The Helldivers take on Star Wars‘ walking death factories have returned after a brief absence. Naturally, it comes to you to put them back into the ground. Here’s our guide on how to destroy Automaton Factory Striders in Helldivers 2, covering strats and their weak points.
Thank Liberty these tanks on legs actually have weak points. You know that saying, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall”? Well, that typically only applies to large lads who aren’t covered in thick armor plating and laser cannons, while occasionally giving birth to four, smaller armored lads with laser cannons (that’s an image). Weak points are great.
To destroy the Factory Striders in Helldivers 2, you should attack their weak points using your best Support Weapons. Taking out these spots is the fastest way to drop the four-legged monsters for good. If only we could equip Eagle 1 with a tow cable, eh?
Helldivers 2: How to destroy Factory Striders – Weak points and strats
The body
The Factory Strider is a tough brute to take down, no matter the strategy. At the moment, the most agreed-upon tactic is to target the weak points on the joints, neck, underbelly, weapons, face, and what are believed to be heatsinks on its body. Some of these weak points seem to be near, or highlighted by, white Automaton insignias, which stand out against its gray exterior.
The best weapons to take against the Factory Strider include the Autocannon, ET-17, Anti-Materiel Rifle, Recoilless Rifle, Laser Cannon, and the Spear (if it targets), but most agree that the Quasar Cannon probably takes the top billing.
When looking at it from its side, target weak spots at the joints and the metal panels with the insignia. All these seem to cause damage to the Factory Strider. The insignia on the sides and on the shoulder (when looking at the Strider from the front) cover armor panels that can be blown off. Attacking the damaged bits with a Quasar Cannon or EAT should take the bot out.
There also seems to be heatsinks you can target on its back and above the two front arms. You’ll see these mechanisms move along with the Strider, and the ones on the back stand out with bright, red lights.
There is a weak point on its face, but it can be tough to target. Between two heavy metal slabs is a thin strip of weaker armor with a red “eye” to the left.
You can attack this for a lot of damage using an Anti-Materiel Rifle, Laser Cannon, or even an Autocannon.
Underneath the Strider is a bay that periodically drops four Devastators. Like with Automaton Fabricators, you can toss an explosive grenade into the opening to cause serious damage — two Impact Grenades should destroy the Strider. Other weapons can destroy it from underneath: The Autocannon, EAT-17, Recoilless Rifle, and the Quasar Cannon can reportedly drop the Strider with two or more shots into the opening.
If you’re confident in your dancing skills, dodging bots and laser shots to attack the underbelly is likely going to be the fastest way to destroy a Factory Strider. But it’s not the safest.
The weapons
As you should have guessed, the Factory Strider’s weapons can be destroyed. There’s a large laser cannon strapped to its back, which can be destroyed with two shots of the Quasar Cannon. The guns attached to the bottom of its head can be taken out with one shot from the Autocannon each. You can also consider using the Laser Cannon or AMR, as both will shred the guns quickly.
I highly suggest disabling the weapons before attacking any of its other weak points. With the guns down, the Factory Strider is practically harmless outside of its big, stompy feet and the Devastators it spawns every so often.
The laser cannon on top is similar to the one used by the Annihilator Tank. Just like before, you can predict when the shot is coming by watching for the red light to gather in the barrel. It fires after it charges the shot.
Helldivers 2: How to destroy Factory Striders – Best Stratagems
Naturally, with a target this large and intimidating, you’d want to hit it hard and fast with the best Orbitals and Eagle strikes. Here are the ones I’d recommend taking on your drop, along with some tips:
- Eagle 500kg Bomb
- Tried and true, the bomb hits hard but you need to drop at least two to destroy the Factory Strider.
- Railcannon
- The Railcannon will target the laser cannon on top of the Strider and can destroy it with one shot. However, I have seen it miss.
- Orbital Laser
- Instead of the Railcannon, consider bringing the Orbital Laser. The other Stratagem can miss its target, wasting valuable time. The laser will continue firing, dishing out damage.
- Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods
- These often target the laser cannon on top of the Strider but also tend to miss the target. The good news is that they still do damage if they hit the head or other weak points.
- Eagle Airstrike
- If you can get close enough, the Eagle Airstrike can dish out some great damage, hitting the guns, head, and everything else. Two of these can destroy the Factory Strider.
- Orbital Precision Strike
- The Precision Strike hits hard but is tough to use since you must get close.
Keep in mind that strategies will change the more we learn about the Factory Strider, so updates to this guide should be expected.
The “Kitchen Sink” strat
The most common strat I’ve seen used against the Automaton Factory Strider in Helldivers 2 is not any I’ve mentioned above. No, it seems many Helldivers are, instead, holding onto their Stratagems until they run into a Strider and unleash a 21-gun salute onto its helpless frame. I’ve been in a few games where myself and my team would wait until we ran into a Strider and then lit it up like a Christmas tree with Stratagem beacons until it tumbled over. Weak points, schmeak points.
If it works, it works.
