What Are Medals in Helldivers 2?

Medals in Helldivers 2 are essentially rewards you earn for completing specific in-game tasks. These tasks can range from things like achieving certain kill counts to completing missions under challenging conditions. They serve as a way to showcase your accomplishments and demonstrate your skill (or endurance) in various aspects of the game.

Medals come in different tiers, and each medal typically represents a specific achievement. For example, there are medals for things like killing a certain number of enemies with specific weapons, completing missions with a high success rate, or surviving tough environments. Some are harder to get than others, and some require a lot of repetition.

How Do You Earn Medals?

The process of earning medals is straightforward, but the specific requirements for each medal vary. Generally, you’ll need to perform certain actions in the game, such as:

• Kills: Killing specific types of enemies or achieving a certain number of kills within a mission.

• Mission Completion: Completing missions with specific conditions (like no deaths or without using certain equipment).

• Special Tasks: Completing objectives that aren’t part of the regular mission, like rescuing teammates or saving civilians.

• Survival and Precision: Staying alive in difficult conditions or achieving feats like perfect accuracy or no-damage runs.

As you keep progressing through the game, you'll naturally start unlocking medals just by doing what you do—playing the game. However, some medals are tied to more specific or difficult challenges, so you may need to change your playstyle or take on tougher missions to unlock them.

Are Medals Worth the Grind?

This is the million-dollar question. Whether or not you should bother chasing medals depends on what you want out of Helldivers 2 and how much time you’re willing to invest. Here’s a breakdown of why they might or might not be worth your time.

1. They Don’t Give Huge In-Game Advantages

One thing that often discourages players is that medals don’t provide significant gameplay advantages. You don’t get more powerful gear or unlock anything game-breaking by earning a bunch of medals. The main rewards are simply bragging rights, cosmetic changes, and a sense of progression. Some players will find this motivating, while others might feel like they’re spending time for little payoff.

2. They Can Help with Skill Improvement

While medals don't directly boost your character’s power, they do encourage you to play better. For example, earning a medal for precision or survival forces you to pay attention to things like accuracy and positioning. If you’re looking to improve your overall gameplay, pursuing medals can be a good way to challenge yourself and refine your skills. However, it’s important to note that this requires a conscious effort. It’s not something you’ll achieve by just mindlessly grinding.

3. They Add Replay Value

In terms of replay value, medals can help keep the game fresh. Even though Helldivers 2 offers a lot of content, sometimes you’ll find yourself repeating similar missions. Medals can serve as a way to spice things up. When you’re working toward a specific medal, it shifts your focus from just completing missions to achieving particular challenges. This can make even familiar tasks feel a bit more rewarding, as you're working toward a goal.

4. They Might Encourage Team Play

Certain medals require teamwork, which can make Helldivers 2 more fun in a group setting. For instance, completing certain objectives with a high level of cooperation or protecting teammates can be rewarding both in terms of the medal and the enjoyment of working together. This aspect of the game can be particularly fun if you enjoy collaborative play.

5. The Time Investment: Is It Worth It?

Here’s where things get a little tricky. Medals can be time-consuming to earn. Some of them require you to play under difficult conditions or repeatedly complete specific missions. If you’re the type of player who enjoys long-term challenges, then the grind for medals might be rewarding. However, if you’re short on time or prefer a more casual experience, you might find the grind a little too much.

Ultimately, it comes down to how much you enjoy working toward specific goals within the game. Some players will enjoy the challenge of unlocking every medal, while others will be fine with simply enjoying the gameplay without worrying about achievements.

6. Buying Medals or Items: Should You?

You might be wondering if it’s worth it to buy Helldivers 2 items to speed up the grind or improve your experience. Some players choose to purchase items that make certain objectives easier to complete or speed up progression. While you can buy items, I’d suggest not focusing too much on this unless you're really looking to save time. The grind itself can be part of the enjoyment for many players, and rushing it may take away from the overall experience. That said, if you’re more focused on convenience and don’t mind spending a bit of money, it’s an option available to you.

What Happens After You Earn a Medal?

Once you’ve unlocked a medal, it shows up on your profile. This gives you a chance to showcase your accomplishments to others, but more importantly, it offers a sense of satisfaction. Medals are also a way to track your progress and reflect on how much you’ve achieved in the game.

However, medals don’t offer any permanent gameplay changes. They’re more about personal recognition than anything else. For players who thrive on external rewards, this might feel a little underwhelming. But for those who enjoy the challenge of mastering specific aspects of the game, they can provide a sense of pride.

Are They Worth It?

In the end, whether medals in Helldivers 2 are worth the grind really depends on your perspective. If you enjoy completing challenges and improving your gameplay, then they can add a lot of value. However, if you’re only focused on fast progression and power, you might find them a bit underwhelming.

The grind isn’t for everyone, and there’s no shame in just playing the game for fun. But for those who love the satisfaction of achieving tough goals and showcasing their skills, medals can provide a satisfying layer of depth to the experience. So, if you’re thinking about whether to pursue them, ask yourself: Do you enjoy the journey, or are you just looking for the rewards? If it’s the former, go ahead and chase those medals. If it’s the latter, you might want to rethink the grind.