When it comes to weapon choice in Helldivers 2, few rifles are as divisive as the AR-23P Penetrator. Officially known as the Helldivers 2 AR-23P Liberator Penetrator Guide – Stats, Build & Usage Tips, this rifle is often overlooked compared to its standard Liberator counterpart, but in the right hands it can be a game-changing tool for squads tackling higher difficulties.
Weapon Overview
The AR-23P Penetrator is a modified version of the classic Liberator assault rifle, trading some rate of fire and handling for high armor penetration. While it doesn’t shred hordes as effectively as the base model, it excels against armored targets such as Chargers, Hulks, and other medium-tier enemies. This makes it a strong option in missions where thick armor is more of a threat than sheer numbers.
Key Stats:
Fire Mode: Fully automatic
Magazine Size: 30 rounds
Effective Range: Medium to long
Special Trait: Armor penetration against medium and heavy enemies
Best Situations to Use the Penetrator
The Penetrator shines in missions with higher armor density. If your squad already has crowd-control weapons like flamethrowers, shotguns, or stratagems such as Orbital Airstrikes, the AR-23P can serve as the backbone rifle for keeping armored threats in check.
Against Terminids: Great for shredding armored bugs like Chargers.
Against Automatons: Can pierce through bots’ armor plating, making it ideal in sustained firefights.
Squad Composition: Works best when paired with teammates running high-DPS, anti-swarm options.
Recommended Builds
Anti-Armor Specialist
AR-23P Penetrator
Stratagems: Recoilless Rifle, EAT-17, or Spear
Support Gear: Guard Dog for crowd control
Purpose: Maximize anti-tank capabilities while still carrying a reliable rifle.
Balanced Rifleman
AR-23P Penetrator
Stratagems: Eagle Airstrike, Orbital 120mm Barrage
Support Gear: Supply Pack to keep your squad stocked
Purpose: A hybrid role that balances anti-armor damage with battlefield support.
Usage Tips from Experience
Tap fire at range: While the recoil is manageable, firing in controlled bursts greatly improves accuracy against armored weak points.
Don’t waste ammo on swarms: The Penetrator isn’t efficient for clearing out large groups. Leave that to your squadmates and focus on priority targets.
Aim for weak spots: Chargers, Hulks, and armored bots all have exposed areas—learn them and you’ll maximize the rifle’s efficiency.
Pair with anti-swarm stratagems: Since the Penetrator struggles against hordes, bring something like the Eagle Cluster Bomb to cover that weakness.
The Helldivers 2 AR-23P Liberator Penetrator Guide – Stats, Build & Usage Tips shows that this rifle isn’t for everyone, but in the right loadout it can drastically improve your squad’s survivability against armored threats. If you enjoy playing the role of an armor-piercing specialist and don’t mind leaving swarm control to others, the Penetrator deserves a spot in your arsenal.
