Helldivers 2: How To Activate Planetary Defense Cannon and Use It

Learning how to activate and use the Planetary Defense Cannon is essential to take down the Overship in Helldivers 2.

With the latest Heart of Democracy update in Helldivers 2, the Illuminate have invaded Super Earth. Helldivers join forces with SEAF troops to repel the Illuminate invasion while protecting the city and its citizens. Take Down Overship is one of the notable and interactive missions introduced in the update. The Overship serves as the commanding and controlling nexus of the Illuminate in a specific sector, and it’s your duty to destroy this enormous ship looming over the city.

However, your standard arsenal won’t work against the Overship, and you need something far more powerful, like the Planetary Defense Cannon. The Planetary Defense Cannon, or PDC, is a massive cannon capable of penetrating the shields of the Overship and destroying it. If you are unsure how to activate and use the Planetary Defense Cannon in Helldivers 2, this guide is tailored for you.

Related: Helldivers 2 Patch Notes (May 20, 2025): Crash Fixes And More

How To Activate the Planetary Defense Cannon in Helldivers 2

You cannot access the Planetary Defense Cannon right away at the start of the mission. While your ultimate goal is to use the Planetary Defense Cannon to shoot down the Overship, you must first complete several side objectives to gain access to the cannon.

• First, you need to retrieve the access codes. Fight your way to the emergency bunkers scattered across the city. Check the bunkers for a glowing hard disk, which contains the access codes.
• Once you retrieve the access codes, head to the Planetary Defense Cannon spot. It is usually hidden beneath locations like parks or playgrounds. You will find a terminal at the spot.
• Activate the terminal by inputting the access code. Then, manually disengage the two hatch locks and use the terminal to open the bunker hatch, which reveals the Planetary Defense Cannon.
• Finally, use the terminal once again to raise the Planetary Defense Cannon to the platform level and prepare it for firing.

How To Use the Planetary Defense Cannon in Helldivers 2

Once the cannon is raised and set, you can use the terminal to fire it. The Planetary Defense Cannon can be used infinitely without any need for ammo, though it has a 5-second cooldown between shots.

Before firing the cannon, you need to manually align its angle with the Overship. This can be done with the two valves located at the base of the cannon. One valve controls the horizontal movement, while the other controls the vertical movement. Once you align the cannon’s aim with the head of the Overship, go to the terminal and interact with it to launch the attack.

You will need to shoot the Planetary Defense Cannon three times. While the first and second shots break the shield and disable the Overship, the third one completely destroys it. Since the Planetary Defense Cannon has unlimited shots, you can also use it to take out targets like Leviathans. 

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