Who doesn’t like vaporizing bugs and bots with plasma weapons in Helldivers 2? Their massive AOE makes them perfect for crowd control, and the best part? You don’t even need pinpoint accuracy to wipe out smaller enemies. So, let’s rank all six plasma weapons in Helldivers 2 to see which one needs to be in your loadout.
6 PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle
We’re starting off this list with the PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle, one of the Killzone crossover weapons in Helldivers 2. If the ranking didn’t make it clear, this weapon isn’t really a good one. The problem with the PLAS-39 Accelerator is that it just holds nine rounds per magazine, which means you can only pull the trigger three times before needing to reload.
Since this is the only sniper rifle in the game, it’s not a great choice for dealing with swarms, which makes it terrible against Terminids. However, it holds on its own against Automaton units such as Bersekers and Devastors. Illuminate Harvesters can also be taken down in six bursts. Basically, use it to deal with single targets.
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| Damage | 250 Ballistic + 100 Explosion |
| Fire Rate | 550 rpm |
| Recoil | 3 |
| Capacity | 9 |
5 SG-8 Punisher Plasma
The SG-8 Punisher Plasma is your average shotgun that fires plasma rounds. It comes with medium armor penetration, and the projectiles shoot in an arc. Unlike other Punisher variants, it can’t be reloaded after every shot, and it’s largely outclassed by the PLAS-101 Purifier. It’s rare to find anyone using this.
If you’re looking for a stagger tool in bug missions, the SG-8P functions quite well. It’s great for pushing back swarms, but once things like Hunters appear, it quickly starts to fall apart. However, its arcing projectiles come in handy against Automatons when you’re behind cover. Where it really shines is clearing Illuminate units.
| Damage | 100 Direct + 150 Splash |
| Fire Rate | 100 |
| Recoil | 110 |
| Capacity | 10 |
4 PLAS-45 Epoch
Plasma primary weapons are incredibly powerful, so bringing a plasma-based Stratagem only takes things to the next level. This Stratagem features a charge-up shot, and the longer you hold it, the greater the heavy armor penetrating shot you will dish out. But there’s a risk of overcharging this thing, which will cause it to blow up.
The PLAS-45 Epoch performs well against Automatons, but there are some limitations. The uncharged shot deals decent damage and is effective against medium targets due to its splash damage. However, the real power comes with the charged shot, which can one-shot Gunships. Once you’ve mastered its charge mechanics, this Stratagem can counter not just Automatons but also Illuminate and Terminids.
| Damage | 800 Direct + 800 Explosion APS |
| Fire Rate | Charged |
| Recoil | NA |
| Capacity | 3 |
3 PLAS-15 Loyalist
Think of the PLAS-15 Loyalist as a mini version of the Purifier. It’s basically the nepo baby of secondary weapons in Helldivers 2. If you’re someone who’s running a non-plasma primary and still want that explosive power on the side, consider picking up the PLAS-15 Loyalist.
Against swarms of enemies, whether they’re Terminids or Illuminate, you can easily get multiple kills with a single shot. What makes it stand out even more is its effectiveness against Automatons. The PLAS-15 can handle Gunships and even deal solid damage to Striders, which usually require medium armor penetration to handle if you can’t get behind them.
| Damage | 150 Direct + 225 Explosion (Charged) |
| Fire Rate | 1000 |
| Recoil | 8 |
| Capacity | 7 |
2 PLAS-1 Scorcher
The PLAS-1 Scorcher is a plasma rifle that delivers explosive shots capable of penetrating medium armor, and it’s known among Helldivers for its high damage output. However, as they say, with great power comes great ammo cost. It can chew through magazines in seconds.
When going against Terminds, the Scorcher can one-shot Hunters, and Scavengers, take down Warriors in two shots, and bring down Brood Commanders quickly. The same applies to many Automaton enemies, as it can melt Berserkers with ease. The Illuminate Overseers won’t even stand a chance against the Scorcher as they get wrecked in one body shot.
| Damage | 100 Direct + 100 Explosion |
| Fire Rate | 350 rpm |
| Recoil | 20 |
| Ammo Capacity | 20 |
1 PLAS-101 Purifier
So, what’s the best plasma weapon you can pick up in Helldivers 2? It’s the PLAS-101 Purifier. It’s something similar to Scorcher but better in every single way. It fires medium armor-penetrating plasma blasts, and when charged up, it deals enough damage to make your enemies give up.
Fighting Terminids with this in your arsenal will be easy, as a fully charged shot from a thing can one-hit anything below a Hive Guard, and Brood Commanders will fall in just two or three hits.
| Damage | 200 Direct + 300 Explosion |
| Fire Rate | 1000 |
| Recoil | 20 |
| Ammo Capacity | 15 |
For Automatons, it’s equally strong as it can two-shot Devastors and Berserkers with body shots, and even gives you an edge against Gunships. When it comes to Illuminate, it’s fantastic for clearing hordes of Observers and dealing with shields.
With that said, what’s your favorite plasma weapon in Helldivers 2? Let us know in the comments below.