Hulk (Helldivers 2)

As with all Automaton units, the plodding Hulk is brainlessly optimized to do nothing except deliver heavy firepower. If encountered, the recommended protocol for Helldivers is to immediately call in the largest Orbital bombardment available.

They can be divided into three types:


 * Bruiser - Hulks equipped with an autocannon and a rocket launcher.
 * Scorcher - Hulks equipped with a flamethrower and a buzzsaw. Will attempt to aggressively close the distance instead of bombarding their targets from range.
 * Obliterator - Hulks equipped with a rocket pod.

WARNING: Owing to the large, freedom-hating reactors needed to power such a despotic machine, all variants of Hulk will explode violently upon destruction. It is advised by Super Earth High Command to take down Hulks from as long a range as possible to avoid being caught in the blast.

Tactics

 * Can be killed by destroying their head or shooting the vent on their back. Their head (and limbs) are armored and will require support weapons to damage.
 * EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, LAS-99 Quasar Cannon and RL-112 Recoilless Rifle can achieve this easily.
 * If a player doesn't feel confident in their ability to line up a headshot their limbs can be crippled with the aforementioned weaponry above, however this strategy is much more useful on support weapons that need some accuracy to hit the head like the AC-8 Autocannon or APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle.
 * Crippling a Hulk's leg will basically nullify their movement speed and gives Helldivers a good opportunity to line up a headshot, this strategy is very useful on Scorcher variant Hulks.
 * Shooting off both legs will cause the Hulk to fall forward and explode.
 * Crippling their arms can also be a viable strategy, shooting off the rocket launcher arm on Bruiser variants or flamethrower arm on Scorcher variants can make them much more approachable to finish off.
 * Hulks are vulnerable to stun grenades and EMS strikes. Either can be used to disable a hulk to render them vulnerable to easy retaliation.
 * The Scorcher variants flamethrower has deceptively long range, always assume you are in danger of it and run the opposite direction when the flamethrower is active. The Scorcher will telegraph this attack with a small glint of light coming from the flamethrower nozzle.
 * Effective Stratagems for eliminating Hulks are the Orbital Railcannon Strike, Orbital Laser Strike, Orbital Precision Strike, Eagle 500kg Bomb and Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods.
 * Please note that the Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods and the Orbital Precision Strike will require some accuracy to successfully hit a hulk.

Important Intel

 * Scorchers are the most dangerous threat out of the three variants due to their flamethrower and their tendency to rush you like Berserkers. It is highly advised you put dealing with them as your top priority when spotted.
 * On Normal difficulty or higher, Hulks sometimes appear as targets of elimination for missions much like Chargers and Bile Titans. It’s highly recommended to bring dedicated anti-tank weaponry. The Hulk usually can be found underneath a large service crane within an Automaton facility.
 * The Bruiser variant can easily be eliminated from a safe distance away with anti-tank weaponry, as it stands still and makes it easy for Helldivers to shoot it in the head. The same can be said for the Obliterator variant however caution should be advised.
 * Much like Bile Titans, Hulks can be crushed with a Hellpod.

Trivia

 * The Hulk appears to be based off the Castraferrum Pattern Mark V Dreadnought for the arms and legs, while the torso piece is a Redemptor Pattern Dreadnought, both used by the Space Marines from Warhammer 40,000.
 * The Hulk's name is likely derived from an enemy from the first game. However, it is far more resemblant of the Warlord.
 * Unlike the standard Hulk Bruiser, the Scorcher variant visually has no shoulder armor, but has pointed spikes wrapped in barbed wire adorned with skulls and laughs much like a berserker while pursuing a target. The Hulk Obliterator also wears an Automaton flag war banner on its back.
 * On higher difficulties there is a guaranteed Hulk Obliterator spawn where Super Earth civilians are trapped on an Emergency Evacuation mission. This is very similar to how Terminids have a guaranteed Behemoth Charger spawn on the same objective.