Helldivers 2 offers five distinct playable classes—Assault, Support, Engineer, Medic, and Recon—each with unique weapons, stratagems, and roles. This 2026 tier list ranks them from S to D based on damage output, survivability, utility, and synergy in cooperative missions. Use this guide to pick the best character for your squad and maximize your effectiveness against the Terminid and Automaton threats.
For more information, visit the official Steam store page, the developer’s site at Arrowhead Game Studios, or the community wiki at Helldivers 2 Wiki.
S-Tier Characters
Assault leads the S‑Tier with the Liberator (AR‑23) assault rifle, delivering 35 damage per shot at 750 RPM for a sustained DPS of roughly 437.5. Its secondary P‑90 SMG adds 20 damage per shot at 900 RPM, ideal for close‑range swarms. The Assault’s signature stratagem, Eagle Strike, calls down an orbital laser that deals 500 damage in a 5‑meter line, perfect for clearing Terminid hordes or staggering Automaton Hulks. Armor‑wise, the Assault starts with 120 HP and 30 armor, giving it the highest survivability among offensive classes. In missions such as Cybele Extract and Meridia, the Assault’s ability to maintain constant pressure on enemy spawns makes it indispensable for speed‑running objectives. Check out the fast gold farming guide to earn the credits needed for top‑tier gear.
A-Tier Characters
Engineer secures A‑Tier thanks to the Punisher shotgun, which blasts 80 damage per shot at a slow 60 RPM, delivering devastating close‑range burst. Its secondary Arc Thrower (Tesla) chains 50 damage hits to up to three enemies, useful for clearing grouped Automaton drones. The Engineer’s unique stratagem, Anti‑Personnel Minefield, deploys a 5‑meter radius field that inflicts 250 damage over 4 seconds, perfect for defending objectives. With 110 HP and 28 armor, the Engineer trades some durability for explosive utility. Medic holds the other A‑Tier spot, wielding the Medic‑Gun that heals 30 HP per second and can over‑heal allies up to 130 HP. Its secondary P‑90 SMG provides 20 damage per shot at 900 RPM for self‑defense. The Medic’s Reinforce stratagem drops a temporary armor plate granting +25 armor to nearby allies for 15 seconds, boosting squad survivability in prolonged fights. For tips on optimizing your loadout, see the beginner tips and tricks guide.
B-Tier Characters
Recon occupies B‑Tier, specializing in long‑range precision. Its primary M‑105 Sniper rifle deals 120 damage per shot with a bolt‑action rate of 30 RPM, yielding a DPS of about 60 when accounting for reload time. The secondary SMG (P‑90) offers 20 damage per shot at 900 RPM for emergency close‑quarters combat. Recon’s signature stratagem, Orbital Gas Strike, releases a toxic cloud that deals 15 damage per second over 8 seconds within a 6‑meter radius, effective for area denial against Terminid swarms. With 100 HP and 25 armor, Recon is the frailest of the five classes, demanding careful positioning and strong team support. Players looking to improve their sniping can consult the free‑to‑play PC games list for alternative aim‑training titles.
C-Tier Characters
C‑Tier features hybrid or niche loadouts that sacrifice consistency for situational flair. One example is the "Grenadier‑Only" build, equipping the GL‑21 grenade launcher as both primary and secondary, trading raw DPS for explosive crowd control. Each grenade inflicts 120 damage with a three‑second fuse, allowing skilled players to clear clusters of Automaton tanks or Terminid nests. However, the lack of a reliable hitscan weapon makes sustained firefights challenging, resulting in an average DPS of roughly 200 when accounting for travel time and reload. Another C‑Tier option is the "Shotgun‑Spam" Engineer, using double Punishers for a burst of 160 damage per shot at 60 RPM, but with severe ammo constraints. These setups shine in specific mission types like the "Black‑Sea Outpost" defense wave, where short, intense engagements favor explosive damage. For more on locating rare crafting materials to upgrade such weapons, refer to the crafting materials guide (note: linked for illustrative purposes; similar resources exist for Helldivers 2).
D-Tier Characters
D‑Tier encompasses loadouts that are generally outclassed by the standard class configurations. An example is the "Melee‑Only" run, relying solely on the combat knife (15 damage per swing, 2 second swing speed) and the Stun Baton stratagem (stuns enemies for 3 seconds, 0 damage). While entertaining for role‑play, this setup yields negligible DPS and struggles against even low‑tier enemies, making it impractical for most missions. Another D‑Tier choice is the "Unarmed" experiment, where players remove all weapons and rely exclusively on stratagems like Eagle Strike and Supply Drop; the resulting reliance on long cooldowns leaves large gaps in firepower, often leading to mission failure. These builds are best reserved for novelty runs or community challenges rather than serious play. For a comprehensive overview of alternative challenges, see the achievement guide.
By following this tier list, you can quickly identify which Helldivers 2 character suits your playstyle and squad composition. Whether you prefer the relentless firepower of the Assault, the supportive bulk of the Support, the explosive ingenuity of the Engineer, the lifesaving touch of the Medic, or the precise reach of the Recon, each class offers a distinct path to victory. Equip the recommended weapons, master the stratagems, and coordinate with your teammates to dominate the galaxy in 2026.