Helldivers 2 Weapon Customization — Attachments, XP and the Best Mods

Weapon customization in Helldivers 2 lets you swap optics, underbarrel attachments, muzzles and magazines on most primary weapons — but only after you level the gun up through use, then spend Requisition Slips on each part. The system arrived in Patch 1.003.000 (May 2025): every primary has its own weapon XP bar that grows from kills, every level milestone unlocks another attachment slot, and attachments are purchased with Requisition Slips from the weapon customization screen. A stock AR-23 Liberator and a fully modded one are effectively different guns — which is why "best weapon" tier lists now quietly assume attachments are equipped.

This guide breaks down the full system: how weapon XP works, the four attachment categories and what each part does, which weapons can't be modded (crossover guns), the best attachment combos for the meta weapons, and the hidden downsides the game doesn't tell you about.

Official source: Helldivers Wiki — Attachments — "Weapon Customization, which allows players to change weapon attachments, was introduced in Patch 1.003.000. Weapon Experience is needed to unlock attachments, and Requisition Slips are needed to purchase them."

Official resources: Steam store page · Helldivers Wiki — Attachments · IGN — Weapon Progression · GamesRadar+ — weapon customization explained · Helldivers Wiki — AR-2 Coyote

How Weapon Customization Works

The system has three layers, and understanding the order saves you a lot of wasted time:

1. Weapon XP — every primary weapon gains XP from kills. Per IGN's Weapon Progression guide, weapons level up to level 25, and each level unlocks the next attachment (the exact level gates vary per weapon). XP is per-weapon, not account-wide: switch to a new gun and you start its bar from zero.
2. Requisition Slips — attachments aren't free. Each unlocked attachment is purchased with Requisition Slips (the mission currency you also spend on stratagems). Prices are modest, but early on they compete with your stratagem purchases, so prioritize.
3. Patterns (cosmetics) — purely cosmetic weapon patterns are earned and purchased through the same XP-and-slips pipeline, per the official wiki. They change the look only.

Attachments are swappable at any time from the customization screen on your ship, and there's no penalty for switching mid-campaign — build the gun for the mission, not the other way around.

The Four Attachment Categories

Per the Helldivers Wiki's attachment index, every customizable weapon draws from the same part families:

The gameplay impact is real: an Extended Magazine turns a 25-round rifle into a 45-round workhorse, a Vertical Foregrip cuts the kick pattern, and energy weapons' heatsinks change how long you can hold the trigger before overheat. Sights matter less than handling mods for most players — the default iron sights on most primaries are already usable.

Which Weapons Can Be Customized?

Primaries only. Support weapons, secondary weapons and stratagem weapons cannot be customized. There's also a notable exclusion list among primaries: crossover weapons — the Killzone guns (StA-11, StA-52), the Halo ODST weapons (MA5C, M7S, M90A, M6C/SOCOM) and other collaboration content — get cosmetic patterns but no functional attachments. That's a big reason collaboration guns trend lower in tier lists: they can't be tuned the way core primaries can.

The good news for high-volume players: nearly every core primary has attachments, including the 2026 standouts. The AR-2 Coyote (Dust Devils Warbond, 35 Medals on page 1) is a great example — the wiki lists a full attachment table for it, and its already-light recoil becomes laser-accurate with a foregrip and compensator. If you're choosing a primary around the mod system, the best weapons tier list flags which guns benefit most from their attachment sets.

Best Attachment Combos (2026)

Based on community builds and the loadout pages of u.gg and GamesRadar+, these combos are the current meta:

• PLAS-101 Purifier — High Capacity Heatsink or High Dissipation Heatsink (whichever extends the charge-spam window) + Reflex Sight Mk2. The Purifier's charged shots are unaffected by most muzzles, so spend your slots on magazine and sight.
• AR-2 Coyote — Extended Magazine + Vertical Foregrip + Compensator. The Coyote's wild recoil is the community's #1 complaint; the foregrip fixes it while the compensator tightens the burst.
• SG-97 Sweeper — Full Choke (tighter pellet spread at range) + Laser Sight. The Sweeper is a medium-range shotgun; the choke is what makes it work past 20 meters.
• R-72 Censor — 10x Sniper Scope or 4x Combat Scope + Muzzle Brake (for the follow-up shot). Suppressed marksman builds don't need a flash hider, and the brake helps the second-round placement.
• AR-23 Liberator — Extended Magazine + Angled Foregrip. The free starting rifle becomes genuinely competitive with these two cheap parts — the single best "I have 5,000 Requisition Slips" upgrade in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does weapon customization work in Helldivers 2?

Kill enemies with a primary to earn weapon XP; each level unlocks the next attachment slot; then buy each attachment with Requisition Slips and equip it from the ship's customization screen. Attachments can be swapped freely before any mission.

How do you unlock attachments in Helldivers 2?

By leveling the weapon to 25 through kills (the exact unlock gates vary per weapon), then purchasing each unlocked part with Requisition Slips. Cosmetic patterns use the same XP-and-slips pipeline.

Which weapons can be customized in Helldivers 2?

All core primary weapons. Support weapons, secondaries and stratagem weapons can't; crossover primaries (Killzone, Halo ODST and other collab guns) get cosmetic patterns only — no functional attachments.

What are the best attachments in Helldivers 2?

For most rifles: Extended Magazine + Vertical/Angled Foregrip + Compensator. Shotguns want Full Choke, energy weapons want High Capacity/High Dissipation heatsinks, and marksman rifles want a proper scope plus Muzzle Brake.

Do muzzle attachments have downsides?

Yes — community testing shows flash hiders, muzzle brakes and compensators add roughly 10–25% idle weapon sway, which hurts moving shots. The Compensator gives the most recoil reduction but the most sway; test in the training range first.

Related Guides

• Helldivers 2 Best Weapons — 2026 Tier List and Meta Guide
• Ergonomics Helldivers 2 — What the Weapon Stat Does
• Helldivers 2 Stratagems — Full List, Unlocks and Best Picks
• Best Automaton Loadout in Helldivers 2 (2026)
• Is Helldivers 2 Crossplay? — Cross-Platform Guide
• Destiny 2 Dungeons Guide

Last updated: August 13, 2026.