How to Kill War Striders: A Complete Guide

One of the most frustrating parts of fighting a War Strider is getting knocked around by its attacks. When hit, your Helldiver goes flying, and while it might seem amusing at first, it quickly becomes annoying. This constant ragdolling doesn’t just hurt – it stops you from doing anything, like using a stimpack, and leaves you wide open to more attacks. A lot of players agree this makes the fight feel unfair and really frustrating. We’ll show you how to position yourself and what equipment to use to avoid being knocked down and stay in the battle.

Key Takeaways

Bring Dedicated Anti-Armor Gear: Your standard rifle won’t make a dent. You need heavy hitters like the Railgun or Recoilless Rifle, paired with durable armor, to stand a chance against a War Strider’s defenses.
Target Specific Weak Points for Quick Kills: Stop wasting ammo on its armored chassis. Aim for the vulnerable crotch area for a potential one-shot kill, or destroy its legs to cripple its mobility and make it an easy target.
Control the Engagement with Smart Positioning: Keep your distance to avoid the Strider’s infamous ragdoll attacks. Use cover to your advantage, stay mobile, and coordinate with your team to focus fire on a single weak point at a time.

What is a War Strider (and Why Should You Be Scared)?

Recently, Automaton missions have been made much tougher by the introduction of the War Strider – a massive, two-legged mech. These machines have completely changed how we fight robots. Unlike other enemies, you can’t just run around or blast your way through a War Strider. It requires a careful and strategic approach, as they’re quick, deal heavy damage, and can withstand a lot of attacks if you don’t target their weak spots.

The new War Strider enemy has been causing a lot of frustration for Helldivers, making previously easy missions much harder. It doesn’t feel like a fair challenge – more like an obstacle that completely stops you in your tracks. These enemies are very active, often appearing in groups, and they can attack effectively whether you’re close by or far away. Learning how they work is key to defeating them and avoiding a quick trip back to your ship!

Their Devastating Arsenal

The War Strider is a dangerous enemy with a powerful range of attacks. It can blast you from afar with lasers and grenades, quickly draining your health and energy. Get too close, and it will crush you. There’s no safe distance – you’ll either be dodging explosions and beams or trying to avoid being flattened. This means you need to keep moving and constantly change your strategy to survive.

What Sets Them Apart from Other Automatons

The War Strider really changes how battles play out. Normally, fighting robots involves a consistent pace – advancing, eliminating enemies, and keeping up the pressure. But players have noticed the War Strider throws that rhythm off. You can’t simply unload all your ammo and expect it to go down. Its tough armor and quick movements force you to take cover, carefully target its weak spots, and do all of this while still dealing with enemy fire. This change in strategy can disrupt your team’s progress and leave you feeling vulnerable, particularly on harder settings.

The Dreaded Ragdoll Effect

One of the most frustrating parts of fighting a War Strider is how it throws your Helldiver around. When hit by its attacks, you’re sent flying with no control, and while it might seem amusing at first, it quickly becomes annoying. This constant being thrown around doesn’t just hurt you—it stops you from doing anything, like aiming or using helpful items, leaving you open to more attacks. A lot of players feel this makes the fight unfair and chaotic, taking away from the strategic gameplay.

Why Fighting War Striders Feels So Unfair

Okay, so let me tell you, nothing ruins a good run like turning a corner and seeing a War Strider. Seriously, that feeling of dread is real. And I’m not alone – a ton of other players feel the same way. It doesn’t feel like a fair fight; it feels like you’re being punished for playing. These things just completely throw off the balance. You expect a tactical shooter, but suddenly it’s just a desperate race to not get squashed. It’s one thing to struggle against a hard enemy, but it’s another when it feels like the game is actively working against you. Let’s break down why these walking tanks are so frustratingly unbalanced.

Their Aggressive Patrols and Spawn Rates

Honestly, one of the most frustrating things about fighting War Striders is just how often they show up. When I’m playing on harder difficulties, it feels like I can barely clear one patrol before another one stomps into view, usually with a bunch of those annoying little Automaton guys tagging along. It’s relentless! You finally take one down, and boom, another one’s dropping in. It makes actually playing the mission super hard – I can’t even focus on using my abilities or take a second to breathe. It just feels like you’re constantly getting swarmed, and that’s why a lot of us think the game’s balance is a bit off.

Are They Really That Tough? (Spoiler: Yes)

War Striders are incredibly tough to destroy. Although they do have vulnerable spots, it’s extremely difficult to hit them accurately during combat. Their front shield blocks most attacks, and their thick leg armor can withstand a lot of damage. While a powerful bomb or a precise Railgun shot can disable them, those opportunities are rare. Usually, you’ll find yourself firing continuously without making much of a dent. This high level of durability, combined with their strong weapons, makes fighting them feel less like a typical encounter and more like battling a mini-boss that appears frequently.

How They Break Your Usual Game Plan

War Striders are incredibly frustrating because they severely limit how players can approach combat. If you don’t have the right anti-tank equipment, you’re almost guaranteed to fail, which forces everyone to use very similar loadouts and discourages creativity. Being blasted across the map by their lasers is especially annoying, throwing off your aim and leaving you defenseless. Unlike other tough enemies with clear weaknesses, the War Strider feels deliberately designed to be difficult, making the fight feel tedious rather than enjoyable.

Build the Perfect Anti-Strider Loadout

Facing a War Strider without proper preparation is almost certain defeat. These heavily armored machines can destroy you quickly if you aren’t equipped to handle them. Building the right loadout isn’t about sheer firepower; it’s about combining weapons effective against armor, strong defenses, and smart tactics to take them down systematically. Leave your usual gear behind – fighting a War Strider requires a completely different approach. Let’s get you ready to tear these machines apart.

Essential Anti-Armor Weapons

Okay, so dealing with War Striders is TOUGH. Forget your usual rifle – it just won’t do any damage. I’ve seen a lot of players having luck with Anti-Material Rifles, picking them apart from far away. If you like a bit more boom, calling in an Eagle Strike or equipping rocket pods can really weaken them first. But honestly, if you really want to make sure one goes down, a 500kg bomb is almost a guaranteed win. You’ve gotta bring serious firepower designed to break through heavy armor, because anything else just bounces off. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way!

The Best Armor and Support Gear

Facing a War Strider, the armor you choose is crucial – it could mean the difference between staying in the fight and being quickly defeated. Because these enemies focus a lot of fire on you, equipping a full set of Heavy Armor is a smart move to help you withstand the damage. While it will make you slower, the added protection is incredibly valuable when you’re aiming. To help with additional damage, consider using a Shield Generator Pack to block stray lasers and explosions. Some players find the Strider so powerful that it feels unfair, highlighting just how important it is to have a specific setup to survive these encounters.

Prioritize These Stratagems

Your Stratagems are the tools you’ll use in battle, and knowing how to use them well is key to success. When facing a War Strider, your first priority should be to disable its weapons. Focus on its Gatling turrets and laser cannon – a quick Laser Cannon Stratagem can destroy them quickly. Once it’s disarmed, the Strider becomes much less dangerous, allowing you and your squad to concentrate fire on its joints with weapons that can pierce armor. This two-step process – disable weapons first, then destroy the Strider – is the most effective way to use your Stratagems and take down these massive machines without being overwhelmed.

Weapons That Shred War Striders

Facing a War Strider changes everything – your standard rifle simply won’t be enough. These massive robots need powerful weapons capable of breaking through their thick armor. Choosing the right equipment is crucial for success. Whether you like to carefully target weak points, unleash a barrage of fire, or use explosives strategically, there’s a weapon setup that can destroy these mechanical threats. Let’s explore the best options to add to your gear for taking down Striders.

The Railgun: Your One-Shot Solution

The Railgun is a really effective way to take down War Striders if you’re accurate. It lets you disable a Strider before it can attack. The key is to switch to “unsafe” mode and fully charge a shot at one of its leg joints. Two powerful, well-aimed blasts to the same leg will cause the Strider to fall. It’s a risky tactic – a poorly timed shot can leave you exposed – but successfully taking down a Strider this way is incredibly rewarding and helps your team a lot.

EATs and Recoilless Rifles: The Heavy Hitters

If you want raw power, classic heavy weapons are a great choice. The EAT-17 rocket launcher and the Recoilless Rifle are excellent for dealing massive damage. Unlike the Railgun, you don’t need to be perfectly precise – just aim for the Strider’s center or its vulnerable undercarriage. Often, just one rocket is enough to destroy it. A key advantage of these weapons is their quick reload time, letting you call in strikes often for your entire team.

Using Thermite and Explosives Effectively

A well-aimed grenade can be incredibly effective, especially thermite against War Striders. Thermite clings to the Strider’s armor and melts through it, causing continuous damage – a direct hit to the body or a leg can often destroy it. Another smart move is to disable the Strider’s weapon first. Using an Impact Grenade or the Grenade Launcher to target the gatling gun on its front will destroy it, making the fight much easier for everyone on your team.

Where to Aim: Hitting Their Weak Spots

Facing a War Strider can be intimidating – it’s huge, noisy, and heavily armored. Just shooting at it without a plan will likely send you right back to your ship. However, like any tough enemy, it has vulnerabilities. Knowing where to shoot will let you destroy it quickly, before it eliminates you and your team. Let’s dive into the details.

Target the Crotch for Critical Hits

It might seem a bit blunt, but a quick way to destroy a War Strider is to target its central pelvic area. This spot is surprisingly weak and a major point for critical damage. A single, accurate hit with a powerful weapon like the Quasar Cannon or an EAT often destroys the Strider instantly. Players have discovered this is one of the most dependable ways to take it down with one shot. So, while it might be amusing to think about, aim for the groin – it’s a surprisingly effective tactic that can quickly eliminate a dangerous enemy when you’re in a tight spot.

Take Out the Legs with Heavy Weapons

If you can’t get a clear shot at the main body of a War Strider, focus on destroying its legs instead. A Strider without legs is essentially a stuck, but still dangerous, turret. A single, powerful anti-tank weapon, like the Recoilless Rifle, can usually destroy a leg, which is much more effective than trying to damage its heavily armored body. Taking out the legs does a lot of damage and, more importantly, stops the Strider from moving, making it easier for your team to destroy.

Focus on Disarming Their Weapons

Sometimes you can’t destroy an enemy quickly. If you’re facing several threats or don’t have a powerful weapon available, focus on disabling the Strider instead. Its most dangerous weapons are the fast-firing gatling guns under its front and the large cannon on its back. You can destroy these weapons one by one with a Laser Cannon or a few accurate shots from an Autocannon. Doing so significantly reduces the Strider’s firepower, giving your team time to move to a safer location, request assistance, or handle other enemies. Prioritizing the Strider’s weapons can make a difficult battle much easier.

How to Coordinate Your Squad for the Kill

Defeating a War Strider isn’t about having the biggest guns; it’s about working together effectively. When one of these massive machines appears, your team’s communication and coordination become critical. A team that doesn’t work well together will quickly be overwhelmed, wasting bullets and lives. However, a coordinated squad can take down a Strider with pinpoint accuracy.

It’s not enough to just fire your weapons; you need a strategy. If your team coordinates, focuses its attacks on an enemy’s weakness, and knows when to attack or fall back, even the toughest opponents can be defeated. Here’s how to get your team working together and win every fight.

Assign Roles and Communicate Clearly

Before starting the fight, make sure your team knows who’s responsible for what. Don’t just have everyone shoot randomly – that won’t work well. Instead, assign specific roles. One player should focus on heavily armored enemies using powerful weapons like a Recoilless Rifle or Autocannon. Another should keep smaller enemies away from the main attacker. A third can use Stratagems – like calling in an Orbital Railcannon Strike or an AV Sentry – to weaken the target. Talking to each other is key! Use your microphone or the ping system to tell everyone where the Strider is and coordinate your attack. Even a quick message like, “I’ll stun it, you aim for the cockpit,” can be incredibly effective.

Focus Fire on a Single Weak Point

Okay, so listen up, fellow gamers! When we’re fighting a War Strider, don’t spread your shots all over the place – you’ll just waste ammo and time. The key is to focus fire. Seriously, everyone on the team needs to be shooting at the same spot. That glowing red cockpit on the front? That’s our priority. A solid hit with a good anti-armor weapon there can take it down fast. If we can’t get a clear shot at the front, let’s call out one of its legs and just melt it. Once a leg is gone, the Strider is basically crippled and super easy to finish off. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?

Know When to Fight and When to Run

Look, not every War Strider needs to be a kill target. Honestly, sometimes the best thing you can do is just not fight it. Before I even think about shooting, I scan the battlefield. Am I already wrestling with a Hulk? Am I running low on bullets and Stratagems? Is the objective super close? If so, a quick retreat isn’t cowardly – it’s smart Helldiving. If I do decide to take one on, keeping my distance is crucial. Getting ragdolled by its cannon is the worst! I use cover, move around a lot, and remember that getting back to the ship to fight another day is winning. Spreading managed democracy is the goal, and you can’t do that from the respawn screen!

Positioning Strategies to Stay Alive

Having the right weapons is important, but where you stand during a fight with War Striders is even more crucial. These machines excel at punishing players who are poorly positioned. To survive, you absolutely need to master keeping a good distance, using the surrounding environment to your advantage, and constantly moving. Smart positioning can be the difference between your team getting wiped out and successfully destroying the enemy.

Keep Your Distance to Avoid the Ragdoll

Getting repeatedly knocked down by a War Stider is incredibly frustrating. Their attacks send you flying, and before you can recover, you’re hit again – a problem players call the “ragdoll” effect. This quickly leads to defeat. One player suggested staying at a distance to avoid this, and that’s good advice. Maintaining a safe distance minimizes their most irritating attacks and gives you room to target their weak points without being constantly knocked down.

Use Cover and Time Your Moves

The environment in battle – rocks, buildings, and everything around you – is there to help! Don’t hesitate to use cover; it’s a smart tactic, not a sign of weakness. It gives you time to reload, call in support, or just pause. A good approach when fighting a Strider is to use cover to carefully target and destroy its weapons, starting with the gatling turrets on its chin. By staying protected between shots, you can gradually reduce its firepower. Having weapons that are effective against armor makes this strategy even easier, turning a dangerous enemy into a much more manageable one.

Master Movement to Survive the Fight

Effective movement isn’t simply escaping; it’s about constantly finding a more advantageous position. Staying still will get you defeated. You need to keep moving unpredictably while also searching for opportunities to attack. It’s like a dangerous dance: circle around the Strider, use quick sprints to move between cover, and always aim for its vulnerable spots. Players have found that hitting these weak points with the right weapons can quickly defeat it. So don’t just run aimlessly—move with a plan and reposition yourself strategically.

The Great Debate: Are War Striders Balanced?

Since the introduction of War Striders – those massive, two-legged robots – players have been fiercely debating whether they’re a balanced addition to the game or unfairly difficult. These mechs have drastically changed bot battles, forcing Helldivers to completely change how they play. While some enjoy the increased challenge, many feel the Striders are too powerful, making missions more frustrating than fun. It’s not just their strength, but how they force players to use very specific tactics, making other playstyles ineffective. Let’s break down why they’re causing so much disagreement.

How They Change Higher Difficulties

War Striders can be fun challenges on easier levels, but at higher difficulties, they become a major problem. They often appear in groups and guard important areas, which can completely stop your progress. Many players think they disrupt the game’s balance because they don’t fit the quick, strategic gameplay that makes Helldivers 2 enjoyable. They’re not just regular enemies; they’re heavily armored and require your whole team to focus on them with specific weapons, making you an easy target for other threats.

What the Community Thinks: OP or Fair?

Online discussions about the game are filled with players saying War Striders are making it unbalanced. The main issue is that they’re too difficult to defeat effectively. While enemies like the Hulk have obvious weaknesses you can target with teamwork, Striders feel impenetrable. They have a strong front shield that absorbs most damage, a long-range laser, and rockets that can quickly eliminate entire teams. Many players feel this disrupts the fast-paced, action-packed combat the game is known for, slowing things down and making fights more annoying.

The “Fun Factor”: Why They Feel Like a Chore

Ultimately, games should be fun, but many players don’t enjoy fighting War Striders. Even after adjustments, most agree they’re more frustrating than challenging. They aren’t just hard to beat; they feel repetitive and boring. Taking them down requires very specific strategies and gear, which limits how you can build your character. If you’re not prepared, it’s a really tough fight. This has made fighting robots less enjoyable for many, turning what should be exciting missions into a predictable pattern of running, hiding, and waiting for your powerful Railcannon Strike to recharge.

Mission Strategies for Surviving War Striders

Choosing the right weapon is important, but it’s only part of succeeding against War Striders. To consistently win without getting destroyed, you need a broader strategy. That means carefully selecting missions, paying attention to your surroundings, and being flexible enough to change your tactics. Having a solid plan before you land on a planet greatly increases your chances of returning to your ship safely. These strategies are all about smart, tactical thinking, helping your team survive fights that would overwhelm others.

Choose Your Missions and Difficulty Wisely

Honestly, sometimes the best strategy with War Striders is to simply avoid them. If they’re too tough, don’t hesitate to lower the difficulty – there’s no need to struggle. Many players agree that they’re particularly challenging on harder settings because they appear more often and in larger groups. Trying to fight through constant waves of Striders can actually slow you down when you’re trying to complete goals or gather resources. Be smart about your engagements. Choose missions and difficulty levels that match your team’s equipment and abilities. Practice on easier settings first, then increase the challenge when you’re ready.

Have an Escape Plan When Things Go Wrong

Getting hit by a War Strider is incredibly dangerous and can quickly end your game. They can knock you down and repeatedly stun you, leaving you helpless. Your main goal should be to stay far away from them. Before you even start shooting, take a look around and identify nearby cover and a way to escape if they get too close. Always have a plan to back away and move to a safer spot. One player found they were much easier to handle when fighting from a distance. Think of War Striders like a boss enemy with a powerful, wide-range attack, and give them plenty of space.

Adapt Your Playstyle to Win

Taking down a War Strider requires a different approach than fighting a Hulk. You need to be flexible and change your plans during battle. Don’t immediately use all your strongest weapons; instead, weaken it first. A quick air strike or a sentry gun can damage its armor or draw its attention, creating an opening for you to attack. A good tactic is to disable its weapons – use a laser or auto-cannon to destroy the turrets on its chin. Once you’ve removed its biggest threat, it becomes much easier to handle. Using this kind of thinking is crucial for building strong team strategies that can overcome any challenge the galaxy presents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Okay, so I’m trying to figure out the fastest way to take down a War Strider when I’ve got some good weapons. From what I’ve heard, the key is to aim for its ‘crotch’ – that central pelvic area. It’s a huge weak spot! A single, powerful shot from something like a Quasar Cannon, Railgun, or Recoilless Rifle should do the trick. If I don’t have those, I can apparently take it down with two charged-up Railgun shots aimed at the same leg joint. Seems pretty straightforward!

It sounds like your team is getting overrun. To coordinate attacks better, the most important thing is to focus your fire. Before you start fighting, decide as a team what single part of the enemy to attack – like the front of the machine or one of its legs. Everyone should aim for the same spot. Also, assigning roles can help. For example, have someone with powerful weapons focus on the main target, while others protect them from smaller enemies.

Whether to disable a target’s weapons or destroy it completely depends on the circumstances. If you have a good opportunity and a strong weapon, aiming for a quick, direct hit on a vulnerable point is usually best. But if you’re facing intense fire or need to create some breathing room, it’s smart to disable its weapons first. Using weapons like a Laser Cannon or Autocannon to destroy the gatling guns underneath it can significantly reduce how dangerous it is.

Ugh, the “ragdoll” effect is so annoying! It’s when you get hit by something like an explosion or a War Strider stomp and your character goes flying, and you’re just stuck there, unable to do anything – can’t move, can’t aim, can’t even heal! It’s awful because you’re completely helpless while it happens and an easy target. I’ve learned the best way to avoid it is to just keep my distance. I try to fight War Striders from as far away as possible, using weapons that have a good range, so I don’t get caught in their attacks.

War Striders can seem unbeatable on harder difficulties, but they can be defeated. The biggest problem is how often they appear, forcing you to choose your battles carefully. Often, it’s better to use cover and move around patrols to avoid fighting altogether, rather than getting bogged down in a draining, lengthy encounter.

2026-01-28 16:07