Mastering the Illuminate: Best Weapons to Use Against the New Faction in Helldivers 2 (2025)

[LunarPhoenix]

As the Illuminate officially make their grand entrance into Helldivers 2, the battlefield dynamics have shifted dramatically. This highly advanced faction challenges players with laser precision, psychic abilities, and energy-based weaponry that can pierce through traditional armor. To survive and thrive, every Helldiver needs to rethink their loadouts. In this guide, we’ll break down the Helldivers 2 Illuminate Best Weapons 2025, helping you adapt to this high-tech menace and maintain control of the galaxy.

Understanding the Illuminate Threat

The Illuminate are unlike the Automatons or Terminids. Instead of brute force or overwhelming numbers, they rely on energy weapons, teleportation, and shielded units. Their enemies can vanish in a flash, only to reappear behind your squad with devastating plasma bursts. Their snipers are deadly accurate, and their drones provide relentless support fire.

This means standard anti-armor setups may not cut it anymore. Instead, the focus shifts toward weapons that deal consistent energy damage, bypass shields, or deliver quick burst output before repositioning.

1. LAS-98 Laser Cannon – The Shield Breaker

If you’re looking for a weapon that can melt through energy shields, the LAS-98 Laser Cannon is your go-to. It’s a high-energy beam weapon capable of sustained fire, perfect for breaking through Illuminate defenses. While it lacks splash damage, its pinpoint accuracy and infinite ammo (with heat management) make it one of the most efficient options against their energy-based troops.

Best Used Against: Shielded Commanders, Drone formations, and Energy Soldiers.

2. SG-225 Breaker – The Reliable Close-Range Option

The SG-225 Breaker remains one of the most dependable tools in the Helldiver’s arsenal. Against the Illuminate, it’s perfect for clearing teleporting melee units that get too close. With the right mods and support stratagems, it can hold choke points where enemies tend to warp in.

Its pellet spread also helps counter stealth units that shimmer just before appearing—giving you a crucial half-second advantage.

Best Used Against: Teleporters, Stealth Infiltrators, and Close-Range Ambushes.

3. EAT-17 – Anti-Heavy Utility

The EAT-17 may feel old-school compared to Illuminate tech, but it’s still one of the Helldivers 2 Illuminate Best Weapons 2025 when dealing with their heavy hovercrafts and armored Sentinels. Its lock-on capability allows quick responses when vehicles or energy tanks appear mid-battle.

Its portability and single-use nature also make it a great secondary tool without overburdening your loadout.

Best Used Against: Hover Tanks, Energy Turrets, and Elite Mechs.

4. SG-8 Punisher Plasma – Area Denial Powerhouse

The SG-8 Punisher Plasma brings splash damage and lingering plasma fields that excel against clustered Illuminate units. While its reload time is punishing (no pun intended), the crowd control it offers is unmatched.

Its plasma rounds bypass most shield defenses, dealing lingering area-of-effect damage that forces the Illuminate to reposition—something they’re not used to.

Best Used Against: Drone Swarms and Shield Formations.

5. LAS-16 Sickle – Mobility and Precision

If you’re a player who values agility and ammo efficiency, the LAS-16 Sickle is an excellent pick. It’s lightweight, precise, and deals energy-based damage—perfectly suited to counter Illuminate infantry. The Sickle’s continuous beam also makes it easier to track fast-moving targets like teleporters or drones.

Pair it with a defensive stratagem like the Shield Generator Pack, and you can hold your ground longer than most.

Best Used Against: Light Infantry, Drone Scouts, and Mid-Range Skirmishers.

6. Railgun – Elite Unit Eraser

The Railgun continues to dominate the meta thanks to its insane damage potential. Against Illuminate elites and mech-like units, a well-timed shot can instantly neutralize the threat. The Railgun’s armor-piercing rounds cut through energy shields and barriers, making it an invaluable asset during late-game missions.

However, it requires discipline—its charge mechanic punishes mistimed shots, and overheating can be fatal under pressure.

Best Used Against: Elite Units and Shielded Heavy Constructs.

Fighting the Illuminate in Helldivers 2 requires adaptability, precision, and teamwork. Their high-tech tactics reward players who stay mobile, manage heat effectively, and use energy-based weapons to their advantage. The Helldivers 2 Illuminate Best Weapons 2025 list above isn’t just about raw damage—it’s about strategy, synergy, and survival.