Helldivers 2: Factory Strider Tactics and Weak Point Guide

[ThunderWolf]

Factory Striders are among the most imposing Automaton units you will encounter on the battlefield. Their size and firepower can overwhelm an unprepared squad. This guide breaks down their mechanics and the most common, practical strategies players use to neutralize them.

What are a Factory Strider's Weak Points?

While the Factory Strider has "Anti-Tank" level armor on most of its body, it does have vulnerable areas. Its most consistently soft spot is its undercarriage or "stomach," where it deploys Devastators. This area has only medium armor (AP3). Other parts like the neck, leg joints, and feet are heavy armor. Notably, destroying one foot is enough to kill the entire Strider. The piston shafts on its back are also heavy armor, but they are generally not practical targets. The red "eye" on its face is heavily armored, but a perfectly placed shot there can be instantly fatal.

What Makes it Dangerous, and How is it Exposed?

The primary threat comes from its twin chin-mounted miniguns. These can kill a Helldiver in one to two seconds if you are caught in front of it without cover. Most players prioritize destroying these miniguns first, as any weapon that can penetrate medium armor can break them. Importantly, these guns only have a 180-degree field of view; they cannot shoot directly behind the Strider without the entire machine turning.

Its dorsal laser cannon turret is a secondary threat with long range and a 360-degree view. It can cause significant ragdoll effects. Once all its weapons are destroyed, the Strider usually becomes stationary, focusing on producing Devastator escorts. This makes it much safer to maneuver around and target its weak points.

What are the Conventional Anti-Tank Strategies?

The standard approach is to use dedicated anti-tank stratagems and support weapons.

The GR-8 Recoilless Rifle and FAF-14 Spear require two hits to the body to destroy a Strider. A single direct hit from a Recoilless Rifle to its red "eye" is an instant kill, though this is a high-risk shot.

The EAT-17 and LAS-99 Quasar Cannon require three body hits.

The Orbital Laser is often sufficient but will use its entire duration.

A direct hit from an Eagle 500kg Bomb on its face deals massive damage.

Due to its slow speed, it is very vulnerable to orbital barrages, especially the Walking Barrage placed along its path.

A common and effective tactic is to use anti-tank mines. An advancing Strider will often trigger multiple mines on its own. Against a stationary one, you can lay mines in its path and bait it into walking over them.

What are Some Riskier or Creative Tactics?

Experienced players sometimes use more situational methods.

MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun: A very risky but fast method is to use the HMG on its highest RPM setting and mag-dump into the undercarriage. Approaching from the side or rear to bypass the miniguns is crucial.

Thermite Grenades: Two thermite grenades stuck to the undercarriage will usually kill it. The main risk is a grenade sticking to a deployed Devastator instead.

Railgun: With a good vantage point, the RS-422 Railgun can safely and reliably destroy both the laser cannon and minigun turrets from a distance, disarming the Strider.

E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement: Set up at long range, this can destroy the laser cannon in one shot, removing its long-range threat and leaving it unable to fight back as it slowly advances.

Hellpod Impact: Landing approximately five Hellpods (from reinforcements or called-in equipment) on its back will destroy it. A single Hellpod landing on the laser cannon can also severely damage it.

It's worth noting that unlike other units, destroying the dropship carrying the Factory Strider before it lands will instantly kill it. Also, all high-yield explosives like the Hellbomb variants or the SEAF Artillery: Mini Nuke will kill a Strider instantly if it is within the blast radius.

What About the New Jammer Strider Variant?

On higher difficulties, you may encounter Factory Strider Convoy objectives, which include a special Jammer Strider. It does not block stratagems like a Jammer Tower but will scramble your stratagem input codes every five seconds, disrupting muscle memory. It retains the same weapons and weaknesses as a standard Strider but should be prioritized because it can call reinforcements directly near your squad. When budgeting your resources for a mission, remember that earning the helldivers 2 medals price for completing such high-difficulty objectives is generally considered worthwhile for progressing through the Warbond.

Final Practical Advice

In general, the squad should focus on neutralizing immediate smaller threats first to create a safe engagement window. The conventional strategy is to destroy the laser cannon first to avoid long-range fire, then the miniguns to allow safe close-quarters maneuvering. Once disarmed, you can focus on its undercarriage or legs. Always remember to clear the area when it dies, as its explosion is massive and lethal. With coordinated fire on its weak points, what seems like an unstoppable war machine becomes a manageable, if still challenging, tactical problem.