Helldivers 2 provides players with various kinds of Stratagems that they can use to battle the bugs and the bots. Players have pointed out that some Stratagems like Railgun, Eagle Airstrike, and Autocannon are extremely helpful, but there are also some Stratagems that only take up a slot instead of providing aid during battles.
While playing the game, it is often hard to come across someone who uses the SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack, as the community has labeled it as useless. Despite Arrowhead improving this Stratagem recently, it seems like players are still not convinced. The Ballistic Shield isn’t entirely useless as it gives players some advantage, but it completely depends on how they use it, and against which faction they use it for.
Helldivers 2 players believe that the SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack Stratagem should not be a Stratagem
Last month, Arrowhead Game Studios rolled out an update in which the SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack Stratagem was significantly improved. Unfortunately, the community is still not convinced that the Ballistic Shield should be a Stratagem. A post on the r/Helldivers2 subreddit related to the Ballistic Shield recently went viral, suggesting that it should not be Stratagem. Judging by the number of upvotes the post received, it’s safe to say that a lot of players agree.
This Reddit post left the community divided as many players love this Stratagem, but a significant portion of the fanbase believes that it shouldn’t be labeled as one, as it only takes up a slot, stopping players from equipping better options. The update also put a spotlight on the Stratagem as more and more people started using it on the battlefields.
The Ballistic Shield Stratagem was recently improved
In an update that rolled out in April, Arrowhead improved Ballistic Shield’s capabilities, increasing its collision mesh and coverage. It would be unfair to call the Stratagem useless as it entirely depends on how players utilize it. The Stratagem is very helpful against the Automaton faction as the Shield won’t have an issue withstanding their bullets, no matter how big or powerful. Many players have also suggested the Stratagem should be paired with the SMG-37 Defender for the best results.
The SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack Stratagem unlocks at Level 12 and can be acquired for 6,000 requisition slips. The Call-in Time of the Ballistic Shield Backpack Stratagem is 5 Seconds while its Cooldown Time is 300 Seconds (5 Minutes). The Ballistic Shield is less effective against the Terminid faction as it offers no protection against melee attacks.
Helldivers 2 is available on Windows and PlayStation 5.
