To respec your skill points in Helldivers 2, open the Armory (press Tab), go to the Loadout tab, select the Skill Tree screen, and hold the Respec button (default: R on keyboard, Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) while paying 2000 Super Credits. This refunds all spent skill points so you can reallocate them instantly.
What Is Respec in Helldivers 2?
Respec in Helldivers 2 refers to the process of resetting your allocated skill points within the Skill Tree, allowing you to experiment with different builds without creating a new character. Unlike some games where respec is limited or costly, Helldivers 2 lets you reassign points anytime you are outside of an active mission, provided you have enough Super Credits. The Skill Tree is split into three main branches—Offense, Defense, and Support—each containing passive upgrades that affect weapon handling, survivability, and team utility. Understanding how to respec efficiently is crucial for adapting to higher difficulty levels, trying new weapon loadouts, or optimizing for specific mission types such as extraction or defense.
Step‑by‑Step: How to Reset Your Skill Points
Follow these exact steps to respec your skill points:
- While in your Ship or the Space Station hub, press Tab to open the Armory.
- Navigate to the Loadout tab at the top of the Armory screen.
- Select the Skill Tree tab on the left side of the Loadout panel.
- At the bottom‑right of the Skill Tree window you will see the Respec button.
- Hold the Respec button: R on keyboard, Square on PlayStation, or X on Xbox.
- A confirmation prompt will appear, showing the cost of 2000 Super Credits. Confirm to proceed.
- Your skill points are now fully refunded; you can immediately reallocate them across any branch.
Note that the Respec option is unavailable during an active deployment; you must be in the hub or on your Ship.
Where to Find the Respec Option
The Armory is the central hub for all loadout management. Access it by pressing Tab (or the equivalent menu button on consoles). Inside the Armory, the top menu contains tabs for Loadout, Cosmetics, and Settings. Choose Loadout, then look at the left‑hand column where you will see tabs for Weapons, Stratagems, and Skill Tree. The Skill Tree tab displays a visual diagram of the three branches. The Respec button sits beneath the diagram, labeled with a circular arrow icon and the text "Respec". Hovering over it shows the tooltip "Reset Skill Points – 2000 Super Credits". This UI layout is consistent across all platforms, making the process uniform whether you play on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S.
Costs and Limitations
Each respec transaction costs a flat 2000 Super Credits. Super Credits are earned by completing missions, finding hidden crates, or purchasing them with real money via the in‑game store. There is no cooldown or limit on how often you can respec; you can perform the operation as many times as you can afford the fee. However, you cannot respec while inside a mission or during a drop‑in session—you must be in the hub. The refund returns all skill points to your pool, but it does not give back any earned XP, medals, or mission progress. Additionally, any Stratagems or weapons that have been unlocked remain available; only the skill point allocation is reset.
Best Times to Respec
Strategic respec can dramatically improve your effectiveness. Consider respecing in the following scenarios:
- Before a higher‑difficulty mission: Switch to a defensive build with Reinforced Plating and Shield Generator to survive increased enemy damage.
- When trying a new primary weapon: If you unlock a new shotgun or sniper rifle, respec to offense skills like Explosive Expert or Marksman to complement its strengths.
- For specialized mission types: Defense missions benefit from Engineer and Deployable Shield, while extraction runs profit from Jetpack Master and Extra Ammo for mobility.
- After a major update: Patch notes sometimes tweak skill effectiveness; a quick respec lets you adapt to the new meta.
Because the cost is modest relative to the Super Credit income from regular play, frequent respecing is a viable tactic for players who enjoy min‑maxing.
Sample Build Respec Paths
Below are two example builds that illustrate how to allocate points after a respec. All skill names and values are taken from the current version of Helldivers 2 (v1.0.0.0).
Offensive Damage Build
- Explosive Expert – +15% explosive damage (Offense, Tier 1)
- Rapid Reload – +20% reload speed (Offense, Tier 2)
- Extra Ammo – +30% ammo capacity (Offense, Tier 3)
- Grenadier – +25% grenade damage (Offense, Tier 4)
- Marksman – +15% headshot damage (Offense, Tier 5)
Total points required: 15 (assuming each skill costs 3 points). This build maximizes burst damage and sustain for aggressive playstyles.
Defensive Support Build
- Reinforced Plating – +15% armor (Defense, Tier 1)
- Shield Generator – +20% shield capacity (Defense, Tier 2)
- Stimpack Efficiency – +25% stimpack heal (Defense, Tier 3)
- Combat Medic – +20% revive speed (Defense, Tier 4)
- Engineer – +15% build speed (Defense, Tier 5)
Total points required: 15. This build excels at holding objectives, supporting teammates, and surviving prolonged engagements.
Feel free to mix and match skills from different branches; the respec system encourages experimentation. For more details on skill effects, consult the official Helldivers 2 Wiki.
If you’re looking to fund your respecs, check out our fast gold farming guide in Helldivers 2 for tips on earning Super Credits quickly.
For additional Helldivers 2 content, see our articles on top free‑to‑play PC games and Arc Raiders character guide.