For many players joining the fight for Super Earth in Helldivers 2, the overarching Galactic War can seem confusing. How do our individual missions matter? What are we actually fighting for? This guide breaks down how the war system works in practice, based on common community behavior and the legacy systems from the first game.

How Does the Galactic Campaign Actually Work?

Think of the Galactic Campaign as a persistent, community-wide meta-game. Every mission you complete on a planet contributes "Influence" to the overall war effort against that enemy faction. This isn't a personal score; it’s the combined effort of all Helldivers worldwide. The total Influence collected on a planet fills a community progress bar. When full, the planet is liberated.

The galaxy map is divided into sectors, each containing multiple planets. As the community liberates planets, we push the frontline toward that faction's home sector. The ultimate goal is to reach their homeworld and defeat them in a final, timed assault.

Can We Really Lose the War?

Yes. The war is dynamic. If the community isn't actively liberating planets quickly enough, enemy factions launch counter-invasions. They can take back planets and even entire sectors, pushing the frontline toward Super Earth. Major Defend Events are triggered to protect key capitals. If we fail these defenses consistently, the enemy can eventually reach and destroy Super Earth, ending the war in a community loss. Most players check the galactic map regularly to see where their efforts are needed most, often flocking to planets with high-priority Defend or Attack orders.

What Are Major Orders and Attack/Defend Events?

Major Orders are community-wide objectives issued by Super Earth High Command. They usually direct us to focus on a specific sector or planet for a set time. Success or failure in these orders directly advances or retreats the war front.

The most critical events are the 48-hour Homeworld Assaults (to destroy a faction) and the 48-hour Super Earth Defenses (to prevent total loss). These are all-hands-on-deck moments. There are also shorter, 150-minute Capital Defense missions. These happen on unique city-style maps, offer double XP, and have simplified objectives. Failing a Capital Defense causes the loss of an entire sector.

What Happens When We Win... or Lose?

If the global community successfully destroys all enemy factions by conquering their homeworlds, the war is won. A new war typically begins shortly after with a fresh map. Historically, winning a war rewarded participants with special items, like the Ceremonial Armor in the first game.

If Super Earth falls, the war is lost. The campaign resets, and a new one begins. Participation in a lost war has also historically granted a reward, like the Veteran Armor. The outcome doesn’t lock you out of content; it just resets the strategic board. It’s worth noting that some players may choose to buy helldivers 2 items from in-game vendors using earned credits, but the major war rewards are typically exclusive to campaign participation and cannot be purchased directly.

How Long Do Wars Last, and What's the Community's Role?

Based on the pattern from the first game, wars typically last between 20 to 30 days, but this can vary dramatically based on how active and coordinated the player base is. The community's performance in one war can influence the starting difficulty of the next. A decisive victory might lead to a more aggressive enemy push in the subsequent campaign.

In general, players don't need to coordinate on a personal level. You simply play the game. The system automatically aggregates everyone's efforts. However, communities often self-organize on forums and social media to focus efforts on the most critical planets when time is running out on a key event.

What Are the Factions and Their Regions?

The galaxy is divided between three primary enemy factions, each with a clear path of sectors leading back to Super Earth. Each sector has a capital city that becomes the target for Defense Events.

• The Terminids (Bugs): Located to the galactic east. Their path to their homeworld, Kepler Prime, winds through capitals like Liberty City and Freedom Peak.

• The Automatons (Cyborgs): Located to the galactic west. Their industrial homeworld of Cyberstan is defended through sectors like the Sirius Region and Cygni Region.

• The Illuminate: A technologically advanced enemy positioned to the south. Their homeworld is the Squ'bai Shrine. They were a faction in the first game and their return in Helldivers 2 is anticipated by many veterans.

Practical Tips for New Helldivers

Most experienced players recommend a simple approach: log in, check the Galactic War map for the current Major Order and any flashing invasion or assault events, and then choose missions on those highlighted planets. Playing on higher difficulties generates more Influence per mission, so as you improve, your contribution to the war effort becomes more efficient. Remember, even failed missions contribute a small amount of Influence, so every drop counts.

The system is designed so that your normal play naturally contributes to the narrative. You don’t have to be a tactician to participate, but understanding the flow of the war makes your actions feel more meaningful. For a detailed look at past conflicts, you can always check the Galactic Campaign Records. Now get out there and spread some managed democracy.