The News, Explained
Arrowhead Games Studios introduced two venomous enemies and a wider range of cave environments in Helldivers 2 on November 3. The additions, Noxious Scavenger and Noxious Spewer, belong to the game’s bug-like Terminids. Their attacks change the conditions for escaping and keeping space between squad members. Source
There are two causes of sprint restrictions to distinguish. The larger Noxious Spewer fires Web Spit at medium range; a hit prevents sprinting. It can then close the gap for a fast bite with a long reach. That bite carries stronger venom than the smaller enemy’s attack. Source
Poison has separate stages. Light poisoning blurs vision and damages health. Heavy poisoning also blurs vision, increases damage over time, and prevents sprinting. A new poison icon on the HUD, the on-screen status display, lets players track the condition. According to the developer, stims, the game’s healing items, help cure poisoning. Source
The smaller Noxious Scavenger moves faster than the ordinary Scavenger and delivers poisonous bites in quick succession, but it is fragile. The developer recommends weapons that cover an area, including shotguns, flamethrowers, and grenades. Source
Choosing where to attack the Noxious Spewer involves another tradeoff. Its head has medium armor, while its web-filled abdomen is unarmored. Bursting that sac triggers a Web Explosion that ensnares nearby players and bugs alike. Attacking an unarmored target can therefore affect a teammate’s movement as well. Source
Caves now have a chance to appear in more environments, including deserts and frozen tundras. These environment types are called biomes. The developer emphasizes the tunnels’ short sightlines and blind corners. The announcement does not provide numerical spawn rates or exact poison damage and duration. Source
OYOPICK’s Take
The connection between an unarmored abdomen and a teammate’s position deserves attention. If the mechanics work as described, deciding whether to burst the sac with a teammate nearby involves both the target’s protection and movement within the explosion’s reach. Quickly defeating an enemy and preserving space for the squad to move could become closely connected decisions. Source
The poison icon also matters in this combination. Since both webs and heavy poisoning restrict sprinting, reading the poisoning status could help players decide whether to use a healing item. How much time they have to respond will depend on details such as poison duration and cave frequency. We hope these new enemies and environments give teams richer choices while leaving enough opportunity to recognize danger and react. Source