If you are an Xbox console player and new to Helldiver 2, then the vast and diverse planets of the Galactic War can seem overwhelming at first. You drop from your Super Destroyer into a chaotic battlefield, with a primary mission and a host of dangers lurking in the fog. But scattered across every map are crucial bonus missions, known as Secondary Objectives, that can be the difference between a minor victory and a triumphant one. By understanding why these Helldivers 2 Secondary Objectives are so important and how to complete them, you, as a new Helldiver, can accelerate your progression, gain tactical advantages, and make a greater contribution to the team and the war effort.
All Helldivers 2 Secondary Objectives and Their Symbols & Nicknames
To help all the “new” recruits understand their mission, our guide provides a comprehensive list of all known secondary objectives, broken down by the enemy faction they are most commonly encountered against. This list includes official names, common community nicknames, and a description of the corresponding symbol.
Make sure to be familiar with the “common community nicknames” below, as these are names (or variations) you will commonly hear in chat while playing with other players from PC or PS5.
Terminid Objectives
These objectives are found on planets where the Terminid bug threat is the primary enemy.
- Shrieker Nest
- Community Nickname: Shrieker Trees/Spikes
- Symbol Description: A small, spiked icon with what appears to be wings or leaves.
- How to Complete: These nests consist of giant fungal trees that spawn flying Shriekers. Destroy them with a Hellbomb, though a 500kg Bomb may also work, though it can be a bit unreliable.
- Tactical Benefit: Stops Shriekers from spawning in the immediate vicinity.
- Stalker Lair
- Community Nickname: Cave or Stalker Hole
- Symbol Description: A small bug hole icon.
- How to Complete: Locate and destroy the bug holes that are spawning the invisible Stalkers. This can be done with grenades or any explosive Stratagem.
- Tactical Benefit: Eliminates the constant threat of being ambushed by invisible Stalkers in the area.
- Spore Spewer
- Community Nickname: Mushroom or Broccoli
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a small mushroom cloud or a piece of broccoli.
- How to Complete: This gigantic fungal structure creates a dense fog that blankets a large area. Destroy it with explosives or any long-range weapon to clear the spores.
- Tactical Benefit: Removes the obscuring fog, improving visibility for your entire squad.
Automaton Objectives
These missions are found on planets where the Automaton robot threat is the primary enemy.
- Mortar Emplacement
- Community Nickname: Street Lamps
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a small mortar or street lamp.
- How to Complete: These emplacements fire long-range mortar rounds at your squad. Destroy them with explosives, a Hellbomb, or by using your own Stratagems.
- Tactical Benefit: Prevents your squad from being shelled by indirect fire, making the area much safer.
- Stratagem Jammer
- Community Nickname: Wrench
- Symbol Description: An icon that resembles a wrench.
- How to Complete: This tall tower prevents Stratagems from being called in within its radius. You must first use a terminal at its base and then call in a Hellbomb to destroy it.
- Tactical Benefit: Restores your squad’s ability to call in crucial Stratagems, such as reinforcements and air support.
- Detector Tower
- Community Nickname: Eye/Sauron’s Eye
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like an eye.
- How to Complete: This massive tower scans for Helldivers. If detected, it will call in a constant stream of Automaton dropships. It must be destroyed with a Hellbomb.
- Tactical Benefit: Stops endless waves of Automaton reinforcements from being dropped on your position.
- SEAF SAM Site
- Community Nickname: Microwave
- Symbol Description: A tower-like icon.
- How to Complete: This objective involves activating a Surface-to-Air Missile site. Interact with the terminal at its base to turn it on.
- Tactical Benefit: Once activated, the SAM Site will automatically shoot down Automaton dropships, reducing the number of enemies that land on the battlefield.
- Destroy Gunship Fabricator
- Community Nickname: Gunship Factory
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a small factory.
- How to Complete: These structures spawn Automaton Gunships. They can only be destroyed by a Hellbomb.
- Tactical Benefit: Stops a continuous threat of heavily armed Gunships from harassing your squad.
- Destroy AA Emplacement
- Community Nickname: Anti-Air
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like an anti-air turret.
- How to Complete: This emplacement prevents you from calling in Eagle Airstrikes. Destroy it using a Hellbomb or explosives to restore your Eagle Stratagems.
- Tactical Benefit: Allows your squad to use powerful Eagle Stratagems in the area once again.
Shared Objectives
These objectives can be found on both Terminid and Automaton planets.
- Radar Station
- Community Nickname: Telescope
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a telescope.
- How to Complete: Interact with a terminal to activate the radar tower. You will need to align the radar dish to a specific angle to complete the task.
- Tactical Benefit: This is arguably the most important secondary objective. Activating it reveals all hidden points of interest, including more secondary objectives and resource-rich locations, on your map.
- SEAF Artillery
- Community Nickname: Microscope
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a microscope.
- How to Complete: Find the artillery emplacement and load five specialized shells into it. These shells can be found nearby. After loading them, activate the terminal to make the artillery available as a new Stratagem.
- Tactical Benefit: Unlocks a powerful new offensive Stratagem with five uses for your team to call down in the immediate area.
- Illegal Broadcast
- Community Nickname: WiFi
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a broadcast signal or WiFi symbol.
- How to Complete: Use the terminal at the base of the tower to terminate the broadcast, or simply destroy the tower with explosives or a Hellbomb.
- Tactical Benefit: Stops an illegal propaganda broadcast and earns your team additional XP for a job well done.
- Upload Escape Pod Data
- Community Nickname: Cigar
- Symbol Description: A small, pod-like icon that may have a smoke trail.
- How to Complete: Find the crashed escape pod, activate the data transfer terminal, and defend the area until the upload is complete.
- Tactical Benefit: Provides XP and contributes to your mission completion.
- Rogue Research Station
- Community Nickname: Science Lab
- Symbol Description: An icon that looks like a beaker or science equipment.
- How to Complete: Locate the cluster of buildings and destroy them using explosives or a Hellbomb.
- Tactical Benefit: This objective helps to eliminate unpatriotic research and contributes to your final mission score.
That’s all Helldivers 2 Secondary Objectives you need to know to serve Super Earth more effectively. If you found this guide helpful, do check out our other Helldivers 2 guides, like All Difficulty Levels in Helldivers 2 Explained.