Helldivers 2 500kg Bomb Code Radius & Damage Guide (2026)

The Eagle 500kg Bomb is Helldivers 2's signature heavy ordnance: unlock it at Level 15 for 10,000 Requisition Slips, enter the code Up, Right, Down, Down, Down (↑→↓↓↓), and one well-placed bomb deletes nearly any enemy or structure in the game. Following major Arrowhead balance updates, its projectile deals 2,000 damage alongside a 1,500-damage explosion with an expanded ~25m blast radius — fixing the infamous legacy issue where the blast visual was larger than its damage cone. This guide details the stratagem code, post-update damage stats, blast radius mechanics, and why your bombs might still miss.

Official resources: Steam store page · Helldivers Wiki (wiki.gg) — Eagle 500kg Bomb · Fandom — Eagle 500kg Bomb · Game8 — Code and unlock

500kg Bomb: Key Stats & Code

Official source: Helldivers Wiki — Eagle 500kg Bomb — "Every Stratagem capable of damaging heavily armored enemies has had their damage increased to account for the increased health of heavier enemies. Projectile standard damage increased from 1,400 to 2,000... Explosion damage increased from 1,200 to 1,500. Explosion radius increased to match visuals better."

500kg Bomb Blast Radius & Damage Update

For months after launch, players complained that the 500kg Bomb's damage radius was a fraction of its huge visual fire cloud. Arrowhead's balance patches fundamentally fixed this issue:

• Visual Alignment: The lethal explosion radius was expanded to ~25m, ensuring enemies inside the visual fire sphere actually take heavy damage.
• Heavy Armor Destruction: Projectile impact damage was bumped to 2,000 and explosion damage to 1,500. This combination lets direct hits kill Bile Titans, Chargers, Hulks, and Factory Striders.
• Damage Falloff: While the blast radius is significantly larger now, damage falloff remains sharp near the outer edge. Targets at the fringe take reduced splash, while anything within 10m of the impact point suffers catastrophic damage.

What the 500kg Bomb Can Destroy

The 500kg Bomb serves as a universal demolition tool. It can instantly destroy:

• Automaton Structures: Automaton Fabricators, Detector Towers, inactive Stratagem Jammers, Mortar Emplacements, and Rogue Research Stations.
• Terminid Structures: Terminid Bug Holes, Enemy Bio-Processors, Illegal Broadcast Towers, Shrieker Nests, and Spore Spewers.
• Heavy Enemies: One-shots Bile Titans (when placed directly on or under the head), Chargers, Hulks, and Harvesters. Factory Striders take heavy damage and can be killed in one direct hit to the undercarriage or top bay.

For optimal loadout pairing against heavy Automaton units, check our Helldivers 2 Automaton loadout guide and our guide on defeating the Helldivers 2 Factory Strider.

The Aiming Guide: Why Your 500kg Keeps Missing

If your 500kg Bomb fails to kill targets, it is almost always due to flight trajectory or detonation delay mechanics:

• Parallel Drop Trajectory: Most Eagle strikes (like Eagle Airstrike) drop bombs perpendicular to your throw vector. The 500kg Bomb drops PARALLEL to your throw direction. Throwing the beacon sideways or past the target will place the impact point behind them.
• Throw at the Target's Feet: Throw the beacon directly at stationary targets or slightly ahead of advancing heavy units.
• Post-Impact Delay (~1 second): The bomb embeds into the ground before exploding. Moving enemies (like sprinting Chargers) can travel out of the center kill zone if you throw behind them.

When to Bring the 500kg (and When Not To)

Bring it when: fighting Automatons (Fabricators, Hulks, Factory Striders), running solo or duo without heavy anti-tank weapons, or tackling demolition-focused objectives (Destroy Egg Nests, Sabotage Air Base).

Leave it at home when: your team already has redundant anti-tank tools, or on horde-dense Defense/Eradicate missions where high-use stratagems are preferred. Check our Helldivers 2 tier list 2026 for top-ranked alternatives.

Ship Modules That Upgrade the 500kg Bomb

• Expanded Weapons Bay (Hangar): Grants +1 use per rearm — doubling your 500kg capacity from 1 to 2 bombs per Eagle cycle. This is the single most essential upgrade for Eagle stratagems.
• Liquid-Ventilated Cockpit (Hangar): Reduces Eagle cooldown by 50%. Note: only kicks in after unlocking Expanded Weapons Bay for the 500kg bomb.
• Pit Crew Hazard Pay / Advanced Crew Training: Reduces overall Eagle rearm time back at the Super Destroyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the code for the Eagle 500kg Bomb?

Up, Right, Down, Down, Down (↑ → ↓ ↓ ↓) on PC (Ctrl+WASD) or the equivalent d-pad sequence on PS5 controller.

How do you unlock the 500kg Bomb in Helldivers 2?

Reach Level 15, then purchase it for 10,000 Requisition Slips from the Patriotic Administration Center at the Ship Management terminal.

How much damage does the 500kg Bomb do?

Post-patch updates grant it 2,000 projectile impact damage and 1,500 explosion damage in a ~25m blast radius (up from 1,400 projectile / 1,200 explosion pre-patch).

What is the blast radius update for the 500kg Bomb?

Arrowhead updated the explosion radius to ~25m to match the visual explosion FX, ensuring enemies inside the blast cloud actually take full damage.

Why does my 500kg Bomb keep missing?

Because it drops parallel to your throw line (unlike perpendicular Eagle strikes), embeds for ~1 second before detonating, and has damage falloff near outer edges.

Is the 500kg Bomb good against Bile Titans and Factory Striders?

Yes — it is one of the fastest single-tool kills in the game for both. A direct hit to the head or torso kills Bile Titans and severely damages or destroys Factory Striders.

Related Guides

• Helldivers 2 Autocannon — AC-8 Stats, Loadouts & Tips
• Helldivers 2 Limb Health — Injury Chart & How to Heal
• Helldivers 2 New Missions — Everything Added in 2026
• Helldivers 2 Eruptor — Stats, Unlock & 2026 Guide
• Helldivers 2 Helmets — Every Helmet Explained

Last updated: August 20, 2026.