Helldivers 2 won’t just give you attachments and customization weapons; you have to work for it. Gaining its full potential requires systemic mastery of the individual guns, which may require some dedication. With that said, there are some effective ways to optimize your leveling. Be it a skin or vital modification; in this guide, we provide you with the fastest ways to earn weapon XP in Helldivers 2.

How Does Weapon XP Work in Helldivers 2?

Unlike some games that award weapon XP based on kills or accuracy, Helldivers 2 ties weapon XP directly to your mission performance. That means your best bet isn't camping at bug holes or grinding out enemies, it's completing missions quickly, thoroughly, and efficiently.

The more XP you earn in a mission, the more your currently equipped weapon levels up. This means you’ll need to use the weapon you want to level throughout the mission and aim to finish all primary and side objectives for the best return.

If you’re serious about leveling weapons fast, play on Super Helldive difficulty. Not only do missions give more XP, but your contribution to planetary liberation also goes further after the 1.003.000 update.

Best Missions to Farm Weapon XP Fast

If you're looking to optimize your XP-per-minute ratio, not all missions are created equal. Two mission types stand out as the best for farming weapon XP:

Eradication Missions

• XP per run: ~1,000 XP
• Time to complete: ~10 minutes
• Tips: Fast-paced and relatively straightforward. Choose whatever enemy faction you're most comfortable dealing with.

Blitz: Search and Destroy Missions

• XP per run: ~2,000 XP (even without completing side objectives)
• Time to complete: ~10–15 minutes
• Tips: Prioritize missions against Automatons. Their outposts and objectives are highly susceptible to heavy weapons and orbital strikes.

Recommended Loadout for Weapon XP Farming

To farm efficiently, you need a loadout built for speed and destruction. Here’s a sample loadout optimized for fast clears and objective demolition:

Primary Weapon

• GP-31 Ultimatum – Excellent for clearing Fabricators and squads without needing pinpoint aim.

Secondary Gear

• G-123 Thermite Grenade – Perfect for burning through Fabricators during Quasar cooldowns.

Stratagems

• LAS-99 Quasar Cannon – Great for mobile destruction of Fabricators and light vehicles.
• Orbital 120mm HE Barrage – Use it for AA Guns, Detector Towers, and other small side objectives.
• Orbital Walking Barrage / Orbital Laser – Ideal for clearing Heavy Outposts or Fortresses.
• Eagle 500kg Bomb – Wipes out dense enemy clusters or tough objectives in one blast.

Farming Tips and Tactics

• Prioritize Fabricators: These are often clustered near objectives and destroying them contributes heavily to success. Use the Quasar Cannon or Thermite Grenades for quick takedowns.
• Use the Environment: Stratagem Jammers can be tricky, but if there's a Fabricator nearby, destroying it may also wipe out the Jammer due to its explosion radius.
• Stay Mobile: Farming means speed. Don’t linger unless you’re cleaning up a side objective. Clear and move.
• Don’t Stress Kills: Since weapon XP is tied to mission XP, killing extra enemies isn't necessary unless it contributes to an objective. Complete tasks fast and move on.

Grinding weapon XP in Helldivers 2 can be time-consuming, but with the right strategy and loadout, you can make the process far more efficient. Focus on mission completions, equip the gun you want to level, and hit up Eradication or Blitz missions for fast returns.