For an Automaton mission, decide what you need your equipment to do at the ranges and locations you expect. This guide does not promise one- or two-shot kills across all weak points or certify a universal bot loadout.
New to the game? Start with the beginner guide. Choosing equipment? Use the loadout selection guide to connect weapon, support and squad roles.
Begin with a coverage check
The official co-op overview describes choosing equipment with the mission and enemy types in mind. Use that principle to identify your squad’s missing response before duplicating an entire recommended kit.
| Situation to plan for | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| A target behind protection | What attack or alternative approach can you use if your usual weapon is ineffective? |
| A ranged encounter | Can you use the selected tool at the distance and angle actually presented? |
| A task requiring interaction | Who can carry out the task while the group handles the surrounding encounter? |
| Lost support equipment | Can the remaining kit still perform a useful role? |
Plan an alternative, not just a preferred shot
An exposed part in a clear demonstration may be difficult to aim at during your actual mission. Before treating that shot as your entire plan, consider what you will do if the angle is unavailable, your support item is lost or another target interrupts. Discuss which teammate can provide a different response.
Use terrain observations carefully
Record whether a location actually breaks the line of fire you are facing. Do not turn an observed quiet position into a guarantee that every projectile or enemy behavior is blocked there. If teammates must move through the same area, account for their route when selecting where to deploy support.
Compare a change across attempts
Keep mission type and the rest of your equipment similar when trying a different tool. Record whether the change solved the original task, how often it was unavailable and what new gap it created. A loadout that makes one target easier but leaves the objective uncovered is a tradeoff to evaluate.
Read weak-point claims with their evidence
The armor penetration guide separates dated patch changes from universal damage charts. This site has no controlled current-build tests establishing the former article’s exact kill counts. Use the stratagem coverage worksheet to coordinate alternatives.
Source and scope
Official equipment-selection and cooperative-role context provides the documented context identified above. Source review: 11 October 2026. The decision sheets are editorial suggestions; no controlled performance testing is claimed. Published by Helldivers Catalog Expansion.
