Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead‘s CEO told players he doesn’t control assault rifle balance after the Into the Unjust update sparked debate, and his comment came during a discussion about the incendiary Coyote on Oshaune missions with very high failure rates in-game.
The Coyote arrived with the Into the Unjust update as part of the Dust Devils premium Warbond, and players praised its incendiary rounds for clearing crowds quickly. On paper, it deals 75 damage, holds a 45-round magazine, and offers medium armor penetration, which makes it stronger than several other assault rifles.
During a Discord exchange a player asked about medium and light penetration ARs and one user complained about the new rifle while noting the CEO was present; the quote read, “It’s not like I have any say in AR balancing,” with a link to Jorjani’s message on Discord. A PC Gamer report noted players begging Arrowhead to leave the gun alone, and a detailed Reddit post argues the Coyote stands out because other ARs feel weak.
Arrowhead has previously made weaker stratagems better rather than making the good ones worse, which many readers point to when discussing balance decisions. Despite dealing 75 damage and offering a 45-round magazine with medium penetration, the Coyote’s incendiary rounds finish wounded enemies and act as a crowd-control tool that affects encounter pacing on Oshaune missions. Only time will tell.
Share your thoughts in the comments and note whether Arrowhead’s comment calmed the community, and tag X and Bluesky.
