Planets

Selecting a planet is the means by which Helldiver players choose the difficulty of their next mission/s. Players must first use the Galactic Campaign map to decide which enemy to fight (either Bugs, Cyborgs or the Illuminate), they will then be presented with 12 different planets for their chosen enemy, ranging in difficulty: Originally, players could choose from planets with three possible environments: Snow, Desert or Forest. The free expansion pack 'Turning Up The Heat' (released 12 May 2015) added a fourth environment: Volcanic.
 * 1) A Dive in the Park
 * 2) Very Easy
 * 3) Easy
 * 4) Medium
 * 5) Challenging
 * 6) Very Challenging
 * 7) Hard
 * 8) Very Hard
 * 9) Hard as Hell
 * 10) Suicide Mission
 * 11) Impossible
 * 12) Helldive

Each terrain type presents its own distinct difficulties or hazards that impact gameplay, for example deep snow and swamps hinder player movement while volcanic eruptions can incinerate Helldiver forces.

Missions


Regular planets consist of between one and three different missions, each carried out on a procedurally-generated map populated with enemy scouts (such as the Bug Vanguard, Illuminate Observer or Cyborg IFV) that will call for reinforcements after spotting Helldiver troops—there is no limit to the number of reinforcements that can spawn during the course of a mission.

Every mission features several objectives (randomly selected from the following list) which can be undertaken in any order but must be completed before Helldiver troops are allowed to leave enemy territory. Players should be aware that some of these objectives can be failed while still allowing the mission to be completed.

In-depth information about each objective type can be found here. Objectives can be divided into a few types: &#42; Objective can be failed.
 * 1) Exterminate a varying amount of enemies;
 * 2) Destroy (Bug Nests, Cyborg AA Guns, Illuminate Beacons);
 * 3) Retrieve (Black Box*, Illuminate Power Core*);
 * 4) Escort (Survivors*, Resource Convoy*);
 * 5) Deploy (SAM Site, Truth Transmitter, Oil Extractor, Artillery*, Launchpad*, Geological Survey*);
 * 6) Defuse Unexploded Ordnance;
 * 7) Assassinate (Bug Brood Commander, Cyborg Warlord, Illuminate Council Member);
 * 8) Capture Area;
 * 9) Extract.

The mission is deemed successful when all objectives have been accomplished and at least one Helldiver boards the extraction shuttle. If no Helldiver manages to board the shuttle then it will leave after a short time, however, it can then be called down again as normal by any surviving Helldivers.

There are several variant missions:


 * Retaliatory Strikes are missions where the players must survive in a small area; they can only extract when the required number of enemies is killed. No Samples can be gathered on these missions; no XP is gained from failing these missions.
 * Planetary Assault missions are the end-phase of the conflict with each faction. Players have 48 hours to complete enough missions and gather enough influence points to conquer the enemy's home planet before the timer runs out. If this occurs, the enemy faction that broke the siege will counterattack and take back a few sectors from Super Earth. Then they will invade that sector's Capital planet. While they are still free to select other missions in the system, the Helldivers must successfully purge all enemy forces from the Capital—by this time a smoldering, ruined cityscape. These missions give double XP.
 * Capital Defense missions take place in a grid of narrow corridors and corners, where enough objectives must be completed within the time limit of 2 hours and 20 minutes to prevent loss of the sector to the enemy. If that happens,the next sector's Capital planet will be assaulted and unless the enemy advance is stopped, or when it reaches Super Earth and an invasion commences. If Super Earth is not successfully defended, the campaign will end in failure and the war will be lost. These missions also give double XP.
 * Enemy Masters are important strategic targets in the war effort, and Helldivers can attempt to bring them down once they have gathered 50 Influence points in a system. The mission will be unlocked for 3 hours; players are allowed to re-try if they fail. Enemy Masters give several times more XP than a level 12 Helldive mission.

Experience Points
XP is awarded to every player that participates in a mission (whether successful or not), with the more difficult missions providing more experience points. However, the following factors will all reduce the amount of XP - failing objectives; failing to get a Helldiver aboard the extraction shuttle; any Helldiver deaths.

All XP contributes towards the players' experience, eventually allowing them to increase in Rank.

Once every mission on the selected planet has been completed the planet is deemed 'Conquered' and players are presented with their reward - An XP boost (the exact amount is dependent on the mission difficulty) or a Stratagem unlock - the specific reward can be seen on the planet selection menu.

Planetary Assault missions and Capital Defense missions will give double the amount of XP. Defeating an enemy Master will give up to three times the normal XP reward.

Influence Points
All successfully conquered planets also contribute Influence to the ongoing Galactic Campaign - this Influence is dependent on the number of stars awarded to the team at each Mission Completed screen. Helldiver teams must meet different criteria to be awarded each star and its associated Influence: Defeating an enemy Master will give 150 Influence Points, but can only be attempted when a Helldiver has earned at least 50 influence points.
 * The first star requires that all mission objectives are completed successfully;
 * The second star requires all Helldivers to board the extraction shuttle;
 * The third star requires that the total number of team deaths does not exceed the mission's difficulty level - for example, a maximum of 10 deaths are allowed during a Suicide Mission (difficulty level 10).

Samples
For every 10 Samples picked up (and every time their Rank increases), players receive 1 Research Point.

Any Samples gathered by one player are shared with all other Helldivers in the team when they are picked up. Only one player needs to extract successfully for all team members to receive the Samples upon mission completion. All Samples gathered during a mision are lost if it is failed or aborted, if the player drops out or if they exit to the main menu before the post-mission stat screen appears.