Are Backpack-Fed Weapons a Helldivers Trap?

I’ll never forget my first time using the Stalwart. I was thrilled – a machine gun with its own ammo sounded amazing, letting me use a Jump Pack and provide serious firepower. It felt like the ultimate setup. But the mission quickly changed my mind. I felt sluggish, my damage didn’t seem very effective, and I really wished I had my Guard Dog rover with me. It was a harsh lesson in how Helldivers 2 forces you to make difficult choices. If you’ve felt this same disappointment, you’ll understand the frustration. This article is here to help us understand why these weapons sometimes fall short of expectations.

Key Takeaways

The Math Doesn’t Add Up: Before committing to a backpack-fed weapon, remember you’re giving up a crucial gear slot for a gun that’s often statistically weaker. You sacrifice the utility of a Shield Generator or Supply Pack for a weapon with lower damage and less impact.
Continuous Fire Is a Situational Perk: The ability to fire without reloading is only truly useful in specific defensive scenarios where you can plant your feet. In a game that rewards mobility, mastering tactical reloads with a standard weapon will serve you better in most fights.
Support Your Squad, Not Just Your Gun: A standard weapon paired with a Supply Pack offers far more value to your entire team. You’re not just reloading your own gun; you’re providing extra ammo, grenades, and stims for everyone, making you a more effective teammate.

What Are Backpack-Fed Weapons, Anyway?

If you’ve been playing Helldivers 2 and trying to liberate planets, you’ve probably used weapons that have their own built-in ammo. These support weapons, like the Stalwart or Grenade Launcher, carry their ammo on your back, freeing up a backpack slot. At first glance, this seems like a great advantage.

We’re aiming to give you more flexibility in how you equip your gear. By combining a weapon and its ammo into one call-in, you should have an extra slot for something else – like a Guard Dog for defense or a Jump Pack for faster movement. It sounds great – having a powerful weapon and another useful item. However, many players have found that what seems good on paper doesn’t always work well when facing a large swarm of enemies.

The On-Paper Promise

Backpack-fed weapons are appealing because they make you more efficient in battle. They free up a crucial slot for Stratagems, giving you greater tactical options. Instead of needing separate calls for weapons and supplies, you can equip a backpack-fed weapon like the Stalwart and use that extra slot for things like additional airstrikes or defenses. This ability to customize your Helldivers 2 loadout and be prepared for anything is a major draw for players. It allows for a smoother combat experience, letting you carry more tools without giving up firepower.

The In-Game Reality

Many players feel disappointed with these special weapons, finding they actually hinder gameplay rather than improve it. Instead of being better than standard weapons, they often perform worse. The main complaint is that weapons requiring a specific backpack should be more powerful, but they’re frequently weaker. For example, a regular Grenade Launcher with a standard supply pack can actually deal more damage overall than the version designed to be fed by the backpack. This makes the weapon less versatile and doesn’t deliver on the promise of sustained firepower, completely missing the point of the upgrade.

Why Do They Feel Like a Downgrade?

The idea of a weapon that automatically takes ammo from your backpack sounds great – more bullets and less time spent reloading. However, in practice, these weapons can be surprisingly difficult to use. Many players find them awkward and weak, making them regret choosing that weapon. This disappointing experience usually comes down to some significant drawbacks that affect performance.

The Obvious Cost: Your Backpack Slot

Okay, so here’s the deal with those weapons you have to carry in a backpack slot – the biggest downside isn’t even the weight, it’s what you can’t carry because of it. Some people say it’s okay because the weapon comes with its own ammo, freeing up a stratagem slot, but honestly, that doesn’t really pan out. That backpack space is prime real estate on your Helldiver! I usually put things like a Guard Dog or a Shield Generator there – stuff that can really turn the tide of a mission. The second a weapon forces me to use a backpack, I’m losing valuable options. It seriously limits how I can adjust my strategy before I even start shooting. It’s a real cost to my flexibility, and that’s a big deal.

Disappointing Damage Numbers

Trading a backpack slot for a weapon should feel worthwhile, but often it isn’t. Consider grenade launchers: you’d think the backpack-mounted version would be as powerful as the standard one, but it’s actually weaker. It has a smaller blast radius and does much less damage – about 150 per shot. This means you’re giving up valuable space for a weapon that isn’t as good at clearing out groups of enemies or damaging buildings, which is a disappointing compromise.

The Opportunity Cost of That Slot

This is where things get really difficult mathematically. It’s not simply about the damage you’re losing, but also the potential damage your team misses out on. A Helldiver equipped with the standard GL-21 and a Supply Pack can deliver an impressive 64,000 to 68,000 points of total explosion damage. However, the version powered by a backpack only reaches around 15,000 – a damage difference of four to five times. The Supply Pack doesn’t just replenish your support weapons; it restocks your primary ammo, grenades, and stims, effectively making one player a mobile armory for the whole team. Choosing the backpack means sacrificing significant team support for a small personal benefit.

Let’s Break Down the Numbers

Players might feel like backpack-fed weapons aren’t as powerful, but the data tells a different story. Looking at the numbers, the evidence against them becomes much clearer. It’s not just a matter of opinion—these weapons simply don’t perform as well. Let’s dive into the details and compare them to standard weapons. The results are surprising and could change how you choose your gear.

Grenade Launcher vs. Grenade Launcher

Grenade launchers are popular for quickly eliminating groups of enemies and enemy generators. The standard GL-21 is very powerful, dealing around 400 damage with each explosion. However, the version that uses a backpack-mounted ammo supply is much weaker, only dealing about 150 damage per shot. That’s less than half the damage, and it takes up valuable space in your backpack. Essentially, you’re sacrificing a lot of firepower for the convenience of not having to reload as often. In a game where hitting every shot is crucial against large numbers of enemies, this is a significant reduction in power.

Comparing Area of Effect

The backpack-fed grenade launcher isn’t just weaker in terms of damage – its blast range is also much smaller. A standard grenade launcher can effectively clear groups within a 3.5-meter radius, but the backpack version only reaches 2 meters. This means you need to aim more carefully to get the same area-clearing effect. It lacks both power and widespread impact, making it less useful for controlling a chaotic battlefield.

Ammo Economy and Total Damage Output

It seems counterintuitive, but carrying a lot of extra ammo doesn’t necessarily make you more powerful. A standard grenade launcher can deal 16,000 damage, while a version that uses a backpack for extra ammo actually maxes out around 15,000. This means you end up doing less damage overall, and you lose a valuable inventory slot! It’s a case where having more ammo doesn’t help because each individual shot is much weaker.

Machine Gun Performance Metrics

Machine guns aren’t much improved either. A typical machine gun combined with a resupply pack—which is a smart way to use your backpack space—lets you fire over 2,000 rounds continuously. Players have calculated that using a backpack to feed a machine gun doesn’t offer as much firepower as a standard machine gun with a resupply strategy. Keeping your weapon and resupply separate gives you more ammo and better tactical choices, making the combined option seem unnecessary and weak.

The Strategic Price You Pay

Picking a weapon you carry on your back isn’t simply swapping out a helpful device like a Guard Dog or Shield Generator. It fundamentally changes how you approach a mission, impacting both your own performance and what roles your teammates fill. The downside isn’t just losing an equipment slot – it means sacrificing versatility, efficiency, and potentially, the success of the mission. That’s why many Helldivers feel these weapons seem good at first, but ultimately hinder more than they help.

How They Limit Your Mission Strategy

Choosing a weapon that needs a backpack comes with a significant trade-off: you lose the ability to quickly change your gear and adapt to different situations. For example, you might not be able to use a Jump Pack to reach higher ground or a Shield Generator to protect against enemies. These weapons often don’t even perform better than standard options, forcing you to play in a predictable way – more like a fixed gun emplacement than a mobile soldier. You’d expect a weapon requiring extra equipment to be incredibly powerful, but it frequently ends up feeling like a disadvantage.

The Struggle with Resupplies

A major problem with weapons that rely on resupply packs is how quickly they burn through ammunition. Players expect a big increase in firepower when they call in a resupply, but these weapons don’t provide it. One Reddit user calculated that a regular Grenade Launcher, when fully loaded with ammo from a supply pack, can deal over 60,000 damage. The backpack-fed version, however, only reaches about 15,000. That means you’re using the same limited resupply for significantly less destructive power. As one player put it, it’s actually a step down in performance. This forces you to constantly ask for more ammo, effectively hindering your team.

Impact on Your Team’s Loadout

When choosing your gear, remember it impacts the whole team, not just you. Picking a common weapon lets you also bring an extra tactical advantage, like an airstrike or laser strike, which everyone can use. If you choose a special, backpack-fed weapon, you take away that option, and your team has to adjust to your choice, which might not be as effective. Some players believe these special weapons should enhance teamwork and strategy, not simply be weaker versions of existing guns. They should create new ways to play together, offering unique cooperative opportunities. One player put it well: these weapons should “open up new ways to play and cooperate,” not hinder the team’s overall potential.

Is Skipping Reloads a Real Advantage?

The biggest benefit of a weapon connected to a backpack is simple: it lets you fire constantly without needing to reload. Imagine being surrounded by enemies – being able to keep shooting without pausing could be a lifesaver. The idea is that you’ll spend more time attacking, deal more damage, and be less exposed. One player highlighted that the key advantage is truly just having unlimited ammunition – no reloading at all.

As a Helldivers player, I’ve really come to understand that this game is all about making tough choices. Every piece of equipment you take on a mission feels like a trade-off. For example, if I bring a weapon that needs a backpack for extra ammo, that takes up two of my limited slots – one for a support weapon and one for the backpack itself! So, it’s not just about whether avoiding reloads is helpful, it’s about whether it’s amazing enough to make up for everything else my backpack could be doing for me and my team. It really makes you think!

The Rare Times Non-Stop Fire Helps

Let’s be honest: sometimes, rapidly firing a weapon feels great and actually works. Think about defending a critical location, like a narrow passage, from an enemy attack. In those situations, continuous machine gun fire can be what keeps you from being overwhelmed. It’s a strong way to keep enemies pinned down, giving your team time to move or finish what they’re doing.

Okay, so those epic, perfectly executed moments in Helldivers? They don’t happen that often, honestly. Most of the time, it’s just a whole lot of running around, shooting everything that moves, and trying to find the best spot to avoid getting squashed. And here’s the thing: the second you have to pull out a heavier weapon and use your backpack, you’re really paying for it. You lose so much speed and become an easy target. It’s super dangerous because if a Bile Titan spots you, you’re basically stuck and become a free meal!

Tactical Reloading vs. Holding the Trigger

Skilled Helldivers understand the flow of battle. They learn to quickly find brief moments – a couple of seconds – to reload their weapons, like hiding behind cover, dodging an enemy, or when the fighting briefly slows down. Reloading at the right time is an important skill that lets you stay effective without wasting space in your equipment. For instance, the basic Grenade Launcher only takes around three seconds to reload.

Honestly, I’ve been thinking about skipping the little break between missions, but is it really worth losing out on a Supply Pack? Seriously, think about what you’re giving up. Those packs are huge for the team – extra stims, grenades, and tons of ammo for everyone’s guns. I saw one Helldiver break it down, and it’s a bad trade. You’re giving up a bunch of stims, grenades, and basically endless supplies just to avoid reloading on one support weapon? That’s a minor convenience for a massive loss of team support and useful gear. I’m starting to think it’s not worth it.

How It Really Affects Combat Flow

Picking a weapon that needs a backpack drastically changes how you play on your team and how you handle battles. You go from being a flexible fighter to a specialist focused on heavy firepower. This can really throw off the team’s rhythm. Instead of quickly adjusting to the situation, you’ll often be searching for a good spot to set up and fire continuously, which isn’t always practical or smart.

This approach can quickly deplete your resources. Without a Supply Pack, you’ll have to rely on scavenging for supplies or using the team’s limited strategic options, which can create stress and slow everyone down. Adding to this, some weapons that use backpack space, like the belt-fed Grenade Launcher, don’t always perform better. This makes the trade-off difficult – you’re giving up versatility and team support for a weapon that might not be worth it, potentially jeopardizing the mission.

Why Standard Weapons Almost Always Win

Getting a support weapon with its own ammo backpack seems great at first – more firepower without needing to reload! But many Helldivers have learned these weapons aren’t always helpful. The downsides of constant firing often outweigh the benefits.

Generally, sticking with a regular weapon and a separate, adaptable backpack is a better strategy for both you and your team. This is especially true when facing tougher challenges. Standard weapons consistently deal more damage, let you customize your gear effectively, and help you make the most of your limited supplies during combat. Let’s look at the reasons why this traditional combination is usually the best choice.

Superior Damage-Per-Shot

One of the most confusing things about weapons that use a backpack slot is that they usually don’t hit as hard as regular versions of the same weapon. You’d think a weapon taking up two slots would be much more powerful, but that’s not true. For instance, the backpack-mounted Grenade Launcher actually does less damage than the standard one. A player recently pointed out that the standard GL deals 400 damage, while the backpack version only does 150 – a huge reduction for something that should be at least as good. This lower damage makes it harder to deal with large groups of enemies or take down stronger ones, which defeats the purpose of using the weapon in the first place.

More Loadout Flexibility

Switching to a weapon that needs an ammo backpack immediately limits your gear options. That backpack slot could have held something much more useful, like a shield for extra protection, a rover for added firepower, or a jump pack for quick movement. While some believe it frees up a slot for other abilities, you’re usually still using an ability to actually use the weapon. This restriction makes it harder to adjust to changing situations and can leave you exposed when a different piece of equipment would have been more helpful.

Smarter Use of Resources

When it comes to using ammunition effectively, standard weapons combined with a Supply Pack are the clear winner. A Supply Pack lets you carry a lot more ammo for your main weapon, but also refills your secondary weapon, grenades, and health items. For example, a standard grenade launcher with a Supply Pack can deliver almost five times more explosive damage over a mission than one that relies on a backpack. This gives you better value and helps the whole team, as you can also share supplies with your teammates. It’s a smarter, more efficient way to manage everything you need.

What Would It Take to Make Them Good?

Many Helldivers aren’t using certain weapons right now, so what changes could make them useful? It’s not about making them too strong, but giving them a specific role in missions that makes the cost of using them worthwhile. Players have some good suggestions, mostly focusing on a few key adjustments. These changes could turn these currently frustrating weapons into essential tools by refining how they work and making them deliver on their promise of being powerful but risky to use.

A Simple Damage Buff

One straightforward improvement would be to simply increase the damage output of backpack-mounted weapons. Currently, they often feel underpowered compared to their standard versions, which doesn’t make sense considering the drawbacks of using a backpack. Many players suggest, for instance, increasing the Maxigun’s damage from 80 to 90 to match the standard Machine Gun. Along with that, significantly increasing their ammo capacity would be a big help. Instead of just 750 rounds, imagine having 2,500! This simple adjustment would make sure players aren’t stuck with a weaker, bulkier weapon when they could have had a more effective one without the backpack.

A Better Team Reload System

These weapons are designed for team play, so let’s emphasize that aspect. Right now, the team-reload feature is interesting, but it’s usually too slow and awkward to use effectively during intense combat. How about making the reload much faster when a teammate helps you? This would strongly encourage players to work together, allowing two Helldivers to quickly and efficiently eliminate enemies like a powerful machine gun nest. This change would give these weapons a special strategic purpose, making them ideal for coordinated teams who want to secure an area and provide strong support fire.

Fixing the Risk vs. Reward

Right now, using weapons that take up a backpack slot isn’t worth the trade-off. Backpacks are incredibly valuable because they let you carry essential items like a Guard Dog rover, shield generator, or extra supplies for your team. Even if these weapons had tons of ammo, players question whether it’s worth giving up those helpful items. To make these weapons appealing, they need to be significantly powerful enough to justify losing that extra utility. Currently, the balance is off, and players don’t see a good reason to use them.

Making Them Work (If You Really Want To)

Okay, so you’re still committed to using these backpack-mounted weapons – I admire your persistence! They’re not ideal for most fights, but they can be effective. You’ll need to drastically change how you play and focus on their unique strengths. It’s not about overwhelming force; it’s about overcoming their weaknesses with clever tactics.

Playing with this setup is like making Helldivers much harder for yourself. You’ll need to carefully consider where you stand, talk to your teammates often, and think through every move. It’s not something you can just grab and immediately use effectively – you need a strategy. If you’re willing to put in the effort, here are some tips to help you make this tricky equipment useful for spreading democracy.

Find the Perfect Defensive Spot

Backpack-mounted weapons are most vulnerable when you’re moving. Trying to shoot while repositioning makes you an easy target. To use them effectively, you need to stay put. Find a strong, protected spot with a clear view, ideally one that directs enemies into a predictable path. Think of yourself as a stationary turret – your goal is to control a specific area of fire during situations like evacuations or while waiting for a ride. Players have noted these weapons need a clear advantage to feel powerful, and playing defensively helps make up for their weaknesses.

Coordinate With Your Team

There’s no room for debate: using a heavy weapon means you’re taking on a specialized role, and that role requires teamwork. You won’t be as flexible as a soldier with standard gear. It’s important to discuss this with your squad – let them know you’ll be providing continuous fire from a stationary position. This lets them choose equipment that complements your role, allowing them to deal with tougher enemies or complete objectives while you focus on controlling the smaller threats. This creates a new style of play that emphasizes cooperation, turning your squad into a coordinated fireteam.

Master Your Weapon Swapping

If you’re constantly firing, it’s easy to get caught off guard by sudden attacks, like a Hunter rushing you. Being able to quickly switch to your other weapon is crucial. A helpful tip from experienced players is to change your “Weapon Switch Mode” to “Classic” in the settings. This lets you swap weapons with a quick tap of a button, instead of holding it down to open a menu. It’s a small adjustment that can significantly improve your reaction time and potentially save you when enemies close in.

The Final Verdict: Stick to Standard Weapons?

After careful analysis and real-world testing, are weapons that use backpack-fed ammunition actually good, or are they a risky choice for beginners? The answer isn’t straightforward, but most players agree on one thing: the benefits often don’t justify taking up a valuable backpack slot.

The main problem is that these new weapons aren’t just competing with other guns; they’re competing with all the useful items you can carry. Players have to choose between these weapons and things like a Guard Dog, a shield, or extra supplies, and often, the new guns aren’t even as good as the ones players already have. Let’s see what dedicated players and the community as a whole are thinking about this.

What the Meta Says

Players who prioritize getting the most out of the game generally agree that weapons that take up backpack space aren’t worth it. They argue that giving up a valuable backpack slot for a weapon doesn’t provide enough of a benefit in terms of power – and sometimes the weapon is actually weaker. For example, the backpack-fed Grenade Launcher is often criticized for being less powerful and having a smaller explosion range than the regular version. Most players believe that any weapon requiring this trade-off needs to be noticeably better than other options, and currently, these weapons don’t measure up.

What the Community Thinks

Many players share the same concerns about these new weapons. They don’t feel special or powerful – instead, they often hinder performance. Players believe that weapons equipped on your back should offer completely new gameplay options, especially those that benefit teamwork. There are lots of ideas on how to fix them, like giving the Heavy Machine Gun a larger ammo supply or adding unique abilities. Overall, players like the idea behind these weapons, but feel the current version isn’t as good as their usual gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’re asking if you should never use a weapon powered by a backpack? Absolutely not! Just think of those weapons as tools best suited for certain situations. For example, if your team needs to secure a tight space during an evacuation, a weapon that can fire continuously could be really helpful. The key thing to remember is they aren’t a good all-around improvement. You’re giving up versatility for a single, powerful ability, so only use them when you know the mission specifically requires it.

While it seems like combining a weapon and ammo pack would free up a valuable tactical slot, that’s not really how it works in practice. You still use a slot to request the weapon itself. The bigger issue is losing a backpack slot, which is often more useful. That slot could be used for essential items like a Shield Generator to protect you, or a Supply Pack to replenish your team’s resources. Essentially, you’re trading significant versatility for a weapon that doesn’t always perform better than your usual options.

If a teammate is determined to use a stationary turret, the most helpful thing you can do is create a loadout that compensates for its limitations. Because they’ll be focused on taking out weaker enemies, you should equip weapons effective against heavily armored threats like Chargers and Bile Titans – an Autocannon, Railgun, or Spear would be ideal. Keep in mind they won’t be able to carry a Supply Pack, so be ready to share ammo when you call in map resupplies to help them stay equipped.

It’s not just that the weapon does low damage – the real issue is how it limits your options. Choosing to use it means you’re stuck carrying extra ammo, which prevents you from taking other useful items like a Jump Pack for better positioning or a Shield Generator for protection. This forces you to play very defensively in a game where staying mobile and reacting quickly are essential. The weapon’s benefits just don’t outweigh the loss of flexibility.

If you’re still interested in using these, they work best when you need to defend one spot for a long time. Good examples are missions like rescuing important people or the final escape, where enemies come from the same areas. You can find a strong position, stay put, and use their constant firing to protect the area while your team finishes the goal. They aren’t very useful on missions where you have to keep moving around.

2026-02-18 13:50