| “ | Packed to the brim with robotic infantry, Dropships conduct rapid deployment of mindless, mechanized despotism. | „ |
| ~ Helldivers 2 PlayStation Store Page |
The Dropship is a large nonhumanoid 
Automaton vehicle used to rapidly transport and deploy Automaton infantry when 
Helldiver activity is detected. Dropships are spawned by Bot Drops, triggered either by a Commissar launching a signal flare, a Detector Tower beam, or certain map objectives such as Conduct Geological Survey probes.
Tactics[]
- Dropships are extremely heavily armored. Their only weak point is their Engines. Shooting at an engine with the EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, GR-8 Recoilless Rifle or LAS-99 Quasar Cannon will down the Dropship in a single shot.
- Dropships can be downed in a single shot anywhere on their model with a FAF-14 Spear, making them a powerful weapon for countering the swarms of bot drops on Eradication or Evacuate High Value Assets missions.
- The MLS-4X Commando and the E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement will take two hits to destroy a Dropship when attacking its engines.
- The StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher will take a total of fourteen missile shots from two ammunition packs, although this is not recommended for taking down Dropships.
- Other anti-armor weapons such as the AC-8 Autocannon, APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle, or LAS-98 Laser Cannon can also destroy a Dropship, however these weapons must be fired from below and up into the engines, require more time and shots to get the kill, and have greater risk of the Helldiver being crushed under either the falling dropship or its payload of bots.
- If timed right, some Orbital or Eagle Stratagems can indirectly destroy a Dropship when they're hit directly by the payload, although players would normally do this to quell the reinforcement spawns.
- If a Dropship is downed with Automatons on board, they will be crushed, and the delayed explosion should be enough to finish off weaker Automaton. Any Automaton that survives will be pinned under the ship and likely immobilized, but will still be able to fire at the player albeit at a limited range.
- It is possible to shoot the bots as the dropship opens up to deploy them, although this is not recommended due to the risk of being crushed. Explosive weapons like the GL-21 Grenade Launcher can expedite the process as the splash damage can destroy multiple Automaton.
- Downed Dropships can be used as cover, this is especially useful on Eradication missions.
- If possible, calling in a minefield under the dropship will neutralize most if not all of the units its carrying.
- On higher difficulties, Dropships will rarely be called in alone, but rather come in groups of 2-6, deploying troops within a short distance and timing of each other. Neutralizing a whole wave with the right weapons is still possible, but a lot harder. Dropships on higher difficulties may also be carrying more than one Tank or Factory Strider instead of the usual group of infantry. As tanks are carried below the dropship itself, this is pretty easy to spot and the tank can be tagged before it is even dropped off.
- Orbital Barrages are the most effective at stopping Bot Drops, but the Eagle Cluster Bomb will also do a good job.
- If no other option is available, the RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher does a decent job of clearing the area under the bot drop when the bots land.
Notes[]
- The Dropship resembles a UEF C-6 Courier light air transport from Supreme Commander and its expansion.
