This is possibly the easiest way to deal with Leviathans in Helldivers 2

Fighting for managed democracy against the tyrannical Automatons can be a real headache, especially when a towering Leviathan shows up and starts raining down deadly projectiles. These massive, multi-limbed automatons are a menace, capable of wiping out an entire squad with their explosive attacks. But what if there was a simple trick to make them completely harmless?

A recent thread on the Helldivers subreddit, which has garnered a massive 6.6K upvotes, suggests an incredibly straightforward tactic. According to Reddit user AstralDemons, smoke grenades and smoke screens can entirely prevent Leviathans from shooting at you. They claim to have run a full operation using this method. “Whenever I had smoke down,” AstralDemons explained, “regardless of whether I was standing in it or had it breaking LoS to the leviathan, I was not shot at even when the spotlight was aimed at me.”

This news could be a game-changer for many Helldivers struggling with these formidable foes. Imagine, no more dodging devastating barrages, no more desperate dives for cover. Just pop some smoke, and the Leviathan becomes a big, blind, metal statue.

The community’s reaction has been a mix of excitement and cautious optimism. User URZthane immediately saw the potential, commenting, “Hmmm could be pretty useful tech with that especially when you are forced to hold an objective area like raise the flag. Thanks for the tip!” Holding a position against relentless Automatons is often a death sentence when a Leviathan is in play. Smoke could provide that crucial window for divers to complete objectives without constant bombardment.

However, not everyone is fully convinced. There’s been some debate in the Helldivers community about the consistency of smoke’s effectiveness. “I know the tips say that’s a thing, but I’ve seen conflicting information over the past year and now I’m still not sure if it’s real or not,” said Termt. “I sure haven’t been able to tell myself.” Another player shared a couple of clips showing that smoke was unhelpful in their situation. Here’s one of those clips for reference:

Yet, the idea remains compelling. If it works consistently, smoke could free up valuable stratagem slots that would otherwise be used for heavy offensive options to take down Leviathans. Instead, you could bring more utility or anti-infantry options, making your squad even more versatile.

Another user, dragon7449, also chimed in on a related theory about “pressure fire” affecting bot accuracy. They believe shooting in the general vicinity of bots, even if your shots don’t directly penetrate their armor, can make them less accurate. While this isn’t directly related to Leviathans and smoke, it speaks to the hidden mechanics and strategies players are constantly uncovering in Helldivers 2.

The general consensus from the positive comments is that smoke creates a “line of sight” break. Essentially, if the Leviathan can’t see you, it can’t target you. This is a simple concept, but incredibly powerful if implemented effectively. Some players have suggested using Eagle Smoke Strikes for their wider coverage, while others mention the tactical grenade slot for quick deployment of smoke.

While some divers might argue that smoke doesn’t “counter” the Leviathan in the traditional sense of dealing damage, it effectively neutralizes its primary threat: its powerful, long-range attacks. By making the Leviathan irrelevant, even for a short period, players gain a massive tactical advantage. So, next time you’re dropping into an Automaton mission, consider packing some smoke.