If you’ve been diving into Helldivers 2, you probably know that collecting medals isn’t just about showing off—it’s a key part of progressing efficiently and unlocking the gear you want. Medals can feel elusive at first, especially when you’re trying to balance missions, survive intense firefights, and keep your squad alive. That’s why we’ve put together some Essential Medal Tips for Helldivers 2 Players to help you optimize your gameplay.
Understanding Medals
Before jumping into farming strategies, it’s important to know what medals really are. In Helldivers 2, medals are a type of in-game reward that reflect your performance across missions. Unlike generic loot or currency, medals often tie to specific achievements: completing objectives flawlessly, assisting your teammates effectively, or finishing missions under challenging conditions.
From personal experience, I’ve noticed that focusing on medal-specific goals can actually make missions more engaging. Instead of just rushing through for a win, you start thinking tactically—covering angles, saving ammo, and coordinating with your squad. It’s a small shift in mindset, but it pays off big.
Pick the Right Missions
Not all missions are created equal when it comes to medals. Some missions have a higher medal yield, often tied to difficulty and objectives. A common mistake is trying to grind easy missions repeatedly—they may be quick, but the medals gained per hour are often lower than tackling medium or hard missions.
When I play, I usually prioritize missions that have multiple objectives in one run. These missions might be tougher, but they also allow you to earn multiple medal types simultaneously. It’s a classic case of “risk vs reward”—and in Helldivers 2, the reward is definitely worth the extra effort.
Teamwork Is Key
One thing I can’t stress enough: medals often come easier with a coordinated team. Essential Medal Tips for Helldivers 2 Players always include prioritizing squad synergy. Reviving teammates, covering flanks, and communicating enemy positions can directly impact medal outcomes.
Even if you’re playing solo, keeping AI teammates alive and managing your positioning carefully can significantly improve medal collection. I’ve seen solo runs go from mediocre to excellent just by paying attention to how and when I support my squad.
Optimize Your Loadout
Your choice of weapons and gear has a surprising effect on medal acquisition. Some medals require precision kills, rapid completions, or minimal deaths. In these cases, having a versatile loadout that balances damage, range, and survivability makes a huge difference.
Personally, I rotate between a high-damage assault rifle for general combat and a specialty weapon—like a precision sniper or a crowd-control launcher—depending on the mission objectives. This flexibility helps me maximize my medal gains without overcomplicating my gameplay.
Timing and Patience
Another often-overlooked tip: medals aren’t always about speed; sometimes patience pays off. Taking a few extra seconds to clear an area carefully or coordinate with your squad can prevent mistakes that cost medals later.
For instance, rushing through an enemy-infested zone might seem faster, but dying and restarting usually eats more time than moving strategically. Essential Medal Tips for Helldivers 2 Players always emphasize quality over reckless speed—especially if you want rare or high-tier medals.
Track Your Progress
Keeping an eye on which medals you’ve earned and which remain is crucial. I recommend checking your medal log regularly and noting which missions provide the most consistent rewards. Over time, this creates a personal roadmap for medal farming, making your gameplay more focused and satisfying.
A small trick I use is to aim for missions where I can achieve multiple medal types at once. It saves time and keeps the grind from feeling repetitive.
Personal Touches Make a Difference
Finally, don’t forget that Helldivers 2 is meant to be fun. While these tips are designed to optimize medal collection, adding your own strategies and enjoying the process makes it more sustainable. For example, I like experimenting with unconventional weapons or tactics in lower-risk missions—it keeps the experience fresh and sometimes even leads to unexpected medal gains.
Medals in Helldivers 2 might seem like small rewards, but they play a big role in progression and satisfaction. By picking the right missions, coordinating with your team, optimizing your loadout, and tracking progress carefully, you’ll find that earning medals becomes more natural—and even more enjoyable.
Using these Essential Medal Tips for Helldivers 2 Players, you’ll not only boost your medal count but also enhance your overall gameplay experience. Remember: strategic play, patience, and a bit of personal flair can turn even the toughest missions into medal-earning opportunities.