Over the past few months, players of Helldivers 2 have been faced with some tough decisions. The Meridia Singularity keeps pushing forward, swallowing planet after planet as it advances on Super Earth. In the midst of this ongoing Galactic War, Arrowhead has stumbled upon a challenge: gamers aren’t particularly thrilled about tackling the game’s third faction, the menacing and tentacled Illuminate.
The Illuminate burst onto the scene in style, shaking things up in the galaxy’s southern quadrant after their surprise reveal at The Game Awards in late 2024. While the Terminids bring their fierce melee combatants and overwhelming numbers, and the Automatons utilize long-range artillery, lasers, and flamethrowers, the Illuminate offer something in between. Their ranks include the Voteless, a zombie horde that’s fragile yet overwhelming in numbers. Add to that the well-armored Overseers and the intimidating Harvesters, reminiscent of War of the Worlds’ towering machines, and you’ve got quite the formidable group.
Their presence in the game introduces an exciting new dynamic, contrasting nicely with the other factions that seem to be inspired by Starship Troopers and Terminator. Initially, players were eager to dive into urban maps and challenge the Illuminate. In terms of the broader storyline, they present the gravest threat—having already destroyed two planets and now setting their sights on Super Earth!
However, there’s a catch: the Illuminate feel like an incomplete faction. Compared to the others, they have fewer units. Lore-wise, there’s an explanation—they’re just the advance guard for a full-scale invasion. Yet, this leaves their encounters feeling repetitive and not as challenging as squaring off against the Terminids or Automatons. What’s more, all three factions now offer urban battlegrounds, diluting what was once the Illuminate’s unique turf.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Illuminate don’t claim territory. Fighting them requires a highly coordinated defense effort on threatened planets, which only lasts about a day. Once the defense mission concludes, regardless of the outcome, they disappear, only to emerge later in another sector. Organizing players to fend off every Illuminate assault is like herding cats, especially when many would rather engage more dynamic enemies elsewhere.
Despite these challenges, Arrowhead has shown a knack for keeping the game dynamic and fresh by introducing new elements. Remember when those new Terminid Shriekers and ominous Automaton Factory Striders made their appearance? Or the time they introduced variants of existing enemies, completely changing the gameplay? Consider how the Automatons recently received a boost with formidable new units like the Incineration Brigade and enhanced Factory Striders equipped with Stratagem Jammers.
Current Major Orders revolve around the Meridia Singularity, a zone under the Illuminate’s control. Yet, Arrowhead knows the importance of mixing things up. Recently, focus shifted back to the original factions, offering seasoned players a refined challenge. At launch, the Terminids were seen as the easier lot, while the Automatons didn’t capture much interest. With ongoing updates and adjustments from Arrowhead, there’s hope the Illuminate will eventually hit their stride. For now, they’re lacking in diversity and complexity. As we await the possible introduction of their Bile Titan equivalent, I’m more inclined to focus on the familiar battlegrounds featuring bots and bugs.
