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The Destroyer ship in Helldivers 2 lets you call in powerful offensive abilities which can be upgraded with ship modules. Having the best ship modules gives you a massive boost to your damage in-game, so you’ll want to make sure you prioritise unlocking the right ones for you. Read on to find out which ones you should pick first in Arrowhead’s hit co-op shooter.
The top ship modules are Donation Access License, Dynamic Tracking, Advanced Construction, Enhanced Combustion, Synthetic Supplementation, Liquid-Ventilated Cockpit, Pit Crew Hazard Pay.
Our ship modules tier list
Here’s our Helldivers 2 ship modules tier list based on the time we’ve spent in-game. Since they’re all passive buffs, you don’t have to pick between them. Instead, pick what to upgrade first and get the rest later on as you acquire more resources.
| Tier | Ship modules |
|---|---|
| S | Donation Access License, Dynamic Tracking, Advanced Construction, Enhanced Combustion, Synthetic Supplementation, Liquid-Ventilated Cockpit. |
| A | Zero-G Breech Loading, Targeting Software Upgrade, Expanded Weapons Bay, Shock Absorption Gel, Exploding Shrapnel, Superior Packing Methodology, XXL Weapons Bay, Pit Crew Hazard Pay. |
| B | Nuclear Radar, High-Quality Lubricant, Streamlined Request Process, Circuit Expansion, Atmospheric Monitoring, Blast Absorption, Power Steering. |
| C | Hand Carts, More Guns, Rapid Launch System |
What are the best ship modules to unlock first?
Ship modules can be purchased in the Ship Management Terminal in Helldivers 2’s Destroyer ship. You can also unlock new stratagems here in a different section. Ship modules are split into six groups, each with a specific target focus in terms of buffing up stratagems or granting bonuses. We’ve explained our best ship module picks and what they do in Helldivers 2 below.
1. Donation Access License
At the affordable rate of 60 Samples, this ship upgrade increases the magazines that come with every support weapon drop. This includes lethal weapons like the Laser Cannon, Grenade Launcher, Machine Gun, Railgun, Stalwart, Anti-Material Rifle, and Flamethrower. You can survive alien onslaughts without spamming the resupply stratagem right at the start of the game. This pairs up well with our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list.
2. Dynamic Tracking
Costing 60 Samples and 20 Rare Samples, this reduces the deployment time for all Sentry Stratagems. You can drop sentries right into combat and dish some serious punishment with the help of this ship module.
3. Advanced Construction
This ship upgrade is perfect for sentry enthusiasts, giving turrets a massive 50% increase in health. It’ll certainly come in handy when you tackle massive foes like Hulk Bruisers and Bile Titans. Just remember to watch out for friendly fire. But it doesn’t come cheap at 80 Common, 60 Rare, and 5 Super Samples.
4. Synthetic Supplementation
This one pairs well with the previous ship upgrade, with a solid cooldown reduction of 10% to Supply, Sentry, and Resupply stratagems. It costs 60 Common Samples and 10 Rare Samples.
5. Liquid-Ventilated Cockpit
Lowering the cooldowns of Eagle stratagems by 50% is a solid buff if you use them often. And with a simple cost of 80 Basic Samples, you can get this without spending too much of your resources.
6. Enhanced Combustion
The sight of fire in Helldivers 2 used to bring fear to not only the Terminids, but players too as most use of fire resulted in an accidental death. Thankfully, this has been fixed now and fire has once again become one of the most useful ways to take out the Terminids. Enhanced Combustion increases fire damage from Stratagems by 25%. This includes the Flamethrower, Eagle Napalm Airstrike, and Incendiary Mines. Even without this Ship Module, the Flamethrower is incredibly effective at clearing a swarm of Terminids, but with this, there is little reason not to carry a Flamethrower in your inventory. If you focus more on Automatons, then you may not get as much benefit from this and Automatons don’t get affected by fire as much. But, if slaying Terminids is what you Dive for, unlock this immediately.
Save your Samples for ship modules but don’t hoard them
There’s a limit on how many Samples you can have so don’t wait for the endgame to use all of them.
How to unlock all ship modules
To unlock new ship modules in Helldivers, you’ll need to purchase them using Sample obtained from missions. These modules can only be purchased one after the other in a specific category. For instance, Streamlined Request Process can only be purchased after unlocking Donation Access License.
Samples come in Common, Rare Orange, and Super Pink variants. These upgrades will enhance your performance in combat against the Terminids and Automatons. You’ll need a whopping 1380 Common, 770 Rare, and 65 Super Samples to unlock all the ship modules in Helldivers 2.
List of all ship upgrades and their costs
Here’s a detailed list of all the ship upgrades you can find in the game. We’ve split this based on the different types available in Helldivers 2. We’ve also added the new ship upgrades introduced alongside the Democratic Detonation Warbond. You don’t need to purchase it to access the new upgrades.
Lower your Sentry deployment times with this upgrade. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Drop your Sentry, Emplacement, and Resupply stratagem cooldowns with this item. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Want a better minimap? Get this upgrade. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Get your Eagle stratagems quicker with this. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Deal more damage with Orbital strikes. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Need more ammo? Consider this upgrade. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Patriotic Administration Center Ship Modules
Donation Access License
All Support Weapons get more magazines. This will let you sustain some firefights before calling in a Resupply stratagem. Costs 60 Common Samples.
Streamlined Request Process
All Support Weapons have a 10% decreased cooldown on Stratagems. This will let you call them into battle more often. Costs 80 Common and 40 Rare Samples.
Hand Carts
Backpack Stratagems have a lower cooldown of 10%. Costs 80 Common, 60 Rare, and 5 Super Samples.
Superior Packing Methodology
Resupply boxes completely fill Support Weapon magazines. Costs 150 Common, 150 Rare, 15 Super Samples, and 20,000 Requisition slips.
Orbital Cannon Ship Modules
Exploding Shrapnel
The damage falloff from orbital Stratagems explosions reduces damage. Costs 100 Common Samples.
More Guns
Barrage Orbital Strikes can fire 1 additional salvo(s) per barrage. This makes these stratagems more potent. Costs 80 Common and 60 Rare Samples.
Zero-G Breech Loading
Orbital Stratagems now have a 10% reduced cooldown. Call these more often by picking this ship module. This includes items like the Orbital Smoke Strike, Orbital Precision Strike, Orbital EMS Strike, and Orbital Gas Strike. Costs 80 Common, 80 Rare, and 10 Super Samples.
Atmospheric Monitoring
Orbital HE Barrage spread is reduced by 15%. Costs 200 Common, 150 Rare, 15 Super Samples, and 25,000 Requisition slips.
Hangar Ship Modules
Liquid-Ventilated Cockpit
The cooldown time for Eagle Stratagems is reduced by a whopping 50%. You’ll get to call in these attacks twice as often. It applies to the Eagle 500KG Bomb, Eagle Airstrike, Eagle Strafing Run, Eagle Smoke Strike, Eagle Cluster Bomb, Eagle Napalm Airstrike, and Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods. Costs 80 Common Samples.
Pit Crew Hazard Pay
Eagle Rearm time is reduced by 20%. Costs 80 Common and 40 Rare Samples.
Expanded Weapons Bay
The number of Eagle Stratagem uses is increased by 1 per Rearm. This means you can use more of these in battle. Costs 80 Common, 80 Rare, and 10 Super Samples.
XXL Weapons Bay
Eagle Stratagems that drop multiple bombs now drop an additional bomb. Costs 150 Common, 150 Rare, 15 Super Samples, and 25,000 Requisition slips.
Bridge Ship Modules
Targeting Software Upgrade
The deployment time for Orbital Stratagems is reduced by 1 second. This lowers the time between entering the stratagem code and it appearing on the battlefield. This affects Orbital Gatling Barrage, Orbital Walking Barrage, Orbital EMS Strike, Orbital Gas Strike, Orbital Railcannon Strike, Orbital Smoke Strike, Orbital Airburst Strike, Orbital Laser, Orbital Precision Strike, Orbital 380MM HE Barrage, and Orbital 120MM HE Barrage. Costs 60 Common Samples.
Nuclear Radar
The enemy ping radius is increased by 50 meters on the minimap. This lets you spot potential ambushes in advance. Costs 80 Common and 40 Rare Samples.
Power Steering
Steering during Hellpod deployment is improved. Land right on top of foes with this ship upgrade. Costs 80 Common, 80 Rare, and 10 Super Samples.
Enhanced Combustion
Fire damage from stratagems boosted by 25%. Applies to Flamethrower, Napalm Airstrike, and Incendiary Mines. Costs 200 Common, 150 Rare, 15 Super Samples, and 25,000 Requisition slips.
Engineer Bay Ship Modules
Synthetic Supplementation
Cooldowns for Sentry, Emplacement, and Resupply Stratagems are reduced by 10%. This lets you drop them into battle more frequently. It affects the Shield Generator Relay, EMS Mortar Sentry, Rocket Sentry, Gatling Sentry, Tesla Tower, Mortar Sentry, Anti-Personnel Minefield, Machine Gun Sentry, Autocannon Sentry, Incendiary Mines, and HMG Emplacement. Costs 60 Common and 10 Rare Samples.
Advanced Construction
Increases the health of Sentry Stratagems by 50%. This is perfect for defending positions or pushing an offensive at higher difficulties. Costs 80 Common, 60 Rare, and 5 Super Samples.
Rapid Launch System
Deployment time for Emplacement Stratagems is removed. Instant deployment makes them more effective in combat. Costs 80 Common, 80 Rare, and 10 Super Samples.
Circuit Expansion
Lightning arcs from weapons and turrets jump to one more enemy. Costs 200 Common, 150 Rare, 20 Super Samples, and 20,000 Requisition slips.
Robotics Workshop Ship Modules
Dynamic Tracking
Deployment time for all Sentry Stratagems is reduced. This lets you tackle threats quickly. Costs 60 Common and 20 Rare Samples.
Shock Absorption Gel
Ammo for all Sentry Stratagems is increased by 50%. Your sentries will now last longer in combat. Costs 80 Common, 40 Rare, and 5 Super Samples.
High-Quality Lubricant
Sentries will rotate toward newer targets quickly. This one’s a godsend against quick enemies like the weaker bugs and robots. Costs 80 Common, 80 Rare, and 10 Super Samples.
Blast Absorption
Sentries take 50% less damage from explosions. Costs 150 Common, 150 Rare, 20 Super Samples, and 25,000 Requisition slips.
