Helldivers 2 SMG-37 Defender guide: 110-damage, one-handed SMG with tight recoil and big mags, built for burst control, swarm stagger, and shield/backpack pushes vs bugs and bots.
For ages, SMGs in Helldivers 2 felt like the thing you brought when you didn't want to think, while shotguns did the real work. That's changed. The SMG-37 Defender got the kind of bump that actually matters, and once you run it for a few drops you'll wonder why you ever left it in the locker. If you're the sort of player who likes to swap builds a lot, or you've been gearing alts and grabbing loadout essentials from places like EZNPC, the Defender is one of those picks that suddenly makes your whole kit click.
Why It Feels Different Now
The headline is the 110 damage per shot, sure, but the real story is how usable it is moment to moment. The fire rate sits at 520 RPM, which sounds "meh" on paper until you're in a messy fight and your reticle isn't bouncing into the clouds. Recoil is low enough that you can actually track weak points instead of painting the air around them. It also pushes you into a smarter rhythm: tap, burst, reset. People try to hose it like a classic SMG and then complain it "falls off." It doesn't. They're just asking it to do the wrong job.
The One-Handed Trick
The one-handed trait is the cheat code, especially versus Automatons. Running a Ballistic Shield while keeping your primary online changes how you can hold space. You can take angles you'd normally avoid, eat a bit of laser pressure, and still stay accurate enough to pick out Devastator heads when they peek. It's not invincible, obviously, but it lets you play calm while everything else is loud. And that calm matters on Helldive, where panic reloads get you deleted.
How To Build Around It
Don't skip the Helical Magazine. The base 45 rounds are fine until a breach or drop pod turns into a long fight, and then you're stuck reloading at the worst times. With 75 rounds you can actually suppress, reposition, and finish targets without that constant "click, oh no" feeling. Treat your range honestly, too. Past mid-range the drop-off bites, so close the distance or aim for exposed parts and keep the bursts tight. On bots, the Defender pairs well with a Railgun and that shield so you can anchor lanes while the squad rotates. On bugs, you'll probably ditch the shield for a Rover or heavier support, because movement is your real defense.
Making It Work On Helldive
The Defender rewards discipline more than raw aggression. You'll do best when you're sliding between cover, bursting, and letting the gun's stability do the work. Hip-fire is surprisingly clean, so you can run and gun when Hunters start circling, but watch your reserves because extended swarms will drain you fast. A supply pack or ammo booster is boring, but it saves runs. If you're setting up a fresh account or trying new roles with friends, grabbing the right baseline gear early can make the learning curve way smoother, and that's why some players look at Helldivers 2 Accounts when they want to jump straight into higher-tier play without the slow grind.
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