If you’ve been deep in the trenches of Helldivers 2, you know how vital XP is for unlocking stratagems, upgrading gear, and gaining the upper hand against the alien threats of Super Earth. But aside from the obvious missions and kill-fests, there are plenty of lesser-known tactics for maximizing your XP gains. Here are 22 methods that even seasoned players might be overlooking.

1. Repeat Low-Difficulty Missions Efficiently

Grinding doesn’t have to be boring. Low-difficulty missions are fast, often under 10 minutes, and completing them with speed bonuses racks up XP surprisingly quickly.

2. Always Bring a Sample Collector

Those tiny sample canisters? They add up. Stack multipliers by collecting all samples before extraction.

3. Squad Roles Matter

Assign roles before deployment—one heavy, one support, one recon. Specialization increases efficiency and completion speed, leading to more XP.

4. Farm with Public Matchmaking

Public matchmaking is chaotic, but higher player counts increase kill rates and mission pacing. You’ll often get higher XP just from the sheer volume of activity.

5. Stagger Stratagem Use

Don’t drop all your stratagems at once. Use them strategically to prolong survival and control the flow of enemies for better kill bonuses.

6. Target Secondary Objectives First

Secondary objectives often give a large XP bonus, especially when completed before the main goal.

7. Abuse Radar Tower Missions

Radar Tower missions provide a fixed XP gain and are among the fastest objectives when done right. Stack them back-to-back.

8. Speedrun Mining Operations

With the right squad setup, mining operations can be cleared in minutes, especially if you coordinate the drilling and defense stages.

9. XP Boost Weekends

Watch for community events or in-game bonus weekends. Stack these with your own efforts to double or even triple your returns.

10. Use the Best Loadouts for Your Playstyle

An efficient loadout tailored to your playstyle prevents downtime and unnecessary deaths—both of which affect mission scores and XP.

11. Revive for Bonus XP

Each revival contributes to end-mission stats. Don’t let your teammates bleed out—save them for your own gain.

12. Reinforcement Capsules for Points

Even if no one's dead, calling in reinforcement capsules counts as XP-generating activity in some mission types.

13. Use Covert Operations

Some covert ops grant XP bonuses just for staying undetected. Play smart and earn big without firing a shot.

14. Cycle Through Biomes

Some biomes—like arctic and volcanic—spawn different enemy types and densities, affecting XP yields. Rotate maps for variety and higher output.

15. Play During Off-Peak Hours

Server lag and matchmaking delays reduce efficiency. Playing off-peak can mean faster matches and smoother missions.

16. Use a Support Backpack Wisely

Support players using healing or ammo backpacks should stay active. Assists grant XP and improve mission scores.

17. Stay Alive for the Bonus

Every death reduces your XP share. A clean run boosts your total significantly.

18. Focus Fire on High-Value Targets

Certain enemy units—like Brood Commanders or Siege Bots—grant far more XP than standard foes. Prioritize them.

19. Maximize Your Mission Timer

If you’re on a longer mission, don’t rush the extraction. Clean up spawns and complete all extras to squeeze every XP drop.

20. Run XP-Focused Stratagems

Orbital strikes and machine gun turrets not only help survive but contribute to kill counts, which directly feed XP rewards.

21. Optimize Grenade Usage

AOE damage from grenades can clear waves fast. Use terrain and choke points to maximize impact and score multi-kill XP bonuses.

22. Consider External Tools and Services

Some players who want to skip the grind opt to buy Helldivers 2 Items or gear to boost efficiency. Whether you’re playing on PC or looking to buy Helldivers 2 Items PS4, platforms like U4GM offer tools to gear up faster—though, of course, mastering the game yourself remains the most satisfying path.

Farming XP in Helldivers 2 isn’t just about brute force—it’s about working smarter, not harder. Try integrating a few of these lesser-known methods into your next session and you’ll be surprised how fast the levels stack up. Dive hard, dive often, and never forget: Managed Democracy thrives on dedication and efficiency.