ARC Raiders Vulcano: Please Don't Remove This Weird Deadline Trick in Frozen Trail
In ARC Raiders, Vulcano often gives the initial impression of being just a high-damage weapon, but after actually using it, you'll find it's not that simple. It not only quickly eliminates high-value PvE targets but also has some hidden mechanics.
This hidden mechanic is particularly noteworthy: by combining Barricade Kit with Vulcano, you can directly launch Deadlines, creating incredibly high damage in PvE combat.
Of course, Vulcano's truly noteworthy aspects aren't limited to this hidden mechanic. Even without using Deadlines at all, its performance in PvE combat is still very strong. With ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update on October 8th bringing new maps, new ARC enemies, and more difficult Operations, Vulcano may become even more noteworthy than it is now.
Launch Deadlines
The most interesting aspect of ARC Raiders Vulcano is its ability to launch Deadlines. First, you'll need a Barricade Kit, Deadline, and Vulcano. Then, use Raider Tool to repeatedly attack Barricade Kit. Don't destroy it directly; instead, reduce its HP to 1, requiring 19 attacks.
Next, place Deadline in the center of Barricade Kit and attack it one last time with Raider Tool. The 20th attack will destroy Barricade Kit, causing Deadline to fall to the ground. At this point, shoot Deadline with Vulcano; it will be launched.
The value of this mechanic lies in turning Deadline, which is normally only placed on the ground, into a ranged attack. Especially in Queen battles against ARC Raiders, with proper positioning and timing, Deadline can fly a considerable distance and deal significant damage. In testing, two hits on Queen dealt close to 10K damage.
Of course, this strategy also carries risks. Queen is constantly moving, and if you're spotted while preparing to fire, you'll be interrupted, and she may destroy your Barricade Kit. Therefore, you need to judge the enemy's position and fire at the right moment.
I hope this mechanic is retained. It doesn't make Vulcano a mindless weapon; instead, it adds a bit of room for on-the-spot maneuvering in PvE combat, which is one of the more interesting PvE techniques in ARC Raiders.
PvE Performance
Even without considering Deadline, Vulcano is already a very strong PvE weapon in ARC Raiders. Against Queen, it can quickly reduce armor, and its leg damage is equally effective, even capable of directly destroying Queen's legs.
Using Snap Hook to move to higher ground allows you to look for opportunities to attack exposed cores, dealing massive damage in a short time.
Another advantage of Vulcano is its ability to handle Bastion. Ideally, you should first use Anvil to take down one of Bastion's legs, putting it into a staggered state, then quickly flank it and attack its weak spot. With a fast enough firing rate, you can usually finish it off in two magazines, or even a slightly slower pace, typically within 18 to 25 seconds.
Therefore, Anvil and Vulcano form a fairly straightforward PvE combination. Anvil is responsible for damaging Bastion's legs, while Vulcano capitalizes on the moment the weak spot is exposed to quickly finish it off. This strategy is not complex and is consistently efficient.
Of course, Vulcano also has its weaknesses. It consumes a significant amount of ARC Raiders shotgun ammo, so if you plan on a prolonged Queen fight, you must prepare sufficient ammo beforehand. Its advantage is also less pronounced against flying ARCs like Rocketeer and Vaporizer.
While you can use snap hooks to reach higher ground and find opportunities to fire, the movement of flying ARCs makes the fight more chaotic and increases the risk. Therefore, if I had to choose the most suitable PvE scenarios for Vulcano, I would still prioritize Bastion, Bombardier, and Queen.
A significant drawback of Vulcano is its relative rarity; acquiring this weapon in advance is difficult. If you don't want to spend too much time, you can directly buy ARC Raiders items from EZG.com.
Its output efficiency and skillful maneuverability in PvE combat are outstanding, and Deadline firing mechanism adds another layer of gameplay worth exploring to this already powerful PvE weapon.
Why Revisit Vulcano?
ARC Raiders Frozen Trail may further enhance Vulcano's value. The new map will include abandoned villages, factories, research facilities, and observatories, encompassing both above-ground and underground spaces.
The new map structure means we need to rethink movement routes, engagement distances, and PvE combat methods, and the new ARC will further change the existing combat rhythm. Most notably, there is a massive ARC, its scale even reminiscent of a floating city.
In addition, ARC Raiders Frozen Trail will also introduce new small ARCs, as well as high-difficulty operations for experienced raiders. This operation emphasizes teamwork, risk management, and combat balance; you can no longer rely solely on a high-damage weapon to solve all problems.
In this environment, Vulcano's advantages become even more apparent. Its base performance is sufficient to handle large ARC enemies, while Deadline mechanic provides additional room for maneuver. At least in the current PvE environment, it fully qualifies as a weapon worthy of discussion in Frozen Trail.
If you're interested in more ARC Raiders community news, follow EZG Facebook via the top navigation bar. We also offer occasional giveaways, giving you even more reasons to stay with EZG!
Vulcano isn't just noteworthy for its high damage; it also boasts stable PvE output and a unique playstyle. With the new competitive environment brought by ARC Raiders Frozen Trail, this weapon, which balances practicality and maneuverability, may have even greater potential.
EA Introduced an Open World in FC 27, But Players Wanted a Better Football Game
EA Sports FC 27 will be released globally on September 25th. However, a recent leak of the open-world test video for The Grounds has sparked considerable discussion about the open-world mode.
The most attention-grabbing aspect of the leaked video wasn't the open world itself, but the players' animations. Some players felt the running animations were somewhat stiff, falling short of their expectations for the new title, jokingly calling them "Sterling's exclusive running animations."
However, a running animation alone wouldn't generate such controversy. What truly angered players was their concern that EA was once again investing resources in a less pressing area.
Players aren't opposed to new gameplay mechanics; they simply want FC 27's changes to prioritize improving long-standing issues like match experience and career mode, rather than simply creating a seemingly larger world.
Open World
From a business perspective, EA's foray into open-world games isn't surprising.
In recent years, sports games have increasingly favored creating virtual community-like models. NBA 2K's The City is a highly successful example.
Players can create characters, train, play matches, socialize in the city, and even customize their characters with various cosmetics. For publishers, the biggest appeal of this model lies in its ability to extend player engagement time and provide more commercial opportunities.
The developers certainly saw this opportunity. Therefore, the addition of The Ground mode to FC 27, from a game company's perspective, perfectly aligned with industry trends. However, the problem is that the needs of football players are not entirely the same as those of basketball players.
Many people, after opening FC series, simply want to play a match.
Some prefer Ultimate Team, some Career Mode, and some Club Mode, but regardless of the style, the core gameplay revolves around football. They want more realistic passing, more reasonable AI, better defense, and a richer career experience.
Then the developers tell them: We've built you a football city where you can move freely.
Many players' first reaction is naturally: Wait, is this really what we need?
The Advantages of an Open World
Of course, The Grounds isn't without its merits.
Some players who participated in the testing believe that The Grounds' biggest advantage lies in its smoother transitions between matches. Players can quickly switch between street areas and smaller matches, an experience that is undeniably more immersive than traditional menu-based match entry.
If the developers continue to refine this system, truly integrating the open areas into football culture, it still has the potential to become a signature feature of FC 27. The world of football isn't just about 90-minute matches; street football, training grounds, fan culture, and community stadiums can all be part of an open world.
However, whether the developers can create a unique experience specific to FC series without simply applying proven models from other sports games remains to be seen.
Innovation Ambiguity
This has been a persistent contradiction within FC community for years. Everyone talks about wanting innovation in FC series, but when the developers actually introduce a major new gameplay feature, they start criticizing it.
This contradiction stems from the fact that the innovation players expect and EA's understanding of innovation may be different.
Many veteran players want a major upgrade to Career Mode, a more realistic Manager Mode, deeper youth team development, and matches that increasingly resemble real football.
These issues have existed for years. For example, many players feel Career Mode hasn't received enough attention; while Club Mode has a dedicated player base, updates have been limited.
In this context, the sudden influx of resources into an open-world game naturally raises questions among players: open-world isn't bad, but why now?
If FC series were already a satisfying football game, an open-world mode might be a welcome addition. However, when the core experience has been consistently criticized, a new mode can easily be seen as a misallocation of resources.
Business Model
The core revenue stream for FC series over the years has been Ultimate Team. Card packs, player collections, FC 27 Coins, and various events have made this mode EA's most important commercial asset. This in itself isn't problematic; it's normal for game companies to make money.
However, players worry that when one mode generates significantly more revenue than other content, the company's resource allocation will naturally shift.
Therefore, many people, seeing the open world, can't help but wonder: Will FC 27 feature attribute upgrades? Will it introduce a paid progression system similar to VC? Will players end up spending a lot of time not enjoying football, but spending money in a football-themed shop?
These concerns are not unfounded. In recent years, many sports games have explored the service-based gaming model, and players have become increasingly sensitive to microtransactions.
Especially FC community, after years of controversy surrounding Ultimate Team, is wary of any new system that might increase monetization depth.
The Balance Point
This The Grounds leak reflects a difference in understanding between the developers and players regarding the future direction of FC.
The developers hope to make FC a long-term platform through more content; while players want to see the core football experience continuously improved. They aren't entirely opposed, but rather their priorities have diverged.
Therefore, the real focus of this controversy isn't the running animation that players mocked. It was merely a moment that ignited the discussion.
When players expected a better football field, EA presented them with an entirely new piece of land. The question is, whether this land can ultimately become part of the football world remains to be seen and needs to be proven by EA.
ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Update Will Change How Players Fight, Move and Survive
Embark has finally confirmed that Frozen Trail will officially launch in ARC Raiders on October 8th.
As the first major update since the change in update mechanics, Frozen Trail will bring players a new frozen map, new ARC operations, new ARC enemies, and new threats. Especially the last point; according to the official description, they will completely change the way you move, fight, and survive.
Why is that? And how should we adapt to this cold and unfamiliar environment?
A Brand New Map
Shani has received a mysterious signal from an unknown land, requiring you and your teammates to form an advance reconnaissance team to investigate.
This is the beginning of Frozen Trail's lore. The new map it brings is possibly the largest map in ARC Raiders to date, located on the edge of Rust Belt and in a frigid wasteland surrounded by mountains. It includes many abandoned villages, large old factories, secret research facilities, and a giant observatory perched high in the sky.
The development team emphasizes that they have achieved a major breakthrough in the level design of the new map. This frozen land boasts exceptional verticality and features numerous above-and-below-ground complexes. This will fundamentally alter the traditional gameplay mechanics of map exploration, stealth, and skirmishes.
New ARC, New Threats
With the unlocking of the new map, entirely new ARC enemies will also be introduced. These enemies have undergone months of machine learning iterations and animation refinement, resulting in more unpredictable behavior.
1. Small Machines
ARC Raiders in Frozen Trail include a small but incredibly agile group of Problem-Makers. They will utilize the complex snow terrain to harass, ambush, and disrupt your defenses.
2. Giant War Machines
Frozen Trail also introduces a massive walking mechanical unit capable of completely blocking player path. Their attack power is immense, capable of instantly wiping out a full squad, forcing players to relearn how to utilize cover and terrain elevation differences in the new map.
Furthermore, the gameplay changes in the new ARC operation have altered players' previous approaches to completing the game. It now requires not only powerful weapons and excellent marksmanship, but also a high degree of reliance on team communication, tactical coordination, risk assessment, and survival instincts.
Of course, this will also be the primary source of higher-level ARC Raiders Blueprints and rare core materials in the future.
Survival of the Fittest
The official ARC Raiders team has clearly outlined the main impacts of Frozen Trail changes on players, requiring them to adapt accordingly.
1. Movement and Movement Logic
In current ARC Raiders maps like Riven Tides or Stella Montis, players are accustomed to open terrain and conventional building cover, resulting in a relatively fixed and universal movement logic.
However, in Frozen Trail, the new map utilizes Brutal Verticality, completely dividing the battlefield into a vertically connected surface snowfield and a deep underground complex.
Therefore, the previously used flat escape routes where players simply run at the first sign of trouble are no longer effective. The abrupt changes in terrain elevation, precipitous cliffs, and narrow underground research tunnels force you to relearn how to utilize height differences for three-dimensional stealth, spot blind spots, and plan vertical evacuations.
2. Combat and Tactical Positioning
The newly introduced ARC units are designed to disrupt players' existing tactical thinking and muscle memory.
Small Problem-Makers are extremely agile and difficult to track, specifically utilizing terrain blind spots and snow for ambushes. Players' familiar fixed-point long-range gunfights will be frequently interrupted and replaced by close-range attacks.
Metallic walking war machines possess area-of-effect suppression capabilities capable of completely blocking player paths. Against them, mindless firefights on open plains are suicidal; squads must be forced to find cover, flank, or use vertical terrain to launch surprise attacks from above.
3. Weapons
To counter these two new threats, the developers have confirmed the addition of a new weapon series and new functional tactical tools.
Because Frozen Trail map contains numerous narrow, close-quarters corridors resembling underground secret research facilities, the long-range sniping style, previously extremely strong in open areas, may be limited.
High-rate-of-fire melee submachine guns, burst-damage shotguns, and tactical items that can be used to defend corners and counter the new mechanical dog, Problem-Maker, are expected to shine.
4. Team Decision-Making
The new ARC Raiders Frozen Trail emphasizes teamwork more than any previous operation. The official statement also explicitly emphasizes that the core of high-difficulty campaigns is Dynamic Encounters and Meaningful Decisions.
This means that in a single match, squads will no longer simply blindly follow the most red dots.
Due to the high-risk, high-penalty mechanics, players will constantly face difficult choices within a single match. For example, should they risk attracting a giant ARC to activate a core? Should they retreat while they're ahead or take a gamble for rare ARC Raiders Items?
In Frozen Trail, risk assessment and timely damage control will surpass mere marksmanship, becoming the primary factor determining survival.
5. Character Building Adjustments
Since many veteran ARC Raiders players have reached their skill point ceiling, Raider builds have become increasingly homogenized. The developers announced a redesign of Skill Tree and an upgrade to Raider Decks in Frozen Trail, giving players greater autonomy over their builds.
This means that after October 8th update, players will be able to upgrade their Outposts to conduct world research, unlocking and building more extreme, customized Raiders tailored to their playstyle. You will no longer be a jack-of-all-trades assault rifleman, but will have to fulfill a highly defined, specific role within the team.
In short, ARC Raiders after October 8th will become a hardcore survival game that emphasizes three-dimensional tactics, relies more on deep squad communication and decision-making, and features more distinct playstyles.
Follow EZG Facebook via the giveaways section on EZG homepage to participate in discussions about Frozen Trail update and the upcoming Expedition Vault, which will be implemented next week. You can also participate in free giveaways for ARC Raiders in-game products - you might be the next lucky winner!
For veteran players, Frozen Trail offers a fresh challenge by breaking many established habits and introducing new strategies. For new players, it may become the perfect opportunity to experience ARC Raiders in a completely different way.
As the game enters this new chapter, survival will belong to those who can adapt fastest. The frozen frontier is waiting, and only the most prepared Raiders will make it back alive.
200K Coins in 30 Minutes? Madden NFL 27 MUT Best Coins Farming Method Explained
If you're new to Madden NFL 27 and love Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) mode, you might be facing a common dilemma: you want to build a strong team, but you're short on coins.
Don't worry, there are several ways to quickly earn coins in the game. One method utilizes a newly introduced mechanic and involves completing the simplest gameplay to earn over 200,000 coins in 30 minutes.
Below, I'll explain the entire process of this method in detail.
Solo Challenges
This method doesn't require advanced game skills. It starts with one of the most basic modes in Madden 27 - Solo Challenges. This is a very simple mode in MUT, often considered a training ground for beginners to familiarize themselves with game mechanics and tactics.
You need to enter Training Camp section in MUT 27 and complete 30 Solo Challenges. These Challenges are designed to be very easy, taking only about 30 minutes to complete.
After completing these 30 Challenges, the system will reward you with several different tiers of Packs. These packs are free and contain random player cards.
Then it's time to frantically open Packs! The player cards you get will be the reason you accumulate a huge amount of Coins in a short time.
Ultimate Captain
You might wonder: although you got free packs, why can the player cards you get from them sell for exorbitant prices?
To explain the secret, I must first introduce the core and most revolutionary new gameplay of Madden NFL 27 - Ultimate Captain.
In the game's MUT mode, players can choose any player with an OVR between 70 and 82 from Core Player pool as their Ultimate Captain, and all positions can be selected - except for Long Snapper.
Most importantly, players can develop their Captain abilities without spending any coins. The only way to improve a Captain's abilities is by completing specific in-game objectives to earn Skill Points - each Captain can have a maximum of 100 Skill Points.
Acquiring enough Skill Points will increase Captain's OVR. Currently, OVR cap is 83, but EA will gradually increase this cap in future.
Because everyone can develop their favorite low-rated cards into top-tier stars without spending coins, all player cards in 70-82 overall rating range suddenly possess enormous growth potential.
Currently, Madden NFL 27 players are flocking to Auction House, searching for physically gifted and fast players with potential to become their Captain candidates.
For example, a Darian Porter with an overall rating of only 74 can fetch 60,000 coins at the auction house due to its excellent speed and other key attributes; a Deionte Thompson with a rating of 72 can sell for around 50,000 coins; and a Xavier Worthy with a rating of 77 is said to sell for as much as 200,000 coins.
Therefore, players can earn a large number of coins at once by listing player cards acquired in Solo Challenge on Auction House.
Operation Guide
Now that we understand principle, how do we actually do it? The key lies in choosing which team's pack to open. Specifically, there are two strategies:
The first is a safe strategy: players can choose Las Vegas Raiders Pack as a safe bet.
The reason is that Raiders Pack contains two low-OVR but high-value Gold Cards - Darian Porter and Deionte Thompson, with OVRs of 74 and 73 respectively.
Because their OVR is lower, the drop rate in Packs is relatively higher, guaranteeing you a profit.
The second strategy is a high-risk, high-reward approach: If you believe in your luck, you can try your luck with the big prize. For example, Kansas City Chiefs Packs offer a chance to draw OVR 77 and extremely fast Xavier Worthy, rumored to sell for as much as 200,000 coins;
Or Philadelphia Eagles Packs offer a chance to draw OVR 79 Jihaad Campbell, which can be sold for 100,000 coins.
However, note that in Madden 27, a high OVR also means a lower drop rate. If you don't draw these high-OVR cards with good attributes, you might actually earn less.
But if you're lucky enough to draw them, you can instantly earn hundreds of thousands of coins.
Advantages
With so many ways to farm coins in MUT 27, why choose this method? I believe this method has the following advantages:
First, it requires no initial investment of coins, making it a completely zero-cost start. You only need to invest about 30 minutes of your time, while the return can reach hundreds of thousands of coins.
Even if you're unlucky and don't get good player cards, you can still gain thousands to tens of thousands of coins, as well as a wealth of game experience. This is much more cost-effective and controllable than gambling with Madden Points to open player card packs.
Second, this method will remain effective for a long time. While players only need to utilize Ultimate Captain mechanic to develop high OVR player cards in the early stages of game, as time goes on, more powerful new cards will replace these early gold cards, and their prices will naturally drop.
But based on past experience, that will take at least half a month to a month. And you only need to enter the game now and spend half an hour to earn this amount of coins.
That's how to quickly farm a large number of coins in Madden NFL 27. Currently, there is almost no simpler and lower-cost way to farm coins in the game. This guide is perfect for all newcomers to MUT mode.
Netflix May Have Accidentally Leaked GTA 6's Extended Look - And It Could Be Over an Hour Long
GTA 6 has been making headlines lately, and Rockstar's Extended Look for the game may be much richer than we previously anticipated. A recently deleted trailer from Netflix sparked excitement among fans, hinting that the extended trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 might not be a single trailer, but rather a three-episode series.
Although the information has since been removed, it hasn't dampened fans' enthusiasm. This article will analyze the details of GTA 6 Extended Look. Let's take a look.
Episode Runtimes and Total Length
According to leaks, the extended trailer for GTA 6 isn't a single trailer, but a three-episode series. The episode lengths are as follows:
- Episode 1: 23 minutes 37 seconds
- Episode 2: 24 minutes 41 seconds
- Episode 3: 18 minutes 29 seconds
The total runtime of the three episodes exceeds 66 minutes, meaning we'll see over an hour of GTA 6 gameplay. No release window was provided for Episodes 2 and 3. The page only displays the release schedule for the first episode.
While this format is quite different from traditional game trailers - more like a Netflix miniseries than a standard gameplay demo - it sounds incredibly appealing.
What does This Mean?
This episode-based structure represents an unconventional breakthrough, opening up some interesting possibilities for gamers. Let's take a closer look:
Release Method
Rockstar and Netflix might release all three episodes at once on August 27th, allowing viewers to binge-watch like a miniseries. Alternatively, they could release them in batches over the weeks leading up to the official November 19th release to maintain player anticipation.
I think the most likely arrangement is for the first episode to launch on August 27th, followed by the next two in September and October respectively. This way, Rockstar can maintain public attention until the official release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November.
Each Episode Focuses On
Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the extended GTA 6 trailer, allowing players to delve into various facets of the game - story and characters, game mechanics, and the open world of Leonidas. This approach provides fans with a comprehensive and systematic understanding of Rockstar's development.
Future Development
This format aligns with comments from Take-Two's CEO, who described the trailer as an appetizer, hinting at more substantial content to come.
Credibility
The related page list has been removed, and the relevant Reddit post has been deleted, potentially indicating an accidental leak or simply a placeholder or website error.
While this news hasn't been officially confirmed, I believe this multi-episode format makes logical sense, and it's highly probable. Let me analyze it for you.
Consider what Rockstar aims to achieve with this Extended Look: satisfying veteran players' expectations, attracting new players, and generating more revenue. While a single 20-minute video can cover a considerable amount of content, it can't cover everything.
Earlier leaks suggested the game would feature an extremely detailed open-world map and AI-driven NPC behavior. Grand Theft Auto 6 has been highly anticipated by players for years, and Rockstar certainly wants to showcase the game mechanics, storyline, the world of Leonidas, and possibly even some GTA Online content before release.
Breaking this content into three episodes, each about 20 minutes long, allows them to comfortably present all the key points without feeling overwhelmed by information. Most importantly, this would be a major innovation for GTA trailers, undoubtedly attracting more attention.
Furthermore, Take-Two's CEO described this collaboration with Netflix as groundbreaking. He also mentioned that the content will be simultaneously released on Rockstar Games' official YouTube channel approximately six hours after its Netflix premiere, resulting in a very short exclusivity period.
Using a multi-episode format allows Netflix premiere window to be spread across multiple time slots, rather than releasing all content in a single day.
The final form of Extended Look will be revealed after Netflix and Rockstar take action. While this event is both plausible and intriguing, nothing is certain until then, and everything awaits Rockstar's confirmation or decision.
Current Release Overview
Rockstar is currently maintaining a very tight control over the pre-release promotional pace for GTA 6. Netflix Extended Look is expected to be released later this month, and this will be the most significant official content update since Trailer 2. Whether it's presented as a single video or a three-part series, the scale of the reveal will be significantly different.
Current data shows that GTA 6 has sold 4.3 million copies on Xbox and PS5 platforms, generating $421 million in revenue. This is truly a record high and could very well allow Rockstar to recoup its costs before release.
I can already feel the incredibly high level of anticipation from players for this game. If you want more details or need some useful resources to help you prepare, follow EZG GTA 6 Store; you'll find everything you need there.
This concludes our analysis of information regarding Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look. Finally, I must remind you that the above information is for reference only; while it sounds enticing, the details are incomplete.
To be honest, it does align with past leaks, but we cannot confirm the truth until Netflix trailer is released or the game is officially launched. Therefore, players need to wait patiently. We will actively follow up on the latest news about GTA 6, and we believe the official response will be satisfactory. Let's wait and see.
Helldivers 2 Update 7.0.0: Why Wretches and Crushers Feel Harder Than They Actually Are?
Since the addition of Vote Snatchers in Update 7.0.0, the combat pressure in Helldivers 2 has significantly increased.
When facing regular enemies, players can usually rely on fixed weapon configurations and familiar combat methods to resolve battles. However, Wretches and Crushers force players to adjust their strategies.
The key to dealing with these two types of enemies is not simply increasing damage, but rather choosing appropriate weapons and combat methods based on their characteristics. Understanding their attack patterns allows players to handle combat more consistently.
Wretches
Wretches' Weaknesses
Many players, upon first encountering Wretches after Devoid of Liberty, instinctively aim for the head. While headshots are generally effective against regular enemies in Helldivers 2, the head is not a priority target for Wretches.
Even if a headshot is landed, Wretches may continue moving and close in on the player. Without confirming they are incapacitated, they are easily vulnerable to close-range attacks while reloading or repositioning.
When facing Wretches, prioritizing attacks on their limbs is better. Damaging their limbs effectively restricts their movement and is more effective in dealing with multiple targets approaching simultaneously than simply aiming for headshots.
Especially when a group of Wretches charges, reducing their movement speed is more important than precisely eliminating a single target.
The difficulty with Wretches lies primarily in their frequent appearance in groups during high-difficulty missions. If players remain stationary while attacking, they are easily surrounded at close range.
Wretches are Immune to Stun
Many players prioritize weapons or equipment with stun effects to create space when facing melee enemies. However, this method is less effective against Wretches.
Wretches are unaffected by stun effects, and even Helldivers 2 Items, which rely on stun control, are ineffective in preventing them from closing in.
Therefore, dealing with Wretches requires choosing weapons that allow for sustained damage. High-rate-of-fire weapons, area-of-effect weapons, and incendiary equipment are all effective in limiting their approach.
And because Wretches move relatively quickly, the timing of weapon attacks is equally important.
Weapons with long reload times and limited handling can easily put players at a disadvantage when facing large numbers of Wretches. Often, the problem isn't insufficient damage, but the inability to deal with approaching enemies in time.
Stalwart
M-105 Stalwart is a relatively reliable choice for clearing Wretches.
Fighting Wretches requires constant repositioning, as players need to keep moving while maintaining their fire output instead of staying in one spot for too long. Stalwart, with its low recoil and good handling, allows players to maintain firepower while retreating and repositioning.
Crushers
Characteristics of Crusher
Among the enemies introduced in Update 7.0.0, Crusher are more like frontal suppression enemies compared to Wretches. They are large, slow-moving, but have a very long attack range, often causing Helldivers 2 players to underestimate their threat distance upon first encounter.
Maintaining a safe distance is crucial when facing Crusher. Even if they don't appear close, their attacks can still cover a considerable area. Entering melee range recklessly can easily render you combat incapacitated with a single mistake.
Therefore, when dealing with Crushers, avoid rushing in to attack. Prioritize using terrain and movement to create distance, then look for safe opportunities to strike. Avoiding close-range engagements significantly reduces the difficulty of the fight.
Optimal Choice
Crusher's biggest weakness is its head, but it's protected by a heavy helmet, making it difficult for ordinary weapons to inflict effective damage. Therefore, prioritizing helmet removal is a more reliable approach when facing this type of enemy.
P-40K Bolt Pistol can be used to weaken Crusher's head armor. After successfully destroying the helmet, Helldivers 2 players can directly attack the exposed weak point, increasing subsequent damage output.
However, this method requires high aiming skills. Crusher's head is a small target, and it constantly moves during combat, requiring players to wait for the right moment to fire.
If you want to reduce the difficulty, 40-K Meltagun is a more stable choice. It's more efficient at breaking head armor and is easier to hit during combat.
Once the helmet is removed, Crusher's threat level drops significantly. Using high-penetration weapons or focusing on weak points will allow you to defeat him more quickly.
Suboptimal Solution
If you don't want to spend time removing the helmet in Helldivers 2 matches, you can try attacking Crusher's legs.
Focusing on the knees or thighs can disrupt his movement. With his legs damaged, Crusher's mobility will decrease significantly, making it easier for players to create distance and maintain sustained damage.
However, this approach requires higher accuracy and sustained damage output. In chaotic combat environments, prioritizing helmet removal remains a more reliable option.
Maintain Damage Output
Crusher has a unique mechanic that requires attention: he can recover some damage taken. Therefore, once you decide to attack Crusher, try to maintain continuous damage output and prioritize defeating him. Otherwise, you'll not only waste ammo but may also need to deal with an enemy with full health again.
Thermite
If you want to quickly eliminate Crusher, G-123 Thermite is a good choice. Thermite poses a significant threat to heavy targets, rapidly reducing Crusher's health upon impact. However, because of the limited number carried, it's better suited for dealing with critical targets rather than being used indiscriminately.
Once you truly familiarize yourself with these enemies in Devoid of Liberty, you'll find they aren't as insurmountable as you initially thought. The most dangerous situation on the battlefield is often not the enemy's strength, but Helldivers 2 players lingering in the wrong positions for too long.
Maintaining movement, choosing the right targets, and focusing resources on worthwhile enemies is the most consistent strategy against Vote Snatchers.
