Helldivers 2 × Halo: ODST Legendary Warbond — All Items, Best Builds
Drop Pod Briefing (your “why-now” summary)
Aug 26 is a double-header: Helldivers 2 lands on Xbox and the first-ever Legendary Warbond—the Halo: ODST collab—deploys on PS5, Steam, and Xbox at 5am PT / 8am ET. Price is 1,500 Super Credits, and this new tier can’t be unlocked with the new Premium Warbond Tokens. Name-drop to your readers: ODST = “Obedient Democracy Support Troopers,” AKA The Helljumpers. Full cross-play is in; Game Pass is out; cross-progression still not a thing.
The Kit Locker (everything in the Legendary Warbond)
Weapons (4):
- MA5C Assault Rifle — ammo counter + built-in compass; all-rounder.
- M7S SMG — caseless ammo, integrated suppressor for quiet clears.
- M90A Shotgun — brutal close-quarters with a mounted light.
- M6C/SOCOM Pistol — first suppressed sidearm in HD2, with laser + flashlight; huge for stealth.
Armor (2 sets) + new passive:
- A-9 Helljumper and A-35 Recon—both carry Feet First: quieter movement, leg-injury immunity, and +30% POI discovery range. Stealth finally grows teeth.
Cosmetics & misc:
- Capes: Honored Heirloom and Eye of the Clandestine
- Vehicle pattern: Mean Green (hellpod, shuttle, exosuit, FRV)
- Player cards + title “Rookie”
- Note: iconic BR75 isn’t included (expect discourse).
Platform bits: launches across PS5/PC/Xbox with full cross-play; not on Game Pass; no cross-progression yet.
Meta Shift Report (what changes when the dust settles)
- Stealth becomes viable, not cosplay. A suppressed SOCOM plus Feet First lets squads neutralize patrols, slip objectives, and avoid chain-pulling entire biomes. Expect fewer alarm cascades on high-threat bugs and cleaner bunker entries on Automaton worlds.
- POI rushing gets faster. +30% POI discovery stacks beautifully with recon-style play; materials and samples routes tighten up for min-maxers.
- Loadout slot pressure eases. With a competent suppressed secondary, you can run heavier primary picks (MA5C/M90A) without a loud SMG safety net.
- Economy check. At 1,500 SC and token-incompatible, this is deliberately premium—position it as a playstyle unlock (stealth) more than just a cosmetic pack.
Best Builds (plug-and-play templates)
1) “Ghost Democracy” (Stealth Recon, all factions)
Primary: M7S SMG (suppressed)
Secondary: M6C/SOCOM (suppressed)
Armor: A-35 Recon (Feet First)
Backpack/Strats: Shield Generator or Supply Pack • Railgun or Recoilless Rifle for emergency armor • Eagle Cluster or 500kg for objective wipes • Machine-Gun Sentry for noise-tolerant anchors.
Game plan: Silent patrol picks → beeline objectives using the POI bonus → only escalate with pre-planned ordnance.
2) “Door-Kicker Mombasa” (CQB breach, Automaton bunkers)
Primary: M90A Shotgun
Secondary: M6C/SOCOM
Armor: A-9 Helljumper (Feet First)
Backpack/Strats: Autocannon or Quasar for walkers • EMS Mortar/Orbital EMS to slow pushes • Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods for turret nests • Guard Dog Rover to screen hallways.
Game plan: Quiet approach, breach loud, immediately layer EMS + shotgun control; SOCOM cleans cameras/patrols before the party.
3) “Green-Eye Ranger” (Balanced pub squad)
Primary: MA5C Assault Rifle
Secondary: M6C/SOCOM
Armor: Either set with Feet First
Backpack/Strats: Recoilless or Railgun (heavy answer) • Supply Pack for team sustain • Eagle Airstrike for nests • MG Sentry for lane control.
Game plan: MA5C handles 80% of problems; swap to RL/RG only for armor. SOCOM deletes scouts so the lane stays quiet.
Upgrade path if you’re tight on SC: SOCOM → M7S → A-35 Recon → MA5C → M90A. SOCOM is the stealth keystone; Recon multiplies it; MA5C fills the generalist slot.
Hot Drop (opinion with spice)
This collab is bigger than a helmet cameo—it’s the first time Xbox’s most iconic troopers effectively “land” inside a PlayStation-published title, day-and-date with Xbox launch, and it ships a new systems tier (Legendary Warbond) that changes how we move and make noise. Cross-play on all three platforms is the olive branch; the no Game Pass / no cross-progression line is the guardrail. Translation: everyone can play together, but Arrowhead still wants you grinding in your home ecosystem.
Combat Log TL;DR (synopsis for skimmers)
- When/where: Aug 26, 5am PT / 8am ET, PS5/PC/Xbox. Cost: 1,500 SC; Legendary tier; no token unlocks.
- What’s inside: 4 guns (MA5C, M7S, M90A, M6C/SOCOM), 2 armor sets (A-9 Helljumper, A-35 Recon) with Feet First passive, plus capes, Mean Green vehicle pattern, player cards, “Rookie” title.
- Meta headline: real stealth arrives; POI rushing gets faster; BR75 isn’t in the crate.
- Platform notes: cross-play yes; Game Pass no; cross-progression no.
Extraction Stamp (final word)
ODST doesn’t just hand out cosplay; it rewires the early-mid fight with suppressed tools and a passive that finally rewards smart feet. If your readers love min-maxing routes, stealth objectives, or just want to role-play “feet first into hell,” this Warbond is a must-grab—pricey, yes, but it actually shifts how you play. Tag it, bag it, and brief the squad.
Sources you can cite in the post footer: PlayStation Blog announcement with contents, price, and timing; GamesRadar breakdown and platform caveats; Windows Central roundup confirming cross-play and the full item slate.