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Helldivers 2 Adds Poisonous Terminids and Spreads Bug Caves Across More Biomes

Noxious Spewers can stop squads from sprinting with webs, while bites from the new strain inflict poison.

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A large armored Terminid with an orange abdomen advances through a web-filled cave in Helldivers 2.

Helldivers 2 has a new strain of Terminids on the front lines, and getting bitten comes with a cost. The Noxious Scavenger and Noxious Spewer bring poison to the fight, while bug caves can now appear across more of the galaxy’s biomes.

The additions arrived on November 3, according to the PlayStation Blog announcement. Caves now have a chance to appear in environments ranging from scorched deserts to frozen tundras, rather than being confined to a handful of worlds.

Webs and venom change the Terminid fight

Noxious Scavengers resemble their ordinary counterparts, but move faster and can bite again almost immediately. They are fragile, so shotguns, flamethrowers and grenades offer ways to deal with them without relying on precise aim.

The larger Noxious Spewer is fast too, and its Web Spit prevents a Helldiver from sprinting if it connects at medium range. Its bite has surprising reach and delivers a stronger dose of venom than a Scavenger’s.

Spewers have medium armor on their heads, but their web-filled abdomens are unarmored. That weak point comes with a catch. Bursting the sac triggers a Web Explosion that snares nearby Helldivers and bugs, so distance matters when taking the shot.

Poison can stop a sprint

A new HUD icon tracks poisoning. Light poisoning hazes vision and drains health over time. Heavy poisoning increases that damage, keeps vision hazy and prevents sprinting. Stims can cure the condition, including for a poisoned squadmate.

Those effects are especially dangerous in caves, where short sightlines and blind corners give fast enemies room to close in. Close-range weapons and a stim held in reserve can help a squad deal with the new threats underground.

The Terminid additions follow August’s Devoid of Liberty update, which introduced new Illuminate enemies and SEAF support.

How are you planning to handle the Noxious strain? Follow the changing Terminid front on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, Telegram.

Helldivers 2 is a cooperative third-person shooter in which squads of up to four players are deployed from orbit onto hostile planets to complete strategic missions. Players select loadouts of weapons, armor, and stratagems that allow them to call in orbital strikes, supply drops, vehicles, and turrets during combat. Friendly fire is always active, requiring coordination between teammates. The game features a persistent galactic war where community-wide performance determines which planets are liberated or lost.