Helldivers 2 Festival of Reckoning Brings New Stratagems, a Game-Changing Major Order, and Rewards Worth the Grind

Helldivers 2 just turned its annual holiday chaos into a full-on spectacle, and I mean that in the best, most ridiculous way. The Festival of Reckoning usually runs December 25–28. This year, the Ministry of Prosperity stretched it to two weeks because, and I am not making this up, there is a record-breaking amount of vengeance to get through. Super Earth loves a theme.

"No stratagem is off-limits."

That line comes from Arrowhead, teasing exactly what this event is about: limited-time toys that probably shouldn’t exist, new marching orders wrapped in economic incentives, and a trailer that basically says, yes, we are doing this and no, we are not sorry.

What the surprise trailer actually brings

Arrowhead dropped a quick, punchy trailer revealing the event’s centerpiece, the Reckoning Gifts. Translation: experimental stratagems that mash together familiar tech in ways that are nowhere near standard issue. These are time-limited and rotating now through December 31 — not all at once. High Command is staggering them for a few days at a time, and each rotation is paired with a specific Premium Warbond stratagem that would normally cost Super Credits (plus Medals) to unlock. For the event window, you get to try them without the usual grind.

• 120MM EMS Projectile with Stun: Your regular 120mm barrage shells, now juiced with an electromagnetic pulse that stuns anything unfortunate enough to be in the blast radius.
• Gatling Barrage Fire Projectiles: The gatling barrage swaps to incendiary rounds, turning target zones into flaming no-go areas for bots and bugs.
• Walking Barrage with Smoke: Same mobile wall of explosions, now laying down smoke to block enemy sightlines. That’s suppression, chaos, and crowd control in one messy package.

Arrowhead’s blog spells it out: nothing is off the table during the festival. If you’ve ever wanted to see what happens when you cross the streams, this is your moment.

The Major Order: win planets, cut prices; lose planets, pay the surcharge

There’s also a new Major Order running alongside the festivities, and it has a very on-brand twist. Over the two-week campaign, Helldivers are expected to liberate more planets than they lose. Every net planetary gain translates to system-wide discounts. Fall behind, and a Patriotic VAT Surcharge kicks in to cover your battlefield mistakes. The Ministry’s messaging is not subtle: the more planets you save, the more all citizens save.

Complete the order and everyone who took part gets 100 Medals. Arrowhead also hints at multiple holiday Major Orders, plural, which sounds like either additional assignments or new phases rolling out before the festival wraps.

How long you’ve got

The Festival of Reckoning is live for two weeks. The experimental Reckoning Gifts stratagems rotate in waves now through December 31, and the campaign-wide incentives keep running while the Ministry keeps the Reckoning Fund open. Meanwhile, in true Super Earth fashion, families are gathering to sing carols, swap gifts, and watch the televised annihilation of their enemies. Nothing says holiday spirit like a walking barrage with smoke.

Pick your poison: stun shells, firestorms, or smoke-drenched artillery. However you load out, the message from High Command is pretty clear — go make the numbers look good.