<p data-start="78" data-end="631">In the chaotic world of <em data-start="102" data-end="116">Helldivers 2, misinformation spreads almost as fast as bugs and bots. With hundreds of missions, complex mechanics, and minimal in-game explanations, it&rsquo;s no wonder players have come up with their own theories &mdash; some right, many wrong. In a recent video, content creator Thomas Arai put several popular myths to the test, bringing data, explosions, and plenty of humor to the battlefield. Here&rsquo;s a breakdown of the findings, along with a few insights for those looking to refine their strategies and gear up more effectively.

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<h3 data-start="638" data-end="698">1. Diving Grants You Invincibility Frames &mdash; <strong data-start="686" data-end="696">Busted</h3>
<p data-start="699" data-end="1230">Many players believe that performing a dive gives temporary invulnerability (i-frames), similar to dodge rolls in other games. After multiple experiments involving bile titan acid, orbital strikes, and even the LYFT 182 warp pack, the results were clear: diving doesn&rsquo;t make you immune to damage.<br data-start="995" data-end="998" /> The only times players survived explosions were when they successfully escaped the blast radius &mdash; not because of any invulnerability window. If you&rsquo;ve seen someone miraculously survive a hit mid-dive, it was likely a desync issue.

<p data-start="1232" data-end="1446"><strong data-start="1232" data-end="1245">Takeaway: Use diving for repositioning or quick escapes, not as a substitute for armor or timing. If you need survivability, invest in better gear or support stratagems rather than relying on animation myths.

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<h3 data-start="1453" data-end="1522">2. Melee Weapons Have Only Light Armor Penetration &mdash; <strong data-start="1510" data-end="1520">Busted</h3>
<p data-start="1523" data-end="1921">Tooltips in the armory can be misleading. Despite most melee weapons being labeled as &ldquo;light penetration,&rdquo; real tests show they can pierce medium armor just fine.<br data-start="1685" data-end="1688" /> Against Hive Guards &mdash; which are covered in thick, medium plates &mdash; every melee weapon successfully dealt damage through armor. The only uncertain case was the standard pistol butt, which still managed to stagger enemies effectively.

<p data-start="1923" data-end="2179"><strong data-start="1923" data-end="1936">Takeaway: Don&rsquo;t underestimate melee tools. If you prefer close combat, they remain perfectly viable even against armored targets. When you buy helldivers 2 items from reliable sources like U4GM, consider melee options for flexibility in your loadout.

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<h3 data-start="2186" data-end="2249">3. Activating Side Objectives Spawns Patrols &mdash; <strong data-start="2237" data-end="2247">Busted</h3>
<p data-start="2250" data-end="2638">This myth feels intuitive: whenever you activate an artillery objective, enemies seem to appear out of nowhere. But after detailed solo testing, patrols didn&rsquo;t increase or change their routes after activation.<br data-start="2459" data-end="2462" /> Instead, players attract enemies by simply being noisy or visible in open terrain. Patrols have preset paths &mdash; understanding these is key to completing objectives stealthily.

<p data-start="2640" data-end="2808"><strong data-start="2640" data-end="2653">Takeaway: Patience and stealth matter. Use scout armor, avoid unnecessary combat, and remember that not every enemy you see is &ldquo;spawning&rdquo; because of your actions.

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<h3 data-start="2815" data-end="2871">4. Saluting Raises the Flag Faster &mdash; <strong data-start="2856" data-end="2869">Confirmed</h3>
<p data-start="2872" data-end="3241">Surprisingly, this one&rsquo;s true. Tests showed that saluting during &ldquo;Spread Democracy&rdquo; missions reduced flag-raising time compared to doing nothing. Solo saluting took around 1 minute 26 seconds, while a full squad saluting together raised it even faster.<br data-start="3124" data-end="3127" /> It&rsquo;s a fun touch that reinforces the game&rsquo;s tongue-in-cheek patriotism &mdash; and a rare myth that actually holds up.

<p data-start="3243" data-end="3340"><strong data-start="3243" data-end="3256">Takeaway: When capturing points, have your team salute for a minor but real time advantage.

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<h3 data-start="3347" data-end="3403">5. Bots Don&rsquo;t Take Fire or Gas Damage &mdash; <strong data-start="3391" data-end="3401">Busted</h3>
<p data-start="3404" data-end="3804">While bots are metal and resistant to flames, <em data-start="3450" data-end="3464">Helldivers 2&rsquo;s &ldquo;Freedom&rsquo;s Fire&rdquo; is more than just heat &mdash; it&rsquo;s sticky incendiary oil that burns everything. Once ignited, bots take consistent damage over time.<br data-start="3611" data-end="3614" /> Gas also affects bots by disorienting them, often causing them to shoot wildly or reveal weak points. Combining both can disrupt enemy formations and make tougher enemies easier to manage.

<p data-start="3806" data-end="3954"><strong data-start="3806" data-end="3819">Takeaway: Fire and gas remain highly effective against bots. Equip napalm or gas-based stratagems to control crowds and weaken strong targets.

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<h3 data-start="3961" data-end="4036">6. Primary Weapons Are Your Main Damage Source &mdash; <strong data-start="4014" data-end="4034">Busted (Sort of)</h3>
<p data-start="4037" data-end="4419">One of the biggest takeaways from the tests was that <em data-start="4090" data-end="4102">stratagems, not primaries, do most of the heavy lifting. When the team played a full mission using only primaries, they achieved solid kill counts. But when relying exclusively on stratagems, the numbers skyrocketed.<br data-start="4308" data-end="4311" /> Between orbital strikes, turrets, and EATs, stratagems cleared far more enemies with less risk and effort.

<p data-start="4421" data-end="4767"><strong data-start="4421" data-end="4434">Takeaway: Primaries still matter for mobility and sustained damage, but true firepower comes from your support tools. To stay effective in higher-level missions, manage your stratagems wisely &mdash; and ensure you&rsquo;re stocked up on the right ones when you buy helldivers 2 super credits or upgrade your arsenal through trusted services like U4GM.

<p data-start="4795" data-end="5271">Helldivers 2 continues to evolve as players experiment, share findings, and challenge assumptions. Many long-standing myths have been definitively debunked &mdash; but others, like saluting, reveal that the game&rsquo;s humor sometimes hides real mechanics.<br data-start="5040" data-end="5043" /> Understanding what&rsquo;s true and what&rsquo;s not helps you play smarter, survive longer, and support your squad more effectively. So next time someone tells you diving makes you invincible or that bots can&rsquo;t burn &mdash; you&rsquo;ll know better.