Summary:
- Illuminated Leviathans are huge flying heavy bombers that are over 20,000 HP, armed with laser cannons and bomb capsules.
- The best way to approach Illuminate Leviathans is to target the glowing blue rings on its underbelly and joints.
- Heavy anti-armor support weapons are most effective against them, with Eagle Strafing Run and Anti-Tank Emplacement stratagems being effective options.
The Illuminate Leviathan is one of the scariest aerial threats you’ll encounter in Helldivers 2. And they are definitely not kidding around. With heavy armor, big bombs, and glowing blue weak points, an encounter with them can easily become a heart-stopping experience. Plenty of players have felt overwhelmed by their size and firepower. But don’t you worry! After figuring out its secrets and where to attack, taking down an Illuminate Leviathan can become a grand experience.
Illuminate Leviathan Overview
The Illuminate Leviathans in Helldivers 2 is one of the nastiest foes on the battlefield. Tall, large, and generally enormous, it embodies the heavy bomber role of its faction to a tee. Being enormous doesn’t exempt it from damage, but with around 20,000 HP, it’s tough to gun down. Equipped with multiple laser canons situated under its head, as well as multiple bomb capsules located on its underside, it can perform terribly slow bombing runs at urban centers.
The Leviathan releases plasma showers intended for Helldivers, slow, heavy bombardments without order, capable of leveling Helldivers and cities. The Leviathan does not hunt you like some of the other factions, though. It sits for a while, practically hiding in the skies above, while Helldivers wait for their next gunfight. And during that time, they might be expected to find cover
The Leviathan’s slow bombing runs make it truly special from a behavioral perspective. It is able to deal an incredible amount of area damage with the rotating cannons and bomb payloads. The bomb payload could only be dropped on something directly below or nearly below it due to the capabilities of its guns.
When the glowing blue rings or circles located on the bottom underbelly or its joint areas between the segments of the body are destroyed, the Leviathan becomes inoperable. When all segments were destroyed, a catastrophic failure initiated, and violent explosions sent the Leviathan crashing to the ground. A weakened Leviathan with a disabled wing will create vulnerable flaming zones, all you need to attack for fatal finishers.
Recommended Weapons and Stratagems
The most powerful weapons will be the heavy anti-armor support weapons like the Recoilless Rifle and the Spear. Of the two weapons mentioned, the Recoilless Rifle is a player favorite. It has roughly four to six shots required with a good aim shot at the three glowing weak points. The Spear will also be able to take down a Leviathan, though it may take one extra shot. There are other great options, like Anti-Tank Emplacement. But the Anti-Tank Emplacement is often really limited due to the building structure blocking its fire.
Alongside heavy weapons, some stratagems are key when going up against the Leviathan or other Illuminate forces. It’s hard to argue against the Eagle Strafing Run as a viable option. It will inflict large amounts of damage to swarms of Illuminate enemies, as well as bigger foes in dense environments. Also, combining stratagems that produce heavy weapons and an Anti-Tank Emplacement will optimize your firepower capability and provide more control. Finally, players should also consider loadouts with powerful primary and secondary weapons that can effectively take down Illuminate units.
Tactical Approaches to Combat
The best strategy is to stay close underneath the Leviathan and hit a few weak points on the underside. Those areas are the most vulnerable to damage, and the damage done in those areas affects the Leviathan’s health pool. Do not strike at the upper side or turrets, as upgrades are not designed to inflict damage on the Leviathan. If the Leviathan is destroyed, and players are directly under it while crashing down, they can be crushed to death.
If you have a lot of players with anti-tank weapons, you can apply constant damage in a concentrated manner. The Anti-Tank Emplacement can provide high damage consistently while defending an objective by at least two players who protect it from an attack by a smaller enemy. This allows reloads to be staggered between them to maintain fire and avoid a situation where downtime or reload happens.
Conclusion
Taking down the Illuminate Leviathans in Helldivers 2 might feel overwhelming at first. But in reality, with the right tactics and firepower, it can quickly turn into one of the most exciting wins. Just remember these tips and strategies, stay calm, and you will be killing the Illuminate Leviathan in no time.
