Alright, let's talk about Helldivers Leviathans. You know the drill. You're fighting bugs, managing objectives, things are hectic but under control... then the ground shakes. That awful screech echoes. Suddenly, that massive armored nightmare bursts through the terrain. Panic sets in. Your squad scatters. Maybe a few brave (or foolish) souls try shooting its legs. It usually ends badly – crushed, eaten, or dissolved by acid. Sound familiar? Been there, wiped that mission. Multiple times.
That sinking feeling when the Leviathan spawns? Yeah, it doesn't have to be a squad wipe. Killing these beasts is tough, no lie, but it's absolutely possible with the right know-how. Forget generic "use heavy weapons" advice. This guide cuts through the noise, giving you the exact strategies, loadouts, and dirty tricks my buddies and I have hammered out over countless missions (and failures) specifically focused on **helldivers how to kill leviathans** effectively. We're talking concrete details: which Stratagems *actually* break its armor, where to shoot for max damage, how to kite it without dying, and how to avoid those common mistakes that doom most teams. Ready to turn that terror into triumph?
What Exactly Are Leviathans and Why Are They Such a Pain?
Before you can kill something effectively, you gotta know what makes it tick. Leviathans are the undisputed kings of the Terminid faction – colossal, heavily armored beetles that function like living siege tanks.
- Massive Health Pool & Armor: These beasts aren't just bullet sponges; they're entire armories. Their thick chitinous plating makes most standard weapons laughably ineffective. You need serious firepower to crack it.
- Devastating Attacks:
- Charge: Its signature move. It lowers its head and barrels forward in a straight line, obliterating anything in its path (Helldivers, objectives, smaller bugs, terrain). Getting caught means instant, messy death.
- Stomp: Raises its front legs and slams down, creating a shockwave. Can throw you off balance or kill you if you're too close underneath.
- Acid Spit: Fires a large glob of highly corrosive acid in an arc. Where it lands creates a temporary damaging pool. Direct hits are nasty.
- Aggressive Targeting: Once aggro'd, a Leviathan is relentless. It will chase a target persistently, switching focus intelligently if a bigger threat (like something damaging its weak spots) emerges. You can't just ignore it.
- Environmental Destruction: They plow through rocks, small structures, and forests like they're paper. This drastically alters the battlefield and can destroy cover you were relying on. Learned this the hard way trying to hide behind a rock formation!
Simply put, their combination of tankiness, high damage, and persistence makes them the ultimate priority threat in any bug mission they appear on. Ignoring them guarantees failure. Fighting them poorly guarantees a squad wipe. That's why mastering **killing leviathans in helldivers** is non-negotiable for higher difficulties.
Finding the Chinks in the Armor: Weak Points Matter
Spraying bullets at its armored back or legs is a fantastic way to waste ammo and get stomped. You need precision:
- The Head (Specifically the Mouth/Underside): This is the primary weak point. When the Leviathan is charging or rearing up to stomp/spit, the fleshy underside of its head and jaws are exposed. Landing shots here deals massive damage. Heavy weapons and anti-tank Stratagems are best.
- Leg Joints (Secondary): Dealing significant damage to the leg joints (especially the thinner sections) can slow the Leviathan down or even temporarily cripple it, buying precious time. Requires sustained heavy firepower.
- The Back/Shell: Rocket-proof armor. Seriously, don't bother unless you're using something specifically designed for extreme armor penetration. Your Liberator rifle? Forget it.
Warning: Don't Be a Hero Too Early
I see this mistake constantly. A new Helldiver tries to stand their ground and unload on the head during the initial charge... only to get flattened instantly. Learn the attack patterns first. Surviving comes before dealing damage. Dodge the charge, let it pass, then hit that exposed head when it's recovering or turning.
Essential Gear: Your Toolkit for Leviathan Slaying
Successfully **killing a leviathan in helldivers** hinges entirely on bringing the right tools for the job. Half your loadout slots should be dedicated to anti-armor. Here's what works (and what doesn't):
Stratagems: The Heavy Hitters
These are your bread and butter. Forget the Machine Gun or Anti-Personnel Mines; you need stuff that cracks shells.
| Stratagem | Best Against | How to Use vs Leviathan | Pros | Cons | Personal Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAT-17 (Expendable Anti-Tank) | Head Weak Point | Call down near the fight. Grab one, aim carefully at the exposed head/mouth during attacks. Reload slow, so switch to second tube or let a teammate grab it. | Fast cooldown. Two tubes per call. Accurate. Excellent damage to weak points. | Very limited ammo (2 shots per strat call). Requires precise aim. Slow reload. | 4.5 - My personal go-to. Reliable and spammable. |
| Recoilless Rifle (RR) | Head Weak Point, Leg Joints | Requires loader buddy for effectiveness. Aim for head/mouth weak point. High damage per shot. Great for coordinated duos. | High single-shot damage. Reloadable with Support Pack. | Slow reload solo. Takes backpack slot. Needs coordination for max efficiency. | 4 - Incredible with a buddy, average solo. |
| Railcannon Strike | Body / Head (Targeted) | Call down precisely ON the Leviathan. Instant hit. High precision damage. Targets center mass but effective. | Instant damage. High penetration. Good accuracy. Long range. | Single target. Long cooldown. Can miss if target moves quickly. | 4.3 - Consistent and powerful "Delete" button. |
| Orbital Laser Strike | Everything (Area Denial/DPS) | Call it slightly ahead of the Leviathan's path or on its head. Creates a sustained laser beam that tracks slowly. Devastating. | Extremely high sustained damage. Pierces armor. Clears trash bugs nearby. | Very long cooldown. Can wander off target. Short duration. Friendly fire hazard. | 4.8 - Best "Oh Crap!" button. Melts Leviathans fast. |
| Orbital Railcannon Strike | Head / Body | Call down on the Leviathan. Slight delay before firing a massive penetrating shot. High single-strike damage. | Massive damage. Very long range. Good penetration. | Long delay before firing. Long cooldown. Can miss fast-moving targets. | 4 - Powerful, but timing can be tricky. |
| Mines (AT or Tesla) | Legs / Path | Place clusters where the Leviathan WILL walk (choke points, near objectives). Triggers on contact, damaging legs/joints. | Set and forget. Damage over time/area. Good for area denial. | Unpredictable placement needed. Can harm teammates. Limited direct weak point damage. | 3 - Useful supplement, not a primary solution. |
| Strafing Run / Airstrike / Napalm | Legs / Trash Clear | Less effective on armor. Can damage legs or clear adds swarming your team while you focus the big guy. | Fast cooldown. Good for adds. | Poor armor penetration. Minimal Leviathan damage. | 2 - Bring only if you have spare slots for add control. |
My Loadout Choices After 100+ Hours
For dedicated Leviathan hunting, especially on higher difficulties (7+), I run:
- Primary Weapon: Breaker Shotgun (for clearing small bugs swarming me). Honestly, your primary barely scratches the Leviathan. Focus on survival/add control.
- Perk: Cardio Accelerator - This is CRUCIAL. The extra sprint speed and stamina regen are lifesavers for dodging charges and repositioning. I tried Grenade perks and others, but mobility wins every time against big targets. Displacement Field can also save you from a mistimed dodge.
- Stratagems:
- EAT-17 x2: My main damage source. Low cooldown means I can call these frequently.
- Orbital Railcannon Strike: For that initial big hit or finishing blow.
- Railcannon Strike: Reliable single-target punch on a decent cooldown.
- SH-20 Shield Generator: Absolute game-changer. Lets you survive a stray acid splash or getting clipped by a stomp shockwave. Gives you critical seconds to reposition. Worth its weight in gold. Alternatively, Guard Dog for add control.
This setup gives me consistent damage output, crucial survivability, and flexibility. Swap one EAT-17 for a Recoilless Rifle if I have a dedicated loader buddy. Never leave the ship without Cardio or a Shield.
Step-by-Step: How to Actually Kill the Beast (Tactics & Teamwork)
Okay, gear sorted. Now the real meat: the fight itself. **Helldivers how to kill leviathans** isn't just about shooting; it's about dance steps and battlefield control.
The Solo Approach (Risky but Possible)
Doing it alone requires extreme caution and patience. It's slow, but doable, especially on lower difficulties or if you just need to finish an objective and bug out.
- Kite Aggressively: You need to be the sole focus. Sprint perpendicular to its charge path to dodge. Use Cardio Accelerator constantly. Lead it away from objectives.
- Exploit Attack Recovery: After it charges or spits acid, there's a brief window where its head is lowered/exposed. That's your cue.
- Hit & Run: Fire your heavy weapon (EAT-17, RR shot) at the head during the recovery window. IMMEDIATELY sprint away to reset. Don't linger!
- Use Terrain (Carefully): Cliffs can block charges. Forests *might* slow it slightly. But don't get trapped! I trapped myself against a rock once... bad times.
- Stratagem Timing: Call Railcannon/Orbital Strikes while it's stationary or turning. Mines can be placed in narrow paths it must traverse. Orbital Laser is fantastic if you can land it.
- Prioritize Survival: If overwhelmed by adds or low on health, prioritize escape and resupply over getting that next shot in. Live to fight another volley.
Team Tactics (The Smart Way)
Coordinated teams make Leviathans look manageable. Communication is key (even just marking it helps!).
- Designate the Kiter/Bait: One player (preferably with Cardio/Shield) focuses purely on keeping the Leviathan's attention, dodging attacks, and leading it. This is a dedicated role. Ping constantly ("Attack Here" on the Leviathan).
- Designate Gunners: The other players focus solely on dealing damage. They position themselves to the sides or behind the Leviathan (relative to its focus target) and unleash hell on the head whenever exposed. Use EAT-17s, RRs, Railcannons, Orbital Lasers.
- Focus Fire Weak Points: ALL damage dealers should concentrate fire on the head during openings. Blowing off legs can slow it down, but the head is the kill shot.
- Stagger Stratagems: Don't blow all your big cooldowns at once. Have one Gunner call a Railcannon, another follow up with an Orbital Railcannon when the first hits. Keep the pressure constant.
- Add Control is Crucial: Assign one player (maybe the 4th, or a Gunner when their AT is on cooldown) to clear Chargers, Hunters, and Warriors swarming the Gunners and Kiter. Stun Grenades or area denial weapons work wonders. Nothing worse than lining up an EAT shot just to get pounced by a Hunter.
- Resupply Strategy: Know where resupply pods are. Gunners will burn through ammo/cooldowns fast. The Kiter can sometimes grab ammo while leading the Leviathan in a loop.
Pro Kiting Tip: The Figure-8
Don't run in a straight line away from the Leviathan. Run perpendicular to its charge to dodge, then curve back towards its flank or rear after it passes. Imagine running a wide figure-8 pattern around the beast. This keeps it turning constantly, which slows it down slightly and exposes its legs/head more often to your Gunners. Running purely away means it just chases you faster in a straight line and your team can't get good angles. Changed my kiting game completely.
Common Mistakes That Will Get You Squished (Learn From My Pain)
We've all done these. Avoid them like the plague:
- Standing Still to Shoot: Unless you are 100% sure you're safe *and* have a perfect shot, KEEP MOVING. Especially after firing a slow weapon like the RR or EAT-17. That extra half-second reloading? That's all it needs to turn and charge you. Sprint immediately after firing.
- Grouping Up: Multiple Helldivers clustered together? That's a prime target for a charge or massive acid spit splash. Spread out! Gunners should be spread around the Leviathan relative to the Kiter.
- Forgetting the Adds: Tunnel vision on the big guy gets you killed by the little ones. Assign someone to clear trash, or make sure Gunners switch targets when swarmed. Stun Grenades are your friend against packs.
- Bad Stratagem Placement: Dropping an Orbital Laser directly on the Kiter? Calling an Airstrike that clips teammates? Watch your beacons! Call strikes slightly behind or to the side of the Leviathan relative to its movement. Communicate!
- Underestimating the Acid: That pool it leaves lingers and hurts. Don't stand in it while shooting. Don't kite *through* it. Move around. Shield Generator helps mitigate splash damage.
- Not Using Reinforce: If a Gunner goes down, reinforce immediately if safe. Losing firepower prolongs the fight dangerously. The Kiter should prioritize revives if possible, Gunners should cover them. Don't leave bodies if you can help it.
- Fighting Near Extract Without Being Ready: Pulling a Leviathan to the extraction zone without the firepower to kill it quickly is a recipe for disaster during the crucial evac countdown. Deal with it earlier, or kite it AWAY when calling the shuttle.
Leviathan Killing FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Can I kill a Leviathan with just small arms fire?
Realistically? No. Not within a reasonable timeframe. Your standard Liberator, Breaker, etc., do negligible damage to its armored plates. You'll run out of ammo long before it dies, and it will almost certainly kill you first. Heavy weapons or Stratagems are mandatory for **killing leviathans in helldivers** effectively.
What's the absolute fastest way to kill a Leviathan?
A coordinated team landing multiple high-damage Stratagems simultaneously on its weak point. Think Orbital Laser + Railcannon Strike + 2 EAT-17 headshots all hitting within seconds. An Orbital Laser alone, properly placed, can kill one quickly if it tracks well. Solo? It's a war of attrition with EAT-17s or Railcannon Strikes hitting the head repeatedly.
Is there a way to avoid fighting Leviathans altogether?
Sometimes. On certain missions (like Retaliatory Strikes), you have to fight the spawned bosses. On regular missions, if you spot one early and are stealthy/fast enough, you *might* sneak past or complete objectives without aggro'ing it. But they patrol aggressively. Often, it's safer to eliminate the threat proactively, especially if it's near your objective or extract. Ignoring it is usually riskier in the long run.
What difficulty do Leviathans start appearing?
They can rarely appear as early as Difficulty 4 (Challenging), but become much more common fixtures starting around Difficulty 6 (Hard) and are guaranteed bosses in higher-level Bug missions and Retaliatory Strikes. If you're playing Challenging or above against Bugs, be prepared to encounter one.
Can you destroy the armored plates?
No. The thick armor plates on its back and sides are effectively indestructible by anything currently available to Helldivers. Focus entirely on the weak points: the head/mouth and leg joints. Shooting the armor is a total waste of ammo and time.
Is the Anti-Materiel Rifle any good against Leviathans?
It's... okay against the legs if you have nothing else. It can *chip* away at leg joints over a very long time, potentially slowing it slightly. But its damage output against the head is still too low to be efficient compared to true anti-tank weapons. It takes way too many shots to matter. Bring an EAT-17 or Recoilless Rifle instead.
What's the best planet terrain for fighting them?
Open areas are generally better than dense forests or complex cave systems. You need space to see the charge coming early, dodge effectively, and give your Gunners clear sight lines. Flat ground is preferable to extreme hills where kiting becomes harder. Swampy planets slow *you* down more than it slows the Leviathan, making dodging harder. Canyon edges can be used to block charges, but beware getting cornered. Personally, I prefer open deserts or icy plains. That Sulfurous Swamp map? Nightmare fuel with a Leviathan.
Wrapping Up: Mastering the Hunt
Look, Leviathans are terrifying. That first encounter is pure panic. But like everything in Helldivers, they follow rules. Understand its attacks (especially the charge telegraph). Respect its power (don't facetank). Bring the right tools (EAT-17, Railcannon, Orbital Laser - leave the MG at home). Use tactics (Kite & Gun). Work as a team (designate roles!). Avoid the common pitfalls (grouping up, ignoring adds, standing still).
Put this knowledge into practice. Start applying it on lower difficulties where the stakes are lower. Practice kiting. Get comfortable aiming EATs at a moving head. Coordinate with a buddy. Soon, that earth-shaking roar won't trigger panic; it'll trigger a focused response. You'll know exactly what Stratagems to call, where to position yourself, and how to systematically dismantle the threat. That's the goal: turning Helldivers Leviathans from squad-wiping nightmares into manageable (still dangerous!) obstacles.
That feeling when the behemoth finally collapses? Pure, unadulterated Helldiver satisfaction. Now get out there, spread some Managed Democracy, and show those bugs who's boss. Remember: Aim for the mouth, keep moving, and never underestimate the power of a well-placed Railcannon strike when figuring out **helldivers how to kill leviathans**. Good luck, soldier!
Comment