In Helldivers 2 there is currently a topic that is concerning the entire community, and that is the new nerfs from the major update “Escalation of Freedom”. One weapon has been nerfed so severely that it is now unrealistic.
Why is the community upset? On Reddit, Discord, and Steam, there is a negative mood since the new major update of Helldivers 2 “Escalation of Freedom” was released. The reason for this is again significant nerfs that dampen the fun of the game.
The worst nerf is the one to the flamethrower, a powerful stratagem that players like to use against the bugs. The weapon was considered a top choice and could even defeat the assailants with just small bursts of fire. The weapon was too powerful, Arrowhead noticed this, and ultimately the decisive nerf followed.
However, the weapon was not only nerfed; it was also adjusted in terms of design and now looks much more unrealistic in use than at release.
Flamethrower was considered realistic, now it’s just a joke
What has upset the fans? Generally, the nerf policy. Helldivers is a PvE game where you go to war against opponents of democracy and defeat them while completing missions.
Fans want to feel powerful in such a game and eradicate large hordes of enemies – this fantasy could be partly fulfilled by the flamethrower, especially when facing countless bugs.
Additionally, the weapon was represented as a realistic combat tool, as confirmed by weapon expert Jonathan Ferguson from the Royal Armouries Museum (via youtube.com). Everything fit together, but Arrowhead viewed the weapon as too powerful and nerfed it in its latest patch.
However, the weapon was not only nerfed regarding its effectiveness in combat; the spray animation of the war weapon was also adjusted and altered so that it no longer looks realistic. This does not sit well with many players.
What are the fans saying about the nerf? They are angry that weapons which are supposed to be fun are being nerfed. The flamethrower in its original form was celebrated; whoever made the decision for the nerf should play with this lousy weapon for a while to understand how bad the decision was. Here’s what can be found on Reddit:
- “And now it’s just another generic flamethrower from a video game that doesn’t work like a real flamethrower.” – EnclaveNature
- “Yes, it seems they replaced our NAPALM with PROPANE!” – SovietNumber
- “Whoever developed the flamethrower Flam-40 deserves a medal, and whoever decided it needed such a drastic nerf should use it on Diff 10 with Randoms for 8 hours and tell us how much fun it is.” – usmcBrad93
- “It’s not even about a power trip. No one wants a ‘Win for free’ button, but no one wants their weapons to be crap. It’s not that difficult.” – JerbearCuddles
- “They massacred our flamer into this generic POS.” – Umiva
What do you think about the nerfs in Helldivers 2? Are you actively involved and does the nerf bother you, or do you not care because you are looking for a challenge? Let us know in the comments! More about Helldivers 2 can be found here: Player accuses Palworld and Helldivers 2 of low player counts on Steam, calling them “flash in the pan” – developer counters: “Are player counts even important?”
