Helldivers 2 Difficulty Levels: Dive Further Into Hell

The Helldivers 2 difficulty levels are a game mechanic that determines the level of difficulty of each mission and operation. The difficulty levels also act as a way for Helldiver recruits to ease themselves into the chaos of helldiving. Not only that, but with greater difficulty comes greater rewards.

More importantly, each difficulty level brings new challenges to the battlefield for Helldivers to overcome. These challenges differ from faction to faction, of course, but the rise in difficulty stays the same. And with the rise of bigger and more dangerous threats, will more difficulties be added to match the first Helldivers?

What Are The Difficulty Levels In Helldivers 2

The difficulty levels in Helldivers 2 range from the simple Trivial level to the current highest level named Super Helldive. You can identify each difficulty level by its name as well as the numbers that accompany it. For example, the Trivial level is numbered as one, while the current highest level is 10.

Each difficulty level introduces new challenges and rewards for the Helldivers, for instance, more heavily armored enemies and more medals earned. In addition to the increase in enemy armor and medal rewards, they also contain more main and side objectives. To be more specific, the difficulty levels in question are:

1. Trivial: The starting difficulty that all Helldiver recruits start with. It contains one mission with a single main objective on a small, mostly empty map. Completing this difficulty will unlock the next one, and this will continue until you reach the highest level.
2. Easy: This difficulty is similar to the previous one, only that it has a slightly bigger map along with new enemy-controlled spawn zones. Easy missions include an increased maximum of main objectives and also introduce a hidden optional side objective.
3. Medium: The medium difficulty level introduces operations; for this level, there are two missions. A medium enemy spawn zone will appear on this difficulty, along with a second optional objective that’s shown on the map. At this point, you’ll also start to encounter the Spewers on the Terminid/Bug front.
4. Challenging: This level features the current largest map size that future difficulty levels will be using, along with another hidden side objective. It also introduces a large enemy spawn zone, along with heavily armored enemies. The heavily armored enemies include the Hulk and the tank of the Automatons/Bots, Chargers of the Terminids/Bugs, and Harvesters of the Illuminate/Squids.
5. Hard: At this point, three missions per operation will now become a standard for future difficulties. This difficulty also introduces the Impaler and Bile Titan to the Terminid/Bug front. This difficulty also adds a mission modifier that increases the challenge, for example, increasing stratagem cooldowns by 25%.
6. Extreme: Super samples start to appear at this difficulty as a point of interest that you’ll have to find. It also includes another hidden side objective for Helldivers to complete.
7. Suicide Mission: New enemies for the Automatons and Terminids appear for the Helldivers to destroy. The fearsome Factory Strider and oppressive Barrager tank appear for the Automatons. Meanwhile, the Spore Charger and Behemoth Charger replace the standard charger for the Terminids.
8. Impossible: This difficulty adds another main objective for you to complete in addition to more enemies. As mentioned, the new enemies are the Automaton Reinforced Scout Strider and the Terminid Alpha Commander.
9. Helldive: This difficulty used to be the highest in Helldivers 2 until the Escalation of Freedom update on August 9, 2024. This difficulty adds the obligatory increase in enemy presence, along with the fifth and final hidden side objective.
10. Super Helldive: The new max difficulty added with the Escalation of Freedom update. This difficulty introduces a formidable giant enemy spawn zone which, as of the June 24, 2025, patch, only two enemy factions possess. The Terminids get the Mega Nest, while the Automatons get the Fortress.

What Difficulty Levels to choose in Helldivers 2

Obviously, the higher difficulty levels in Helldivers 2 make missions harder to accomplish, but the rewards make up for it. The higher rewards bring more medals and Galactic War participation per mission, along with a multiplier for requisition slips and experience points. And don’t forget that by completing operations, you also get a multiplier for your Galactic War participation.

Unquestionably, the increased amount of war contributions and rewards is important. But, don’t forget that if you can’t quite match a certain difficulty yet, it doesn’t hurt to play on a lower one. Super Earth needs you alive and kicking, not dead and rotting, so dust yourself off and keep fighting!

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