For Helldivers looking to master their arsenal, understanding a weapon's practical strengths and limitations is key. The SG-22 Bushwhacker is a unique secondary weapon that often sparks questions about its role and effectiveness. Here’s a breakdown of how it actually works in the field, based on common player experience and its mechanics.
How Does the Bushwhacker's Firing Mode Actually Work?The Bushwhacker is a three-barrel, one-handed shotgun with two distinct firing modes. This is its defining feature.
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Single-Shot Mode: This fires one barrel at a time. You can fire three times before needing to reload. Most players use this as their default mode for general combat, as it conserves ammo and allows for sustained engagement.
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Volley-Fire Mode: This fires all three remaining barrels simultaneously. It unleashes a massive close-range blast of damage and stagger. In practice, players save this for specific, high-value targets. Using it on a single basic enemy is generally considered a waste, as it leaves you with an empty weapon and a long reload.
What Are the Bushwhacker's Real Strengths?Its value comes from a specific combination of traits:
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Stagger Power: The Bushwhacker has exceptional staggering force. It can stop a Charger's charge if you hit its legs, and it will consistently knock back smaller armored foes like Stalkers and Devastators. This makes it a powerful defensive tool to create space.
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One-Handed Operation: This is arguably its greatest asset. You can use the Bushwhacker while holding a Ballistic Shield or Directional Kinetic Shield. For shield users, it solves the problem of having a strong, immediate-response weapon without needing to drop your defense. It’s a solid choice for players who like to play aggressively on the front line.
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Burst Damage: The volley-fire mode delivers its entire damage payload in an instant. Against unarmored or lightly armored elite enemies with large health pools—like an Alpha Commander or a Fleshmob—this can be a fight-ender.
What Are Its Major Drawbacks and How Do You Manage Them?The Bushwhacker has clear trade-offs that players need to plan around.
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Reload Mechanics: Like several other shotguns, it reloads one shell at a time. The critical detail is that each expended shell makes the reload progressively longer. A full three-shell reload takes noticeably more time than reloading just one. This incentivizes tactical reloading after each shot in single-fire mode to keep the reload speed fast.
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Ammo Economy: With only three shots before a reload, and a volley-fire that consumes all of them, you can find yourself vulnerable at crucial moments. It requires disciplined trigger discipline and good awareness of your ammo count.
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Range: It is exclusively a close-quarters weapon. Beyond short range, its damage falls off dramatically.
Is There a "Meta" Build or Synergy for This Weapon?Yes, one synergy is particularly effective. Pairing the Bushwhacker with armor that has the Gunslinger effect (increased reload speed for secondary weapons) drastically changes its feel. It shortens the reload time to the point where you can maintain a nearly constant rate of fire in single-shot mode if you reload after every one or two shots. This makes it much more sustainable as a primary source of damage for a mission. It’s less about finding ways to buy helldivers 2 items cheap and more about strategically using the warbonds and gear you already have to unlock this powerful combination.
When Should I Use the Volley-Fire, and When Should I Avoid It?This is the core skill to learn with this weapon.
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Use Volley-Fire For:
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Lightly armored high-health targets (Berserkers, Alpha Commanders).
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"Oh no" moments when you need maximum stopping power immediately (e.g., a Hunter leaping at you).
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Breaking the armor on a Devastator's front plate at point-blank range.
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Avoid Volley-Fire For:
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Common "chaff" enemies like Scouts or Fighters.
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Targets at medium or longer range.
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Situations where you know you won't have a safe window for a long reload immediately after.
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How Has the Weapon Changed Since It Was Added?The Bushwhacker has received several balance tweaks. It was moved into the Special sidearm category, clarifying its role as a unique tool rather than a standard pistol. A significant buff decreased its full reload duration, making it more viable. A later patch increased its sway, making aimed shots slightly less steady, which reinforced its role as a close-up panic/assault weapon rather than a precision tool.
In summary, the SG-22 Bushwhacker is a specialized tool for a specific playstyle. It excels in the hands of a shield-bearer or an aggressive player who can manage its reload rhythm. It's not a general-purpose secondary, but when used within its intended range and role, it offers unparalleled stagger and burst damage that can decisively control the immediate area around a Helldiver.
