How to Unlock and Use the HMG Emplacement in Helldivers 2

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Valencia

Guide Curator at GladiatorBoost

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Helldivers 2 regularly challenges players with Personal Orders that push them to experiment with different stratagems. One of the most common (and sometimes confusing) objectives involves getting kills with the HMG Emplacement. If you’re unsure how to unlock it, where to find it, or how to use it effectively, you’re not alone.

This guide explains how to get the HMG Emplacement, how it works in combat, and which missions make it easiest to rack up kills—especially if you’re aiming to complete Personal Orders quickly and efficiently.

What Is the HMG Emplacement?

The HMG Emplacement is a deployable heavy turret stratagem that fires armor-piercing rounds at a high rate of fire. Unlike automated turrets, this one must be manually operated by a Helldiver, trading mobility for raw stopping power.

It excels at:

• Crowd control

• Holding choke points

• Shredding lightly and medium-armored enemies

However, it has limited ammunition and requires smart positioning to be effective.

How to Unlock the HMG Emplacement

Before you can bring this turret into battle, you’ll need to meet two requirements.

Unlock Requirements

• Player Level: 10

• Cost: 10,000 Requisition Slips

Once you’ve reached level 10 and saved enough currency, follow these steps:

1. Open Ship Management

2. Navigate to the Bridge section

3. Purchase the E/MG-101 HMG Emplacement stratagem

After buying it, the HMG Emplacement becomes permanently available in your stratagem collection.

HMG Emplacement Stratagem Details

Stratagem Input Code

⬇️ ⬆️ ⬅️ ➡️ ➡️ ⬅️

Deployment Stats

• Call-in time: ~4.75 seconds

• Cooldown: 154 seconds

• Uses: Unlimited

The short call-in time and relatively low cooldown make it one of the more accessible heavy defensive stratagems, especially during prolonged missions.

How to Use the HMG Emplacement Effectively

Once deployed, the HMG Emplacement functions very differently from mobile weapons.

Mounting and Operation

• Interact with the turret to mount it

• Rotation speed is slow, so positioning is critical

• Fires heavy armor–penetrating rounds

• Ammo is limited to 300 rounds per deployment

You’ll want to avoid wasting shots on single targets unless necessary.

Strengths of the HMG Emplacement

Exceptional Crowd Control

The HMG Emplacement shines when enemies come in large groups. Its fire rate and penetration allow it to mow down waves before they overwhelm your team.

Strong Against Light and Medium Armor

Most standard enemies fall quickly under sustained fire, making it ideal for clearing swarms and holding objectives.

Great for Defensive Objectives

Missions that force enemies through predictable paths allow the turret to operate at peak efficiency.

Weaknesses You Need to Manage

Limited Ammunition

With only 300 rounds, spraying wildly will empty the turret quickly. Short, controlled bursts are far more effective.

Immobility

Once mounted, you’re vulnerable. Flanking enemies or ranged attackers can quickly take you out if teammates aren’t covering you.

Slow Rotation

Fast enemies that breach your firing arc can slip past unless you reposition or dismount in time.

Best Missions to Use the HMG Emplacement

If your goal is completing a Personal Order (such as getting 75 kills with the HMG Emplacement), mission choice matters.

Best Mission: Eradicate Terminid Swarm

This mission type is ideal because:

• The combat area is small and enclosed

• Enemies spawn in dense, continuous waves

• Terminids have relatively weak armor

Place the HMG Emplacement facing a main approach lane, and you can rack up dozens of kills in a single deployment.

Other Good Mission Types

• Defense missions with fixed objectives

• Extraction-heavy missions with predictable enemy paths

Avoid open maps with scattered spawns, as enemies will approach from too many angles.

Team Play Tips for Maximum Efficiency

• Have teammates cover your flanks

• Pair with ammo resupply stratagems

• Place the turret slightly behind chokepoints for better visibility

• Communicate before mounting to avoid friendly fire incidents

When used cooperatively, the HMG Emplacement becomes far more deadly.

Struggling With Orders or Progression?

Grinding Personal Orders, Requisition Slips, and medals can take time—especially if you’re juggling limited play sessions. If you want faster progress or guaranteed completion of objectives, Helldivers 2 Boosting at GladiatorBoost can help. GladiatorBoost assists with mission clears, medal farming, and stratagem unlocks, letting you focus on the fun parts of spreading Managed Democracy.

Final Verdict: Is the HMG Emplacement Worth Using?

The HMG Emplacement isn’t a one-size-fits-all stratagem, but in the right scenario, it’s incredibly effective. It’s best used:

• Against Terminid swarms

• In tight, defensive missions

• For completing Personal Orders quickly

With proper positioning and team support, the HMG Emplacement turns overwhelming enemy numbers into a shooting gallery.