As an experienced Helldiver, you've probably noticed the Galactic War map on your ship. It's not just for show; it's the persistent, community-driven meta-game that ties all our actions together. Here's a straightforward explanation of how it functions, based on how most players interact with it.
What is the Galactic Campaign?
The Galactic Campaign is a global strategic layer that every player contributes to simply by completing missions. When you finish an operation and gain "Influence," that progress is uploaded and tallied for the entire Helldivers community. Your primary goal, collectively, is to push the war front across the galaxy by liberating planets from the enemy factions: the Terminids (Bugs), the Automatons (Cyborgs), and the Illuminate.
How Do We Win or Lose a War?
The community works to conquer sectors one planet at a time, eventually pushing toward an enemy's home world. Once a faction's home world is reached, a final 48-hour "Attack Event" begins. If players collectively generate enough Influence within that window, that faction is defeated for the remainder of the war.
Conversely, if the community does not maintain enough pressure, enemies can counter-attack and invade our sectors. If they push all the way to Super Earth, a 48-hour "Defend Event" is triggered. Failing to generate enough Influence during this last stand means losing the war.
In practice, wars have a natural ebb and flow. There are periods of aggressive expansion and periods of desperate defense. Most players find they need to coordinate, often by focusing missions on planets with active Major Orders, to sway the overall campaign.
What Happens After a War?
Once all three enemy factions are defeated, or if Super Earth falls, the war ends. A new Galactic Campaign begins shortly after, resetting the map. Your individual progression (levels, stratagems, etc.) is retained. The main difference is the starting conditions and difficulty of the new war, which is generally adjusted based on the community's performance in the previous one.
Wars typically last several weeks. As a participant in a concluded war, you receive a cosmetic armor set—the Ceremonial Armor for a victory or the Veteran Armor for a loss—as a permanent memento.
What Are Defense Events and Capital Planets?
Aside from the final home world assaults, you will frequently encounter "Defense Events" on the map. These are shorter, usually 150-minute community efforts to defend a sector's capital city from an invasion. These missions take place on unique urban maps, have a more limited set of objectives, and offer double experience points.
Successfully defending a capital halts the enemy advance in that sector. Failing means the entire sector is lost, and the front line moves closer to Super Earth. In general, many high-level players will quickly respond to Defense Events when they appear, as losing sectors can rapidly swing the strategic momentum.
Can I Fight a Faction After It's Defeated?
No. Once a faction is conquered (e.g., the Illuminate are subjugated), they are removed from the Galactic Campaign map for the rest of that war. You will not be able to run missions against them until the next war begins. This is why the community often focuses on one enemy at a time, to permanently reduce the number of fronts we fight on.
How Should I, as a Player, Engage with the War?
For most players, the best approach is simple: play the game. Your contributions count automatically. However, if you want to be more strategic, keep an eye on the Galactic War map in your ship. Focus your missions on planets that are part of an active "Major Order" (community-wide objectives shown in your mission panel), as these offer large rewards and are crucial for major pushes. If you see a Defense Event with a short timer, joining it is one of the most impactful things you can do for the war effort.
Remember, the war progresses based on the total efforts of all Helldivers. While individual missions matter, it's the collective, sustained push over days that determines victory or defeat. There's no need to burn yourself out; consistent play is what Super Earth needs.
Final Note on the Lore
The structure reinforces the game's satirical theme of endless, managed democracy. As the Ship Admiral says, winning one war just leads to the next. The persistent struggle is the point. The records of past wars are there for you to review, but the immediate task is always the current conflict.
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