Helldivers 2: Autocannon vs Chargers (2-3 Same Leg Shot Theory)

**UPDATE** Please check the pinned comment.

Bonus footage at the end if you really want to face off in a duel against a Bile Titan.

For testing and theory crafting purposes. If you wish to run a Railgun or something else, that's totally fine. This video is just for those that enjoy using the Autocannon and want to learn more about it. As the game came out barely a week ago, some of these tactics may end up changing due to buffs/nerfs that will happen in the future.

[udonlarge]

*UPDATE: Still working as of today (I don't know how it's not "fixed" yet but if so I'll take it as a canon strat till this is addressed soonTM)*
*TL;DR version* : Charger legs are vulnerable to *all* weapons at *any* angle during *specific* post-charge animations (added test video in description).

Greetings freedom fighters! I bring good news from the front. Based on a video posted by @Elbethium it seemed he was able to get Autocannon shots to penetrate from the front which made me consider a different theory I had in mind so I decided to dive in and study the bug menace a bit more.

Based on initial findings, it is plausible that any of the legs of a Charger are vulnerable from *any* angle but only during certain animations - the most prominent being its normal charge where it skids to a stop (without sideswipes). The optimal window of opportunity seems to start from when it finishes a straight charge (e.g. in the video), to when it has fully turned around and rears up for another charge or starts a different animation (e.g. his walk). This would explain why it only seemed like the rear legs were the key even when they had armor plates and why divers were unsuccessful at certain times even when hitting the back legs.

I would say the best time to send a leg the hurt is when the Charger skids to a stop or when it is in the middle of a lengthy turning around to reset its position.

This window of vulnerability can be tested with *ALL* weapons (even small arms/pistol fire) as well! So your standard issue pistol can serve as a litmus test for finding out if shots can get through.

This was tested solo quite successfully on difficulty 9 (Helldivers) multiple times but your mileage may vary (especially in teams when aggro bounces a lot) - please continue to experiment with these new theories while liberating our solar system.

[MyNamesJeff]

See, virgin bugs loose one leg and are like "oh no, I die :(".
Meanwhile chad Hulks loose both arms and are still on their way to kick your ass.

[zerovi]

Thank you i love the auto cannon and i have been struggling with chargers was thinking maybe it just wasn't good against them but now i know how to deal with them quickly

[amun]

Bile Titan gets nothing less than the 500 kg from my squad😂

[Pink-Kiwi]

I absolutely love the autocannon, chargers have been the only enemy I've had difficulty using it on, thabks for the guide.

[KC-bgth]

My guess for why the front sometimes takes 3 shots:

When you're hitting the back legs, the splash damage from the explosion is also hitting the soft spot.
When you're hitting the front legs, you're only hitting the legs/leg armour.

[kyousey]

So you're telling me I don't need to bring a railgun or a recoiless for these guys anymore...? MORE AUTOCANNON FREEDOM!!!

[MathewCrichton]

love this! you all are like a "research lab" for helldivers sharing out tips & tricks from the frontlines

[Jergling]

I think this lends further credence to the hitbox desync theory. The splash gives a higher chance for auto cannon shots to hit the soft spots during the frames where the armor hitboxes are in the wrong place.

[Zulban]

I could be completely wrong, but I think some of the inconsistency, especially when aiming for joints, is just armor deflection angle. When aiming at the rear legs and it's facing away from you the armor on the leg almost makes a v shape, so shooting the outside (slope facing away from the charger) part of the leg has a less favorable angle than shooting the part that's inside (slope facing the charger) after it's charged past you. This is also most likely why it's nearly impossible to do anything to it from the front, because when it's facing directly at you so much of that very thick armor is sloping up and to the sides, making it basically impenetrable to anything short of stratagems, rockets, autocannon turrets, or railguns.

It should also be noted that if *any* of the armor (legs, back, side, whatever) has been destroyed, shooting that part with any weapon does a lot of damage to it. So if you miss a shot with a rocket launcher but still hit its side, aim for the exposed side anyways with your primary.

[lmichnowicz]

thanks for the tip about the splash damage from the ground, now i know not to do that, and i thought that kinda worked. But now i see i had no idea how to actually use the autocannon.

[Gothic]

If you can get the drop on them, you can one shot Chargers with the Spear. You need to be facing the front though, and it can be aggro’d. The missile once locked on will remove its head in one shot, killing it outright.

[chronoatog]

You can quick kill the bile titan with mouth shots (2 I believe, sometimes got 1. so two might have been a bad shot or damaged enough.) with the auto cannon and rail gun.
The leg appendage can be taken out by AMR/AC, but the platting in the front is heavy armor pen only.

[soulsythings]

I usually use the Railgun and nail 2 or 3 shots into its front leg of choice. Or EAT if you hit right. But knowing I can with this to helps since I enjoy the auto cannon more then those

[UltraXan]

Got myself the autocannon and KNEW I could use it against Charges, but I didn't know how. Shots just kept pinging off the legs, so I switched back to using the recoilless rifle and going for head shots. Worked decently, but ultimately means I have one slot dedicated purely to chargers. This video is EXACTLY what I needed to see. Gonna be bringing the autocannon on my next deployment now!

[DoctorPhilGud]

Thank you for this. I wasnt even sure the autocannon could kill one of these things. My autocannon shots kept bouncing off.

[Vertutame]

We appreciate your attribution for the freedom of superEarth

[i_my-familymydude]

this will help greatly with the railgun nerf ty for the knowledge

[OG-Cyan]

Oh thank god you found how to kill one with the autocannon. I thought I was doomed to take the recoilless every time one was around

[propeltheprototoaster]

Fyi. When facing. Abuoem titan from the front, thos too little mandible things inbetween it's two front legs can be damaged by the AC. The damage is equivalent to shooting the big orange thing at its back but it causes the charger to stumble, making it really useful for running