Hive Lord Helldivers 2: Surviving and Defeating the Biggest Bug Yet
The Hive Lord is no ordinary bug in Helldivers 2; it’s a mountain-sized, acid-spewing nightmare straight out of squad horror stories and players’ worst dreams.
With the Into the Unjust update, Arrowhead Studios tossed in this true boss fight—towering over even Terminid Bile Titans, ready to crush careless squads and melt anyone slow to react.
Facing one is equal parts chaos and thrill, testing every Helldiver’s loadout, teamwork, and maybe their patience. If you’re itching to challenge the toughest foe Super Earth has to offer, buckle up—you’re about to meet the worm.
Muaxh03 (@muaxh03) proudly shared an impressive achievement in Helldivers 2 on X, revealing that within just 24 hours of gameplay, they managed to pull off a 2-minute Hive Lord kill. This rapid accomplishment showcases the player's skill and the game's exciting, fast-paced action.
Pantheon (@Imperius_Ira) shared a brief yet powerful statement on X, describing the Hive Lord as an enemy truly worth killing. This remark highlights the formidable challenge posed by the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2, underscoring its status as a noteworthy opponent in the game.
Can You Kill Hive Lord Helldivers 2?
Yes, you can take down the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2—but it’s going to take grit, teamwork, plenty of heavy ordnance, and arguably a lot of yelling into your headset as chaos unfolds.
The Hive Lord, introduced in the Into the Unjust update, isn’t your run-of-the-mill Terminid. It’s a monstrous sandworm, skyscraper-sized, that can slam, tunnel, and spew corrosive bile with disturbing glee.
If you thought regular Bile Titans were beefy, think again: Hive Lords are the game’s first true boss fights, and they have the health pool (and presence) to prove it.
First impressions? You’ll know when you’ve met one. The ground rumbles, your field of vision fills with chitinous scales, and your squad’s careful plan evaporates as you scramble to avoid being flattened or melted—as much a battle against panic as any bug so far.
A pal of mine claims he once survived a surprise reemergence by sheer accident—“I was reloading, tripped into a crater, and somehow avoided the whole acid spray.” Luck counts, apparently.
Hive Lords Are Bosses, Not Bugs
Most enemies in Helldivers 2, even the scary ones, still fall roughly in the “elite soldier” tier. The Hive Lord laughs at that. It dominates everything around it, crushing both bugs and humans with equal disrespect for personal safety.
Its health clocks in at a ridiculous 150,000 HP—just for comparison, the infamous Hellbomb only does 10,000 damage. Get ready to fight (and possibly die a few times) for 10–20 minutes per encounter.
You’ll find them as high-value hidden targets on Gloom-infested Hive Worlds. There’s a cinematic thrill to it—one moment, you’re picking off Rupture Chargers, the next, a skyscraper-sized worm barrels through rock and forces the entire team into a frantic retreat (or charge, if you’re feeling bold).
How To Kill Hive Lord Helldivers 2?
The short answer? Coordinated firepower and patience. But let’s break down what does and doesn’t work when you’re staring down a building-sized sandworm breathing death.
Bring the Right Loadout (and Squad)
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Anti-Tank Weapons are Your Friends: Recoilless Rifle, Railgun, EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, and Orbital Railcannon Strike—these are mandatory. The Anti-Tank Emplacement, from the Urban Legends Warbond, is especially strong. Each one delivers about 1,300 damage per shot, with 30 shells for nearly 39,000 damage per emplacement. If every squad member brings one, you can take out a Hive Lord in just a few cycles, barring chaos.
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Orbital Strikes to Crack Armor: Eagle 500KG bombs, Orbital Laser, and other massive strikes can chunk through the worm’s thick hide. Remember, though: Hive Lords often hang out underground, and airstrikes only work when they surface or you’re lucky enough to find an opening above.
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Support Packs for Survivability: Shield Generators, extra ammo, Guard Dog drones, or anything that keeps your team up and shooting for a prolonged fight. The Hive Lord’s attacks hit hard, and your usual supply drop routines may get interrupted by collapsing tunnels.
Battle Tips No One Teaches You
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Stay Mobile: Standing still? Bad idea. Hive Lords telegraph their attacks—look for trembling, swirling, or rumbling earth before a slam. When they surface or after an attack, there’s a window to unload big damage. Otherwise, keep moving and don’t get cocky.
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Use the Terrain—But Don’t Trust It: Those sturdy-looking rocks? They might not be so sturdy after a few slams. Hive Lords can destroy terrain and create hazards on the fly. Try to keep line of sight, but don’t back yourself into a literal corner.
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Fight as a Squad: Lone wolves will get eaten. Literally. Coordinate your damage bursts, offer covering fire, and rotate who calls in replacements or drops supplies. Swarms of smaller bugs will absolutely join the fray, but often the Hive Lord accidentally wipes them out with its acid or body slams. It’s the most accidental “friendly fire” you’ll see in a game.
Surviving Against Impossible Odds
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When the worm goes underground—anticipate where it’ll surface, and get ready for a fast dodge.
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Don’t waste opportunities: every time the Hive Lord pauses or is distracted, empty your high-damage weapons into its side or underbelly.
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If you wipe, rally fast. A team that communicates revives quickly can keep the pressure up and avoid starting the fight over.
