Helldivers 2 Stalkers and how to kill them

Helldivers 2 Stalkers
(Image credit: Sony)

Helldivers 2 Stalkers are utterly lethal, special Terminid bugs that appear and use stealth to ambush players out of nowhere. Capable of turning invisible with a special camouflage ability, Stalkers are a threat that need to be taken seriously by all players and cut off at the source almost immediately, or else you risk getting overwhelmed and cut to ribbons.

Fortunately we can help you deal with them - whether you want to find Stalkers for a Personal Order or whether you just want to know how to deal with them when you're fighting Bugs on the Terminids' planets, here's how to beat the Stalkers in Helldivers 2.

How to beat Stalkers in Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 Stalkers

(Image credit: Sony)

Stalkers in Helldivers 2 are easy to get killed by when you don't know they're there - but once you do, there's a process.

  1. Damage the Stalker, but try not to kill it (if you do you'll have to repeat this process).
  2. After being hurt enough, it'll cloak and try to flee.
  3. Watch for the fuzzy, white shape that marks where it is.
  4. Follow it back to the "Stalker Lair".
  5. The Lair has one or two bug holes that need to be closed with Grenades or explosives, like any other nest.
  6. This will cut off the supply of Stalkers to the map.
  7. Shoot the survivors. A Stalker without a nest is still dangerous.

Obviously it's entirely possible to stumble across the Stalker Lair by accident, but the Stalker's AI is programmed to flee back in that direction when hurt, leading you back to their point of origin. Not only that, but Stalker Lairs are actually a side quest within missions whenever they show up, so razing one to the ground will earn you a healthy XP and requisition slip bonus at the end of the mission.

Otherwise, the key to killing individual Stalkers is high damage done quickly - the Breaker shotgun, as with all things, is ideal here. Close-range weapons like shotguns, SMGs and similar are the best option here - they're generally too fast to hit with anything else.

© 12DOVE. Not to be reproduced without permission

Joel Franey
Guides Writer

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and raconteur with a Masters from Sussex University, none of which has actually equipped him for anything in real life. As a result he chooses to spend most of his time playing video games, reading old books and ingesting chemically-risky levels of caffeine. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at USgamer, Gfinity, Eurogamer and more besides.

Read more
Helldivers 2 automatons
The best weapons for Automatons in Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 weapons
The best Helldivers 2 weapons tier list
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 CEO praises players for their "brilliant" DSS strategy, but follows up with a grave threat: "J.O.E.L. is out to get you now"
Helldivers 2 Stratagems
The best Helldivers 2 Stratagems tier list
Sneaking behind a guard at night in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
How to Stealth Kill in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom
Helldivers 2's funniest feature was removed last year, but it's finally been reinstated – although it won't save you from certain doom anymore
Latest in Third Person Shooter
Jeff the Land Shark as he appears in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals has an unintentional Team-Up ability for Jeff the Land Shark and Doctor Strange, who can join forces for a bug that sends foes into an inescapable void
Four Helldivers lined up on base ship
A year after Malevelon Creek became Helldivers 2's fiercest battleground, it looks like the Automatons are coming back for more
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing someone using a big gun
Helldivers 2 boss says "death and rebirth" is a natural part of the games industry, but it's "unnecessarily brutal" right now "because we don't diversify enough"
The Invisible Woman in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals devs know exactly how popular Invisible Woman is, and say that "body shape or silhouette" add to a character's popularity in a way far more innocent than the internet deserves
Helldivers 2 Warbond
Helldivers 2 players "became obsessed" with Malevolon Creek, but it was Gabe Newell who really kicked off one of Super Earth's bloodiest battles
Heroes and villains face off in Marvel Rivals key art
Marvel Rivals exec isn't afraid of roster bloat after NetEase promised new heroes every 6 weeks: "There's no limit for the sky. We just throw everything at it"
Latest in Guides
Assassin's Creed Shadows Yaya shouting at Tetsuo
How to recruit Yaya in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Someone is planning a joyride in Fortnite
How to complete Someone is planning a joyride in Fortnite
Assassin's Creed Shadows Nishinomiya Shrine
All Nishinomiya Shrine locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows riddles Naoe answers
All Assassin's Creed Shadows riddle answers for NPC encounters
Fortnite Henchmen Walkie Talkies
Fortnite Henchmen Walkie Talkies: How to eavesdrop on Kane
Assassin's Creed Shadows Makino Kurumazuka Kofun
How to get in the Makino Kurumazuka Kofun in Assassin's Creed Shadows