Faction Comparison: 5 Key Medal Drop Rate Differences in Helldivers 2
When it comes to grinding Medals in Helldivers 2, understanding how different enemy factions affect your drop rates can save you hours of gameplay and frustration. As someone who’s put in over 100 hours fighting for Super Earth, I’ve tested Medal farming across all factions and gathered real insights into what works — and what doesn’t. This comparison will help you decide where to focus your efforts, whether you’re farming for Warbond upgrades or trying to get the most value out of your Super Credits.
1. Automatons: Consistent but Lower Medal Yields
The Automaton faction tends to have more structured, mechanical patterns of attack and defense, making them predictable. However, in my experience, missions against Automatons generally result in fewer Medal drops. They tend to drop more tech components than Medals, which is great for requisition farming but not ideal if your main goal is Warbond progression. Even on higher difficulties, the Medal payout doesn’t increase significantly.
That said, their missions are relatively fast to complete, so if you’re looking to squeeze in a few quick runs during the week, Automaton maps can still be useful — just not optimal.
2. Terminids: Best for High-Density Medal Farming
Terminids are the faction I keep coming back to when I need a reliable boost in Medals. Their swarming behavior and the sheer number of enemies per mission dramatically increase the chance of Medal drops. On missions with nest destruction objectives, I’ve consistently walked away with 6–9 Medals, especially when using a full squad and pushing difficulty 6 and above.
This is where it pays to buy Helldivers 2 Super Credits online instantly and unlock Warbond items that boost your survivability. Upgraded armor and better stratagems will help you survive those endless bug waves and maximize Medal returns in every run.
3. Illuminate: High Risk, High Reward
Although not always available in every war cycle, when the Illuminate faction does appear, their missions are some of the most Medal-rich — if you can survive them. These enemies use cloaking, teleportation, and energy weapons that can destroy an unprepared team.
In one mission on difficulty 7, I earned 11 Medals but barely made it out alive after multiple revives and lost stratagems. I only recommend farming Illuminate missions if your loadout is fully upgraded using Super Credits and you have an experienced squad.
4. Mixed Factions: Unpredictable but Occasionally Lucrative
Some late-game missions include mixed factions — usually Automatons and Terminids. These can be a wild card. In my experience, the drop rate fluctuates widely depending on which enemy type dominates. When Terminids are more prevalent, Medal drops remain high. If Automatons lead the assault, the mission might not be worth the effort.
Still, these missions can be great for players who enjoy chaos and are confident in their multitasking ability. I usually treat these as bonus runs rather than my main farming source.
5. Boss Missions: Rare Drops, But High Medal Value
Faction-specific boss missions — such as defending against a Hulk for Automatons or taking down a Charger for Terminids — often come with limited enemy variety but unique rewards. The Medal drop rate per kill is lower, but these missions frequently offer Medal bundles as end-of-mission rewards.
After defeating a Terminid Bile Titan with my squad, I received a bonus cache with 10 Medals — more than I earned from most regular missions that week. These high-stakes missions are a solid choice when combined with Warbond objectives that align with the faction.
Medal farming in Helldivers 2 is more than just running missions — it’s about choosing the right faction and tailoring your strategy. If you’re aiming to maximize your returns, prioritize Terminid-heavy missions and save Illuminate runs for when you’re well-equipped. Automaton missions work well for casual sessions but won’t yield the same Medal output over time.
And if you’re short on time or just want to get straight to the action, it’s worth considering ways to enhance your progression. Many players buy Helldivers 2 Super Credits online instantly to fast-track their Warbond unlocks and stay competitive in harder missions. While it’s not essential, it does give you a strategic edge, especially when farming against tougher factions.
Whether you’re playing solo or as part of a coordinated squad, understanding these Medal drop differences will help you make smarter, more efficient choices. Super Earth needs every Helldiver at peak efficiency — and now, you’ll be one step ahead.
