Helldivers 2: How to Beat the Impaler

The Impaler has arrived to boost the Terminid ranks against the forces of Super Earth in Helldivers 2. The titan-class enemy unit returns from the first game, alongside other new additions, as part of the massive Escalation of Freedom patch.

While easily mistaken for a Charger from range, the Impaler is a bit larger and more heavily armored in comparison. Its massive head unfolds to reveal three dangerous tentacles when challenged in Helldivers 2, which then burrow into the ground before resurfacing to slam you and your fellow teammates to death.

With an imposing and destructive design, the Impaler can lock down large areas to stop your advance and escape. The only way through is to find a way to pierce its heavy armor while avoiding its appendages. Here is what you do.

Impalers can be found in level 6 or higher missions on Terminid-controlled planets in
Helldivers 2
.

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How to Beat the Impaler in Helldivers 2

The Impaler is almost entirely covered with a thick stone-like encasing that normal weapons cannot penetrate. Unlike Chargers , even anti-tank weapons cannot strip away the armored shell to reveal flesh. The only weak point of an Impaler is its face, which is hidden behind its folded tentacles. There are two ways to target that weak point depending on the state of the Impaler in Helldivers 2.

The Impaler’s weak spot (face/neck) has a flesh-like (light orange) texture similar to the underside of a Charger’s tail.

Default State

When the Impaler is on the move, you can target part of its face from the side in Helldivers 2. It requires a bit of repositioning on your part. Do note that firing an anti-tank or explosive weapon like the AC-8 Autocannon directly on the retracted tentacles from the front will have no effect. However, if the splash damage from the explosive round hits the weak spot, it will push the tentacles to the side to expose the face. The footage below shows that in action.

Burrowed State

When the Impaler burrows its head in the ground, its face or rather its neck becomes completely exposed in Helldivers 2. Use anti-tank weapons to do massive damage to the stationary target. You can also use normal weapons to damage its face. When enough damage is done, the Impaler will retract its tentacles and start moving again.

Impalers have low mobility in
Helldivers 2
. They move pretty slowly, giving you ample time and opportunity to reposition yourself to find a vantage point.

As for the tentacles that shoot up from the ground, shooting (destroying) all of them will force the Impaler to cover its face again and end the burrowed phase of the fight. Something else to note is that the tentacles will always target players damaging the Impaler’s exposed weak point. Hence, if you are shooting at its neck, the Impaler will retract its tentacles to bring them closer to your location.