Helldivers 2 players believe planetary tremors are a sign an old enemy is returning

The living Hive Lords are even bigger.

hive lord in helldivers 1

While the main focus in every Helldivers 2 mission is generally the horde of Terminids or Automatons descending on the team, there’s often at least a little bit of time to take in the sights of each world, too. It’s then that players notice their strange surroundings, many of which include what appears to be fossilized bugs or Terminid remains.

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Following the game’s first patch, various planetary hazards were introduced to missions. This can include ground tremors, volcanic activity, a meteor shower, or tornados made of fire. It’s those tremors that have piqued the interest of fans most recently, though. Combined with the fossilized bug shells strewn across Terminid worlds, Helldivers fans are warning against the return of an old and powerful enemy.

Helldivers 2 tremors could indicate the imminent arrival of Hive lords

Helldivers 2 players have latched onto a recent post on the game’s Subreddit that links the bug fossils on various planets with a Terminid from the first game. User Tnel1027 puts it to players that these ‘statues’ or fossils are the discarded, malted shells of Hive Lords.

Hive Lords are Super Eath’s biggest nightmare. Left unchecked, they’ll burrow around a planet’s entire crust. In their wake, they leave Bug Holes for Terminids to pour out of and overrun human settlements. They’re towering boss-like enemies that would likely put a Bile Titan’s height to shame. To date, though, they haven’t appeared in Helldivers 2.

Players are both thrilled and terrified about the idea of facing off against a Hive Lord. User Ninetynyne said, “Key point is that these are “molts”. The actual full-grown Hive Lords should be absolutely massive.” User IceColdCocaCola545 replied, “Oh my God. Sounds like we’re in for some rough combat in this game. I’m absolutely hyped, yet also real f**king scared of what’s to come.”

At the time of writing, the Terminid boss equivalent is the Bile Titan, and the Automaton one is a Tank. However, these enemies appear as part of the standard array of foes we all battle in every mission. they don’t feel extraordinary unless the mission calls for the eradication of a set number of them.

The introduction of Hive Lords would be natural and fit with the planetary tremors players have been experiencing perfectly. In fact, some players think developer Arrowhead Game Studios could go further. User DOCTORPUSZ explains, “I’m just excited for when we push the bugs or Automatons back all the way and then get to assault their home world. Or for them to push all the way to us and then we have to defend Super Earth. That was always fun.”

We have no idea where Helldivers 2 is heading because Game Master Joel is working hard to keep everyone on their toes. He knows the story he wants to tell, and it’s constantly surprising us. But I can’t deny that the idea of attacking a Terminid homeworld and facing off with millions of Helldivers against a Hive Lord would be amazing.

About The Author
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.
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