helldiver with 120mm he barrage going off against tank in helldivers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to use the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage to get the most kills in Helldivers 2

Throw it out and let it blow them away.

In Helldivers 2, players can use dozens of Stratagems against the enemies of Super Earth, but few are as chaotic and deadly as the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage.

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When jumping into any mission in Helldivers 2, players must carefully consider their loadouts. Not only do the weapons they use play into how they’ll perform and how useful they’ll be, but they must also think about which Stratagems are going to be the most useful. Some are better than others against each enemy faction, and others, such as the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage, come down to skill and experience. The better you know them, the more enemies you’ll kill using them.

How to use the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage in Helldivers 2

firing the orbital 120mm he barrage in helldi vers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

Using the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage in Helldivers 2 is more than calling the Stratagem and throwing out its beacon. It takes about 12 seconds to deploy, and you will see a string of 120mm rounds fire down from your ship in the area where you threw that beacon, so you need to know that there will be enemies there in the near future.

This Stratagem is best used when enemies are chasing you, or you’re trapped in a small area with enemies swarming your team. The end of a mission is perfect because that’s when enemies really go for you, and this Stratagem is guaranteed to pick off a few enemies in those instances.

Another key to using this Stratagem is staying clear of its firing area. If you’re caught in it, you’ll die, and the same applies to your teammates. You need to deploy it pretty safely away from anyone you don’t want to die but close enough to your enemies that it’ll catch them. If there are any slow enemies like Tanks or Bile Titans on the map, they’re perfect for ambushing with it.

How to get the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage in Helldivers 2

getting the orbital 120mm he barrage in helldivers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

To get the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage in Helldivers 2, you need to buy it from the Stratagems section of the Ship Management Menu. It’s cheap—a few hundred Requisition Slips—and one of the first Stratagems you should really buy. Its sheer power, however undirected, is enough to make light work of enemies on most difficulties.

Best loadout for the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage in Helldivers 2

loadout for the orbital 120mm he barrage helldivers 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

As with any mission in Helldivers 2, the best loadout for the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is whatever you’re comfortable with. No weapon will make it more efficient, but I have found getting the Machine Gun or Stalwart will allow you to kill and lure enemies into the path of this Stratagem. The Localization Confusion Booster also works really well and culling enemy numbers in frantic missions so you can properly target the groups that do pop up.


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Author
Image of Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie is a Staff Writer on Destructoid who has been playing video games for the better part of the last three decades. He adores indie titles with unique and interesting mechanics and stories, but is also a sucker for big name franchises, especially if they happen to lean into the horror genre.