Helldivers 2 difficulty levels – all objectives and rewards explained

Want to learn about Helldivers 2 difficulty levels? As more players enter the operations of the cooperative shooter from Arrowhead Games, you might want to know about the game’s difficulty settings. These let you tackle harder foes for better rewards.

For more on the game, check out the best stratagems in Helldivers 2 and if it has cheats.

How to unlock difficulty settings in Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 has nine difficulty levels that can be changed in the Galactic War console. Use the filter underneath the Quickplay option to adjust it. You can find this in the Destroyer’s War Room. Note that most missions require you to finish them in 40 minutes. The Eradicate missions are shorter so try those if you’re pressed for time.

Here are all the difficulties in Helldivers 2 and how to unlock them.

• Trivial: Default setting
• Easy: Finish a mission on Trivial difficulty
• Medium: Finish a mission on Easy difficulty
• Challenging: Finish a mission on Medium difficulty
• Hard: Finish a mission on Challenging difficulty
• Extreme: Finish a mission on Hard difficulty
• Suicide Mission: Finish a mission on Extreme difficulty
• Impossible: Finish a mission on Suicide Mission difficulty
• Helldive: Finish a mission on Impossible difficulty

How to change difficulty levels in Helldivers 2

Press the Q or E keys on PC to cycle between difficulty settings in the Galactic War console before a Helldivers 2 operation. On PlayStation, use the L1 and R1 buttons. Note that you need to have finished a mission on a lower difficulty to unlock the next one. And no, you cannot change difficulty options mid-game in Helldivers 2. Here’s how difficulties affect objectives and rewards in Helldivers 2.

All Helldivers 2 difficulty level objectives and rewards

Difficulty Level	Objectives	Enemies	Rewards	Samples	Modifiers
Trivial	Primary objectives (orange icons)	Weak	1 Medal for mission success.	Green Common	None
Easy	Allied Tactical objectives (blue icons) like Radar Towers, SEAF Artillery, Illegal Broadcast Towers, Rogue Research Labs, Escape Pods	Light Outposts like Terminid Nests and Automaton Fabricators	2 Medals for mission success	Green Common	None
Medium	Secondary Objectives	Heavily armored enemies, Medium Outposts	2 Medals for first mission, 4 Medals for second mission success.	Green Common	None
Challenging	Enemy Tactical Objectives like Terminid Stalker Lairs, Spore Spewers, Automaton Detector Towers, AA Emplacements	Heavy Outposts	3 Medals for first mission, 5 Medals for second mission success.	Green Common, Orange Rare	None
Hard	Same as before	Massive enemies like Bile Titans	4 Medals for first mission, 6 Medals for second mission, 8 Medals for third mission success.	Green Common, Orange Rare	1 Operation Modifier like increased Stratagem cooldown times or fog of war
Extreme	More Tactical Objectives	Same as before	5 Medals for first mission, 7 Medals for second mission, 9 Medals for third mission success.	Green Common, Orange Rare	1 Operation Modifier
Suicide	Same as before	Larger enemy patrols	6 Medals for first mission, 8 Medals for second mission, 10 Medals for third mission success.	Green Common, Orange Rare, and Pink Super	1 Operation Modifier
Impossible	Same as before	Even larger enemy patrols	7 Medals for first mission, 10 Medals for second mission, 12 Medals for third mission success.	Green Common, Orange Rare, and Pink Super	2 Operation Modifiers
Helldive	Same as before	More armored and massive enemies	8 Medals for first mission, 11 Medals for second mission, 14 Medals for third mission success.	Green Common, Orange Rare, and Pink Super	2 Operation Modifiers

Why should you pick higher difficulty options in Helldivers 2

Picking a higher difficulty gives you similar mission types but on different parts of the planet. These tougher missions offer better rewards and more Medals that can be used to unlock gear in the game. Complete as many missions as you can on easier difficulty before dialing things up. Some Terminid or Automaton enemies like the Bile Titan only spawn at higher difficulties. In addition, rare Orange samples and super Pink samples are found at higher difficulty levels as well in Helldivers 2. These are necessary to unlock the best ship upgrades in the game.

Does difficulty scale with the number of players in Helldivers 2

Based on our time with Helldivers 2, the difficulty does not scale with the number of players. This means that you’ll face the same kinds and number of Terminid and Automaton forces regardless of whether you play solo or in a team. This is what makes playing solo a challenge, especially at higher difficulties. Try to play with friends to tackle higher difficulties as the enemy density gets crazy at high difficulties. If you’re playing solo, consider using the right stratagems for the job. Sure, you die and can respawn, but that takes time from a ticking clock. The Resupply stratagem is particularly useful as you’ll need explosives to take out nests and other objectives. 

Difficulty not unlocking bug in Helldivers 2 and how to fix it

Some players report being unable to progress to the next difficulty even after clearing a mission at the previous difficulty. While Arrowhead Game Studios is updating the game with frequent patches, here’s what you can try in the meantime. Host games at the right difficulty, keep your game updated, and recheck your internet/VPN.

That covers all the difficulty settings in Helldivers 2. To team up with friends, check out our Helldivers 2 multiplayer guide. And if you want to tough it out solo, here’s a single-player guide.

Helldivers 2 difficulty FAQs

How many difficulty settings are there in Helldivers 2?

There are nine difficulty settings to pick from in the game.

Is Helldivers 2 easier with more players?

Yes, playing with friends or random teammates makes the game easier compared to a solo run.