Helldivers 2’s latest balancing changes have given players endless options to choose from, with an overwhelming amount of weapons and Stratagems finally viable in high-difficulty missions. Most recently, the 1.001.104 update introduced notable buffs for Helldivers 2’s Sentry Stratagems. Consequently, for players who haven’t tried these Stratagems in a while, or for players who want to mix up their loadouts with new weaponry, right now is a great time to give some of the Sentry Stratagems a chance.
The Sentry Stratagems often get a bad reputation for their tendency to team kill in Helldivers 2, but the benefits of running a Sentry Stratagem loadout arguably outweigh the risks of the occasional friendly fire. Especially after recent buffs improved the cooldown rate, ammo capacity, and health of most of the Sentry Stratagems, what was already a great set of Stratagems is now much stronger.
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Helldivers 2’s New Buffs Make Sentry Stratagems Top-Tier
A recent balancing change has reduced the cooldown for most of the Sentry Stratagems, while meanwhile decreasing their active duration. While this change has both positive and negative effects, it’s generally considered a buff. This is because oftentimes a Sentry Stratagem will have run out of ammo, been destroyed, or have fulfilled its purpose before its active duration, so the reduced active durations aren’t always noticeable. Meanwhile, the cooldown rate improvement from this patch is an outright upgrade for Sentry Stratagems.
Helldivers 2 Patch 01.001.104 Sentry Stratagem Buffs
A/MG-43 Machine Gun Sentry- Magazine capacity increased from 125 to 175
- Cooldown reduced from 120 to 90 seconds
- Lifetime reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
A/G-16 Gatling Sentry- Magazine capacity increased from 400 to 500
- Cooldown reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
- Lifetime reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
A/MLS-4X Rocket Sentry- Cooldown reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
- Lifetime reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
A/AC-8 Autocannon Sentry
- Cooldown reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
- Lifetime reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
- Reduced charge-up shots cooldown from 3 to 1 seconds
- Cooldown reduced from 150 to 120 seconds
- Lifetime reduced from 180 to 150 seconds
Why Players Shouldn’t Sleep on Helldivers 2’s Sentry Stratagem Loadouts
Sentry Stratagems were always great, although they were relatively niche compared to Helldivers 2’s latest meta. It doesn’t help that Sentry Stratagems often get a bad reputation for team killing and that they also lack the mobility provided by some of the backpack-based Stratagems that also excel at add-clear for the open-world mission types in Helldivers 2.
The 
A/ARC-3 Tesla Tower and 
A/M-12 Mortar Sentry are generally the most susceptible to team killing, but all the Sentry Stratagems are guilty of team killing from time to time. Certain body armor perks in Helldivers 2 can make players less likely to die from a single attack from a Sentry Stratagem, but dying in Helldivers 2 is practically inevitable, regardless of whether it’s from friendly fire. Consequently, players shouldn’t let the fear of a little friendly fire damage prevent them from equipping any of the Sentry Stratagems, because they can be surprisingly powerful.
Sentry Stratagems typically don’t trigger Terminid Bug Breaches or Automaton Bot Drops unless a player is nearby, so throwing Sentry Stratagems at a distant patrol can be an effective way to distract or eliminate unexpecting enemies.
Overall, all the recent buffs have taken what was already a great set of Stratagems to the next level. Not to mention, Sentry Stratagems also recently received a buff to their health, making them harder to destroy. So, for any players who haven’t used the Sentry Stratagems in a while, or for players who are looking for new ways to mix up their loadouts in Helldivers 2, right now is the best time to give the Sentry Stratagems a try.
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.
Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.
Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.
Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.
Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1
Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Engine
- bitsquid
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC & PS5