The latest update for Helldivers 2, released on April 2, has sent shockwaves through the playerbase by bringing a Slugger nerf. The once-mighty shotgun, a weapon revered for its ability to function as the "best" sniper with the shotgun traits of stagger and demolition, has been significantly nerfed. This change has ignited a debate in the community.
Reddit user u/DrzewnyPrzyjaciel made a post on the r/Helldivers subreddit, outlining their dissatisfaction with the latest patch, saying:
The community thinks that the developers nerfed the wrong aspects of the weapon. The Slugger's strength came from its ability to stagger and demolish enemies, which is for shotguns in close-quarters combat. Players feel that the nerfs to these traits make the gun significantly less useful in its intended role.
The community believes a more balanced approach would have been to nerf the Slugger's damage drop-off or accuracy over a long range. This would've made the gun less effective at sniping enemies but would've preserved its core strengths in close-range combat.
Some users have pointed out that sniper rifles are currently outclassed by the shotgun in all aspects, even after the Slugger nerf. This is because the gun still boasts superior range and stopping power, along with a better scope compared to most sniper rifles in the game. One user, u/Plenty-Soil-9381 commented:
Players' overall sentiment leans toward frustration with the Slugger nerf. They feel the developers are overlooking more strategic solutions. Instead of nerfing the shotgun's core functionalities, they could buff sniper rifles to make them a more viable alternative in Helldivers 2. This would create a more balanced weapon meta where each weapon class has its own strengths and
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