There are dozens of Stratagems for players to unlock and master in Helldivers 2, but the Anti-Materiel Rifle is one of the most powerful you can ever get.
Stratagems are the key to a successful mission in Helldivers 2. If you don’t bring ones that you’re comfortable with or that will help your squad, you’re dead weight. That’s why it’s important to experiment and develop a taste for what works for you. This will also help you when Personal Orders pop up that require you to use specific weapons, such as the Anti-Materiel Rifle.
How to use the Anti-Materiel Rifle in Helldivers 2 to maximize your kills
Using the Anti-Materiel Rifle in Helldivers 2 is pretty straightforward. It’s essentially a sniper rifle that packs much more of a punch than anything else you’ll wield, which is why it’s a Stratagem. You should call it in as soon as you step out of your Hellpod so you’ve got it for the rest of the mission. Trust me, you’re going to need it on higher difficulties.
This will help if you’ve got to complete a Personal Order that requires a certain number of kills with it, too. Having the weapon is only half the battle because you need to aim and switch to first-person mode to aim down its sights. This is how you can do some real damage to enemies.
All enemies have weak points, and the Anti-Materiel Rifle makes short work of all of them if you hit them here. Terminids will crumble to a shot to the head, though some will take more than one. Automatons are the same, but you need to target the glowing spots on their armor if their heads aren’t accessible.
Using the Anti-Materiel Rifle, you can actually shoot limbs off of enemies and leave them alive. Hit the limbs with a shot, and they should fly off. If you want to, you can leave an enemy reeling without a way to harm you if you shoot it just right.
The best way to rack up more kills is to find high points in the terrain and aim where your allies are shooting and attacking. With the powerful sight of the weapon, you’ll have no trouble picking enemies out, so aim and fire. Just be sure to run away if enemies start to get close because the magazine is small, and you don’t want to get caught needing a reload.
While using the Anti-Materiel Rifle in Helldivers 2, I’ve found you can go an entire mission without dying on higher difficulties if you simply play to its strengths. Sticking back, aiming and delicately picking enemies off while using other Stratagems to assist your team will see you rise as the rock that your teammates cling to in a mission.
How to get the Anti-Materiel Rifle in Helldivers 2
To get the Anti-Materiel Rifle in Helldivers 2, you need to purchase it from the Stratagem tab in the Ship Management menu. It’s one of the earliest Stratagems you can pick up and is well worth grabbing over the Stalwart because it offers a great long-range addition to your arsenal that can be used alongside the basic Machine Gun Stratagem.
Best loadout for the Anti-Materiel Rifle in Helldivers 2
The best loadout for anyone in Helldivers 2 is one you’re comfortable with. However, some Stratagems work better together than others. Below is the list of Stratagems that I’ve found work best with the Anti-Materiel Rifle and an explanation for how they synergize.
- Anti-Materiel Rifle
- Anti-Personnel Minefield
- Orbital Precision Strike
- Guard Dog Rover
Using this loadout, you’re free to stop and take potshots at enemies using the Anti-Materiel Rifle whenever you get the opportunity. The Guard Dog Rover is your protection, blasting enemies that get too close and warning you when they’re sneaking up on you.
The Orbital Strike is a fantastic Stratagem to call in when bigger enemies start to storm your position. You’ll have plenty of notice if you’re sniping away, so drop it and run, and you’ll score some extra kills. Finally, the Anti-Personnel Minefield is what you use when you see a swarm of enemies descending on you and your squad. Defend yourselves and plonk it down so there’s an explosive barrier between you and what would otherwise be certain death.
When it comes to gear and weapons, the best loadout is what you’re comfortable with. These are your moment-to-moment tools, and you should be familiar with them so you can be as efficient for your team as possible between high-powered rifle shots.
