The Helldivers 2 orbital strikes are one of the two orbital stratagem types in the game, with the barrages being the other. These stratagems are fired from your Super Destroyer’s many onboard weapons, unlike the Eagle’s aircraft-dropped ordnance. Orbital stratagems are typically more powerful and cover a much larger radius than Eagle strikes.
We’ve covered the Helldivers 2 orbital strikes in the past, but that old list is in need for an update, so I’d though we’d talk about the Helldivers 2 orbital strikes again. These strikes usually affect a small- to medium-sized area, unlike the larger barrages that can eradicate entire fortresses. With that said, let’s take a look at the orbital strikes and what they do.
The Helldivers 2 Orbital Strikes
As mentioned, the Helldivers 2 orbital strikes focus on precision and medium-sized areas of effect and only hit a few times. On the other hand, barrages specialize in medium- to massive-sized areas of effect and consist of several projectiles. Now that you know the difference, let’s take a look at the first orbital strike you can access.
Actually, before we dive into the Helldivers 2 orbital strikes, I wanted to preface that any strike with 50 demolition force can destroy the following structures:
- Any side objective that isn’t a Gunship Factory
- The Infested Towers in the Cleanse Infested District mission
- All spawners, even Warp Ships with their shields up
- All Super Earth structures
Now, with that in mind, we can take a look at the first orbital strike you can access in the Helldivers 2 Orbital Strikes roster.
The Orbital Precision Strike
You earn the Orbital Precision Strike after completing basic training, and it will serve as your general-purpose stratagem for a bit. The Orbital Precision Strike can take out Bile Titans on their heads and anything smaller with a direct hit, thanks to its anti-tank penetration. The Orbital Precision Strike can also take out spawners and side objective structures.
The Orbital Precision Strike deals 4,000 damage, and its explosion deals 1,500 damage in a 12-meter radius, both with a demolition force of 50. The Orbital Precision Strike has a base cooldown of 90 seconds and 76.95 seconds with all upgrades. The base call-in time for the Orbital Precision Strike is 4.45 seconds and 3.45 seconds with all upgrades.
The Orbital Gas Strike
The Orbital Gas Strike is unlocked at level one and costs 4000 Requisition Slips; it is also your first elemental orbital. The Orbital Gas Strike isn’t a big damage dealer in terms of killing potential, but it slows down enemies and confuses them with the gas effect. The Orbital Gas Strike can also take out spawners and side objective structures.
The Orbital Gas Strike deals 300 anti-tank penetration damage, with a demolition force of 50, and the gas deals 25 damage per second. The Orbital Gas Strike has a base cooldown of 75 seconds and 64.125 seconds with all upgrades. The base call-in time for the Orbital Gas Strike is 4.45 seconds and 3.45 seconds with all upgrades.
The Orbital Airburst Strike
The Orbital Airburst Strike is unlocked at level five and costs 4,000 Requisition Slips. The Orbital Airburst Strike rains shrapnel above an approximately 40-meter radius and shreds anything smaller than Hulks, Chargers, and Harvesters. Unfortunately, the Orbital Airburst Strike is meant for enemies, so it has little to no effect on structures besides maybe the Illegal Broadcast Tower and smaller structures.
The Orbital Airburst Strike shreds an area with four salvos and has medium armor penetration, which is enough to shred anything that isn’t armored. The Orbital Airburst Strike has a base cooldown of 100 seconds and 85.5 seconds with all upgrades. The base call-in time for the Orbital Airburst Strike is 4.45 seconds and 3.45 seconds with all upgrades.
The Orbital Smoke Strike
The Orbital Smoke Strike is unlocked at level five and costs 4,000 Requisition Slips. While the smoke strike deals a tiny bit of damage, its primary use is to conceal the Helldivers from undemocratic fire and claws. Additionally, the Orbital Smoke Strike can destroy any structure that the Orbital Precision Strike can.
The Orbital Smoke Strike fires six projectiles that deal 300 anti-tank penetration damage on a direct hit, with a demolition force of 50. The Orbital Smoke Strike has a base cooldown of 75 seconds and 64.125 seconds with all upgrades. The base call-in time for the Orbital Smoke Strike is 4.45 seconds and 3.45 seconds with all upgrades.
The Orbital EMS Strike
The Orbital EMS Strike is unlocked at level five and costs 6,000 Requisition Slips. The Orbital EMS Strike is the ultimate method for stopping any enemy smaller than a Harvester, as the EMS is made to stun anything caught in its area of effect. The Orbital EMS Strike can also destroy any structure that the Orbital Precision Strike can.
The Orbital EMS Strike deals 300 anti-tank penetration damage on a direct hit, with a demolition force of 50. The Orbital EMS Strike has a base cooldown of 75 seconds and 64.125 seconds with all upgrades. The base call-in time for the Orbital EMS Strike is 4.45 seconds and 3.45 seconds with all upgrades.
The Orbital Railcannon Strike
The Orbital Railcannon Strike is unlocked at level 20 and costs 10,000 Requisition Slips. The Orbital Railcannon Strike automatically targets the largest unit near the stratagem ball and can kill anything short of a Factory Strider. The Orbital Railcannon Strike can also destroy any structure that the Orbital Precision Strike can, if not better.
The Orbital Railcannon Strike deals 10,000 anti-tank penetration damage, and its impact explosion deals 1,000 damage, both with a demolition force of 50. The Orbital Railcannon Strike has a base cooldown of 180 seconds and 153.9 seconds with all upgrades. The base call-in time for the Orbital Railcannon Strike is instant, and it doesn’t change.
Is That It For The Helldivers 2 Orbital Strikes?
That is indeed it for the current Helldivers 2 orbital strikes roster, but you may have noticed one missing: the Orbital Laser. While it doesn’t have a strike or barrage classification, I view how Helldivers use the Orbital Laser in the same vein as a barrage. So, I’ll save the Orbital Laser for the barrage list, which I’ll get to soon.
Besides the Helldivers 2 orbital strikes, I hear we’ve got a new Eagle strike, and I think the old Eagle list needs a touch-up. So, you can look forward to an updated Eagle stratagem list coming soon, but you’ll have to wait. Regardless, Heeth’s just been taken by the bugs, and we can’t have another hive world on our hands, so get liberating!
For more information on games and Helldivers 2, stay tuned with us.
