Helldivers 2 is Arrowhead Game Studios' third-person co-op shooter where you fight as expendable soldiers of Super Earth against alien Terminids and robotic Automatons. The game features a persistent Galactic War where every player's missions contribute to liberating or losing planets. With its emphasis on friendly fire, limited ammo, and call-in stratagems, Helldivers 2 captures the satirical military tone of Starship Troopers while delivering genuinely challenging cooperative gameplay.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Terminid Front
Key resources: Common/Rare/Super Samples, Medals, XP, War Bond progress Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Railgun upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Automaton Front
Key resources: Common/Rare/Super Samples, Medals, XP, War Bond progress Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Railgun upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Illuminate Front
Key resources: Unique Samples, special War Bond content, new stratagem unlocks Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Railgun upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Super Earth
Key resources: N/A (lore and narrative context) Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Breaker max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Creek Sector
Key resources: High Sample density, community bragging rights, Major Order contributions Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Breaker max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Terminid Front — Automaton Front)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Railgun once accessible
Mid Game (Illuminate Front)
- Push Railgun to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Breaker
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Super Earth — Creek Sector)
- Max out Breaker — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Illuminate Front farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Dive (press dodge while sprinting) to avoid most attacks including Charger charges, Bile Titan spit, and Automaton rockets. It provides i-frames during the animation.
- Farm Illuminate Front during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Helldivers 2 Guides
- Helldivers 2 Helldivers 2 Overview
- Helldivers 2 Best Builds
- Helldivers 2 Tier List
- Helldivers 2 Walkthrough
- Helldivers 2 Beginner's Guide
- Helldivers 2 Tips & Tricks
- Helldivers 2 Weapons Guide
- Helldivers 2 Combat Guide
- Helldivers 2 Boss Guide
- Helldivers 2 Maps & Locations
- Helldivers 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Helldivers 2, check out these related guides:
- Black Myth: Wukong Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter: World Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
