The Hive Lord is one of the few monstrosities in Helldivers 2 that seems almost impossible to take down. However, the beast can be defeated if you and your allies remember some key points.

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This gargantuan bile-spewing worm almost appears to have an infinite health pool. It can use the environment to attack and kill you, making things worse. While this creature appears randomly, and I have managed to encounter it a couple of times so far, here’s what you need to remember when facing one.

Table of contents

  • Helldivers 2 Hive Lord attacks
  • How do you encounter Hive Lords in Helldivers 2?
  • How to defeat the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2?

Helldivers 2 Hive Lord attacks

To defeat any opponent, you have to understand its attacks. The Hive Lord has several different attacks up its sleeve.

  • Ripples: The Hive Lord routinely disappears into the sand to escape damage. If you’re caught along the way, you’ll be knocked down.
  • Debris: If you thought that the Hive Lord burrowing underground was bad, then this is worse. You’ll get knocked out by the rocks whenever it re-emerges from the ground. These can be accompanied by eruptions, only to make the situation worse.
  • Body slam: Not sure if this is the proper name, but standing like a mannequin by the Hive Lord will get you crushed by its immense weight. Try to dodge and save your stamina to dive around.
  • Bile Spray: Like all good Terminids, the Hive Lord sprays acidic liquid over a large area. This can damage and eventually kill anyone unfortunate enough to get trapped in it.

Set coordinates for the Terminid Hive Worlds – and pack the extra-strength bug spray. We’re exterminating the galaxy’s most disgusting infestation in a patriotic payback mission of no mercy.

Abhorrent new enemy types, thrilling missions, strange worlds and spectacular beasts… pic.twitter.com/WDD7qFeWro

— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) September 2, 2025

How do you encounter Hive Lords in Helldivers 2?

A Hive Lord’s appearance is entirely random, and you can encounter them only when you’re playing on one of the Terminid hive worlds. You’ll also have to play at a decent enough difficulty for them to appear. If you’re playing at lower difficulties and wondering where the beast is – yes, it’s unlikely to appear.

How to defeat the Hive Lord in Helldivers 2?

While it is possible to kill the Hive Lord (my buddies and I wasted nearly an hour and plenty of resources achieving this), the best tactic is just to run and escape. Any covered area is a good spot as the creature won’t be able to enter, and it will just let you go. You could encounter other Terminids, though, so that’s something to keep in mind.

If you still want to kill it, you’re going to need the biggest guns, which means the Anti-Tank weapons. The Recoiless Rifle is a great choice, but you can also use the Commando. You’re also going to need hellbombs if they’re available, to do more damage. Any other weapon will fail even to pinch the creature.

When shooting at it, just target its head. Its head is the weakest spot and relatively easy to target. It’s the same reason why I prefer using the Recoiless Rifle in the first place. As hard as the encounter is, you won’t be getting any extra rewards from it.

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