Helldivers 2’s First Big Update of 2025 Lets You Emote While Ragdolling Once Again, Tweaks Balance, and More

Arrowhead Games has unleashed the first major update for *Helldivers 2* in 2025, bringing a wave of significant changes and improvements. Patch 01.002.101, available now, extends the duration of the gas effect from spray weapons, reinstates the ability to emote while airborne or ragdolling, and incorporates numerous balance adjustments and bug fixes.

As *Helldivers 2* approaches its first anniversary, and with the exciting introduction of the Illuminate enemy faction, players are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the ongoing Galactic War narrative. The update's substantial 5GB+ size has fueled speculation among fans about potential additions beyond the documented balance changes and fixes.

One particularly intriguing fix deserves special mention:

Fixed a small visual bug with the Stalker’s tongue (you don’t want to know what it took to fix it)

Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:

Balancing

General Changes

• Increased spray weapon gas effect duration from 6 to 10 seconds.
• Implemented a despawn timer for Illuminate dropship wreckage to prevent path obstructions.

Helldiver

• Allowed jogging while carrying two-handed items (barrels, SEAF Artillery Rounds).

FRV

• Authorized grenade and stratagem deployment while leaning from the FRV.
• Improved FRV handling, particularly during cornering.

Sidearms

• Increased starting magazines from 2 to 3.
• Increased spare magazines from 4 to 5.

Stratagem Support Weapons

• TX-41 Sterilizer: Removed crosshair drift recoil; decreased camera climb recoil; increased gas effect duration to 10 seconds.

Armor Passives

• Siege Ready Armor Passive bug (granting extra ammo to all weapons, not just primaries) will remain unfixed for now; Armory description will be updated later.

Backpacks

• AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath: Reworked for increased effectiveness, focusing on gas mechanics. Now prioritizes enemies unaffected by gas, has improved targeting logic (originating from the Helldiver, not the drone), and increased targeting range from 10m to 20m. Gas effect duration increased to 10 seconds.

Stratagems

• MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield: Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 seconds; damage increased from 350 to 700; increased mine deployment spread.
• MD-I4 Incendiary Mines: Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 seconds; damage increased from 210 to 300; increased mine deployment spread.
• MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines: Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 seconds.
• SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.

Fixes

Resolved Top Priority Issues

• Reinstated emoting while falling or ragdolling (will not reduce fall damage).
• Fixed Illuminate spawner ship shields not taking impact grenade damage.
• Resolved collision gaps inside Illuminate spawner ships.
• Health packs now fully restore stims.
• High damage weapons now detonate spawned Hellbombs.

Crash Fixes, Hangs, and Soft-locks

(Extensive list of crash fixes omitted for brevity)

Social Issues & Matchmaking

• Improved matchmaking logic for regional proximity.
• Fixed an issue where chat history was cleared after missions.

Weapons and Stratagems

(Extensive list of weapon and stratagem fixes omitted for brevity)

FRV

(Extensive list of FRV fixes omitted for brevity)

Helldiver

(Extensive list of Helldiver fixes omitted for brevity)

Enemies

• Fixed a small visual bug with the Stalker’s tongue.
• Fixed enemy non-reaction to missed shots.

Miscellaneous Fixes

(Extensive list of miscellaneous fixes omitted for brevity)

Known Issues

(List of known issues omitted for brevity)