Helldivers 2: How To Defeat Dragon Roaches

Discover the Dragon Roach’s weaknesses in Helldivers 2 and how to effectively counter it with armor, weapons, and stratagems.

Dragon Roache on an attack run (Image via Arrowhead)

Dragon Roaches are colossal flying Terminids added to Helldivers 2 with the “Into the Unjust” major update. The “Bile Titans with wings” are difficult enough to deal with because of their flight and vast health pool, but the real challenge is surviving their acidic attacks that set Helldivers on fire. The Dragon Roaches’ fire attack deals more damage than the similar projectile attacks of Bile Titans and Hive Lords.

Table of Contents

Helldivers 2: Dragon Roach Guide

Helldivers 2: Dragon Roach Guide

Look out for Dragon Roaches in the open (Image via Arrowhead)

Dragon Roaches appear on Terminid planets on Hard difficulty and above. They fly solo patrols over the surface and strafe any Helldivers they see with a wall of fiery acid. After its initial flyby attack, a Dragon Roach will either continue circling for more attack runs or hover in place and shoot acid. Here are some tips to combat the Dragon Roach regardless of your loadout.

When a Dragon Roach is targeting you, don’t try to shoot at it. Instead, dodge or seek cover from its attack.
The Dragon Roach’s acid will set you on fire; dive preemptively or immediately upon being hit to stop the burning.
The Dragon Roach’s wings and underbelly sack take damage from light armor-piercing weapons.
The Dragon Roach’s body and head take damage from heavy armor-piercing weapons.
Aim anti-tank weapons at its head or thorax rather than its wings. Shoot medium or light armor-piercing weapons at its wings or underbelly sack.
A single hit from an anti-tank weapon, combined with concentrated primary weapons fire, can kill a Dragon Roach.
Equip the Vitality Enhancement booster to increase survivability.

Also Read: Helldivers 2: Best Hive World Build and Loadout

Recommended Armor

Equip armor with fire resistance (Image via Arrowhead)

Acclimated passive
- AC-2 Obedient (Light)
- AC-1 Dutiful (Medium)

Also known as the “Killzone armors,” both possess the Acclimated passive, which decreases fire, acid, gas, and electrical damage by 50%. Thus, the armor will not only halve the fire damage dealt by the Dragon Roach, but also let you shrug off the barrage of acid attacks from Rupture Spewers. AC-2 Obedient was given out for free during the Killzone collab, while the AC-1 Dutiful is available in Superstore rotation.

Desert Stormer passive
- DS-10 The Big Game Hunter (Light)
- DS-42 Federation’s Blade (Heavy)
- DS-191 Scorpion (Medium)

The Desert Stormer passive reduces incoming fire, acid, gas, and electrical damage by 40% and increases throwing range by 20%. These armor pieces will significantly negate the damage dealt by the Dragon Roach while also increasing throwing range for stratagems and grenades. The Big Game Hunter is available in Superstore rotation, while the other two are part of the Dust Devils Warbond.

Inflammable passive
- I-44 Salamander (Heavy)
- I-92 Fire Fighter (Medium)
- I-09 Heatseeker (Light)
- I-102 Draconaught (Medium)

The Inflammable passive armors are available through the Freedom’s Flame Warbond. When combined with the Vitality Enhancement booster, the Inflammable passive will completely negate the Dragon Roach’s fire damage. However, since the armors provide no other benefits, equip them only if you are using the Double-Edge Sickle or flame weaponry to fully leverage the fire immunity.

Med-Kit passive

For those without access to any of the fire-resistant armors, the Med-Kit passive is the best counter to the Dragon Roach. The giant flyer’s fire attack burns through stims, and the passive ensures you have extra (+2) stims on hand.

Also Read: Helldivers 2: Best Support Builds and Loadouts

Recommended Weapons

The following primary and secondary weapons deal heavy armor-piercing damage and can therefore harm the Dragon Roach while shooting at any part of its body.

Eruptor
Ultimatum
Senator
Double-Edge Sickle

It’ll be difficult to hit the Dragon Roach with the Ultimatum unless it is hovering close by. Although these primary weapons can damage the Dragon Roach, the best way of dealing with it quickly is with stratagems and support weapons.

Recommended Stratagems

Deploy an Orbital Rail Cannon strike near it (Image via Arrowhead)

Orbital Rail Cannon Strike: One-shots the Dragon Roach.
Shield Generator Pack: Will protect you from the initial fire damage. Combine it with Expendable Anti-Tank or Quasar Cannon for an effective build.
Spear: The best support weapon against the Dragon Roach.
W.A.S.P.: Locks onto the Dragon Roach and may kill it in one salvo with a few lucky headshots.
Commando: The laser targeting makes it easier to hit the Dragon Roach mid-flight.
Airburst Rocket Launcher: Easy to target the Dragon Roach with, and deals incredibly area damage.
Heavy Machine Gun Emplacement: Man the emplacement to gun down the Dragon Roach in a hail of bullets.
Anti-Tank Emplacement: Shoots down the Dragon Roach in one or two rounds.
Autocannon Sentry: Precise anti-air capability with anti-tank rounds.
Emancipator Exosuit: Perfect offense and defense capabilities against the flyer.