As somebody who has been maining Ballistic Shield for a while now, I personally find the AMR to be better than the Laser Cannon. It kills devastators, rather than needing help from the SMG, and doesn't really need stun grenades for hulks. Not taking stuns allows you to take impacts, which can help with the ammo problems the AMR has against tanks and turrets, since impacts do a lot of damage to their heatsinks. Additionally, not needing stuns opens up my secondary for the senator, which I think is really slept on in this video. The shield opens up more time to hit those 1-shots on devastators and it can 1-hit all small bots, which saves ammo for the SMG since it has rounds reload.

fun to see someone stumble on my go-to build for quite a while. laser cannon doesn't even need to see the vents to kill mortars and AA guns, you can zap them from any angle

This is straight-up the best Helldivers 2 guide channel.

Shield, 50% boom resistance armour, stun grenade, pummeller, AMR is my new go to. Sticking with Revolver/Deagle for that Chadwick Chaderson energy.

I didn't think about the laser cannon. Used everything else on the list lol.

ballistic team mate with that heavy machine gun godlike teamwork

I run close with the Ballistic shield. Plasma shotgun and shield works great. Close in, get in range, get behind cover, lob plasma to stunlock anyone trying to get you. If overwhelmed, you can back off and the shields got your back literally.

I really love this series. I like to bring random off-meta stuff so this is the second video now that has inspired me to pick something up that I haven’t really used 👍🏻

Great Video! Just started tinkering with the ballistic shield, this video has helped a lot!

One day this thing won't have a ton of bugs and will be viable to use

Ah the ballistic shield. I love it. Easily misused though, hence why so many people wont use it. I found one single other shield user and we bacame instant friends lol. Hopefully this video encourages more to try it! I would recommend the senator pistol as an alernative to the grenade pistol, but i cannot deny how useful the grenade pistol is with the shield

HUGE tip on picking up the hard drive!

Awesome video. Learned quite a bit even as an experienced Helldiver.

Actually looks like an amazing build, thanks!

After the buffs I’ve found that the default assault rifle, pistol of your choice, and the recoilless rifle is a preferred solid loadout against Terminids.

Maaaan I’ve been rocking this exact build with the AMR and loving it, but ya always an ammo eater! I wasn’t sure I could make the laser cannon and make it work, but THANK YOU!!

This build is so good

Tom, these guides are awesome. Thank you very much. Subbed :)

Been using this exact build for a couple weeks already, glad somebody finally figured it out. P.s. AMR is still solid here

Enforcer armor has been my favorite to run with this build, you really feel the 130 armor and the fortified passive a *lot* helps with survivability

Nice , short and quite funny :) well done for a good video .

awesome content my dude

So thats why i was losing my shield...ty🎉

Laying down gives you massive coverage when it's on your back perfect for reloading

Nice! Havent used this strategem since it meant missing out on something offensive, but it looks worth it!

As soon as i saw that Devastator armor when i started a few weeks ago, I knew I'd end up with a build like that, and when i got the armor, the Polar Patriot bond released and handed me the best smg in the game. So I have insane protection from the front or my back when not holding it, I have an smg with built-in stun capabilities, I have a quasar, AMR or EAT for heavies, I have 50% explosive resistance and tighter aim and recoil (can hardly tell with the tighter aiming, tbf). Which leaves two strat slots open for support or fun, three if the team is sharing and providing the support weapon.

Been loving this build for the two weeks I've been using it. I bring the AMR though, since with the Defender you pretty much want to use resupply on cooldown anyhow, so ammo is never an issue. Here's hoping they buff the Ballistic shield so it can reliably block melee attacks as well so we can bring it against the bugs.

Im gonna try this

I love the ballistic shield.

Been running a similar setup with the executioner armor. Explosive resistance + reduced recoil is really, really good. The ragdoll does more damage to me than the actual rockets anymore.

The Pummler SMG is also a fantastic choice with the ballistic shield, even with the reduced damage, the added stagger effect massively helps out when it comes to stopping bigger bots. Especially Rocket Devestators, you can pause their rocket launch giving you more time for either cover or to use the laser on them. It also absolutely STUNLOCKS Beserkers, they legit can't do shit if you shoot at them with the Pummler.

That's a sub from me man great work

Been running this exact build for weeks!! I feel like I have an answer for everything!! Gunships, fabricators, tanks, HULKS!! I actually prefer it over the shield generator too!! The ballistic shield allows me to face tank any enemy using laser weapons, and for those armed with rockets (the bane of my existence, the rocket devastators), the laser Canon easily dispatches them when firing at their launchers.

another tip from me : if you feel extra silly you can use a armor that cuts explosive damage by 50% which makes the damage received from getting hit by a rocket near zero that is if the rocket hits the shield and then goes through

I mainly use it with the Eruptor, Revolver, and Anti-Materiel Rifle. It allows me to have utility and short-distance control as the revolver can headshot devastators consistently. It allows me to reload easily under fire and the Eruptor/AMR combo lets me clear out anything I face quickly. It’s perfect for run/gun playstyle. I bring smoke grenades to disengage and lose aggro between Obj/Poi. I use the light armor that has 50% explosive damage resistance for the times I get hit by rockets and the accuracy increase.

Dodgeball reference = double plus good

The shield and smg was my go to for awhile and then switched it up when the plasma punisher was released just to try something new. Need to try the combo again now that they fixed the shield a bit

This is my main build and I mostly play solo so I can attest to its efficacy. (Using the AMR over the lascannon since ammo isn't an issue when playing solo and using a heavy explosion resistant armor to tank rocket devastators) One recent bug fix that made the build 100 times better is the fact that stimming no longer forces you to put your shield on your back. I've had so much more success since then.

I find the EAT is good with it since its a really quick cooldown and can pretty much anything

SWEET LIBERTY!!

I still like to run heavy armor and the heavy machine gun for this, turning me into a super heavy Infantry unit. The HMG can also kill everything the Laser can, but with more Style. The reloading is a hassle though and you have to resist the urge of going full rambo with it.

“Well the ballistic shield had it covered, litterally!”

I've been meaning to try the Laser Cannon against the Bugs. I'm not sure if I ever have before but it has fantastic damage and penetration. So I would think it could be good against the bigger bugs.

Wow! I thought the laser cannon and the shield were both worthless thank you.

This build is good. You can run away with the shield behind you, and the bullet storm won't get through it. You can use their bases, but you have to look out for missile bots. The build is so good, but it's a bit less fun to use for me. Try Defender in semi mode, shield, quasar, Laser cannon, or AMR. Eagle 500 or maybe cluster? If you are good with sentry placement, Autocannon can make the crowd more managable for you.

Just like the video I uploaded on my channel a few days ago, This equipment can really deal with most bot enemies very easy.

You should also give the arcthrower a try. It staggers hulks and rocket devastators. But cant really deal with tanks or striders. Turn around while charging to use the shield as cover if not available for the first shot, then dont stop firing.

I wanted to like this. Aside from the lack of SMG options, I just feel like it needs a little bit more to be more viable in difficulty 9. If they add a temporary rocket dampener that lets you soak 1 or 2 rocket volleys from a rocket devestator, this will be a solid pick. Till then, it's a meme pick at higher difficulties.

currently lasermaxxing with the Dagger, Laser cannon, and shield, never felt so free

I’m gonna try the build and go Captain America on their asses!

2:16 Ehhhh. It's really effective as a tank build so long as you have explosive resistant heavy armor equipped. Other than that though, great stuff!

Amr is definitely better for the build but you're right the ammo is awful on it if they fix the ammo ship module for it anytime soon you might want to revisit it.

For team play when theres a dedicated anti air player, I run the arc thrower so I can stagger hulks and devastators.

I literally said don't at the same time as you 😂

Which support is the best for shield build?

Each video never fail us, Capt 🫡 Thanks for yet another great one! Also, you have such a podcast voice 🤌🏻

What if you could mount yourself on to a friendly shield like gears of war and move as one unit. Like how the team reload works

I hope they add a defense turret that can neutralize enemy rockets

I love the ballistic shield but it’s a bummer we don’t have better one handed primaries

you what else we need? a melee weapon

When can we get an update to use the shield as a sled when diving into the snow or mud?

Hey man, you have visibility, can you talk about the Ship Module - Rapid launch System " Emplacement stratagems are deployed instantly " ? This thing is not working as well

I enjoy it but there’s not enough viable 1 hand weapons to make it worth it at least for the higher difficulties

Great video, let me know if you're at all intrested in Teaming up or wanna do any team testing. (Level 120)

Was that a Critical Drinker reference in the first minute i heard? lol

Imbusing balistic shield now whit 2ligth weapon and the gun whit 20 ammo abd can explode in instable mod!

I run this with the quasar. It kills everything I need it to. If I run into a tank when I'm by myself the laser just doesn't do the job.

How's the Senator with this build with the new buff?

Hold the heck up! How is he standing toe to toe against shield devestators? Everytime i do that their gatlings penetrate my shield, force me to drop it, then ragdoll me. Even taking shredder tank fire? They must have buffed the shield because last month i couldnt take any fire outside guns.

I'll wait until arrowheads allow to use stims behind the shield. Now it's very annoying to use it.

9:49 how is there 5 total slots of Strats being used!?!?

Try legging the hulks

Why would you not use the armor that gives you 50% explosion resistance? That's a no-brainer pick for any Bot mission.

How to get good Step 1: use shield generator Step 2: you're done

I dont get why people like soloing in this game, half the fun is playing with other people. Not like rewards are split

you're still using it wrong. the ballistic shield is the best when you have another player support you from behind. by being that mobile cover, your basically being that wall that protects them and you can focus on the smaller units while your team goes for more dangerous threats.