5 major changes in Helldivers 2 Machinery of Oppression Illuminate update

The developers have unveiled an exciting new installment for the Helldivers 2 series, titled the Machinery of Oppression Illuminate update. This update marks the return of the Illuminate, who are set to launch another attempt at imposing their oppressive regime on Democracy on March 20, 2026. The Ministries of Super Earth will put up a fierce resistance, but it promises to be a difficult battle.

Since their retreat from Super Earth, the Illuminate have regrouped and are now ready to strike again. With that in mind, here are five significant changes that the Helldivers 2 Machinery of Oppression Illuminate update will bring.

Helldivers 2 Machinery of Oppression Illuminate update introduces these five new changes

1) New Illuminate enemy units

The update will introduce new enemy units that will present fresh challenges and require players to reconsider their strategies. Below is a breakdown of these units.

Illuminate Piloted Constructs

These constructs are available in two types: Veracitor, designed for close combat, and Gatekeeper, which engages enemies from afar. Unlike their predecessors, the Harvesters, these constructs are faster and more lethal, resembling a more futuristic version of the Vox Machine of the Automatons.

Obstruders

Unlike the regular Watchers, Obstruders do not call for reinforcements. Instead, they attack on sight with the sole purpose of eliminating their targets.

2) Illuminate Fleets

The new sub-faction, Illuminate Appropriators, will have distinct tactics similar to the Cyborg Legion. They will rely exclusively on Exomechs and Illuminate units to achieve their objectives. Meanwhile, the Mindless Masses will employ swarms of voteless and flesh mobs. Depending on the sub-faction faced, players will need to adjust their loadouts significantly.

3) Illuminate Exostorms

Exostorms, hazardous environmental phenomena, will pose a deadly threat that players must navigate carefully. While they can be identified on the Galactic Map, experiencing them on a planet’s surface will prove to be a different and challenging ordeal. The update will feature Exostorms with varying levels of intensity.

4) New Mission – Destroy Exospire

The Exostorms are triggered by Exospires, which have been deemed hazardous by Super Earth. Players will be tasked with neutralizing them, marking this as a new mission type. The mission involves the following steps:

• Sub-objective: The squad must locate and overload the access nodes connected to the subterranean shield generators, thereby disrupting the force shield protecting the Exospire.
• Primary Objective: After disabling the force shield, the squad will enter the Exospire’s chamber to destroy its core by targeting the Dark Fluid cells that sustain it.

5) Flamethrowers and Exosuits small rework

The update will enhance Flamethrowers, making them more effective against organic enemies by not only setting them ablaze but also slowing them down. The new SMG/FLAM-34 Stoker and B/FLAM-80 Cremator will offer greater utility. According to the developers:

• “Smaller to medium-sized enemies will generally move slower when flamed by a flamethrower.”
• “Small to medium automatons, small to large terminids, and small to medium illuminates will become confused and panic when flamed, causing them to attack haphazardly.”

The Exosuits’ “hitbox” has been refined to prevent players from being “ghost-stamped,” allowing them to move closer to the Exosuits’ legs. However, players still face the risk of being stepped on, which remains a danger.

These are the principal updates included in the Helldivers 2 Machinery of Oppression Illuminate update. Additional balance adjustments for weapons, stratagems, and enemies are also part of the update.

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Edited by Matthew Wilkins