In Helldivers 2, there are many weapons that have their areas of application. One of them was considered the best shotgun for taking out enemies of democracy at long ranges, but it was nerfed. Unjustly? Players are complaining, but the developers have good reasons.
What kind of weapon is it? The powerful weapon is the SG-8S Slugger, a special version of the SG-8 Punisher. The Slugger is a shotgun that fires solid slugs instead of buckshot. It must be reloaded one by one but has a high range and strong damage.
It was considered a strong option for eliminating enemies precisely. The developers were displeased. The recent nerf wave was a “correction”. Since then, players have been wondering why the shotgun was nerfed, but the reason was obvious, according to the developers.
Developers Explain the Reason for the Nerf
What did the developers say? On the Helldivers 2 Discord server, the community discussed the nerf of the Slugger. They feel it is unjustified and the adjustments make no sense, according to the players. For this reason, Alexus, a developer responsible for weapon balance in the game, spoke up. According to him, the reason for the nerf is clear:
That is incorrect, the selection rate was not the reason for the Slugger nerf. The truth is, the Slugger was simply the best sniper rifle on the market, which, as you know, is not fitting for a shotgun.
Alexus on Discord
Anyone who played with the Slugger before the nerf should have noticed how powerfully one could eliminate single enemies from long distances. That should not be the case for a shotgun, as shotguns usually unleash their true power at short distances. Consequently, damage and stagger effects were reduced to keep them in check.
Nerf creates space for alternatives: Although the Slugger is still a strong weapon and has not been completely nerfed, there is now a better alternative that takes the place of the shotgun, and that is the JAR-5 Dominator.
This explosive rifle shares similarities with the old Slugger model:
- It fires single, explosive rounds with 50 points more damage.
- Has medium armor penetration
- Can stagger opponents
- Has more reserve ammo than the Slugger
So if you’re looking for an alternative “sniper” that is also powerful in close combat, you should opt for the Dominator. The rifle destroys your enemies effortlessly with added explosive effects.
Do you find it a pity that the Slugger was nerfed, or do you celebrate that the developers shake up the meta with such nerfs? Let us know in the comments!
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