Best sniper rifle in Helldivers 2

Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 launched with only a few weapons, but this lineup was quickly expanded. For example, the number of Marksman Rifles has doubled since the game's release. But are these new additions worth the hype, or are players better off sticking with theirs? R-63 Diligence? After all, how much better could the precision playstyle get in a game with such defined weak points?

To answer that question, this list ranks all of the game's sniper rifles by their damage, accuracy, and additional features. Players can also find suggestions for what else to pair with each primary weapon when creating their loadout. Read on to hear the verdict on which shotgun to take on your next mission.

Family

Helldivers 2: 5 Most Underrated Charges

Helldivers 2 has an impressive collection of weapons with meta builds, but some loadouts are more underrated than others.

Updated on January 22, 2025 by Abigail Angell: Players continue to hope for a new sniper rifle in Helldivers 2, and while they continue to be disappointed, the existing rifles have seen a variety of balance changes. It is still unclear if these are a consequence of the armor changes, or if Arrowhead is making the conscious decision to buff the Marksman Rifles in the game. The top ranked weapon on this list, the R-36 Eruptor, got a significant damage boost in the latest update anyway.

4

R-63 Diligence

A beginner's first shooting rifle

• Easy and cheap to unlock

• Very accurate shots

• Largest capacity in the Marksman Rifle category

This R-63 Flit
is fairly easy to get early on, and is the best sniper rifle for players until they unlock something better (similar to the Liberator being the basic assault rifle). This gun is serviceable, with higher stopping power than other early guns and exceptional effectiveness at long range.

Also, some players may enjoy the not-so-extreme recoil and magazine size, which makes it that best option in the category of sniper rifles for close range. However, this half-hearted commitment to the sniper playstyle will not benefit players on higher difficulties, where they will need more damage than Diligence can provide. Instead, the ideal approach is to choose a different sniper rifle and bring a high-level sidearm (eg. P-19 Redemptor
) for close combat.

3

R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper

Higher firepower and lower magazine capacity

• Direct upgrade to Standard Diligence

• Less magazine capacity

• Medium armor penetration

R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper
is an upgrade from the standard Diligence in almost every way. It retains the important scope feature, while gaining a significant damage buff, and medium armor-piercing rounds. The only places where the Counter Sniper struggles are its slightly reduced magazine capacity and greater recoil. However, stopping power and cup penetration are so much more important in a shotgun than its recoil, that this is hardly worth mentioning.

Family

Helldivers 2: Every Assault Rifle, ranked

Wondering which primary weapons are the best in Helldivers 2? This list ranks all assault rifles by damage, handling, and armor penetration.

That said, it is necessary to make up for the R-63CS Diligence's poor close-range handling with a nimble alternative weapon. An alternative is the P-19, but this gun also fits nicely into a Flamethrower Build, or with the Stalwart. Also, optimal play with Diligence Counter Sniper includes maintaining significant distance from enemies whenever possible, so plan to bring Stratagems to create space. Common options for this purpose i Helldivers 2 include EMS Mortar, EMS Strike, or the one Eagle smoke bomb.

2

JAR-5 Dominator

The honor rifle

• Reload animation shortcut

• Higher damage than Diligence rifle

• Slow response time

While JAR-5 Dominator
isn't technically tagged as a sniper rifle, the playstyle similarities between it and the other weapons on this list have earned it a spot. This gun can be fired in either semi-automatic or burst fire mode and is accurate enough to hit targets on medium to long range. Similarly, it can stun enemies and has high damage and a small magazine capacity, reward precision over quantity.

Also, even though it is tagged as having explosive shots, this is not an AoE weapon. This means players can benefit from the extra damage without the typical friendly fire risk – it can even be used safely at close range. Unfortunately, it suffers from a slow response time and long reload animation. Skilled players can shorten their reload time with reloaded with one bullet left in the chamberwhich skips a segment of the animation.

1

R-36 Eruptor

A sniper rifle with explosive shots

• Explosive AoE rounds destroy enemy spawn points

• Highest damage in the Marksman Rifle category

• Great Stagger and Armor Penetration

R-36 Eruptor Rifle
from Democratic Detonation Warbond is the sniper rifle that has it all: medium armor penetration, explosive AoE bullets, incredible damage and a scope. These characteristics make it the best sniper rifle for taking out patrols or deadly enemies from a distance, and one of the best weapons in Helldivers 2. It will kill most things in one shot, but if it doesn't, rest assured that the enemy will be staggered long enough to hit it again.

In addition to destroying chargers and Devastators, the R-36 Eruptor also blows up spawners and containers. This, combined with the weapon's range, means users can take out Bot Factories and Bug Nests from impressive distances. The downside is the risk of the AoE damage backfiring. Many Helldivers have perished from this gun's friendly fire. Additionally, it has one of the smallest capacities in the game, meaning reloads are a frequent occurrence. Bringing a backup gun for crowd control, like the P-19 or Stalwart, is a must. Players may also find it useful to bring an ammo backpack to compensate for the smaller ammo pool they will have with the Eruptor.

Game

My favorite games
My played games
My game wishlist

System

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer

Arrowhead Game Studios

OpenCritic Rating

Strong