Helldivers 2 Update 7.2.0 Adds Easy Anti-Cheat and Buffs Shotguns, Sickles and More
Arrowhead's Devoid of Liberty update 7.2.0 introduces Easy Anti-Cheat and a broad balance pass on Legendary warbond guns, Sickles, shotguns and the Maxigun.
Arrowhead has published the patch notes for Helldivers 2 update 7.2.0, and the headline change is the arrival of Easy Anti-Cheat. The notes also describe a wide balance pass on primary weapons, a sidearm, stratagems and one mission, plus a change to how a bug strain is triggered.
Key facts
- Update 7.2.0, "Devoid of Liberty," has official patch notes dated Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- Easy Anti-Cheat is now implemented, with extra security tools.
- Killzone and Halo Legendary warbond weapons get stat increases.
- The Sickle, light-penetration shotguns and the M-1000 Maxigun are also changed.
Anti-cheat and general gameplay
The notes say Easy Anti-Cheat has been implemented, along with additional security tools meant to make it more effective and protect game integrity. Arrowhead points players to a separate blog post for details. The introduction also mentions the Scope of Authority Warbond, though the portion of the notes provided gives no contents for it.
The bug strain that spawns Bile Warriors, Spewers and Scavengers used to become active at random on a mission. It is now its own strain, controlled by the Game Masters. It also gets its own visualization showing when it is active, like Rupture and Spore Burst.
Primary weapon changes
Legendary warbond weapons cannot be customized, so the notes say some needed a slight boost to base stats.
- M90A Shotgun: damage 605 to 726; durable damage 220 to 264.
- MA5C Assault Rifle: vertical drift 20 to 15; vertical climb 30 to 20; horizontal climb 12 to 6; durable damage 16 to 20.
- StA-52 Assault Rifle: spare max magazines 6 to 7; vertical drift 15 to 7.5; vertical climb 25 to 12.5; horizontal drift 10 to 5; horizontal climb 6 to 4.
- StA-11 SMG: damage 90 to 100; durable damage 18 to 20; vertical drift 20 to 12; vertical climb 10 to 8; ergonomics 80 to 90.
- PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle: reload 3.3 to 2.7 seconds; projectile stagger strength 20 to 15.
Sickles and shotguns
Both Sickle variants now start firing sooner after the trigger is pressed (0.5 to 0.33 seconds). Heat also begins cooling sooner after firing (1.33 to 0.66 seconds). The LAS-16 Sickle additionally builds less heat per projectile, down from 1.15 to 0.95.
Shotguns with light-penetration regular pellets get more damage:
- SG-8 Punisher: damage 405 to 486; durable damage 108 to 135.
- SG-225 Breaker: damage 330 to 396; durable damage 66 to 88.
- SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray: damage 240 to 288; durable damage 64 to 80.
The SG-22 Bushwhacker sidearm goes from 450 to 540 damage, and its durable damage from 108 to 135.
Stratagems and missions
The M-1000 Maxigun regains movement control instantly after firing, down from 0.5 seconds. Its stagger force rises from 15 to 20 and its stagger impulse from 12 to 24. The notes say it should stagger more enemy types and push corpses away better.
The CQC-20 Breaching Hammer is also being adjusted. The notes say it cannot be used as often as similar close-range anti-tank stratagems, but the specific numbers are cut off in the material available. Missions get minor combat balancing tweaks for Evacuate High Value Assets.
What it means for you
If you rely on any of these weapons, check their in-game stats after updating, since many numbers have shifted. Read Arrowhead's blog for Easy Anti-Cheat specifics. A full bug-fix list was not included in the notes available, so see the official Steam post for fixes.
Quick answers
When did Helldivers 2 update 7.2.0 go live?
The official notes are dated Tuesday, October 20, 2026. They do not give an exact time.
What is new in the anti-cheat?
Arrowhead says it implemented Easy Anti-Cheat and added security tools to improve its effectiveness and protect game integrity.
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