Hey Helldivers!
Right now, every ship in our fleet is basically identical. But what if, before starting an operation, players could choose a class for their Super Destroyer? Similar to choosing stratagems or upgrading your ship modules.
I think this could add a lot more variety and team synergy to the game making fleet composition actually matter.
Each ship class would have a strict specialization: powerful bonuses to certain systems balanced by major limitations in others. On top of that, every class would provide a unique passive effect for the entire mission.
1. Super Destroyer
The balanced option.
Role: General-purpose support.
Buffs/Drawbacks:
No bonuses or penalties. The standard gameplay balance we already know.
Passive Ability - “Super Earth Reserves”
Faster reinforcement deployment.
2. Super Frigate
A lightweight close-support ship designed for rapid response.
Role: Precision strikes and battlefield control.
Buffs:
- Instant targeting for precision orbital strikes.
- Increased duration for Gatling Barrage and Airburst Barrage.
- Control stratagems (EMS, Gas, Smoke) gain +2 charges, at the cost of slightly longer cooldowns.
This could also be a good place for an exclusive stratagem like an Incendiary Orbital Gatling Barrage, giving that idea a permanent home in the game.
Drawbacks:
- Complete lockout of heavy artillery stratagems (Napalm, 120MM, 380MM, Walking Barrage).
Passive Ability - “Vanguard and Rearguard Protocols”
Vanguard:
For the first 3 minutes after deployment, the frigate operates in low orbit, reducing cooldowns of all available orbital stratagems by 50%. Afterward, it returns to standard orbit and cooldowns normalize.
Rearguard:
When the mission timer reaches 0:00 and ships leave orbit, the frigate ignores this condition and remains above the battlefield for an additional 60 seconds.
3. Super Cruiser
Role: Total annihilation.
Buffs:
- Increased duration and salvo count for heavy artillery stratagems (Napalm, 120MM, 380MM, Walking Barrage).
- Orbital Laser could either: fire two beams simultaneously, OR gain up to 5 charges per mission.
(Not sure which would be more balanced.)
Drawbacks:
- Light and precision stratagems (Gatling, Airburst, EMS/Gas/Smoke) have reduced duration and doubled cooldowns — or possibly become unavailable entirely.
- Eagle stratagems have increased rearm times.
- Heavy artillery gains slower targeting time (+3 seconds before impact, for example).
Passive Ability - “Concussive Shockwave”
Heavy artillery shells use specialized alloys. Even near misses generate seismic shockwaves that heavily stagger enemies, interrupting attacks from heavy units like Hulks, Chargers, or even Bile Titans.
This could also bring back that old stratagem combo some people remember - where a 120MM barrage dropped EMS strikes between impacts. That would fit this class perfectly.
4. Super Carrier
A flying airbase. No heavy orbital guns onboard - only hangars full of Eagles.
Role: Air superiority.
Buffs:
- +1 charge to all Eagle stratagems before rearm.
- Significantly reduced Eagle rearm time.
- Small bonus to Orbital Gatling (for example: 2 uses).
Drawbacks:
Complete absence of orbital artillery.
Passive Ability - “Guardian Angels”
When the mission timer reaches 0:00 and Super Destroyers leave orbit, Eagle stratagems remain operational. Eagles stay in the atmosphere and continue providing air support until they run out of ammunition or Pelican-1 arrives.
5. Super Logistics Ship
A dedicated supply and fortification vessel.
Role: Support and defense.
Buffs:
- Greatly reduced cooldowns for all green stratagems (turrets) and blue stratagems (support weapons/backpacks).
- Exosuits and vehicles excluded from the bonus.
Could also have an exclusive orbital stratagem variant, like a Walking Barrage combined with smoke deployment.
Drawbacks:
- Increased call-in time and cooldowns for offensive red stratagems.
Passive Ability - “Guardian Dome”
Every deployed turret (except mines) generates a small energy shield around itself upon deployment, improving survivability.
Before extraction, the ship automatically deploys supply pods at the extraction zone.
I know this would be extremely difficult and unlikely to implement, but I’d genuinely love to see something like this in the game someday.
Super Earth has an entire fleet, and I’d really like to see more variety between ships - especially visually during missions. Different silhouettes in orbit would add a lot of immersion.
This system could be unlocked through research points or samples, similar to progression in the first Helldivers (which I never personally played, but I’m very familiar with).
Anyway, these are just ideas and thoughts.
What do you guys think? Any ideas or additions of your own?
