How to destroy Automaton Factory Striders in Helldivers 2 – Weak points and strats

The Helldivers take on Star Wars‘ walking death factories have returned after a brief absence. Naturally, it comes to you to put them back into the ground. Here’s our guide on how to destroy Automaton Factory Striders in Helldivers 2, covering strats and their weak points.

Thank Liberty these tanks on legs actually have weak points. You know that saying, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall”? Well, that typically only applies to large lads who aren’t covered in thick armor plating and laser cannons, while occasionally giving birth to four, smaller armored lads with laser cannons (that’s an image). Weak points are great.

To destroy the Factory Striders in Helldivers 2, you should attack their weak points using your best Support Weapons. Taking out these spots is the fastest way to drop the four-legged monsters for good. If only we could equip Eagle 1 with a tow cable, eh?

Helldivers 2: How to destroy Factory Striders – Weak points and strats

The body

There are multiple weak points on the body of the Factory Strider you should target, indicated by white Automaton insignias. There’s one on each side, two up near the top portion next to the laser cannon, one on each leg, and two on the face. Attacking these points with weapons like the Quasar Cannon or EAT-17 will damage the machine.

The best weak points to attack on a Factory Strider are on its sides. You can destroy the machine with roughly two shots from the Quasar Cannon. The first blast can damage the side and remove the panel, and the second should take it down for good. Consider using the EAT-17 or Recoilless Rifle if you don’t have access to the Quasar yet.

The Autocannon works in some cases, but the heavy armor can cause the round to ricochet. That is, unless you manage to hit the weak point at the right angle. I’ve only managed it once on the face, but it’s possible.

Underneath the Strider is a bay that periodically drops four Devastators. Like with Automaton Fabricators, you can toss a grenade into the opening to cause serious damage — two grenades should destroy the Strider. Other weapons can destroy it from underneath: The Autocannon, EAT-17, Recoilless Rifle, and the Quasar Cannon can reportedly drop the Strider with two or more shots into the opening.

There are other weak points, such as the joints and head, but I think they’re too inconsistent to recommend. The spawner at the bottom works well, but it’s pretty risky since you’ll have to dance around its legs, the Devastators, and any other Automaton soldier in the area. You should focus on the sides if you can get around the Strider.

The weapons

As you should have guessed, the Factory Strider’s weapons can be destroyed. There’s a large laser cannon strapped to its back, which can be destroyed with two shots of the Quasar Cannon. The guns attached to the bottom of its head can be taken out with one shot from the Autocannon each. You can also consider using the Laser Cannon or AMR, as both will shred the guns quickly.

With the guns down, the Factory Strider is practically harmless outside of its big, stompy feet and the Devastators it spawns every so often.

The laser cannon on top is similar to the one used by the Annihilator Tank. Just like before, you can predict when the shot is coming by watching for the red light to gather in the barrel. It fires after it charges the shot.

Helldivers 2: How to destroy Factory Striders – Best Stratagems

Naturally, with a target this large and intimidating, you’d want to hit it hard and fast with the best Orbitals and Eagle strikes. Here are the ones I’d recommend taking on your drop, along with some tips:

• Eagle 500kg Bomb
  • Tried and true, the bomb hits hard but you need to drop at least two to destroy the Factory Strider.
• Railcannon
  • The Railcannon will target the laser cannon on top of the Strider and can destroy it with one shot. However, I have seen it miss.
• Orbital Laser
  • Instead of the Railcannon, consider bringing the Orbital Laser. The other Stratagem can miss its target, wasting valuable time. The laser will continue firing, dishing out damage.
• Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods
  • These often target the laser cannon on top of the Strider, but also tend to miss the target. The good news is that they still do damage if they hit the head or other weak points.
• Eagle Airstrike
  • If you can get close enough, the Eagle Airstrike can dish out some great damage, hitting the guns, head, and everything else. Two of these can destroy the Factory Strider.
• Orbital Precision Strike
  • The Precision Strike hits hard but is tough to use since you must get close.

The “Kitchen Sink” meta strat

The most common strat I’ve seen used against the Automaton Factory Strider in Helldivers 2 is not any I’ve mentioned above. No, it seems many Helldivers are, instead, holding onto their Stratagems until they run into a Strider and unleash a 21-gun salute onto its helpless frame. I’ve been in a few games where myself and my team would wait until we run into a Strider and then light it up like a Christmas tree with Stratagem beacons until it tumbles over. Weak points, schmeak points.

If it works, it works.