As you progress in Helldivers 2, you’ll unlock a variety of stratagems designed for large-scale destruction. The Or***al 120mm HE Barrage is one of the heaviest among them. This guide breaks down how it works in practice, when to use it, and what you need to know to avoid becoming a casualty of your own firepower.

How Does the 120mm Barrage Actually Work?

When you call in the barrage, there’s an inbound delay before the shells start falling. Once they do, they land in groups. The standard barrage fires fifteen shells total, arranged in five salvos of three shells each. The shells within a salvo land 0.75 seconds apart, and there’s a 2-second pause between each salvo. From the first explosion to the last, the entire event lasts about 15.5 seconds.

If you unlock the "More Guns" ship module, it adds an entire extra salvo, bringing the total to eighteen shells and extending the duration to roughly 19 seconds. The area it covers is massive. In general, if you do not throw the beacon as far as you can and then immediately sprint away, you will likely be caught in the blast zone. Most experienced players recommend putting at least 50 meters between yourself and the beacon the moment you throw it to be safe.

What is the Barrage Actually Good For?

Its primary strength is area denial and destroying fortified positions. It is exceptionally***d at clearing enemy structures that are otherwise tedious to assault. You can reliably use it to destroy Automaton Detector Towers, Terminid Command Bunkers, and all types of enemy emplacements like Mortars and Anti-Air guns.

The barrage is especially valuable against Automaton Anti-Air Emplacements. Since these structures block Eagle stratagem calls in their radius, the or***al barrage becomes one of the few tools that can safely destroy them from a distance. It’s also highly effective against bot drops. If you see a reinforcement flare go up, throwing your beacon onto that same spot will usually destroy most of the incoming dropships and the bots inside before they can deploy.

Which Ship Modules Affect It, and Are They Worth It?

Several ship modules in the Or***al Cannon category enhance the barrage. "More Guns" is a popular choice for the extra salvo, increasing its coverage and destructive potential. "Atmospheric Monitoring" reduces the spread of the shells by 15%, making the damage more concentrated, while "High-Density Explosives" increases the blast radius of each shell by 10%. These two modules often work well together for more reliable clears. "Zero-G Breech Loading" reduces its cooldown, and the Bridge module "Targeting Software Upgrade" shaves a second off the call-in time, which can be crucial in a tight spot.

For players managing their requisition slips carefully, focusing on modules that enhance your most-used stratagems is key. You can find discussions on budget-friendly Helldivers 2 items on U4N that often highlight which ship modules provide the best value for your resources, allowing you to specialize without wasting time on less impactful upgrades.

How Has the Barrage Changed Over Time?

The barrage has seen significant updates. A major change in August 2024 reduced its cooldown from 240 to 180 seconds and shortened the time between salvos, making it a more frequent and responsive tool. The most impactful change came in September 2024, when its damage was massively increased—from 300 to 2500 for both standard and durable armor damage—specifically to ensure it remained effective against the heavier enemies introduced in that patch. This solidified its role as a premier anti-structure and anti-armor option.

Common Mistakes and Best Practices

The most common mistake is underestimating its range and dying to friendly fire. Always throw the beacon at maximum distance. It’s also not a precision tool; due to its long duration and wide area, it’s poorly suited for close-quarters support when allies are actively fighting in the zone. Most players use it as an opening move on a base from a safe distance, or to shut down a landing zone before the enemy can even disembark. Communication with your team is essential—let them know where and when you’re calling it in so they can clear the area.

In summary, the Or***al 120mm HE Barrage is a strategic tool for wiping large, static threats off the map. It requires forethought and positioning but rewards you with unparalleled area destruction. Use it to level bases, stop reinforcements, and break fortifications your team wants to avoid.