“ | As with all Automaton units, the plodding Hulk is brainlessly optimised to do nothing except deliver heavy firepower. If encountered, the recommended protocol for Helldivers is to immediately call in the largest orbital bombardment available. | „ |
~ Helldivers 2 PlayStation page |
Hulks are heavily-armored siege walkers utilized by the Automatons. The Hulk is quite literally a walking tank, armed with two weapons, with the bots fielding a variety of configurations. Regardless of weapons, they have one role: a heavy weapons platform designed to break enemy defenses.
They can be divided into four types:
- Bruiser - Hulks equipped with a rocket burst launcher and rapid-fire pulse laser cannon. A gun platform that guns down its targets at mid-range with deadly accuracy.
- Scorcher - Hulks equipped with a flamethrower and a Buzzsaw. Will attempt to aggressively close the distance instead of bombarding its targets from range.
- Obliterator - Hulks equipped with twin rocket burst launchers. They are distinguished by the Automaton flag from their backs.
- Firebomber - Hulks equipped with an incendiary cannon that fires a molten cannonball in an arc. Like the Scorcher, they are also equipped with a flamethrower.
Tactics[]
- Hulks have heavy armor all-around, except the rear.
- The rear which contains their heat sinks however, have no armor. And will take full damage from any weapon.
- Hulks will explode on death. It is very dangerous for anyone nearby when it topples over, friend or foe.
- A Hulk's primary weak spot is its head, the visor that glows red near the center of its chassis.
- Successful shots to the Hulk's visor will make it erupt in flames & kill the Hulk. However this may be a difficult target to hit in the heat of battle.
- Most anti-tank launchers can kill a Hulk with a direct hit to the visor or body.
- The MLS-4X Commando requires two hits
- The StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher requires 8-12 hits from the front, due to the rocket's erratic flight path. Shooting hulks in the rear can reliably kill them within 7 hits due to it's weak point.
- If one is feeling daring, a P-4 Senator revolver can kill a hulk with 3-4 direct hits to it's visor at close range. Although this should generally be reserved if it's stunned, or there is literally no other alternative strategy.
- Stun Grenades or EMS Stratagems will temporarily stun and disable Hulks, allowing you to easily line up a headshot, or run behind them and shoot their back.
- A single Thermite grenade is enough to take out a Hulk if thrown at their upper torso.
- For Stratagems, the Orbital Precision Strike, Orbital Railcannon Strike, Eagle Airstrike, Eagle 500kg Bomb, and Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods will all destroy a Hulk on a direct hit.
- The Orbital Laser will also burn through a Hulk in 6-8 seconds.
- A Hulk's arms can be shot off to disable weapons, and its legs can be destroyed to cripple their movement entirely.
- Shooting out both legs will kill them.
- If both arms are destroyed the Hulk will attempt to kick or stomp players instead.
- Hulk Scorchers do not have any long-range weapons. If you manage to distance yourself from them, you can line up a headshot without any danger. If that is currently not possible, disabling their flamethrower arm or one of their legs will effectively cripple their ability to fight.
- When rushing hulks from the front, move in a direction where their gun has to pivot outwards to hit you, as they have decent turning speed, but their arms' traverse speed is slow and typically cannot keep up with a sprinting Helldiver.
- Much like Bile Titans, Hulks can be crushed with a Hellpod.
- Much like Chargers, Hulks have a rare chance to enter a berserk state, where upon taking lethal damage, it will survive briefly to deliver one last charge before they die. They will typically expire after a few seconds, but it is recommended to help them along by dealing damage to them.
Trivia[]
- 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 adorned with barbed wire and skulls. The Hulk Obliterator also wears an Automaton flag war banner on its back.
- On higher difficulties, there is a guaranteed Hulk Obliterator spawn on the Shuttle Bay during an Emergency Evacuation mission. This is very similar to how Terminids have a guaranteed Behemoth Charger spawn on the same objective.
- On an Eliminate Hulk mission the targeted Hulk is almost always an Obliterator variant.
- Patch 01.001.104: In response to their disapproval of a newly installed cannon on the Automaton Hulk Bruisers, Super Earth High Command sent a crack commando to sabotage their production facilities. The skilled operative promptly escaped into the shadows after completing their mission. Today, still wanted by the Automatons, they survive as a soldier of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can enlist... John Helldiver.
- As a result the Automatons had to revert back to using rocket launchers for their Hulk Bruisers.
Enemies | ||
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![]() Terminids |
Scavenger
- Bile Spitter - Pouncer – Hunter – Stalker – Warrior - Bile Warrior - Hive Guard – Alpha Warrior – Brood Commander – Alpha Commander – Bile Spewer - Nursing Spewer – Charger - Behemoth – Spore Charger – Shrieker – Impaler – Bile Titan | |
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Spore Burst Scavenger - Spore Burst Hunter - Spore Burst Warrior | |
![]() Automatons |
Trooper
– Commissar – Scout Strider – Berserker – Devastator – Hulk – Tank – Dropship – Gunship – Factory Strider | |
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Pyro Trooper
– Conflagration Devastator – Incendiary MG Devastator – Hulk Firebomber | |
![]() Illuminate |
Voteless
– Overseer – Elevated Overseer – Crescent Overseer – Watcher – Fleshmob – Harvester – Stingray – Warp Ship – Leviathan |