As an experienced Helldiver, you know that success isn't just about shooting straight—it's about understanding the battlefield. The Galactic War is complex, and your effectiveness hinges on knowing how planets, missions, and objectives work in practice. This guide breaks down the system based on common player experiences.

How Do I Choose a Planet and Difficulty?
You select your operation from the Galactic Campaign map. First, you choose which enemy faction (Terminids, Automatons, or possibly the Illuminate) you want to fight. The map is divided into sectors, and each sector contains multiple planets. Each planet is tied to a specific difficulty level, ranging from Trivial to Helldive. The horizontal row of planets you see represents this full difficulty spectrum. In general, most players progress through these difficulties as they upgrade their gear and master their strategies. Higher difficulties not only have tougher and more numerous enemies but also offer better rewards, such as increased experience points and the rare Super Credits. It’s worth noting that some players, looking to accelerate their progress in acquiring Super Credits, Research Samples, and Warbond Medals, might be tempted to buy Helldivers 2 medals online at U4N, though most of the community finds earning them through missions to be more rewarding and in the spirit of the game.

What Are the Different Planet Environments and Hazards?
Each planet has an environment that directly impacts tactics and survival. There are four main types, each with distinct hazards.

Desert: These offer wide-open spaces, good for long sightlines and using vehicles or static defenses. The trade-off is that enemies also have a clear line of fire. Instant-kill hazards include minefields and bottomless pits.

Snow: Movement is the key challenge here. Walking through deep snow slows you dramatically, preventing sprinting and reducing your dive distance. Staying on icy lakes or paths is crucial. Hazards include freezing water that kills on contact.

Forest/Swamp: This is the most terrain-heavy environment, with dense trees and structures creating natural corridors. Stealth is harder due to frequent enemy contact, and swampy water will also slow your movement. It lacks instant-kill hazards but often leads to getting surrounded.

Volcanic: Added in a post-launch update, these planets are deceptively dangerous. Your mobility isn’t hindered, but magma pools and sudden volcanic eruptions can instantly wipe a squad. They require constant environmental awareness.

How Do Missions and Objectives Actually Work?
A mission on a planet usually consists of 2 to 3 separate operations on procedurally generated maps. You’ll face two main enemy patrol types: fast “hunter” units that chase you, and “scout” units that sound the alarm and call endless reinforcements. Managing scouts is often the difference between a controlled mission and a chaotic retreat.

Objectives are randomly selected for each mission and can be completed in any order. Common types include:

Destroy: Take out enemy structures like bug nests or automaton factories.

Deploy/Activate: Set up equipment like artillery or uplinks.

Retrieve: Carry an item (like a black box) to an extraction point.

Escort: Protect NPCs or vehicles to a destination.

Eliminate: Kill a specific high-value target.

Most players prioritize objectives that trigger alarms last, such as artillery emplacements or elimination targets. The mission is only a success if all primary objectives are completed and at least one Helldiver makes it to the extraction shuttle.

What Are the Special Mission Types?
Beyond standard missions, there are critical event-based operations that shape the galactic war.

Retaliatory Strikes: These are defensive hold-out missions. You must survive in a small area until a kill count is met. No samples can be collected here, and they are typically very intense, high-action sequences.

Planetary Assault (Major Order): These are large-scale, time-limited campaigns to capture an enemy planet. Success requires the collective effort of the entire player community to fill a global influence bar. They offer double XP and are vital for pushing the front line.

Defend Events (Capital/Homeworld Defense): When the enemy counter-attacks strongly, they can threaten a sector capital or even Super Earth itself. These missions take place in a unique City biome with tight streets and no environmental hazards. The community has a limited time to complete enough defense missions to push the enemy back. Failing a Homeworld Defense can lose the entire war.

What Should My Strategy Be Based on Planet and Mission?
Your loadout and approach should change with the environment and objective.

On open planets (Desert, Snow), many players favor long-range weapons and stratagems like turrets or airstrikes to control the battlefield.

On close-quarter planets (Forest, City), area-control weapons like the flamethrower, shotguns, and stratagems such as the orbital gas strike become more valuable.

For retrieve or escort missions, mobility is key. Most players avoid bringing slow, stationary stratagems.

In higher difficulties, the universal strategy is to avoid unnecessary fights. Running past patrols and only engaging when an objective demands it is the standard practice for efficient play.

Remember, your primary goals are completing objectives and extracting with any collected samples. Choosing the right planet for your squad’s skill level, adapting your loadout to the environment, and understanding the mission flow are the core skills of a seasoned Helldiver.