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TheFLAM-40 Flamethrowerhas always been a powerful weapon that relied on skill, teamwork, and a bit of luck inHelldivers 2. However, it could never find its place in tier lists because of how other weapons were easier to handle in comparison. Following the release of Patch 01.000.200, though, theFlamethrower received a massive buffthat makes it hard to ignore any longer.It now does 50% more damage per second, which lets you burn armored enemies like Chargers within seconds.
The Flamethrower is excellent against Terminids, but not a good pick against Automatons. This is because bots have ranged attacks. You will have a hard time trying to get in close to burn them.
Note that the following Flamethrower build focuses on damage and survivability inHelldivers 2. It is not aimed at making you a pyromaniac. There are fire-based weapons and stratagems that you can pick if you want to be decked out with arson attacks. Such a build, however, only looks good on paper. The Eagle Napalm Strike, for example, creates scorched earth for miles, but is useless against large enemies. That being said, there is always room to tweak a build according to your preferred playstyle. Use the following recommendations as a starting point for a FLAM-40 Flamethrower build.
Best Weapons
Finding theright primary weaponto complement your Flamethrower is essential. TheSG-225 Breakeris an excellent choice to soften enemies without the need for precision. TheSG-225IE Breaker Incendiaryversion does the same thing, while also burning targets when you are not using the Flamethrower. If you want something with more range, consider picking up theLAS-16 Sickle. It gives unlimited ammunition as long as you manage its heat sinks. It is also highly accurate for targeting weak spots.
The SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary can be purchased from the Steeled Veterans Warbond. The LAS-16 Sickle must be purchased from the Cutting Edge Warbond.
Lastly, the secondary weapon slot goes to theP-19 Redeemer.Helldivers 2is yet to add a secondary that is as helpful as the fully-automatic pistol, so it’s just as useful with this build as any other.
Best Grenade
Purchase the Cutting Edge Premium Warbond to improve your Flamethrower build furthe. It contains theG-23 Stun Grenade, which stuns all enemies in its blast radius. While it does no damage, its ability toimmobilize priority enemies such as Chargershelps you to stand your ground with a Flamethrower.
There is little need for G-10 Incendiary and G-123 Thermite Grenades. The Flamethrower already does more than enough damage, so you do not need the extra burning ticks. Focus on improving your build’s sustainability instead.
When playing higher-difficulty missions, it is normal to face groups of armored enemies that are tough to take down with a Flamethrower.G-23 Stun Grenadesbecome vital in such situations. Make sure to group enemies before stunning them, and then burn them to a crisp before they can start moving again.
The G-23 Stun Grenade is not the onlygreat item from Cutting Edge. Hence, don’t be afraid of spending 1,000 Super Credits on the Premium Warbond.
Best Armor for Flamethrower
The Flamethrower is a double-edged sword. While it does tremendous damage per second, it’s inevitable that you will eventually take damage by accidentally igniting yourself. Since the Flamethrower is a close-range weapon, the chances of enemies chipping away at your health are also high. Hence, the best armor passive for a Flamethrower build has to be theMed Kit. It allows you to carry two additional Stims, and extends your Stim effects for another 2 seconds.
you’re able to unlock theCM-09 Bonesnapper(medium)and theCM-14 Physician(medium)armor sets from the default Warbond for free. You can also wait for theHelldivers 2Superstore rotationto sell one of two armor with Med Kit passives: theCM-17 Butcher(heavy)or theCM-21 Trench Paramedic (light).
Medium armor is always the sweet spot. While light armor gives more mobility, it also makes you fragile. Heavy armor takes away your mobility to give you a few extra hit points.
Best Booster
Stamina Enhancementis thebest boosteryou can unlockfor the Flamethrower build inHelldivers 2. The increased stamina capacity and recovery allow you to kite enemies for longer durations. This is important, because you cannot sprint while using the Flamethrower. While you can still strafe, the weapon forces you to be more or less stationary while using it.
Use Stamina Enhancement to retreat a fair distance before turning around to douse enemy groups in liquid fire. You do not want them to get close. Burning enemies spread their flames to set you on fire if you are within range.
Best Stratagems for the Flamethrower Build
TheFLAM-40 Flamethroweris (obviously) the main support weapon you need to complete this build inHelldivers 2. It unlocks at level 10 for 6,000 Requisition Slips, and gives you an incredible amount of crowd control. The weapon shoots a jet of liquid fire that incinerates anything it touches. That includes enemies, terrain, and your teammates. You need to be careful where you aim the Flamethrower, and even more careful where you step, because the weapon creates burning patches on the ground.
Despite igniting enemies, you still need to focus the Flamethrower on the weak spots of armored enemies. Toquickly kill Bile Spewers, for example, it is far more efficient to focus fire from behind. In the case of Chargers, focus on their legs.
The next stratagem you need is theSH-20 Shield Generator Pack. It creates a spherical shield around you that absorbs incoming damage, including fire damage from burning enemies. You need the extra defense to stand your ground for as long as possible. However, if you are playing solo, theB-1 Supply Packwill be a better stratagem for the build, because the Flamethrower uses a lot of ammo. Since you will be holding the fire button to burn everything in sight, a single breach at high difficulty can use up two to three canisters. Having aSupply Pack ensures you are always stocked.
You can only use one backpack at a time, so choose either the Shield Generator Pack or the Supply Pack.
For the remaining stratagems, pick theOrbital Railcannon Strikeor theOrbital Laserto deal withlarge enemies like the Bile Titan. They also help with closing bug holes and destroying bot fabricators. Eagle Airstrike and Eagle Cluster Bomb are also a lethal combination if you are leaving it up to your teammates to deal with large enemies.
Best Ship Modules
Enhanced Combustion (Bridge)is one of thenew level 4 ship upgrades inHelldivers 2that were added alongside the release of Democratic Detonation. It increases the fire damage from stratagems by 25%, which covers the Flamethrower, the Eagle Napalm Airstrike, and Incendiary Mines. Enhanced Combustion is a necessary upgrade for the Flamethrower build, since its increased fire damage vastly reduces your time to kill.
Upgrading the entirePatriotic Administration Centeris recommended as well. Its modules reduce the cooldowns on support weapons and help with ammunition. Since the Flamethrower eats ammo like anything, you can call another one faster with the maximum ammo that you can carry. This is also helpful when you die and cannot recover your weapon.
