How to extract 5 Rare Samples in Helldivers 2

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Rare Samples in HD2 are found in level 4 difficulty missions and up

Helldivers 2 Rare Sample on the ground
(Image credit: Sony)

The Personal Order to extract with 5 rare samples in Helldivers 2 requires you to play on Challenging level or higher, then go out into the field and start combing the world for samples to bring back. It's tough, but not too tough, especially if you understand the process properly. Here's how to extract with 5 rare samples in Helldivers 2.

Where to find Rare Samples in Helldivers 2

Where to find Rare Samples in Helldivers 2

(Image credit: Sony)

You can find Rare Samples in Helldivers 2 in any mission on Challenging difficulty and above. Obviously,  the higher the difficulty the greater the number of Rare Samples there will be to collect, but also the harder it'll be to complete the mission and, crucially, extract.

Rare Samples are identified by the white icon that looks like a large square with a smaller square cut out. And, depending on which of the Helldivers 2 faction you're fighting, they can look like a dark cluster of crystals or a yellow flower. 

Rare samples are distributed somewhat randomly, so once you know what to look for you'll just have to search the map thoroughly to find them. Five shouldn't be to hard to find in a capable team if you split up to farm samples in Helldivers 2, but here are some reliable places to farm Rare Samples in Helldivers 2:

  • Enemy Outposts and objective areas: Primary and secondary objectives marked on the map, Terminid Nest Holes, and Automaton Fabricators often have Common and sometimes Rare Samples lying around nearby. Make sure you search the entire objective or outpost area thoroughly after clearing out the enemies.
  • Minor Points of Interest: Most POIs have a few Samples lying around, some of which can be Rare. There is one POI type that is essentially a small cave packed with Rare Samples, so finding one like that will help a lot.
  • Extraction Site: Taking some time to search the Extraction Site for Samples is worthwhile as you can sometimes find one or two Rare Samples lying around.

Helldivers 2 Samples extracted on mission complete screen

(Image credit: Sony)

Once you've got five samples across your team – you can check how many you have in total by opening your map and checking the Sample counter in the top-right corner of your screen – begin the extraction sequence and hold out until the dropship arrives to pick you up. So long as one person makes it out alive while holding at least five Rare Samples, you will complete the Personal Order and bag 15 Medals to spend on Warbonds.

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Will Sawyer
Will Sawyer
Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

Will Sawyer is a Guides Editor at GamesRadar+ with over five years of experience in writing online guides, news, and features, and has a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Starting as a freelancer, Will contributed to startmenu and Game Rant before joining the GamesRadar+ team in August 2021. Since then, he has written hundreds of guides about a huge range of games, with shooters and action games being his areas of expertise. Outside of writing about games, Will hops between multiplayer shooters with friends, such as Darktide and Helldivers 2, and delves into whatever has been on his backlog for far too long. He also tries to get through his never-ending Warhammer pile of shame of grey Tyranids, Aeldari, and Chaos Space Marines.