When a giant bug is about to eat your head, there’s no better defense than a trusty shotgun. Helldivers 2 has several great options, but the SG-8S Slugger stands out. Firing a single, densely packed round, the Slugger deals more single-target damage than any conventional weapon in the game. Wielding a primary weapon with so much punch allows you to rip through Terminids and Automatons as easily as the Doom Slayer, but it’s not without its drawbacks. Learn to master this weapon’s powerful punch, however, and you could be Managed Democracy’s greatest champion. Here’s how to get and use the SG-8S Slugger in Helldivers 2.
How To Get and Use the SG-8S Slugger
Unlocking the SG-8S Slugger takes a bit of grinding in Helldivers 2. That’s because you’ll find this weapon on Page Eight of the free “Helldivers Mobilize!” Warbond battle pass, which costs 60 Warbond Medals to unlock. What does the Slugger offer in exchange? High damage, high recoil, a low RoF, and 16-slug capacity. Even more interesting are its Traits: Light Armor Penetrating and Rounds Reload. The latter means that you load the Slugger one round at a time. Like the Arc Thrower and other specialty weapons, the key is to learn its unique quirks.
The SG-225 Breaker is great, but the Slugger outperforms its rival shotgun in several areas. The Slugger is a superior mid-range option in Helldivers 2 thanks to its scope. There’s also no risk of wasting ammunition with a premature reload thanks to its single-load trait. Its powerful stagger effect combined with its ability to punch through multiple foes in a single shot make the Slugger ideal for clearing space around yourself and your squad.
Slugger Usage and Tactics
The Slugger has undeniable stopping power. It’s capable of putting down Hive Guards, Bile Spewers, and even Chargers in just a handful of shots. Weaker Terminids, meanwhile, die in a single shot. Pairing the Slugger with a Sentry or Cluster Bomb Stratagem is a good way to make up for the Slugger’s low RoF. It can be difficult to keep up if you get surrounded by multiple, speedy enemies, so make sure you have either Stratagems or a secondary weapon to help. You can one-shot Devastators with this shotgun if you land a headshot, and since it comes with a scope, that’s relatively easy with practice. It struggles against Striders and Hulks, however, so beware on Automaton planets.
Helldivers 2 is available for PC and PlayStation 5.
