For many newer Helldivers, the Illuminate are a mystery, mentioned in passing by veterans or glimpsed in old Super Earth propaganda. With their recent return in Helldivers 2, understanding this enemy is crucial. This isn't promotional material; it's a practical breakdown of what we know from in-game lore and how they operate as a faction.

What is the Origin of the Illuminate?

The Illuminate, who call themselves the Squ'ith, are an ancient, technologically advanced species. Their biology is aquatic in origin, and they evolved over thousands of years to master electricity and neural-based "space magic." Their society was governed by a High Council and monitored by a vast AI known as the Great Eye, creating a rigid, hierarchical empire. In essence, they pursued a path of technological enlightenment that made them a dominant power in the galaxy long before humanity reached the stars.

What Happened During the First Galactic War?

According to Super Earth records, first contact ended in immediate conflict. The Illuminate approached with a peace offering, which Super Earth rejected, claiming the aliens possessed planet-destroying weapons. This justified a pre-emptive war. For about 40 years, Helldivers fought the Illuminate, ultimately defeating them at their homeworld in 2084. The terms of surrender were severe: the Illuminate were stripped of their military and advanced technology, then banished from the Milky Way entirely. For a century, they were considered extinct—a cautionary tale.

How and Why Did They Return in Helldivers 2?

The Illuminate reappeared in December 2184, during the intense pressure of the Second Galactic War against the Terminids and Automatons. Their return was strategic, hitting Super Earth when forces were stretched thin. Initial signs were strange: colonists mysteriously disappearing, which was incorrectly blamed on poor navigation or comic books. The truth was far darker. The Illuminate had been abducting humans and, using their neural technology, converting them into mind-controlled soldiers called the "Voteless." Their tactics shifted from all-out conquest to brutal, hit-and-run raids designed to cripple infrastructure and swell their ranks with converted humans.

What Are Their Tactics and How Do Players Deal With Them?

Based on their initial attacks, the Illuminate function differently from the Terminid hordes or Automaton legions. Most players anticipate they will employ high-tech, disabling warfare.

• Control & Disruption: Expect heavy use of shields, teleportation, and weapons that impair vision, movement, or your HUD. Fighting them will likely require more tactical coordination and careful loadout choices to counter energy-based defenses.

• The "Voteless" Threat: The human converts mean we could be fighting former colonists. This adds a psychological layer and suggests we may encounter enemy units that use human-like tactics or equipment.

• Hit-and-Run: They don't seem interested in holding territory. Their goal is to raid, destroy, and kidnap, then vanish. In practice, this could translate to mission types focused on evacuating civilians, defending data centers from hacking, or eliminating specific high-value Illuminate tech before they can retreat.

• Gearing Up: Given their advanced shields and tech, players are theorizing that weapons with arc, explosive, or armor-piercing properties will be vital. Stratagems that provide area denial or smoke cover might also be more valuable to break their line of sight and control.

While the community prepares for this new front, acquiring the right stratagems and upgrades is part of the routine. Some divers, looking to quickly customize their loadouts, seek out affordable Helldivers 2 medals at U4N store to speed up the process, though most veterans simply grind through missions.

What Does Their Return Mean for the Galactic War?

Their resurgence creates a permanent three-front war. The Illuminate's raids force High Command to split the Helldiver corps constantly. One week we might be pushing back Terminids, and the next we're urgently redeploying to stop an Illuminate kidnapping operation. This keeps the war dynamic and punishing. It also deepens the game's lore, challenging Super Earth's narrative of a clean victory 100 years ago and introducing a foe that fights with cunning rather than sheer numbers.