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Automatons is the bot faction inHelldivers 2that deals with ranged damage and has armored fronts but vulnerable backs. While the grunts or foot soldiers are easy to defeat by using the primary weapons, enemies like Devastator, Hulk, Tank, and the fortified cannon are not easy to kill.
It would be best if you took time to make the best automaton build in the game that can take out every enemy type in the Automaton faction easily. Weapons such as Grenade Launcher are overpowered for Terminids but weak against Automatons. This guide breaks down the complete loadout for Automaton build in the game.
What Are The Best Stratagems?
Stratagems is a returning mechanicfrom the first Helldivers, andit turns the combat from casual to chaotic in seconds. Since most Automatons wear armor and fire laser weapons, rockets, and cannons, it is wise topivot towards long-rangebest stratagemtypes.
This includes equipping stratagems such as long-range support weapons, defensive mortars, and the most powerful boss killer stratagem: Orbital Railcannon Strike. We have listed here top-tier stratagems you should start using for Automaton missions.
RS-422 Railgun
RS-422 Railgunis by far the best support weapon stratagemchoice you should run with while fighting the bots. Theweapon comes with a very long range, which is much needed when aiming and taking down deadly bots from a distance.
Railgun will do the peak damage when you charge itand release the trigger just before it is about to peak. Thefired beam penetrates the heaviest armor, and enemies such as the Hulk and the Devastator will be stun-locked for a few seconds.
Always press and hold the Reload button and switch the Railgun mode from Safe to Unsafe. This will allow you to charge the gun to the maximum limit. However, if you peak the charge, the gun will explode, killing your diver instantly.
Orbital Railcannon Strike
Orbital Railcannon Strikeis the boss killer stratagem. With absolute power in your hands,there are limited uses per mission. Therefore, we recommend you be conservative about using this frequently and only employ it on a large target when you are at the concluding section of your Main Mission.
Whenever you throw the stratagem on the group of Automatons,the Railcannon of destroyer automatically targets the largest enemy. Using this on a Tank that is about to wipe your squad in Evacuation and Eradicate Missions during Extraction will turn the tide of battle in your favor. It will one-shot the Tank and destroy it completely.
A/M-12 Mortar Sentry
The Mortar Sentry is a defensive stratagemin the game thatdeals explosive damage at long rangesand hits enemies that are hiding behind the cover. Since most Automatons enemy types wear armor and come in groups, hitting them with theA/M-12 Mortar Sentrydeals high damage.
Placing the Mortar Sentry is equally important as utilizing it in the field. It would be best if youtucked it away from the enemy line of fire. Automatons fire laser beams and rockets, and this can easily destroy the Mortar Sentry.
Mortar Sentry is one of the best weapons to detect enemy presence approaching your position. If you deploy it in a defensive position, the Sentry will start firing without you seeing the target on the radar.
A/M-23 EMS Mortar Sentry
EMS Mortar Sentry works the same as a standard Mortar Sentry. The only change here is the firedshell releases a static field on impact, slowing or halting the advance of bots.
Thebest Automaton build in the game is weak if you do not equip both turrets: A/M-12 Mortar Sentry andA/M-23 Ems Mortar Sentry. The EMS one will slow enemies down. Meanwhile, the standard Mortar Sentry will rain down explosives from the sky, dealing massive AoE damage on the ground.
This duo defensive Sentry stratagem is perfect for farming Medals in the game while playing the Defend Automaton missions.
What Is The Best Primary Weapon?
Most weapons in the game deal light armor penetrating damage.AR-23P Liberator Penetrator is the only gun that comes with a “Medium Armor Penetrating” Weapon Trait. This means that rounds fired on armored botshave a low chance of ricocheting. Instead, the bullets penetrate and deal damage.
AR-23P Liberator Penetrator is effective when fired at Berserker, Devastator, and Hulk. It is not as good as a Railgun, but still a better alternative than any other weapon in the game.
What Is The Best Secondary Weapon?
P-2 Peacemakermakes up a great addition to the best Automaton buildin the game. Ithas got 60 Damage, 900 Fire Rate and 23 Recoil. All of these are better suited against Automatons and not Terminds.
P-2 Peacemaker comes with Light Armor Penetrating Weapon Trait, which means smaller infantry enemies will get decent damage from this gun. The One Handed Weapon Trait is the cherry on top. Your diver gets to run and gun the chasing bots, which is not possible if you do the same with a two-handed gun.
What Is The Best Grenade?
The choice of grenades shows how you will handle a situation when overrun by a swarm of infantry bots. TheG-12 High Explosiveis perfect fordealing damage to Light Armored targets.If you are surrounded by Berserkers, Commisar, Trooper, Raider, and Marauder enemy types, then this grenade can wipe out most bots.
It would be best if you pick a reliable grenade choice to destroy Automaton Fabricators. Throwable explosives such as G-16 Impact are unforgiving. It detonates on impact, which could be bad if you miss the target. Wasting limited grenades is bad, especially when you are inside an Automaton stronghold.
What Is The Best Armor Choice?
No matter how much prepared you are while going against Automatons, it is never enough. This faction is relentless. Therefore, the best course of action here will be toequip the CM-09 Bonesnapper armor.
This armor increases theStim carrying capacity by two more Stims. Your diver also getsincreased Stim effect duration by two seconds, which is the time frame your health keeps regenerating after using the Stim.
The increased health-boosting benefits ensure survival under the toughest situations and enemy firepower. Even if you ducked out of cover and ran for a kill shot on Hulk, there is a high chance you will get blown away by Devastator’s rockets.
It is better to carry more stims and recover health than to waste the Reinforcement budget. You get five Reinforcement Budget per diver, totaling 20 respawns for the full squad.
What Is The Best Booster?
Since there areseven boosters in the game, we recommend that every party member equip one before jumping out from the destroyer to the Automaton planet. This way, you will get four passive buffs, aiding you in combat.
However, it would always be best toprioritize having the Vitality Enhancement Boosterwhile fighting the Automaton faction. This Booster allows divers to resist injury while taking a heavy hit from a rocket or falling from a higher platform. Aninjured diver slowly depletes overall healthuntil a Stim is not consumed.
Stim Enhancement is an honorary mention. Any full squad that wants to go head to head with Automatons, especially at Impossible and Helldive difficulty, should always have these two equipped during the Loadout.
