A new enemy type could be coming to Helldivers 2, the Illuminate, which return from the original Helldivers. While this is rumour and speculation, it makes perfect sense and today I’m going to dive into the potential for the Illuminate coming to Helldivers 2.
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Now the server issues seem to be stabilising in the game, we turn to the future and what content the developers could be adding in the future. Helldivers 2 Game Director Johan Pilestedt has been discussing new customisation options, plus also the potential for stealth based mechanics coming to the game in the near future.
Dataminers have been looking at the game files for Helldivers 2 and have potentially uncovered exciting news for the future. Reddit user Stodal posted on GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit with clues to the Illuminate coming to Helldivers 2.
A few different enemy types have been discovered including: Adept, Ghoul, Illusionist, Obelisk Fire, Outcast, Pathfinder, and Summoner. These enemies have the potential to switch up Helldivers 2 gameplay given Adept Illuminate can call for enemies and Illusionist Illuminate can choke victims at close range.
We also have new stratagems coming including a Nuke, MiniMissile and MedicBackpack. The datamined files also include something called ““DropoffCombatWalker”, which sounds like a whole load of fun, and could be a mech-inspired suit we wear to fight off enemy factions. Game Director Johan Pilestedt has already hinted at the DropoffCombatWalker coming to the game, so that could add fuel to the fire regarding these rumours.
New Faction Illuminate tease
The Illuminate are a faction from the first Helldivers game, and they have been teased in-game via the news broadcast ticker. When you are on your ship you will occasionally get adverts or news broadcasts, and at the bottom the Illuminate have been reportedly spotted, although the news is being brushed off as rumours spread by dissidents. We don’t know exactly when this new faction are going to arrive, however, Arrowhead Studios have said future content updates will be free players who have purchased the base game.
Who are the Illuminate?
The Illuminate are a water-based species who refer to themselves as the Squ’ith. They have advanced technology, and have the capcibility to mass produce arms. While they are aquatic in nature, they have technological augments which enhance their psychic powers. Their culture revolves around the persuit of knowledge, with followers failing towards this goal sent to their army, which they have no issue in sending wave after wave towards their enemies. The Illuminate are also have a vast army of robots to carry out their warfare.
How could the Illuminate work in Helldivers 2?
There are many different variants of Illuminate. The smaller units include Watchers and Observers, they are robots that come heavily armoured and are equipped with weapons. They don’t pose much threat on their own but they come in vast numbers and can call in reinforcements, so it’s worth taking them out as quickly as possible.
Infantry units of the Illuminate come in a few variants and a couple to watch include the Tripod and Strider units. They are tanky and unleash electrical attacks that slow or kill Helldivers prettyy quickly. There are also Hunters and Apprentice. Hunters are long-range units which attack with electrical pulses, and Apprentice are melee based units with the ability to unleash nanobots. Outcast units are members of the Illuminate who have failed in their quest for knowledge and have been sent to the infantry. They have weak melee weapons and also invisibility cloaks.
The Illuminate also have dangerous Special Units. They include the Obelisk, these provide a protective barrier via a robotic dome. This protects the Illuminate from attacks, but allows the Illuminate to inflict damage on the Helldivers.
The ones to watch are the Illusionists and Council Members. These are members of Illuminate high society and have heavy shields and nanobots with the ability to control other lifeforms. They have the potential to ruin a Helldivers vision and movement.
Finally we have The Great Eye. This is a heavily armoured robot, similar to the Hulk. The Great Eye can send out powerful bombs that can either stun or outright kill Helldivers.
We don’t know when the Illuminate are coming to Helldivers 2, but given we have a tease in-game, plus the rumours fueled by datamined files, I would expect them to come to Helldivers 2 in a short amount of time. Arrowhead Studios have built up a huge amount of momentum with the game, and now they have ironed out the initial server issues, they can focus on future updates including improvements, balancing and new features – and a new enemy faction sounds like it could change the way we play in the best way possible.
Let me know in the comments what you think.