What to know
- You can unlock the B‑100 Portable Hellbomb via the Servants of Freedom warbond using Super Credits and medals.
- On PC, press 5 to activate the Hellbomb once equipped as a backpack.
- Once armed, it flashes an alarm and explodes after 10 seconds, with no way to stop it.
- Players have creatively used autocannon sentry turrets to catapult Hellbombs into Leviathans, prompting official developer recognition.
Get ready to unleash the power of the B‑100 Portable Hellbomb in Helldivers 2 on PC. This guide lays out everything you need to know—from acquiring the stratagem to activating it and mastering advanced tactics. So get strapped and ready to blow it all up with the portable hellbomb!
How to unlock the portable hellbomb
You first need to obtain the Servants of Freedom Premium Warbond, which costs 1,000 Super Credits and can be found in your ship’s Acquisitions menu. You can earn Super Credits during missions, by completing Major Orders, or purchase them with real money, such as $9.99 for 1,000 credits.
Once the Warbond is purchased, navigate to its third page—this requires unlocking gear on the first two pages, costing a total of 230 medals. Then spend 110 medals to unlock the B‑100 Portable Hellbomb. In total, you’ll need 340 medals.
Portable Hellbomb equipping and activation controls
After unlocking, the Portable Hellbomb occupies your backpack stratagem slot.
On PC, press 5 to activate the Hellbomb—it’s the same key you use for other backpack functions like calling your guard dog. Once activated, the Hellbomb emits a loud alarm, flashes a warning light, and begins its 10‑second countdown, with no way to cancel.
On controller, press D‑Pad Down. To drop the hellbomb, simply hold D‑Pad Down.
What happens when you activate the portable Hellbomb bomb
The unnamed alarm and flashing visuals signal that the bomb is armed. After 10 seconds, it detonates, causing maximum destruction, with a kill radius of roughly 25 meters, and an effective radius up to 45 meters—lethal to ground enemies including superheavies.
Once activated, you cannot disarm it. You can, however, drop it safely to distance yourself. It’s ideal to aim and drop it in an optimal location, then take cover or retreat to minimize risk.
What about B‑100 cooldown?
The B‑100 has a long cooldown of 300 seconds (5 minutes), reduced to 257 seconds (4 minutes 17 seconds) with all Super Destroyer upgrades.
Given cooldowns and mission length, expect to deploy at most nine during a 40‑minute mission. If the mission has “Orbital Fluctuations,” cooldown increases by an additional 75 seconds, further limiting use.
Creative uses and developer recognition
Players have discovered a clever tactic: calling in an autocannon sentry turret and placing the Portable Hellbomb where the sentry deploys. The gun barrel then catapults the Hellbomb mid‑air—this has been used to launch it directly into Leviathan ships.
Arrowhead, the developer, took note of this “tactical enthusiasm” and made it part of Helldivers lore. As a reward, they halved the number of Leviathans needed for the current Major Order and granted players access to the expendable anti‑tank stratagem once planetside.
Unlocking and usage - quick steps
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purchase Servants of Freedom Warbond | Costs 1,000 Super Credits |
| 2 | Unlock first two pages | Spend ~230 medals |
| 3 | Unlock Portable Hellbomb | Spend additional 110 medals |
| 4 | Equip as backpack stratagem | Replaces other backpack use |
| 5 | Activate (PC: 5; Controller: D-Pad Down) | Starts 10-second timer |
| 6 | Drop bomb and take cover | Cannot cancel detonation |
| 7 | Cooldown applies | 300 sec (or 257 sec w/ upgrades) |
| 8 | Try creative tactics | E.g. catapulting into Leviathans for bonus rewards |
Portable Hellbombs let you adapt explosive power anywhere, not just at designated stratagem zones. Coupled with inventive player strategies—like turret launches—they unlock emergent gameplay that even the developers reward. It’s a high-risk, high-reward tool that commands respect.
This isn’t just “press 5.” You’ll need to budget medals and cooldowns, time your activation perfectly, and consider advanced combos or safety. Treat it as both a tool and a showpiece—you’ll feel the power and weight of that exploding pack strapped to your back.
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