Helldivers 2 Orbital 120mm HE Barrage Guide: How It Works in Practice
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2025 10:09 pm
What Is the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage?
In general, the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is an orbital artillery strike that delivers explosive firepower over a defined area. It fires a total of fifteen high-explosive shells (eighteen with the More Guns upgrade), landing in salvos of three shells each. The time between shells in a salvo is roughly 0.75 seconds, with a 2-second pause between salvos. Excluding the call-in time, the entire barrage lasts about 15.5 seconds, or 19 seconds with the More Guns upgrade.
Most players rely on this stratagem for concentrated damage against enemy units or to soften up bases before moving in. Its large area of effect makes it especially useful against both infantry clusters and lightly armored vehicles.
How Do You Call It In?
To call in the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage, you need to unlock it at level 5, which requires 4000 Requisition Slips. The standard call-in time is 7.45 seconds, though certain upgrades like the Targeting Software Upgrade reduce it by one second. Cooldown time is 180 seconds, but Morale Augmentation, Zero-G Breech Loading, and other ship modules can reduce this time significantly.
When using this stratagem, you should place the beacon as far away from your current position as possible. Most players recommend keeping at least a 50-meter distance to avoid being caught in the explosions. Sprinting away immediately after deploying the beacon is usually necessary to stay safe.
What Are Its Main Uses?
Enemy Clusters and Infantry
The Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is ideal for taking out large groups of enemies. The explosive rounds deal 2500 ballistic damage per projectile and apply significant demolition, stagger, and push forces. This makes it highly effective for disrupting enemy formations.
Enemy Structures
It can destroy Detector Towers, Command Bunkers, Anti-Air Emplacements, Mortar Emplacements, and even parked Dropships. Unlike some other stratagems, the HE Barrage can take out AA Emplacements, which are often immune to orbital drones like Eagle strikes. Most players use it to soften or eliminate enemy bases before entering.
Reinforcement Drops
For Bot Drops, placing the beacon near incoming reinforcement flares can eliminate most of the enemy Dropships and their occupants. This tactic is common in higher-level missions where reinforcements pose a serious threat.
What Are Its Upgrades and Ship Module Effects?
The Orbital 120mm HE Barrage can be enhanced through several ship modules:
More Guns – Adds one additional salvo to the barrage, increasing total damage output.
Zero-G Breech Loading – Reduces the cooldown of orbital stratagems by 10%.
Atmospheric Monitoring – Reduces the spread of the HE Barrage by 15%, making it more precise.
High-Density Explosives – Expands the radius of explosions by 10%.
Exploding Shrapnel – Reduces damage falloff from the center of explosions.
Targeting Software Upgrade – Reduces call-in time by 1 second.
Morale Augmentation – Reduces cooldown for all stratagems by 5%.
In general, most players prioritize More Guns and Zero-G Breech Loading for maximum damage and efficiency. The other modules are situational but can improve precision or area coverage.
Practical Tips for Using the 120mm HE Barrage
Stay Safe – Always throw the beacon at the farthest point you can reach and sprint immediately to avoid damage from the bombardment.
Target Key Structures First – If a mission has objectives like AA Emplacements or Command Bunkers, prioritize those targets to reduce incoming fire.
Coordinate with Teammates – In multiplayer, timing the barrage with allied attacks maximizes damage and reduces risk.
Use Upgrades Wisely – Not every module is necessary for every mission. Choose the ones that complement your team strategy.
Buy Helldivers 2 Medals – Players who have extra medals often use them to unlock key upgrades and modules for orbital stratagems faster.
Common Misconceptions
Some players assume that orbital barrages are instant and can be fired anywhere without risk. In practice, the inbound delay and the spread of explosions make it possible to accidentally hit yourself or allies. Always account for the safe distance and timing before deploying. Another common mistake is underestimating cooldowns; even with upgrades, the HE Barrage isn’t a continuous solution and should be timed carefully.
The Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is a high-damage, versatile stratagem in Helldivers 2. Most players use it for concentrated enemy units, structure destruction, and stopping reinforcement drops. With the right ship modules and careful placement, it can turn the tide of missions and give your team a significant advantage. Remember to maintain safe distances, coordinate with your team, and focus on key targets to maximize effectiveness.
In general, the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is an orbital artillery strike that delivers explosive firepower over a defined area. It fires a total of fifteen high-explosive shells (eighteen with the More Guns upgrade), landing in salvos of three shells each. The time between shells in a salvo is roughly 0.75 seconds, with a 2-second pause between salvos. Excluding the call-in time, the entire barrage lasts about 15.5 seconds, or 19 seconds with the More Guns upgrade.
Most players rely on this stratagem for concentrated damage against enemy units or to soften up bases before moving in. Its large area of effect makes it especially useful against both infantry clusters and lightly armored vehicles.
How Do You Call It In?
To call in the Orbital 120mm HE Barrage, you need to unlock it at level 5, which requires 4000 Requisition Slips. The standard call-in time is 7.45 seconds, though certain upgrades like the Targeting Software Upgrade reduce it by one second. Cooldown time is 180 seconds, but Morale Augmentation, Zero-G Breech Loading, and other ship modules can reduce this time significantly.
When using this stratagem, you should place the beacon as far away from your current position as possible. Most players recommend keeping at least a 50-meter distance to avoid being caught in the explosions. Sprinting away immediately after deploying the beacon is usually necessary to stay safe.
What Are Its Main Uses?
Enemy Clusters and Infantry
The Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is ideal for taking out large groups of enemies. The explosive rounds deal 2500 ballistic damage per projectile and apply significant demolition, stagger, and push forces. This makes it highly effective for disrupting enemy formations.
Enemy Structures
It can destroy Detector Towers, Command Bunkers, Anti-Air Emplacements, Mortar Emplacements, and even parked Dropships. Unlike some other stratagems, the HE Barrage can take out AA Emplacements, which are often immune to orbital drones like Eagle strikes. Most players use it to soften or eliminate enemy bases before entering.
Reinforcement Drops
For Bot Drops, placing the beacon near incoming reinforcement flares can eliminate most of the enemy Dropships and their occupants. This tactic is common in higher-level missions where reinforcements pose a serious threat.
What Are Its Upgrades and Ship Module Effects?
The Orbital 120mm HE Barrage can be enhanced through several ship modules:
More Guns – Adds one additional salvo to the barrage, increasing total damage output.
Zero-G Breech Loading – Reduces the cooldown of orbital stratagems by 10%.
Atmospheric Monitoring – Reduces the spread of the HE Barrage by 15%, making it more precise.
High-Density Explosives – Expands the radius of explosions by 10%.
Exploding Shrapnel – Reduces damage falloff from the center of explosions.
Targeting Software Upgrade – Reduces call-in time by 1 second.
Morale Augmentation – Reduces cooldown for all stratagems by 5%.
In general, most players prioritize More Guns and Zero-G Breech Loading for maximum damage and efficiency. The other modules are situational but can improve precision or area coverage.
Practical Tips for Using the 120mm HE Barrage
Stay Safe – Always throw the beacon at the farthest point you can reach and sprint immediately to avoid damage from the bombardment.
Target Key Structures First – If a mission has objectives like AA Emplacements or Command Bunkers, prioritize those targets to reduce incoming fire.
Coordinate with Teammates – In multiplayer, timing the barrage with allied attacks maximizes damage and reduces risk.
Use Upgrades Wisely – Not every module is necessary for every mission. Choose the ones that complement your team strategy.
Buy Helldivers 2 Medals – Players who have extra medals often use them to unlock key upgrades and modules for orbital stratagems faster.
Common Misconceptions
Some players assume that orbital barrages are instant and can be fired anywhere without risk. In practice, the inbound delay and the spread of explosions make it possible to accidentally hit yourself or allies. Always account for the safe distance and timing before deploying. Another common mistake is underestimating cooldowns; even with upgrades, the HE Barrage isn’t a continuous solution and should be timed carefully.
The Orbital 120mm HE Barrage is a high-damage, versatile stratagem in Helldivers 2. Most players use it for concentrated enemy units, structure destruction, and stopping reinforcement drops. With the right ship modules and careful placement, it can turn the tide of missions and give your team a significant advantage. Remember to maintain safe distances, coordinate with your team, and focus on key targets to maximize effectiveness.