Helldivers 2: How To Unlock And Use The SG-8 Punisher

Learn all about the specifications and usage of the powerful weapon SG-8 Punisher.

In Helldivers 2, you can choose from various weapons to fight for liberty and democracy. A recent update has changed the weapons’ balance, resulting in the SG-8 Punisher becoming a popular choice among players. With increased ammo capacity, damage, and stagger force, the SG-8 has become a formidable weapon. If you want to add the SG-8 Punisher to your arsenal in Helldivers 2 and take advantage of these enhancements, you must follow this guide.

Key Takeaways
  • The SG-8 Punisher is a powerful weapon in close combat, with high damage.
  • Due to its spread, its effectiveness diminishes at medium to long range, making it less reliable for distant engagements.
  • One of the Punisher’s notable features is its ability to stagger enemies, which is an effective technique for crowd control.
  • Unlike most weapons, the Punisher reloads round by round, conserving ammo but potentially causing challenges in fast-paced battles.

How To Unlock The SG-8 Punisher 

helldivers 2 punisher sg-8
Unlocking the SG-8 Punisher [Screenshot By eXputer]
The SG-8 Punisher is available for purchase on the first page of the Helldivers Mobilize Warbond store.

It costs four medals in Helldivers 2 and is easily accessible for new players. Experienced players can unlock it immediately if they have not done so already.

  • Collecting Medals: To obtain the SG-8 Punisher, you only need to collect four medals, which can be quickly earned by participating in any mission and completing it successfully.
  • Unlocking SG-8 Punisher: After obtaining the medals, go to the Acquisitions menu and select Helldivers Mobilize Warbond. The Punisher can be found on the first page to unlock.

Specs And Abilities

Helldivers 2 Punisher
Showcasing the SG-8 Punisher in my inventory [Image by eXputer]
You can find the detailed specifications for the SG-8 Punisher in the table below:

StatsValue
Damage405
Cost4 Medals
Ammo Capacity16
Recoil120
Weapon Traits- Light Armor Penetrating
- Rounds Reload
Spare Rounds60
SourceWarbond: Helldivers Mobilize
Fire Rate80 RPM
Fire ModePump-action

The SG-8 Punisher is a shotgun with a pump-action mechanism and dual tube-fed ammunition. It is one of the earliest weapons that players can unlock in the game. The SG-8 Punisher is known for its powerful impact and can cause significant damage with each shot.

The Punisher also has a relatively high ammo capacity, making it useful for quickly taking down lightly-armored enemies. However, its effectiveness decreases over long distances due to its spread. Players need to manually pump the weapon between shots, limiting its fire rate.

How To Use The SG-8 Punisher

sg-8 punisher
Using SG-8 Punisher on the battlefield [Screenshot By eXputer]
Here are some tips that you can follow to optimize the use of SG-8 Punisher in the game:

  • Primary Weapon: Before starting a mission, equip it as your primary weapon. You can do this either through the Armory or Loadout menu. 
  • Using In Close Range: While it can still deal significant damage at close to medium range, its effectiveness decreases against distant targets. Hitting and causing damage to distant targets can be challenging.
  • Staggering Enemy: One of the SG-8 Punisher’s notable features is its ability to stagger enemies significantly. This feature helps to keep formidable adversaries at a distance while you damage them considerably.
  • Rounds Relaod: It is worth noting that the Rounds Reload Trait allows you to reload the Punisher round by round, unlike most other weapons that use clips. This feature allows you to maintain a full weapon without wasting ammo.

After using the SG-8 Punisher for a while, I concluded that it is a decent shotgun but not the best. Its performance is average, so I personally rated it as a B-tier weapon. Even though it has a high damage output, its main drawback is its long reload time. I suggest keeping your magazine full before a fight to avoid vulnerability during reload time.

This is all about the SG-8 Punisher in Helldivers 2, which can guide you. To learn more about the best perks in the game, read about the best Stratagems in Helldivers 2 to gain some backhand knowledge. Additionally, I would recommend you go through the Helldivers 2 Review to learn more about the game itself.

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Saqib is a Senior Guides writer at eXputer with multiple years of writing experience. His love for RPGs, Roblox, and mobile games knows no bounds. In his free time, Saqib is on yet another adventure with Roblox or free roaming in RPG. Saqib has completed a Journalism degree and worked for notable gaming sites including DualShockers and Gamepur. You can follow Saqib's gaming activity on his Steam profile.
Experience: 3+ Years || Education: Bachelor's in Accounting || Previously Worked for DualShockers & Gamepur || Published 200+ Guides

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