, it has slightly higher damage than other submachine guns. However, it will start to struggle above difficulty level five due to its lack of significant armor penetration. It only has Light Armor Penetration, meaning it is nearly useless against enemies like Bile Spewers, Chargers, Devastators, or Tanks. Unless players hit these enemies squarely on their weak spot, their bullets will simply bounce off.

Players can somewhat offset this by bringing in a heavy-duty support weapon such as the Quasar Cannon, but this negates the main advantage of the Defender to begin with – its one-handedness. Overall, it is useful to have one person in a squad with the Defender on a mission where they’ll need to carry things across the map, but this shouldn’t be the go-to primary weapon in other situations.

4

MP-98 Knight

Shreds Enemies, But Struggles With Ammunition

Unlike the Defender, the Mp-98 Knight
has a very clear advantage in features. Available to players in the Steeled Veterans Warbond, this SMG has one of the highest fire rates in the game, and less accuracy loss while moving than other crowd-control weapons (such as the machine gun). Players who favor a run-and-gun playstyle are likely to enjoy the MP-98 Knight.

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In addition, while it has more recoil than other SMGs, it is not nearly as high as might be expected considering the torrent of bullets it unleashes. All of this, combined with its one-handed nature and burst fire capability, means that this SMG is great for multitasking and horde clearing. It essentially does everything the Defender can and then some.

However, it does have one very noticeable downside – ammo. Due to the Knight’s high rate of fire, it uses up its magazine very quickly. This, combined with the limited amount of ammo refills in the wild, can lead to issues. For optimal play, it is advised to bring the Hellpod Space Optimization
booster, so that Helldivers deploy with full ammunition. Some players have also found that switching the gun from full-auto to burst fire helps conserve ammunition without a significant loss of effectiveness.

3

StA-11 SMG

A One-Handed Weapon With A Need For Speed

The StA-11 SMG is a low-recoil, heavy-hitting version of the MP-98 Knight available to all players as part of the Helldivers x Killlzone crossover. Players looking to run a fast-paced, shoot-them-up style of play should consider taking this gun for a spin. Its one-handed nature also makes carrying it ideal for missions that require players to carry items, such as SSDs from point A to point B (similar to the Defender.

However, players familiar with the original StA-11 from Killzone should manage their expectations. The gun has been changed for Helldivers 2, presumably for balance, and it lacks the capacity of the original gun from Killzone as well as some of the shotgun attachments.

Despite being fun to use, and one of the best guns added to the game in recent memory for SMG fans, the StA-11 SMG lacks the Medium Armor Tag. As a result, it is advised to pair it with an armor-penetrating weapon in the secondary or support weapon slot. Examples might include the Railgun, the P-4 Senator, and the P-113 Verdict.

2

SMG-72 Pummeler

Perfect For Dealing With Stalkers & Bile Spewers

The SMG-72 Pummeler, released with the Polar Patriots Premium Warbond, is the newest of the SMGs in Helldivers 2. After looking at its statistics, which are either equal to or lower than the Defender in every category, readers might be wondering why it is placed at number one on this list. While on paper its stats seem lackluster, this is because of a hidden feature, which is balanced with these weaker stats. The Pummeler features Concussive Ammunition, meaning that it stuns enemies on impact.

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This concussive ammo turns the Pummeler from the worst SMG in the game to the best due to its utility. Enemies hit by the Pummeler will briefly stop moving, making it ideal for taking out fast movers like Hunters and Stalkers. In addition, the stun will interrupt enemy attacks such as a Bile Spewers spit. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, staggering enemies will prevent them from calling reinforcements, meaning the wielder can prevent Bot Drops and Bug Breaches. This is key at higher difficulty levels, as these reinforcement calls frequently bring powerful enemies that can overrun a squad.

That being said, the Pummeler is best run when players are in a trusted group. It lacks medium armor penetration, meaning that they’ll be hamstrung on higher-difficulty missions (even though that is where the Pummeler’s utility shines) and will need to rely on their friends to bring the stopping power necessary to kill heavily armored enemies. The Pummeler’s utility, combined with the one-handed perk of SMGs, makes it the best choice for a player with a supportive playstyle, who is playing with some buddies who can back them up and cover for their weaknesses.

1

The SMG-32 Reprimand

When An SMG & A Shotgun Have A Baby

The SMG-32 Reprimand is available from the Truth Enforcers Premium Warbond for 40 Medals and exemplifies the power of truth perfectly with its massive damage output. However, it must compromise on Fire Rate, Recoil, and Magazine Capacity to pump out those numbers, which might make players feel like they are using a shotgun instead of an SMG.

Despite these downsides, players who can adjust their playstyle to account for the recoil will be nearly unstoppable. The Reprimand is by no means the only SMG that can be used to great effect in Helldivers 2, but it is head and shoulders above the rest due to its Medium Armor Penetration tag. It is currently the only submachine gun with Medium Armor Penetration – making it much better against powerful enemies such as Chargers and Tanks.

The best load-outs for the Reprimand include a weapon that can shore up its weaknesses – mainly its low capacity and firing rate, and/or the SMG’s typical accuracy drop-off it has at range. For this reason, sidearms with high fire rates such as the P-19 Redeemer, and support weapons that have high-power rounds with scopes such as the Anti-material Rifle are ideal.

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Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

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Arrowhead Game Studios

OpenCritic Rating

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Strong

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