Helldivers 2 Factory Strider Guide: Weak Points and How to Destroy Them

[TurboNova]

Factory Striders, often called "Walkers" or "Dogs" by veterans, are among the most formidable adversaries in the Automaton faction. They function as mobile factories and heavy weapons platforms, capable of reshaping a battlefield. For players facing them, understanding their mechanics and weaknesses is crucial. This guide breaks down practical strategies based on common player experiences.

What is a Factory Strider and Where Do You Find It?
A Factory Strider is a massive, four-legged Automaton unit. It serves two primary functions: acting as a heavily armed frontline combatant with a large plasma cannon and dual chin-mounted miniguns, and fabricating Standard Devastators from its undercarriage. You will typically encounter them in two ways. They can be found stationed at major Automaton outposts, or they can be dropped into combat via Automaton dropships. On higher difficulty missions, they also appear in "Strider Convoys," which are groups of four to six Striders patrolling as a side objective.

What Are the Different Variants?
Currently, there are two confirmed variants:

Standard Factory Strider: The main variant equipped with a large dorsal plasma cannon. Note that some Striders deployed in urban environments may have this cannon removed.

Strider Jammer: This variant replaces the plasma cannon with a Stratagem Jammer. It does not prevent stratagem use but scrambles the input codes every five seconds, disrupting player muscle memory. It uniquely can fire signal flares to summon Automaton reinforcements directly near Helldiver positions. In a convoy, the Jammer Strider is usually the priority target.

What Are Its Weak Points and Armor?
The Strider has "Anti-Tank" level armor on most of its body, but it does have vulnerable areas. Its most vulnerable point is its undercarriage or "stomach," where it deploys Devastators. This area only has medium armor (AP3). Other key points include:

Head (Eye): The small red light on its face is a one-hit kill for a Recoilless Rifle, but it's heavily armored and a difficult shot.

Weapon Turrets: The chin miniguns and dorsal cannon can be destroyed individually. The miniguns have medium armor.

Legs/Feet: Destroying a foot will kill the Strider, but the feet and leg joints are heavily armored.
Continuous fire from weapons with high armor penetration (AP5) can break its armor plating, reducing that section's protection level.

How Do Most Players Effectively Destroy It?
There are several reliable methods, often chosen based on team loadout.

Anti-Tank Weapons: The most common approach.

GR-8 Recoilless Rifle / FAF-14 Spear: Two hits to the body kill a Strider. A single, precise shot to its red "eye" is an instant kill.

EAT-17 / LAS-99 Quasar Cannon: Require three direct hits.

Orbital and Eagle Stratagems:

An Orbital Laser will destroy a Strider if it tracks the target for the full duration.

A direct hit from an Eagle 500kg Bomb on its face deals massive damage.

Most orbital barrages are highly effective due to the Strider's large size and slow movement. The Walking Barrage is particularly devastating if placed along its path.

Explosives and Mines:

Anti-Tank Mines: Placing mines in its path is very effective, as it will walk into them.

Hellbombs / Mini-Nukes: Any variant (portable, map objective, or SEAF Artillery) will instantly destroy a Strider if it is within the blast radius.

Unconventional but Viable Tactics:

MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun: When fired at high RPM into the medium-armored undercarriage, it can surprisingly kill a Strider quickly.

Thermite Grenades: Two grenades stuck to the undercarriage usually suffice.

Hellpod Impact: Landing approximately five hellpods (from reinforcements or stratagems) on its back will destroy it.

What Are the Key Combat Tactics and Warnings?
Disarm First: The immediate threat is its weaponry. Destroy the chin miniguns to safely approach from the front, and destroy the dorsal cannon to eliminate its long-range threat. The Railgun is excellent for this from a safe distance.

Avoid the Front: Until the miniguns are destroyed, never stand in front of a Strider. They have a 180-degree arc and can kill a Helldiver in seconds.

Manage Adds: The Strider will periodically deploy Devastators. Clear these escorts quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.

Prioritize Jammers: In convoys, target the Strider Jammer first to stop reinforcement flares and code scrambling.

Respect the Explosion: When a Strider dies, its core implodes after a delay, causing a massive explosion. You must retreat to a safe distance.

Exploit Its Slowness: Use long-range emplacements like the E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Gun or hit-and-run tactics. It cannot dodge and is weak to being kited through minefields.

Stop the Drop: If you see a dropship delivering a Strider, destroying the ship before it finishes unloading will instantly destroy the Strider.

In general, while intimidating, Factory Striders become manageable once their weapons are disabled. Most successful teams focus fire on one component at a time—miniguns, then main cannon, then the undercarriage or legs—while controlling the smaller Automaton forces it produces. Coordination and targeting its specific weak points are more effective than simply expending all your heaviest ordnance on its fortified body.

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