Helldivers 2 2025 Update: Enhanced Emotes, Gameplay Balancing

Arrowhead has launched the first major Helldivers 2 update for 2025, introducing significant gameplay enhancements.

Patch 01.002.101, now available, extends the gas status effect duration from spray weapons, restores emote functionality during flight or ragdoll states, and includes various balance adjustments and bug fixes.

As Helldivers 2 approaches its first anniversary, the introduction of the Illuminate faction revitalizes the Galactic War narrative. Players speculate this 5GB+ update subtly introduces new content alongside balancing and fixes.

One peculiar change stands out for its unsettling nature!

Fixed a minor visual glitch with the Stalker’s tongue (the fix was no small feat)

Helldivers 2 update 01.002.101 patch notes:

Balancing

General Changes

Gas status effect duration from spray weapons extended from 6 to 10 secondsAdded a despawn timer for Illuminate dropship wreckage to prevent path obstruction in colonies

Helldiver

The Ministry of Humanity updated its Safe Lifting Guidelines, now permitting Helldivers to jog while carrying two-handed items like barrels and SEAF Artillery Rounds

FRV

Helldivers are now authorized to deploy grenades and stratagems while leaning out from the FRVImproved FRV handling for smoother cornering

Sidearms

Starting magazines increased from 2 to 3Spare magazines increased from 4 to 5

Stratagem Support Weapons

TX-41 Sterilizer

Eliminated crosshair drift recoilReduced camera climb recoilGas status effect duration from spray weapons extended from 6 to 10 seconds

Armor Passives

After player feedback, the Siege Ready Armor Passive bug, which grants extra ammo to all magazine-based weapons (not just primaries), will remain unfixed. The Armory description will be updated later, pending checks for unintended issues

Backpacks

AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath

Reworked to boost effectiveness and maintain its unique gas-based mechanics.

Now conserves ammo by targeting only enemies unaffected by gas, moving to new targets once gas is appliedTargeting logic adjusted to keep the drone closer, using the Helldiver’s position as the originTargeting range extended from 10 to 20 metersGas status effect duration from spray weapons extended from 6 to 10 seconds

Stratagems

MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield

Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 secondsDamage increased from 350 to 700Mine deployment spread increased by 20% to reduce chain explosion risks

MD-I4 Incendiary Mines

Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 secondsDamage increased from 210 to 300Mine deployment spread increased by 20% to reduce chain explosion risks

MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines

Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 seconds

SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack

Now blocks melee attacks until it breaks from sufficient damage

Fixes

Resolved Top Priority issues:

Emoting while falling or ragdolling is back! It no longer reduces fall damage, but you can express yourself freely as you plummet to potential doom or injury - nothing a stim can’t handle!Fixed Illuminate spawner ship shields not taking impact grenade damageResolved collision gaps in Illuminate spawner ships, allowing grenades near doors to destroy themHealth packs now fully restore all Helldiver stimsHigh-damage weapons now detonate spawned Hellbombs on the map

Crash Fixes, Hangs and Soft-locks:

Fixed a crash during missions with active Democracy Space Station effectsResolved a crash when hot-joining a mission on a planet with the Democracy Space StationFixed a crash from rapid emote switching before another client interacted with the emoting playerReduced crash likelihood from firesFixed a rare crash at the end of the drop-in sequence when hot-joiningFixed a crash when returning to the ship while reloading a primary weaponFixed a soft-lock during drop-in when the host left or disconnected after loadoutFixed a crash from repeated armor changes in the armoryFixed a crash after completing the tutorial and naming the DestroyerFixed a crash during extractionFixed a crash under heavy projectile fire when returning to the shipFixed a crash when the host, holding a carryable objective, quit the gameFixed a crash when a player left during an encounter startFixed a crash from changing text languageFixed a crash when reloading the SG-20 Halt

Social Issues & Matchmaking

Enhanced matchmaking to prioritize players from nearby regionsImproved matching with lobbies of the same difficulty as selectedFixed chat history clearing when transitioning to and from missions

Weapons and Stratagems

Text chat during emplacement use now keeps players in the emplacement, not switching to weaponsFixed Arc weapons failing to reliably hit Impaler tentacles at lower sectionsE/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement now shows correct armor penetration tag in the ship menuStratagem turrets no longer target Illuminate Tesla TowersFixed a visual bug with heat weapon progress bars in the weapon wheelMelee weapons no longer launch civilian cars or objects long distancesB-1 Supply Pack now provides stims to teammates again - sharing is caring!Fixed players getting stuck in the E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement after depleting ammo

FRV

Reinforced FRVs to withstand minor collisions without explodingEnhanced FRV camera for smoother visuals and to prevent getting stuck undergroundReduced FRV drops onto rooftopsFixed non-QWERTY keyboard input issues for FRV movement keysFixed excessive knockback on enemies like the Brood Commander when hit by the FRV

Helldiver

Fixed ragdolling into the FRV causing it to launch into spaceResolved issues preventing Helldivers from climbing or vaulting over civilian carsFixed sliding on the ground after ragdolling from a blastFixed stuck prone gliding animation in shallow water after ragdollingFixed missing sample pick-up animations

Enemies

Fixed a minor visual glitch with the Stalker’s tongue (the fix was no small feat)Enemies now react to missed projectile or melee attacks near them

Miscellaneous Fixes

Fixed incorrect audio triggers by clients waiting for the host to join loadoutResolved Helldivers exiting hellpods prematurely before the loading screenFixed civilian pathfinding issues during Emergency Evacuation missionsReduced purple question mark encounters on Sandy and Arctic planets during Illuminate missionsFixed floating head visuals with AC-2 Obedient armor and certain helmetsCorrected a December bug where low armor penetration weapons dealt 1 damage instead of 0, fixing misleading feedbackEnemies now sink into the ground when killed near terminals or extraction points, preventing blockages

Known Issues

Top Priority:

Black box mission terminal may be unusable if it spawns clipped into the groundStratagem balls bounce unpredictably off cliffs and certain areasBalancing and functionality issues with DSSPathfinding problems in Evacuate Colonists Illuminate missionsDolby Atmos not functioning on PS5

Medium Priority:

Players may get stuck on Pelican-1’s ramp during extractionExplosives can cause hidden Helldivers behind terrain to ragdollEquipped capes display as blank grey in the Armory tab“This is Democracy” emote on the ship may accidentally launch teammates into spaceAX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath lacks an out-of-ammo indicatorBarrager Tanks turret has armor 0 and no weak spotsHigher zoom functions fail to scope in on the LAS-5 ScytheCharge-up weapons may misbehave when fired faster than their RPM limit