AR-23 Liberator

• Helldivers Wiki
• Equipment
• Weapons
• Primary

AR-23 Liberator
Standard Assault Rifle
Firepower
Damage	80
Weapon Handling
Weapon Traits	Light Armor Penetrating
Fire Rate	640 RPM
Fire Mode(s)	Automatic Burst Semi-Automatic
Ammunition
Ammo Capacity	45 Round Magazine - 8 Mags 30 Round Magazine - 12 Mags 60 Round Magazine - 6 Mags 360 Total Ammo
Acquisition
Source	Default primary weapon
Cost	Free

“	The SEAF standard assault rifle, balancing power, fire rate, and weight for a reliable weapon against the smaller targets.	„
	~ Armory Description

The AR-23 Liberator is the standard-issue rifle of the S.E.A.F. in Helldivers 2. A primary weapon, it is a light armor penetrating weapon with three fire modes: auto, burst, and semi-automatic (in that order). It is also equipped with a laser/flashlight module with three modes: auto (which activates the flashlight only in low light conditions), on, and off.

It is unlocked upon character creation and automatically equipped. Three other variants of the weapon are available in the game: the AR-23P Liberator Penetrator, AR-23C Liberator Concussive, and the AR-23A Liberator Carbine.

Role:

The AR-23 Liberator is a balanced starter rifle, combining decent damage, magazine capacity, accuracy, and handling. It is built primarily to take out chaff enemies, as it only can penetrate light armor. A common strategy is to bring the AR-23 Liberator to deal with the more numerous cannon fodder, while also bringing an anti-armor support weapon to take care of larger threats the rifle cannot effectively engage.

The AR-23 Liberator is not to be underestimated despite being a starting weapon, even at higher difficulties. Its low recoil allows it to easily take out heavier enemies like the Brood Commander and the Devastator if one focuses fire on their heads when up-close, while it's relatively large 45rd magazine and plentiful reserves gives it a decent amount of sustainability for longer engagements.

Attachments

Note: Base stats are taken from the weapon with its default sight and magazine attachment equipped, along with no muzzle or underbarrel attachment equipped.

• Optics
• Underbarrel
• Muzzle
• Magazine

Name	Unlock Level	Stat Changes
2x Tube Red Dot	Default	N/A
Reflex Sight	Level 4	+3 Ergonomics
Holographic Sight	Level 8	+3 Ergonomics
Reflex Sight Mk2	Level 11	+3 Ergonomics
Iron Sight	Level 18	+8 Ergonomics
4x Combat Scope	Level 21	-3 Ergonomics

Name	Unlock Level	Stat Changes
No Underbarrel	Default	N/A
Laser Sight w/ Flashlight	Default	-5 Ergonomics
Vertical Foregrip	Level 2	-5 Vertical Recoil -5 Ergonomics
Angled Foregrip	Level 6	+5 Vertical Recoil +5 Ergonomics
Flashlight Vertical Foregrip	Level 16	-5 Vertical Recoil -7 Ergonomics
Laser Sight Angled Foregrip	Level 23	+5 Vertical Recoil +3 Ergonomics

Name	Unlock Level	Stat Changes
No Attachment	Default	N/A
Flash Hider	Level 3	-2 Horizontal Recoil -2 Vertical Recoil Recoil -3 Ergonomics
Muzzle Brake	Level 12	-3 Horizontal Recoil -5 Ergonomics
Compensator	Level 22	-7 Vertical Recoil -5 Ergonomics

Note: The player will have a total of 360 rounds at their disposal, regardless of which magazine they use.

Name	Unlock Level	Stat Changes
Extended Magazine - 45 Rounds	Default	N/A
Short Magazine - 30 Rounds	Level 14	+10 Ergonomics -15 Mag Capacity +4 Spare Magazines - 8 > 12 -1 Second Reload Time (currently bugged - still lasts 3 seconds but listed as 2)
Drum Magazine - 60 Rounds	Level 24	-15 Ergonomics +15 Mag Capacity -2 Spare Mags - 8 > 6 +1 Second Reload Time

Trivia

• The AR-23 Liberator's profile is closely based on the IWI Tavor, with its barrel being closer to that of the shorter X95. However, its large receiver also appears to draw inspiration from the IPI Malyuk and FN F2000, while the stock looks similar to the HS Produkt VHS-2 and the fire selector seems to be based off of that of the AR-15 with fire mode markings being based off of those of the HK416.
• The AR-23 Liberator turret that comes with an Armed Resupply Pod has a unique drum magazine based on the Beta C-Mag.
• Due to the AR-23 Liberator being the standard rifle, it is the weapon with the most variants, with it having four. (As of now.)
• Unlike most rifles in the game, the AR-23 Liberator and its variants are bullpup weapons, meaning their magazine is behind, rather than in front of the trigger.
• The Helldiver Corps using bullpups as their standard-issue rifle makes sense, as it allows their rifle to be compact enough to be stowed in the cramped confines of a Hellpod, while still being as powerful as a longer rifle.