This article is a stub. You can help Helldivers Wiki by expanding it and joining the Discord.
The RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher is a Support Weapon Stratagem complete with rocket launcher and ammunition backpack. It was unlocked for Helldiver usage after the liberation of the planet Penta during Operation Legitimate Undertaking; Phase 1.
The weapon is a shoulder-fired rocket launcher, whose warheads deploy at an elevated height, then spread a radial bombardment of explosive cluster munitions that is highly lethal towards lightly-armored units.
Gameplay tips[ | ]
- The Airburst Launcher is a long-range rocket launcher meant to be used against hordes of fodder units.
- Unlike other weapons, the airburst launcher is a two-stage weapon. First it will fire a "smart" rocket that will automatically deploy its payload once it detects a target nearby, or once it collides with a surface. Once it is armed, it will explode and disperse into several cluster bomblets, each exploding in a 6-meter radius. If it does not meet any of these conditions, it will detonate after traveling 350m.
- Note that the list of targets include fellow Helldivers. Do not fire this weapon if they are in the rocket's flight path.
- Similarly, do not fire this weapon if there is something close between you and your intended target, as this may cause the rocket to prematurely deploy its load. Always make sure the rocket's flight path is clear before firing.
- For obvious reasons, this weapon is not to be used in point-blank range.
- The cluster bombs are deadly effective against lightly armored targets, with some satisfactory performance against medium-armored ones. It is best used as a long-range bombardment weapon, firing it in the middle of a patrol and letting the cluster bombs do the rest.
- The launcher is capable of destroying Bot Fabricators and bug holes.
- The rocket and the cluster munitions are incapable of penetrating heavy armor. While it can eventually destroy them shooting them at their weakpoints, using the airburst launcher for this is seen a waste of ammunition.
- Ammo boxes give 1 rocket while supply boxes give 4 rockets by default.
- The weapon is generally geared towards Terminids as it will absolutely devastate them due to their lack of armored units.
- The weapon produces backblast when firing, which will knockback and ragdoll teammates if they are caught. Ensure that friendlies are not behind the weapon when firing.
- It is recommended that your teammates are not within 30m of your intended target or atleast behind solid cover, as the cluster munitions have a tendency to travel far depending on the terrain.
Trivia[ | ]
- The Airburst Rocket Launcher is the only Support Weapon in the game that has the icon for the weapon facing left, while every other Support Weapon faces right.
- During Operation "Legitimate Undertaking, Phase 1", players could use this stratagem before it arrived in store if they were doing missions on Penta, as the Airburst Launchers were being produced on this planet. After liberation of Penta, this stratagem became available to purchase in the Stratagem Section of the Super Destroyer.