Helldivers 2 Autocannon (AC-8): The Best Support Weapon, Explained

The AC-8 Autocannon is the best support weapon in Helldivers 2 — rated S+ against all three factions by both u.gg and GamesRadar+ — and it earns that rank by being the only support weapon that does everything: heavy armor penetration, 190 RPM sustained fire, selectable ammo, anti-structure capability, and anti-air. Unlock it at Level 10 for 7,000 Requisition Slips, and it will carry your loadout from mid-game to endgame. This guide covers the exact stats, the APHET vs Flak choice, how crew loading works, and the loadouts it pairs best with.

Official resources: Steam store page · Helldivers Wiki (wiki.gg) — AC-8 Autocannon · IGN — Best Weapons Tier List · u.gg — HD2 Tier Lists

Autocannon Stats (Verified)

What those numbers mean in practice: heavy penetration means nothing short of a tank's front armor ignores you; 190 RPM with a 10-round mag means sustained medium-armor deletion; and the explosive component means every hit also chips structures. The one hard rule: the Autocannon requires its ammo backpack, which occupies your backpack stratagem slot — you cannot bring the AC-8 and a Supply Pack or Shield Pack at the same time.

APHET vs Flak: Which Ammo to Use

The AC-8 is the only support weapon with selectable ammo, and the choice matters:

• APHET (default) — higher direct damage (260 + 150 explosion), designed for medium/heavy armored targets. Use it against Devastators, Hulks, Chargers, Tanks, and armored Automaton units.
• Flak — more explosive damage (150 + 190), better splash. Switch to it for crowd clearing, flying targets (Gunships, Shriekers), and groups of light enemies.

Rule of thumb from the community: run APHET 80% of the time and swap to Flak when the map spawns lots of chaff or you hear Gunships. Flak's explosion makes it the better "I need area damage right now" option, but its direct damage is weak against armor.

Crew Loading: The Reload Trick Most Players Miss

The AC-8's 10-round mag reloads slowly when you do it yourself, but there's a mechanic that changes the math: if a teammate stands near you while you reload, they can crew-load the gun, massively speeding up the reload animation — the same system used by the Recoilless Rifle and Spear. In a duo, one player fires while the other feeds ammo, turning the Autocannon into a sustained DPS platform instead of a shoot-reload-shoot weapon.

Even solo, the reload is manageable: it's a two-stage animation (drop mag, feed new one), and you can cancel partway. But the crew-load version is why coordinated teams run double-Autocannon setups with zero downtime.

Best Loadouts Around the Autocannon

The AC-8's only real weakness is anti-tank vs the biggest targets (Bile Titan heads, Factory Strider armor, tank fronts) — its heavy penetration is "heavy," not "anti-tank." Pair it with:

• Primary: Purifier or Sweeper for chaff (medium pen covers what the cannon handles), or the Scorcher on bot missions.
• Secondary: Grenade Pistol — it closes bug holes/fabricators and frees your grenade slot, complementing the cannon's structure work.
• Stratagems: the classic "works everywhere" set — Autocannon + Machine Gun Sentry + Orbital Precision Strike + one flex slot (500kg, Railcannon, or an EAT for genuine anti-tank). If you're playing the farming loop, skip the cannon — a laser cannon cracks containers faster.
• Armor: Siege Ready or Engineering Kit (recoil reduction helps sustained fire). Full armor rankings are in the armor guide.

Is It Worth Unlocking Early? (Unlock Order)

The AC-8 at Level 10 / 7,000 Requisition Slips is the single best long-term support weapon investment in the game.

Official source: Helldivers Wiki — AC-8 Autocannon — the Autocannon is a backpack-fed support weapon with heavy armor penetration and selectable APHET and Flak ammunition, rated S+ across all three factions in current tier lists. Compare the alternatives in the tier list: the Grenade Launcher (Level 5) is the best early pick for nest clearing, but the Autocannon replaces it within a few levels and never stops being relevant. The unlock order the community recommends — Breaker → Grenade Launcher → Autocannon — is still the standard path, and the full sequence lives in the best weapons guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Autocannon the best support weapon in Helldivers 2?

Yes — the AC-8 Autocannon is rated S+ against all three factions (bugs, bots, squids) in the current u.gg and GamesRadar+ rankings. Its heavy penetration, structure damage, and anti-air capability make it the most versatile support weapon in the game.

How do you unlock the Autocannon in Helldivers 2?

Reach Level 10, then buy it for 7,000 Requisition Slips from the Patriotic Administration Center on your ship. No Warbond required.

What is the difference between APHET and Flak ammo?

APHET deals 260 direct + 150 explosion damage — the anti-armor option. Flak deals 150 direct + 190 explosion — the crowd-control and anti-air option. Run APHET by default and swap to Flak for chaff and Gunships.

Does the Autocannon need a backpack?

Yes. The AC-8 requires its ammo backpack to function — it occupies your backpack slot, so you can't pair it with the Supply Pack or Shield Pack. Crew loading by a teammate speeds up reloads significantly.

How do you reload the Autocannon faster?

Stand next to a teammate and let them crew-load you — the two-person reload is dramatically faster. Otherwise, reload behind cover: the two-stage animation leaves you exposed, and an 8-minute cooldown means losing the gun is losing the mission's firepower.

Related Guides

• Helldivers 2 Best Weapons — 2026 Tier List and Meta Guide
• Helldivers 2 Tier List 2026 — Weapons, Armor & Stratagems
• Helldivers 2 Stratagems — Full List, Unlocks and Best Picks
• Helldivers 2 500kg Bomb — Stats, Code & How to Aim It
• Helldivers 2 Terminids — Full Enemy Guide & Weaknesses
• Warframe — All Warframes Guide

Last updated: August 13, 2026.