Helldivers 2 has introduced two new poisonous Terminid enemy types and expanded its underground bug cave encounters across the galaxy. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios confirmed the additions on November 3, 2026, bringing Noxious Scavengers, Noxious Spewers and new combat hazards to the cooperative shooter.
The changes were detailed in an official PlayStation Blog announcement by Arrowhead community manager Mitchell Ayre. Both enemies belong to the new Noxious Terminid strain, which introduces venom-based attacks and movement restrictions. Terminid cave networks can also appear across more planetary environments, including desert and frozen biomes.
The Noxious Scavenger is a faster, venomous variation of the standard Scavenger. Although relatively fragile, it can close distances quickly and deliver repeated poisonous bites. Arrowhead recommends weapons capable of dealing with fast-moving groups, including shotguns, flamethrowers and grenades.
The Noxious Spewer presents a different threat. Despite its large size, the creature moves quickly and can fire a new attack called Web Spit at medium range. Players struck by the projectile temporarily lose the ability to sprint, making it harder to escape the approaching enemy.
Its bite also has greater reach and delivers a stronger dose of venom than the Noxious Scavenger’s attack. Players attempting to eliminate the creature must account for its armored head, which has medium armor protection.
However, the Noxious Spewer’s abdomen is unarmored and provides an alternative target. Destroying this area can trigger a Web Explosion that traps nearby Helldivers and Terminids. Although the exposed abdomen creates an offensive opportunity, the resulting explosion can also restrict teammates’ movement if they are too close.
Poison introduces another consideration during encounters with the new enemies. Arrowhead has added a dedicated HUD indicator that communicates a player’s poisoning status.
Light poisoning causes blurred vision and gradually reduces health. Heavy poisoning increases damage over time, further obscures vision and prevents sprinting. These effects can make it especially difficult to retreat when multiple Terminids attack simultaneously.
Stims can cure poisoning, giving players an additional reason to manage their medical supplies carefully. Squads facing Noxious enemies may need to reserve stims for teammates suffering from heavy poison rather than using them exclusively for ordinary combat damage.
Alongside the new enemies, Arrowhead has expanded the availability of Terminid cave networks. Previously restricted to a smaller selection of worlds, underground encounters now have a chance to appear across additional biomes on the Galactic map.
These environments feature limited visibility, short engagement distances and blind corners where fast-moving enemies can quickly approach players. Arrowhead recommends close-range weapons, coordinated squad movement and keeping spare stims available during cave operations.
The new enemies and underground encounters continue Helldivers 2’s evolving Galactic War, adding environmental hazards and combat mechanics that influence how squads approach Terminid missions.
The November 3 additions are separate from the recent Liberty Day 2026 celebrations, which offered players the free AR-23L Liberator Legacy rifle and temporary commemorative activities.
With the Noxious strain now appearing on the battlefield and caves spreading to more planets, players must account for poison damage, sprint-disabling attacks and closer-range underground combat when selecting equipment for Terminid missions.
