Hive Lords in Helldivers 2 are not the usual bug to squash, they’re the Terminid nightmare. These skyscraper-sized worms tear through the ground, vomit acid across the battlefield, and flatten squads without breaking a sweat. With armor tougher than tanks and a massive health pool that makes Bile Titans cannon fodder, these deadly creatures of Hive World are so hard to fight.
Hive Lords can be killed in Helldivers 2, but it takes an absurd amount of explosives, flawless teamwork, and the willingness to sacrifice a few Helldivers in the name of Super Earth. If you’re ready to stand your ground against them, here’s everything you need to know about Hive Lords including how to kill one if you are daring enough to go against them.
Where to Find Helldivers 2 Hive Lords
Unlike most big enemies, Hive Lords’ spawn aren’t dependent on mission objectives. They can appear on any Hive World mission regardless of what your squad is doing. When one is about to surface, you’ll see the ground shake and ripple like an earthquake, followed by a deafening roar as the worm bursts out of the dirt. Sometimes the Democracy Officer will even make a callout once it’s fully emerged.
They tend to spawn more often on higher-difficulty operations, with occasional appearances at low-level 7 and more spawn chances at higher levels, especially long bug-clearing missions where Terminid threats escalate over time. If you’re actively searching for them, Hive-heavy planets are the best spots, but there’s never a guarantee, so you’re at the mercy of the RNG gods.
Weak Points and Armor
Hive Lord’s entire body is wrapped in tank-class plating, with its head protected by even heavier armor. Regular weapons barely scratch it. The few places where it’s vulnerable are:
- Mouth – Lightly armored, this is the easiest spot to hit for meaningful damage when it opens.
- Spines – Destroying the spines on its back exposes the soft inner flesh underneath, which is its vulnerable area and directly damages its main health pool.
Even with weak points exposed, its sheer health means you’ll need multiple cycles of concentrated fire to bring it down.
Best Loadouts for the Fight
Every squad member should dedicate their kit to fighting the Hive Lord. Standard weapons work to clear minor bugs but won’t work on this creature.
- Support Weapons:
– MLS-4X Commando for guided missiles.
– AC-8 Autocannon (FLAK mode) for sustained weak-spot damage. - Stratagems:
– Orbital Laser or Gatling Barrage for heavy opening damage.
– Eagle Strafing Run for spammable mid-fight support.
– B-100 Portable Hellbomb as finisher. - Throwables: Thermite grenades are the best option for piercing armor.
- Armor: Heavy suits like the IE-57 Hell-Bent give anti-tank resistance and extra grenades.
- Mobility: Jump packs or warp packs help dodge bile sprays and reposition after knockback.
How to Kill a Hive Lord Terminal in Helldivers 2
Hive Lord has about 150,000 HP, which makes standard weapons useless. So superweapons like Portable Hellbombs (~10k damage each), Eagle 500kg Bombs, Orbital Lasers, Railcannon Strikes, Railguns, Exosuits, Commando missiles, and EAT-17s. Heavy emplacements are the best weapons and armor to use in this battle.
As I already mentioned its weak points above, aim for gaps in its armor, the mandibles, or the mouth when exposed. The spine segments can also be broken to reveal flesh. The mouth is the most vulnerable part to heavy damage, but there is a risk of its lethal bile spray.
Hive Lord Attacks
Hive Lords spend most of their time burrowing underground. They’ll tunnel beneath the surface and come back up within your 100 meters, usually in the middle of a firefight. Every time they appear, they attack right away with a mix of devastating moves. These are Lord’s deadly main attacks:
- Sand ripples signal tunneling—never stand in its path or you’ll be launched to your death.
- Emergence eruptions crush anything nearby.
- Falling rocks knock you down when surface.
- Close-range flops crush stationary players.
- 10m knockback zone disrupts aim.
- Massive Bile Spray covers wide areas.
Fight Strategy
- Open with Orbital Laser or Railcannon as soon as it surfaces.
- Throw Commando missiles and grenades into armor gaps or the mouth.
- Layer Eagle Strafing Runs while abilities recharge.
- Plant a Portable Hellbomb as the finisher, expecting to die doing it.
- Respawn, repeat, and cycle bombardments until it finally falls.
Squad Tips
- One player clears smaller bugs while three focus on the Hive Lord.
- Use IE-57 Hell-Bent/Righteous armor for death explosions and extra grenades.
- Carry Thermite grenades, GP-20 Ultimatum as a high-damage sidearm, and a primary for swarm control.
- Exosuits and Commando launchers help sustain damage between stratagem cooldowns.
If you’re not coordinated, avoid it. Retreating into caves keeps you safe since it can’t follow. There’s no good reward for killing Hive Lord, so survival can be the smarter play. Killing a Hive Lord earns 222 XP and, more importantly, the satisfaction of conquering the toughest encounter in Helldivers 2.
