Not even a week since Helldivers 2's latest balance patch, players are already sick of burn damage being an "instakill" death sentence

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The complaints have come thick and fast

Helldivers 2
(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

It's been nearly a week since the last Helldivers 2 balance patch, and players are still voicing their displeasure at the changes made to fire damage.

Last week, a new Helldivers 2 patch unleashed blizzards and sandstorms upon hapless players while also making several tweaks to weapons and in-game systems. For an example of the latter, look no further than fire damage, which saw its base damage increase by 50%, at which point it could kill players afflicted with fire in mere seconds.

Players weren't happy about the change at the time. In the smattering of Reddit posts just below, which date back to the day after the fire damage was changed, players call the change everything from "stupid" to "unreasonable," saying that players simply don't stand a chance of healing themselves before the fire completely overwhelms and kills them.

The fire damage after the update is just stupid. from r/Helldivers
Burning is an instakill now from r/Helldivers
Burn Damage is Unreasonable from r/Helldivers

"It was perfectly fine before. It was a serious threat but you could stim heal against the effect. Now it's just a stupid 'oh, well' instakill," one Reddit user added via a comment. "I don't really understand the reason why it is stronger now; fire was extremely oppressive even before the patch, Divers burned like they were covered in E710, and now it seems like thermite," another user wrote.

Fast forward five days and Helldivers 2 players are still burning up. "Currently, fire damage is the most powerful enemy damage type. A Helldiver could take multiple rockets to the face, take dozens of bullets, but if they fart near a patch of burning ground, they are dead in .1 seconds," the post below reads. Maybe ".1 second" is a slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

We need to talk about fire damage... from r/Helldivers

"This reply is longer than it took me to die," reads a comment that's likely scientifically accurate. Another commenter has suggested that instead of rectifying the fire damage, developer Arrowhead should instead provide fire-resistant armor for players to counteract the severe burns. Admittedly, this comment hasn't gone down well, with only negative responses registered. 

It's interesting to note that the patch that changed fire damage also made another unpopular tweak. The Helldivers 2 patch nerfed the Slugger Shotgun significantly, in a move players dubbed "uncalled for," while a developer tried to reason with players that the shotgun was basically acting as the game's best sniper rifle. Even after the reason was given, players still weren't impressed.

Helldivers 2 grunts have dismantled the Automatons and are squishing Terminids at pace, but can't help but fear Game Master Joel plans something horrid. 

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.